Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Stock-Broker’s Clerk
HallPycroft,totellmyfriendyourveryinterestingexperienceexactlyasyouhavetoldittome,orwithmoredetailifpossible.Itwillbeofusetometohearthesuccessionofeventsagain.Itisacase,Watson,whichmayprovetohavesomethinginit,ormayprovetohavenothing,butwhich,atleast,presentsthoseunusualandoutrefeatureswhichareasdeartoyouastheyaretome.Now,Mr.Pycroft.Ishallnotinterruptyouagain."
Ouryoungcompanionlookedatmewithatwinkleinhiseye.
"Theworstofthestoryis."saidhe."thatIshowmyselfupassuchaconfoundedfool.Ofcourseitmayworkoutallright,andIdon’tseethatIcouldhavedoneotherwise;butifIhavelostmycribandgetnothinginexchangeIshallfeelwhatasoftJohnnyIhavebeen.I’mnotverygoodattellingastory,Dr.Watson,butitislikethiswithme:
"IusedtohaveabilletatCoxon&Woodhouse’s,ofDraperGardens,buttheywereletinearlyinthespringthroughtheVenezuelanloan,asnodoubtyouremember,andcameanastycropper.Ihavebeenwiththemfiveyears,andoldCoxongavemearippinggoodtestimonialwhenthesmashcame,butofcourseweclerkswereallturnedadrift,thetwenty-sevenofus.Itriedhereandtriedthere,buttherewerelotsofotherchapsonthesamelayasmyself,anditwasaperfectfrostforalongtime.IhadbeentakingthreepoundsaweekatCoxon’s,andIhadsavedaboutseventyofthem,butIsoonworkedmywaythroughthatandoutattheotherend.