Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
"‘Noexcusewillavail,’saidMr.DuncanRoss;‘neithersicknessnorbusinessnoranythingelse. Thereyoumuststay,oryouloseyourbillet.’
"‘Andthework?’
"‘IstocopyouttheEncyclopediaBritannica. Thereisthefirstvolumeofitinthatpress. Youmustfindyourownink,pens,andblotting-paper,butweprovidethistableandchair. Willyoubereadyto-morrow?’
"‘Certainly,’Ianswered.
"‘Then,good-bye,Mr.JabezWilson,andletmecongratulateyouoncemoreontheimportantpositionwhichyouhavebeenfortunateenoughtogain.’ HebowedmeoutoftheroomandIwenthomewithmyassistant,hardlyknowingwhattosayordo,Iwassopleasedatmyowngoodfortune.
"Well,Ithoughtoverthematterallday,andbyeveningIwasinlowspiritsagain;forIhadquitepersuadedmyselfthatthewholeaffairmustbesomegreathoaxorfraud,thoughwhatitsobjectmightbeIcouldnotimagine. Itseemedaltogetherpastbeliefthatanyonecouldmakesuchawill,orthattheywouldpaysuchasumfordoinganythingsosimpleascopyingouttheEncyclopediaBritannica. VincentSpauldingdidwhathecouldtocheermeup,butbybedtimeIhadreasonedmyselfoutofthewholething. However,inthemorningIdeterminedtohavealookatitanyhow,soIboughtapennybottleofink,andwithaquill-pen,andsevensheetsoffoolscappaper,IstartedoffforPope’sCourt.
"Well,tomysurpriseanddelight,everythingwasasrightaspossible. Thetablewassetoutreadyforme,andMr.DuncanRosswastheretoseethatIgotfairlytowork.
