Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle
"Well,then,you’velostyourfiver,forit’stownbred,"snappedthesalesman.
"It’snothingofthekind."
"Isayitis."
"Idon’tbelieveit."
"D’youthinkyouknowmoreaboutfowlsthanI,whohavehandledthemeversinceIwasanipper?Itellyou,allthosebirdsthatwenttotheAlphaweretownbred."
"You’llneverpersuademetobelievethat."
"Willyoubet,then?"
"It’smerelytakingyourmoney,forIknowthatIamright. ButI’llhaveasovereignonwithyou,justtoteachyounottobeobstinate."
Thesalesmanchuckledgrimly. "Bringmethebooks,Bill,"saidhe.
Thesmallboybroughtroundasmallthinvolumeandagreatgreasy-backedone,layingthemouttogetherbeneaththehanginglamp.
"Nowthen,Mr.Cocksure,"saidthesalesman,"IthoughtthatIwasoutofgeese,butbeforeIfinishyou’llfindthatthereisstilloneleftinmyshop.Youseethislittlebook?"
"Well?"
"That’sthelistofthefolkfromwhomIbuy. D’yousee?Well,then,hereonthispagearethecountryfolk,andthenumbersaftertheirnamesarewheretheiraccountsareinthebigledger.