Пригоди Шерлока Холмса

The Man with the Twisted Lip

           Therewasthepointfromwhichallmyadventuresstarted. ItwasonlybytryingbeggingasanamateurthatIcouldgetthefactsuponwhichtobasemyarticles. WhenanactorIhad,ofcourse,learnedallthesecretsofmakingup,andhadbeenfamousinthegreen-roomformyskill. Itookadvantagenowofmyattainments. Ipaintedmyface,andtomakemyselfaspitiableaspossibleImadeagoodscarandfixedonesideofmylipinatwistbytheaidofasmallslipofflesh-colouredplaster. Thenwitharedheadofhair,andanappropriatedress,Itookmystationinthebusinesspartofthecity,ostensiblyasamatch-sellerbutreallyasabeggar. ForsevenhoursIpliedmytrade,andwhenIreturnedhomeintheeveningIfoundtomysurprisethatIhadreceivednolessthan26s.4d. 

           "Iwrotemyarticlesandthoughtlittlemoreofthematteruntil,sometimelater,Ibackedabillforafriendandhadawritserveduponmefor25pounds. Iwasatmywit’sendwheretogetthemoney,butasuddenideacametome. Ibeggedafortnight’sgracefromthecreditor,askedforaholidayfrommyemployers,andspentthetimeinbeggingintheCityundermydisguise. IntendaysIhadthemoneyandhadpaidthedebt. 

           "Well,youcanimaginehowharditwastosettledowntoarduousworkat2poundsaweekwhenIknewthatIcouldearnasmuchinadaybysmearingmyfacewithalittlepaint,layingmycapontheground,andsittingstill. Itwasalongfightbetweenmyprideandthemoney,butthedollarswonatlast,andIthrewupreportingandsatdayafterdayinthecornerwhichIhadfirstchosen,inspiringpitybymyghastlyfaceandfillingmypocketswithcoppers. Onlyonemanknewmysecret. HewasthekeeperofalowdeninwhichIusedtolodgeinSwandamLane,whereIcouldeverymorningemergeasasqualidbeggarandintheeveningstransformmyselfintoawell-dressedmanabouttown. Thisfellow,alascar,waswellpaidbymeforhisrooms,sothatIknewthatmysecretwassafeinhispossession. 

00:00:00 00:00:00
Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 179 з 369