Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
Itookitupandglancedatit."Mr.VictorHatherley,hydraulicengineer,16A.VictoriaStreet(3dfloor)."Thatwasthename,style,andabodeofmymorningvisitor. "IregretthatIhavekeptyouwaiting,"saidI,sittingdowninmylibrary-chair. "Youarefreshfromanightjourney,Iunderstand,whichisinitselfamonotonousoccupation."
"Oh,mynightcouldnotbecalledmonotonous,"saidhe,andlaughed. Helaughedveryheartily,withahigh,ringingnote,leaningbackinhischairandshakinghissides. Allmymedicalinstinctsroseupagainstthatlaugh.
"Stopit!"Icried;"pullyourselftogether!" andIpouredoutsomewaterfromacarafe.
Itwasuseless,however. Hewasoffinoneofthosehystericaloutburstswhichcomeuponastrongnaturewhensomegreatcrisisisoverandgone. Presentlyhecametohimselfoncemore,verywearyandpale-looking.
"Ihavebeenmakingafoolofmyself,"hegasped.
"Notatail.Drinkthis."Idashedsomebrandyintothewater,andthecolourbegantocomebacktohisbloodlesscheeks.
"That’sbetter!"saidhe. "Andnow,Doctor,perhapsyouwouldkindlyattendtomythumb,orrathertotheplacewheremythumbusedtobe."
Heunwoundthehandkerchiefandheldouthishand. Itgaveevenmyhardenednervesashuddertolookatit. Therewerefourprotrudingfingersandahorridred,spongysurfacewherethethumbshouldhavebeen. Ithadbeenhackedortornrightoutfromtheroots.
"Goodheavens!"Icried,"thisisaterribleinjury. Itmusthavebledconsiderably."
