Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
"‘Myaccomplishments,sir,maybelessthanyouimagine,’saidI. ‘AlittleFrench,alittleGerman,music,anddrawing—’
"‘Tut,tut!’hecried. ‘Thisisallquitebesidethequestion. Thepointis,haveyouorhaveyounotthebearinganddeportmentofalady?Thereitisinanutshell. Ifyouhavenot,youarenotfinedfortherearingofachildwhomaysomedayplayaconsiderablepartinthehistoryofthecountry. Butifyouhavewhy,then,howcouldanygentlemanaskyoutocondescendtoacceptanythingunderthethreefigures? Yoursalarywithme,madam,wouldcommenceat100poundsayear.’
"Youmayimagine,Mr.Holmes,thattome,destituteasIwas,suchanofferseemedalmosttoogoodtobetrue. Thegentleman,however,seeingperhapsthelookofincredulityuponmyface,openedapocket-bookandtookoutanote.
"‘Itisalsomycustom,’saidhe,smilinginthemostpleasantfashionuntilhiseyeswerejusttwolittleshiningslitsamidthewhitecreasesofhisface,‘toadvancetomyyoungladieshalftheirsalarybeforehand,sothattheymaymeetanylittleexpensesoftheirjourneyandtheirwardrobe.’
"ItseemedtomethatIhadnevermetsofascinatingandsothoughtfulaman. AsIwasalreadyindebttomytradesmen,theadvancewasagreatconvenience,andyettherewassomethingunnaturalaboutthewholetransactionwhichmademewishtoknowalittlemorebeforeIquitecommittedmyself.
"‘MayIaskwhereyoulive,sir?’saidI.
"‘Hampshire. Charmingruralplace. TheCopperBeeches,fivemilesonthefarsideofWinchester. Itisthemostlovelycountry,mydearyounglady,andthedearestoldcountry-house.’
