Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
Idressedhurriedly,forIknewbyexperiencethatrailwaycaseswereseldomtrivial,andhasteneddownstairs. AsIdescended,myoldally,theguard,cameoutoftheroomandclosedthedoortightlybehindhim.
"I’vegothimhere,"hewhispered,jerkinghisthumboverhisshoulder;"he’sallright."
"Whatisit,then?"Iasked,forhismannersuggestedthatitwassomestrangecreaturewhichhehadcagedupinmyroom.
"It’sanewpatient,"hewhispered. "IthoughtI’dbringhimroundmyself;thenhecouldn’tslipaway. Thereheis,allsafeandsound. Imustgonow,Doctor;Ihavemydooties,justthesameasyou." Andoffhewent,thistrustytout,withoutevengivingmetimetothankhim.
Ienteredmyconsulting-roomandfoundagentlemanseatedbythetable. Hewasquietlydressedinasuitofheathertweedwithasoftclothcapwhichhehadlaiddownuponmybooks. Roundoneofhishandshehadahandkerchiefwrapped,whichwasmottledalloverwithbloodstains. Hewasyoung,notmorethanfive-and-twenty,Ishouldsay,withastrong,masculineface;buthewasexceedinglypaleandgavemetheimpressionofamanwhowassufferingfromsomestrongagitation,whichittookallhisstrengthofmindtocontrol.
"Iamsorrytoknockyouupsoearly,Doctor,"saidhe,"butIhavehadaveryseriousaccidentduringthenight. Icameinbytrainthismorning,andoninquiringatPaddingtonastowhereImightfindadoctor,aworthyfellowverykindlyescortedmehere. Igavethemaidacard,butIseethatshehasleftitupontheside-table."
