Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
Butthatwasnotquitegoodenough,Mr.Holmes. Ididnotwishtolosesuchaplacewithoutastruggle,so,asIhadheardthatyouweregoodenoughtogiveadvicetopoorfolkwhowereinneedofit,Icamerightawaytoyou."
"Andyoudidverywisely,"saidHolmes. "Yourcaseisanexceedinglyremarkableone,andIshallbehappytolookintoit. FromwhatyouhavetoldmeIthinkthatitispossiblethatgraverissueshangfromitthanmightatfirstsightappear."
"Graveenough!"saidMr.JabezWilson. "Why,Ihavelostfourpoundaweek."
"Asfarasyouarepersonallyconcerned,"remarkedHolmes,"Idonotseethatyouhaveanygrievanceagainstthisextraordinaryleague. Onthecontrary,youare,asIunderstand,richerbysome30pounds,tosaynothingoftheminuteknowledgewhichyouhavegainedoneverysubjectwhichcomesundertheletterA. Youhavelostnothingbythem."
"No,sir. ButIwanttofindoutaboutthem,andwhotheyare,andwhattheirobjectwasinplayingthisprank—ifitwasaprank—uponme. Itwasaprettyexpensivejokeforthem,foritcostthemtwoandthirtypounds."
"Weshallendeavourtoclearupthesepointsforyou. And,first,oneortwoquestions,Mr.Wilson. Thisassistantofyourswhofirstcalledyourattentiontotheadvertisement—howlonghadhebeenwithyou?"
"Aboutamonththen."
"Howdidhecome?"
