Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Red-headed League
"Thenputonyourhatandcome. IamgoingthroughtheCityfirst,andwecanhavesomelunchontheway. IobservethatthereisagooddealofGermanmusicontheprogramme,whichisrathermoretomytastethanItalianorFrench. Itisintrospective,andIwanttointrospect. Comealong!"
WetravelledbytheUndergroundasfarasAldersgate;andashortwalktookustoSaxe-CoburgSquare,thesceneofthesingularstorywhichwehadlistenedtointhemorning. Itwasapoky,little,shabby-genteelplace,wherefourlinesofdingytwo-storiedbrickhouseslookedoutintoasmallrailed-inenclosure,wherealawnofweedygrassandafewclumpsoffadedlaurel-bushesmadeahardfightagainstasmoke-ladenanduncongenialatmosphere. Threegiltballsandabrownboardwith"JABEZWILSON"inwhiteletters,uponacornerhouse,announcedtheplacewhereourred-headedclientcarriedonhisbusiness. SherlockHolmesstoppedinfrontofitwithhisheadononesideandlookeditallover,withhiseyesshiningbrightlybetweenpuckeredlids. Thenhewalkedslowlyupthestreet,andthendownagaintothecorner,stilllookingkeenlyatthehouses. Finallyhereturnedtothepawnbroker’s,and,havingthumpedvigorouslyuponthepavementwithhissticktwoorthreetimes,hewentuptothedoorandknocked. Itwasinstantlyopenedbyabright-looking,clean-shavenyoungfellow,whoaskedhimtostepin.
"Thankyou,"saidHolmes,"IonlywishedtoaskyouhowyouwouldgofromheretotheStrand."
"Thirdright,fourthleft,"answeredtheassistantpromptly,closingthedoor.
