Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Stock-Broker’s Clerk
‘Romewasnotbuiltinaday,andwehavelotsofmoneyatourbacks,thoughwedon’tcutmuchdashyetinoffices.Praysitdown,andletmehaveyourletter.’
"Igaveittohim,andhereaditoververycarefully.
"‘YouseemtohavemadeavastimpressionuponmybrotherArthur,"saidhe,‘andIknowthatheisaprettyshrewdjudge.HeswearsbyLondon,youknow;andIbyBirmingham;butthistimeIshallfollowhisadvice.Prayconsideryourselfdefinitelyengaged.’
"‘Whataremyduties?"Iasked.
"‘YouwilleventuallymanagethegreatdepotinParis,whichwillpourafloodofEnglishcrockeryintotheshopsofahundredandthirty-fouragentsinFrance.Thepurchasewillbecompletedinaweek,andmeanwhileyouwillremaininBirminghamandmakeyourselfuseful.’
"‘How?’
"Foranswer,hetookabigredbookoutofadrawer.
"‘ThisisadirectoryofParis,"saidhe,‘withthetradesafterthenamesofthepeople.Iwantyoutotakeithomewithyouandtomarkoffallthehardware-sellers,withtheiraddresses.Itwouldbeofthegreatestusetometohavethem.’
"‘Surely,thereareclassifiedlists?"Isuggested.
"‘Notreliableones.Theirsystemisdifferentfromours.Stickatit,andletmehavethelistsbyMonday,attwelve.Good-day,Mr.Pycroft.Ifyoucontinuetoshowzealandintelligenceyouwillfindthecompanyagoodmaster.
