Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
PublicdisgraceImighthavefaced,althoughIamamanwhosecharacterhasneveryetborneastain. Privateafflictionalsoisthelotofeveryman; butthetwocomingtogether,andinsofrightfulaform,havebeenenoughtoshakemyverysoul. Besides,itisnotIalone. Theverynoblestinthelandmaysufferunlesssomewaybefoundoutofthishorribleaffair."
"Praycomposeyourself,sir,"saidHolmes,"andletmehaveaclearaccountofwhoyouareandwhatitisthathasbefallenyou."
"Myname,"answeredourvisitor,"isprobablyfamiliartoyourears. IamAlexanderHolder,ofthebankingfirmofHolder&Stevenson,ofThreadneedleStreet."
ThenamewasindeedwellknowntousasbelongingtotheseniorpartnerinthesecondlargestprivatebankingconcernintheCityofLondon. Whatcouldhavehappened,then,tobringoneoftheforemostcitizensofLondontothismostpitiablepass? Wewaited,allcuriosity,untilwithanotherefforthebracedhimselftotellhisstory.
"Ifeelthattimeisofvalue,"saidhe;"thatiswhyIhastenedherewhenthepoliceinspectorsuggestedthatIshouldsecureyourcooperation. IcametoBakerStreetbytheUndergroundandhurriedfromthereonfoot,forthecabsgoslowlythroughthissnow. ThatiswhyIwassooutofbreath,forIamamanwhotakesverylittleexercise. Ifeelbetternow,andIwillputthefactsbeforeyouasshortlyandyetasclearlyasIcan.
"Itis,ofcourse,wellknowntoyouthatinasuccessfulbankingbusinessasmuchdependsuponourbeingabletofindremunerativeinvestmentsforourfundsasuponourincreasingourconnectionandthenumberofourdepositors. Oneofourmostlucrativemeansoflayingoutmoneyisintheshapeofloans,wherethesecurityisunimpeachable.
