Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Stock-Broker’s Clerk
Thenamesoftheoccupantswerepaintedatthebottomonthewall,buttherewasnosuchnameastheFranco-MidlandHardwareCompany,Limited.Istoodforafewminuteswithmyheartinmyboots,wonderingwhetherthewholethingwasanelaboratehoaxornot,whenupcameamanandaddressedme.HewasverylikethechapIhadseenthenightbefore,thesamefigureandvoice,buthewasclean-shavenandhishairwaslighter.
"‘AreyouMr.HallPycroft?"heasked.
"‘Yes,"saidI.
"‘Oh!Iwasexpectingyou,butyouareatriflebeforeyourtime.Ihadanotefrommybrotherthismorninginwhichhesangyourpraisesveryloudly.’
"‘Iwasjustlookingfortheofficeswhenyoucame.’
"‘Wehavenotgotournameupyet,forweonlysecuredthesetemporarypremiseslastweek.Comeupwithme,andwewilltalkthematterover.’
"Ifollowedhimtothetopofaveryloftystair,andthere,rightundertheslates,wereacoupleofempty,dustylittlerooms,uncarpetedanduncurtained,intowhichheledme.Ihadthoughtofagreatofficewithshiningtablesandrowsofclerks,suchasIwasusedto,andIdaresayIstaredratherstraightatthetwodealchairsandonelittletable,whichwithaledgerandawaste-paperbasket,madeupthewholefurniture.
"‘Don’tbedisheartened,Mr.Pycroft,"saidmynewacquaintance,seeingthelengthofmyface.
