Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
Aboutsunset,however,theireffortswereatlastsuccessful,andtheysubduedtheflames,butnotbeforetheroofhadfallenin,andthewholeplacebeenreducedtosuchabsoluteruinthat,savesometwistedcylindersandironpiping,notatraceremainedofthemachinerywhichhadcostourunfortunateacquaintancesodearly. Largemassesofnickelandoftinwerediscoveredstoredinanout-house,butnocoinsweretobefound,whichmayhaveexplainedthepresenceofthosebulkyboxeswhichhavebeenalreadyreferredto.
Howourhydraulicengineerhadbeenconveyedfromthegardentothespotwhereherecoveredhissensesmighthaveremainedforeveramysterywereitnotforthesoftmould,whichtoldusaveryplaintale. Hehadevidentlybeencarrieddownbytwopersons,oneofwhomhadremarkablysmallfeetandtheotherunusuallylargeones. Onthewhole,itwasmostprobablethatthesilentEnglishman,beinglessboldorlessmurderousthanhiscompanion,hadassistedthewomantobeartheunconsciousmanoutofthewayofdanger.
"Well,"saidourengineerruefullyaswetookourseatstoreturnoncemoretoLondon,"ithasbeenaprettybusinessforme! IhavelostmythumbandIhavelostafifty-guineafee,andwhathaveIgained?"
"Experience,"saidHolmes,laughing. "Indirectlyitmaybeofvalue,youknow;youhaveonlytoputitintowordstogainthereputationofbeingexcellentcompanyfortheremainderofyourexistence."
