Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Crooked Man
"
"Thankyou.I’llfillthevacantpegthen.Sorrytoseethatyou’vehadtheBritishworkmaninthehouse.He‘satokenofevil.Notthedrains,Ihope?"
"No,thegas."
"Ah!Hehaslefttwonail-marksfromhisbootuponyourlinoleumjustwherethelightstrikesit.No,thankyou,IhadsomesupperatWaterloo,butI’llsmokeapipewithyouwithpleasure."
Ihandedhimmypouch,andheseatedhimselfoppositetomeandsmokedforsometimeinsilence.Iwaswellawarethatnothingbutbusinessofimportancewouldhavebroughthimtomeatsuchanhour,soIwaitedpatientlyuntilheshouldcomeroundtoit.
"Iseethatyouareprofessionallyratherbusyjustnow,"saidhe,glancingverykeenlyacrossatme.
"Yes,I’vehadabusyday,"Ianswered."Itmayseemveryfoolishinyoureyes,"Iadded,"butreallyIdon’tknowhowyoudeducedit."
Holmeschuckledtohimself.
"Ihavetheadvantageofknowingyourhabits,mydearWatson,"saidhe."Whenyourroundisashortoneyouwalk,andwhenitisalongoneyouuseahansom.AsIperceivethatyourboots,althoughused,arebynomeansdirty,Icannotdoubtthatyouareatpresentbusyenoughtojustifythehansom."
"Excellent!"Icried.
"Elementary,"saidhe.