Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
Wehavedoneagooddealinthisdirectionduringthelastfewyears,andtherearemanynoblefamiliestowhomwehaveadvancedlargesumsuponthesecurityoftheirpictures,libraries,orplate.
"YesterdaymorningIwasseatedinmyofficeatthebankwhenacardwasbroughtintomebyoneoftheclerks. IstartedwhenIsawthename,foritwasthatofnoneotherthan—well,perhapseventoyouIhadbettersaynomorethanthatitwasanamewhichisahouseholdwordallovertheearth—oneofthehighest,noblest,mostexaltednamesinEngland. Iwasoverwhelmedbythehonourandattempted,whenheentered,tosayso,butheplungedatonceintobusinesswiththeairofamanwhowishestohurryquicklythroughadisagreeabletask.
"‘Mr.Holder,’saidhe,‘Ihavebeeninformedthatyouareinthehabitofadvancingmoney.’
"‘Thefirmdoessowhenthesecurityisgood.’Ianswered.
"‘Itisabsolutelyessentialtome,’saidhe,‘thatIshouldhave50,000poundsatonce. Icould,ofcourse,borrowsotriflingasumtentimesoverfrommyfriends,butImuchprefertomakeitamatterofbusinessandtocarryoutthatbusinessmyself. Inmypositionyoucanreadilyunderstandthatitisunwisetoplaceone’sselfunderobligations.’
"‘Forhowlong,mayIask,doyouwantthissum?’Iasked.
"‘NextMondayIhavealargesumduetome,andIshallthenmostcertainlyrepaywhatyouadvance,withwhateverinterestyouthinkitrighttocharge. Butitisveryessentialtomethatthemoneyshouldbepaidatonce.’
