Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
Hisbrainisascunningashisfingers,andthoughwemeetsignsofhimateveryturn,weneverknowwheretofindthemanhimself. He’llcrackacribinScotlandoneweek,andberaisingmoneytobuildanorphanageinCornwallthenext. I’vebeenonhistrackforyearsandhaveneverseteyesonhimyet."
"IhopethatImayhavethepleasureofintroducingyouto-night. I’vehadoneortwolittleturnsalsowithMr.JohnClay,andIagreewithyouthatheisattheheadofhisprofession. Itispastten,however,andquitetimethatwestarted. Ifyoutwowilltakethefirsthansom,WatsonandIwillfollowinthesecond."
SherlockHolmeswasnotverycommunicativeduringthelongdriveandlaybackinthecabhummingthetuneswhichhehadheardintheafternoon. Werattledthroughanendlesslabyrinthofgas-litstreetsuntilweemergedintoFarringtonStreet.
"Weareclosetherenow,"myfriendremarked. "ThisfellowMerryweatherisabankdirector,andpersonallyinterestedinthematter. IthoughtitaswelltohaveJoneswithusalso. Heisnotabadfellow,thoughanabsoluteimbecileinhisprofession. Hehasonepositivevirtue. Heisasbraveasabulldogandastenaciousasalobsterifhegetshisclawsuponanyone. Hereweare,andtheyarewaitingforus."
Wehadreachedthesamecrowdedthoroughfareinwhichwehadfoundourselvesinthemorning. Ourcabsweredismissed,and,followingtheguidanceofMr.Merryweather,wepasseddownanarrowpassageandthroughasidedoor,whichheopenedforus. Withintherewasasmallcorridor,whichendedinaverymassiveirongate.
