Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
"‘Thatisquitecorrect,’Ianswered;‘butyouwillexcusemeifIsaythatIcannotseehowallthisbearsuponmyprofessionalqualifications. Iunderstandthatitwasonaprofessionalmatterthatyouwishedtospeaktome?’
"‘Undoubtedlyso. ButyouwillfindthatallIsayisreallytothepoint. Ihaveaprofessionalcommissionforyou,butabsolutesecrecyisquiteessential—absolutesecrecy,youunderstand,andofcoursewemayexpectthatmorefromamanwhoisalonethanfromonewholivesinthebosomofhisfamily.’
"‘IfIpromisetokeepasecret,’saidI,‘youmayabsolutelydependuponmydoingso.’
"HelookedveryhardatmeasIspoke,anditseemedtomethatIhadneverseensosuspiciousandquestioninganeye.
"‘Doyoupromise,then?’saidheatlast.
"‘Yes,Ipromise.’
"‘Absoluteandcompletesilencebefore,during,andafter?Noreferencetothematteratall,eitherinwordorwriting?’
"‘Ihavealreadygivenyoumyword.’
"‘Verygood.’ Hesuddenlysprangup,anddartinglikelightningacrosstheroomheflungopenthedoor.Thepassageoutsidewasempty.
"‘That’sallright,’saidhe,comingback.‘Iknowtheclerksaresometimescuriousastotheirmaster’saffairs.
