Знак четырех
IX. A Break in the Chain
“Icomeheretoseeagentleman,andyoutwo,whoIneversawinmylife,seizemeandtreatmeinthisfashion!”
“Youwillbenonetheworse,”Isaid.“Weshallrecompenseyouforthelossofyourtime.Sitoverhereonthesofa,andyouwillnothavelongtowait.”
Hecameacrosssullenlyenough,andseatedhimselfwithhisfacerestingonhishands.JonesandIresumedourcigarsandourtalk.Suddenly,however,Holmes’svoicebrokeinuponus.
“Ithinkthatyoumightoffermeacigartoo,”hesaid.
Webothstartedinourchairs.TherewasHolmessittingclosetouswithanairofquietamusement.
“Holmes!”Iexclaimed.“Youhere!Butwhereistheoldman?”
“Hereistheoldman,”saidhe,holdingoutaheapofwhitehair.“Hereheis,—wig,whiskers,eyebrows,andall.Ithoughtmydisguisewasprettygood,butIhardlyexpectedthatitwouldstandthattest.”
“Ah,Yourogue!”criedJones,highlydelighted.“Youwouldhavemadeanactor,andarareone.Youhadtheproperworkhousecough,andthoseweaklegsofyoursareworthtenpoundsaweek.IthoughtIknewtheglintofyoureye,though.Youdidn’tgetawayfromussoeasily,Yousee.”
“Ihavebeenworkinginthatget-upallday,”saidhe,lightinghiscigar.“Yousee,agoodmanyofthecriminalclassesbegintoknowme,—especiallysinceourfriendheretooktopublishingsomeofmycases:soIcanonlygoonthewar-pathundersomesimpledisguiselikethis.Yougotmywire?”
“Yes;thatwaswhatbroughtmehere.”
“Howhasyourcaseprospered?”
“Ithasallcometonothing.
