Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
"We’rehuntingincouplesagain,Doctor,yousee,"saidJonesinhisconsequentialway. "Ourfriendhereisawonderfulmanforstartingachase. Allhewantsisanolddogtohelphimtodotherunningdown."
"Ihopeawildgoosemaynotprovetobetheendofourchase,"observedMr.Merryweathergloomily.
"YoumayplaceconsiderableconfidenceinMr.Holmes,sir,"saidthepoliceagentloftily. "Hehashisownlittlemethods,whichare,ifhewon’tmindmysayingso,justalittletootheoreticalandfantastic,buthehasthemakingsofadetectiveinhim. Itisnottoomuchtosaythatonceortwice,asinthatbusinessoftheSholtomurderandtheAgratreasure,hehasbeenmorenearlycorrectthantheofficialforce."
"Oh,ifyousayso,Mr.Jones,itisallright,"saidthestrangerwithdeference. "Still,IconfessthatImissmyrubber. ItisthefirstSaturdaynightforseven-and-twentyyearsthatIhavenothadmyrubber."
"Ithinkyouwillfind,"saidSherlockHolmes,"thatyouwillplayforahigherstaketo-nightthanyouhaveeverdoneyet,andthattheplaywillbemoreexciting. Foryou,Mr.Merryweather,thestakewillbesome30,000pounds; andforyou,Jones,itwillbethemanuponwhomyouwishtolayyourhands."
"JohnClay,themurderer,thief,smasher,andforger. He’sayoungman,Mr.Merryweather,butheisattheheadofhisprofession,andIwouldratherhavemybraceletsonhimthanonanycriminalinLondon. He’saremarkableman,isyoungJohnClay. Hisgrandfatherwasaroyalduke,andhehimselfhasbeentoEtonandOxford.