Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
"Well,Mr.Holmes,whenIgotbacktomylodgingsandfoundlittleenoughinthecupboard,andtwoorthreebillsuponthetable. IbegantoaskmyselfwhetherIhadnotdoneaveryfoolishthing. Afterall,ifthesepeoplehadstrangefadsandexpectedobedienceonthemostextraordinarymatters,theywereatleastreadytopayfortheireccentricity. VeryfewgovernessesinEnglandaregetting100poundsayear. Besides,whatusewasmyhairtome? ManypeopleareimprovedbywearingitshortandperhapsIshouldbeamongthenumber. NextdayIwasinclinedtothinkthatIhadmadeamistake,andbythedayafterIwassureofit. IhadalmostovercomemypridesofarastogobacktotheagencyandinquirewhethertheplacewasstillopenwhenIreceivedthisletterfromthegentlemanhimself. IhaveithereandIwillreadittoyou:
"TheCopperBeeches,nearWinchester.
"DEARMissHUNTER:
"MissStoperhasverykindlygivenmeyouraddress,andIwritefromheretoaskyouwhetheryouhavereconsideredyourdecision. Mywifeisveryanxiousthatyoushouldcome,forshehasbeenmuchattractedbymydescriptionofyou. Wearewillingtogive30poundsaquarter,or120poundsayear,soastorecompenseyouforanylittleinconveniencewhichourfadsmaycauseyou. Theyarenotveryexacting,afterall. Mywifeisfondofaparticularshadeofelectricblueandwouldlikeyoutowearsuchadressindoorsinthemorning. Youneednot,however,gototheexpenseofpurchasingone,aswehaveonebelongingtomydeardaughterAlice(nowinPhiladelphia),whichwould,Ishouldthink,fityouverywell. Then,astosittinghereorthere,oramusingyourselfinanymannerindicated,thatneedcauseyounoinconvenience.
