Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
‘Thereiswaterinyoureyes,’saidheashereleasedme. ‘Iperceivethatallisasitshouldbe. Butwehavetobecareful,forwehavetwicebeendeceivedbywigsandoncebypaint. Icouldtellyoutalesofcobbler’swaxwhichwoulddisgustyouwithhumannature.’ Hesteppedovertothewindowandshoutedthroughitatthetopofhisvoicethatthevacancywasfilled. Agroanofdisappointmentcameupfrombelow,andthefolkalltroopedawayindifferentdirectionsuntiltherewasnotared-headtobeseenexceptmyownandthatofthemanager.
"‘Myname,’saidhe,‘isMr.DuncanRoss,andIammyselfoneofthepensionersuponthefundleftbyournoblebenefactor. Areyouamarriedman,Mr.Wilson? Haveyouafamily?’
"IansweredthatIhadnot.
"Hisfacefellimmediately.
"‘Dearme!’hesaidgravely,‘thatisveryseriousindeed! Iamsorrytohearyousaythat. Thefundwas,ofcourse,forthepropagationandspreadofthered-headsaswellasfortheirmaintenance. Itisexceedinglyunfortunatethatyoushouldbeabachelor.’
"Myfacelengthenedatthis,Mr.Holmes,forIthoughtthatIwasnottohavethevacancyafterall;butafterthinkingitoverforafewminuteshesaidthatitwouldbeallright.
"‘Inthecaseofanother,’saidhe,‘theobjectionmightbefatal,butwemuststretchapointinfavourofamanwithsuchaheadofhairasyours. Whenshallyoubeabletoenteruponyournewduties?’
