Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           "Well,then,you’velostyourfiver,forit’stownbred,"snappedthesalesman. 

           "It’snothingofthekind." 

           "Isayitis." 

           "Idon’tbelieveit." 

           "D’youthinkyouknowmoreaboutfowlsthanI,whohavehandledthemeversinceIwasanipper?Itellyou,allthosebirdsthatwenttotheAlphaweretownbred." 

           "You’llneverpersuademetobelievethat." 

           "Willyoubet,then?" 

           "It’smerelytakingyourmoney,forIknowthatIamright. ButI’llhaveasovereignonwithyou,justtoteachyounottobeobstinate." 

           Thesalesmanchuckledgrimly. "Bringmethebooks,Bill,"saidhe. 

           Thesmallboybroughtroundasmallthinvolumeandagreatgreasy-backedone,layingthemouttogetherbeneaththehanginglamp. 

           "Nowthen,Mr.Cocksure,"saidthesalesman,"IthoughtthatIwasoutofgeese,butbeforeIfinishyou’llfindthatthereisstilloneleftinmyshop.Youseethislittlebook?" 

           "Well?" 

           "That’sthelistofthefolkfromwhomIbuy. D’yousee?Well,then,hereonthispagearethecountryfolk,andthenumbersaftertheirnamesarewheretheiraccountsareinthebigledger.