Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
But,indeed,ifyouaretrivial.Icannotblameyou,forthedaysofthegreatcasesarepast. Man,oratleastcriminalman,haslostallenterpriseandoriginality. Astomyownlittlepractice,itseemstobedegeneratingintoanagencyforrecoveringlostleadpencilsandgivingadvicetoyoungladiesfromboarding-schools. IthinkthatIhavetouchedbottomatlast,however. ThisnoteIhadthismorningmarksmyzero-point,Ifancy. Readit!" Hetossedacrumpledletteracrosstome.
ItwasdatedfromMontaguePlaceupontheprecedingevening,andranthus:
DEARMR.HOLMES:
IamveryanxioustoconsultyouastowhetherIshouldorshouldnotacceptasituationwhichhasbeenofferedtomeasgoverness. Ishallcallathalf-pasttento-morrowifIdonotinconvenienceyou.
Yoursfaithfully,
VIOLETHUNTER.
"Doyouknowtheyounglady?"Iasked.
"NotI."
"Itishalf-pasttennow."
"Yes,andIhavenodoubtthatisherring."
"Itmayturnouttobeofmoreinterestthanyouthink. Yourememberthattheaffairofthebluecarbuncle,whichappearedtobeamerewhimatfirst,developedintoaseriousinvestigation. Itmaybesointhiscase,also."
