Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
‘Nowwecantalkinsafety.’ Hedrewuphischairveryclosetomineandbegantostareatmeagainwiththesamequestioningandthoughtfullook.
"Afeelingofrepulsion,andofsomethingakintofearhadbeguntorisewithinmeatthestrangeanticsofthisfleshlessman. Evenmydreadoflosingaclientcouldnotrestrainmefromshowingmyimpatience.
"‘Ibegthatyouwillstateyourbusiness,sir,’saidl;‘mytimeisofvalue.’ Heavenforgivemeforthatlastsentence,butthewordscametomylips.
"‘Howwouldfiftyguineasforanight’sworksuityou?’heasked.
"‘Mostadmirably.’
"‘Isayanight’swork,butanhour’swouldbenearerthemark. Isimplywantyouropinionaboutahydraulicstampingmachinewhichhasgotoutofgear. Ifyoushowuswhatiswrongweshallsoonsetitrightourselves. Whatdoyouthinkofsuchacommissionasthat?’
"‘Theworkappearstobelightandthepaymunificent.’
"‘Preciselyso.Weshallwantyoutocometo-nightbythelasttrain.’
"‘Whereto?’
"‘ToEyford,inBerkshire.ItisalittleplacenearthebordersofOxfordshire,andwithinsevenmilesofReading. ThereisatrainfromPaddingtonwhichwouldbringyouthereatabout11:15.’
"‘Verygood.’
"‘Ishallcomedowninacarriagetomeetyou.’
"‘Thereisadrive,then?’
