Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Stock-Broker’s Clerk
ThefirstisthemakingofPycroftwriteadeclarationbywhichheenteredtheserviceofthispreposterouscompany.Doyounotseehowverysuggestivethatis?"
"IamafraidImissthepoint."
"Well,whydidtheywanthimtodoit?Notasabusinessmatter,forthesearrangementsareusuallyverbal,andtherewasnoearthlybusinessreasonwhythisshouldbeanexception.Don’tyousee,myyoungfriend,thattheywereveryanxioustoobtainaspecimenofyourhandwriting,andhadnootherwayofdoingit?"
"Andwhy?"
"Quiteso.Why?Whenweanswerthatwehavemadesomeprogresswithourlittleproblem.Why?Therecanbeonlyoneadequatereason.Someonewantedtolearntoimitateyourwritingandhadtoprocureaspecimenofitfirst.Andnowifwepassontothesecondpointwefindthateachthrowslightupontheother.ThatpointistherequestmadebyPinnerthatyoushouldnotresignyourplace,butshouldleavethemanagerofthisimportantbusinessinthefullexpectationthataMr.HallPycroft,whomhehadneverseen,wasabouttoentertheofficeupontheMondaymorning."
"MyGod!"criedourclient,"whatablindbeetleIhavebeen!"
"Nowyouseethepointaboutthehandwriting.Supposethatsomeoneturnedupinyourplacewhowroteacompletelydifferenthandfromthatinwhichyouhadappliedforthevacancy,ofcoursethegamewouldhavebeenup.
