Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Man with the Twisted Lip
"Well,verysoonIfoundthatIwassavingconsiderablesumsofmoney. IdonotmeanthatanybeggarinthestreetsofLondoncouldearn700poundsayear—whichislessthanmyaveragetakings—butIhadexceptionaladvantagesinmypowerofmakingup,andalsoinafacilityofrepartee,whichimprovedbypracticeandmademequitearecognizedcharacterintheCity. Alldayastreamofpennies,variedbysilver,pouredinuponme,anditwasaverybaddayinwhichIfailedtotake2pounds.
"AsIgrewricherIgrewmoreambitious,tookahouseinthecountry,andeventuallymarried,withoutanyonehavingasuspicionastomyrealoccupation. MydearwifeknewthatIhadbusinessintheCity. Shelittleknewwhat.
"LastMondayIhadfinishedforthedayandwasdressinginmyroomabovetheopiumdenwhenIlookedoutofmywindowandsaw,tomyhorrorandastonishment,thatmywifewasstandinginthestreet,withhereyesfixedfulluponme. Igaveacryofsurprise,threwupmyarmstocovermyface,and,rushingtomyconfidant,thelascar,entreatedhimtopreventanyonefromcominguptome. Iheardhervoicedownstairs,butIknewthatshecouldnotascend. SwiftlyIthrewoffmyclothes,pulledonthoseofabeggar,andputonmypigmentsandwig. Evenawife’seyescouldnotpiercesocompleteadisguise. Butthenitoccurredtomethattheremightbeasearchintheroom,andthattheclothesmightbetrayme. Ithrewopenthewindow,reopeningbymyviolenceasmallcutwhichIhadinflicteduponmyselfinthebedroomthatmorning. ThenIseizedmycoat,whichwasweightedbythecopperswhichIhadjusttransferredtoitfromtheleatherbaginwhichIcarriedmytakings. Ihurleditoutofthewindow,anditdisappearedintotheThames. Theotherclotheswouldhavefollowed,butatthatmomenttherewasarushofconstablesupthestair,andafewminutesafterIfound,rather,Iconfess,tomyrelief,thatinsteadofbeingidentifiedasMr.NevilleSt.Clair,Iwasarrestedashismurderer.
