Пригоди Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
Mr.Merryweatheristhechairmanofdirectors,andhewillexplaintoyouthattherearereasonswhythemoredaringcriminalsofLondonshouldtakeaconsiderableinterestinthiscellaratpresent."
"ItisourFrenchgold,"whisperedthedirector. "Wehavehadseveralwarningsthatanattemptmightbemadeuponit."
"YourFrenchgold?"
"Yes.Wehadoccasionsomemonthsagotostrengthenourresourcesandborrowedforthatpurpose30,000napoleonsfromtheBankofFrance. Ithasbecomeknownthatwehaveneverhadoccasiontounpackthemoney,andthatitisstilllyinginourcellar. ThecrateuponwhichIsitcontains2,000napoleonspackedbetweenlayersofleadfoil. Ourreserveofbullionismuchlargeratpresentthanisusuallykeptinasinglebranchoffice,andthedirectorshavehadmisgivingsuponthesubject."
"Whichwereverywelljustified,"observedHolmes. "Andnowitistimethatwearrangedourlittleplans. Iexpectthatwithinanhourmatterswillcometoahead. InthemeantimeMr.Merryweather,wemustputthescreenoverthatdarklantern."
"Andsitinthedark?"
"Iamafraidso. Ihadbroughtapackofcardsinmypocket,andIthoughtthat,aswewereapartiecarree,youmighthaveyourrubberafterall. ButIseethattheenemy’spreparationshavegonesofarthatwecannotriskthepresenceofalight. And,firstofall,wemustchooseourpositions. Thesearedaringmen,andthoughweshalltakethematadisadvantage,theymaydoussomeharmunlesswearecareful.
