Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Stock-Broker’s Clerk
ThenSherlockHolmescockedhiseyeatme,leaningbackonthecushionswithapleasedandyetcriticalface,likeaconnoisseurwhohasjusttakenhisfirstsipofacometvintage.
"Ratherfine,Watson,isitnot?"saidhe."Therearepointsinitwhichpleaseme.IthinkthatyouwillagreewithmethataninterviewwithMr.ArthurHarryPinnerinthetemporaryofficesoftheFranco-MidlandHardwareCompany,Limited,wouldbearatherinterestingexperienceforbothofus."
"Buthowcanwedoit?"Iasked.
"Oh,easilyenough,"saidHallPycroftcheerily."Youaretwofriendsofminewhoareinwantofabillet,andwhatcouldbemorenaturalthanthatIshouldbringyoubothroundtothemanagingdirector?"
"Quiteso,ofcourse,"saidHolmes."IshouldliketohavealookatthegentlemanandseeifIcanmakeanythingofhislittlegame.Whatqualitieshaveyou,myfriend,whichwouldmakeyourservicessovaluable?Orisitpossiblethat—"Hebeganbitinghisnailsandstaringblanklyoutofthewindow,andwehardlydrewanotherwordfromhimuntilwewereinNewStreet.
Atseveno’clockthateveningwewerewalking,thethreeofus,downCorporationStreettothecompany’soffices.
"Itisnouseourbeingatallbeforeourtime,"saidourclient."Heonlycomestheretoseeme,apparently,fortheplaceisdeserteduptotheveryhourhenames."
"Thatissuggestive,"remarkedHolmes.
