Собака Баскервиллей
Second Report of Dr. Watson
Hewasverysorryforallthathadpassed,andherecognizedhowfoolishandhowselfishitwasthatheshouldimaginethathecouldholdabeautifulwomanlikehissistertohimselfforherwholelife. Ifshehadtoleavehimhehadratheritwastoaneighbourlikemyselfthantoanyoneelse. Butinanycaseitwasablowtohim,anditwouldtakehimsometimebeforehecouldpreparehimselftomeetit. HewouldwithdrawalloppositionuponhispartifIwouldpromiseforthreemonthstoletthematterrestandtobecontentwithcultivatingthelady’sfriendshipduringthattimewithoutclaimingherlove. ThisIpromised,andsothematterrests."
Sothereisoneofoursmallmysteriesclearedup. Itissomethingtohavetouchedbottomanywhereinthisboginwhichwearefloundering. WeknownowwhyStapletonlookedwithdisfavouruponhissister’ssuitor—evenwhenthatsuitorwassoeligibleaoneasSirHenry. AndnowIpassontoanotherthreadwhichIhaveextricatedoutofthetangledskein, themysteryofthesobsinthenight,ofthetear-stainedfaceofMrs.Barrymore,ofthesecretjourneyofthebutlertothewesternlatticewindow. Congratulateme,mydearHolmes,andtellmethatIhavenotdisappointedyouasanagent —thatyoudonotregrettheconfidencewhichyoushowedinmewhenyousentmedown. Allthesethingshavebyonenight’sworkbeenthoroughlycleared.
Ihavesaid"byonenight’swork,"but,intruth,itwasbytwonights’work,foronthefirstwedrewentirelyblank. IsatupwithSirHenryinhisroomsuntilnearlythreeo’clockinthemorning,butnosoundofanysortdidwehearexceptthechimingclockuponthestairs. Itwasamostmelancholyvigil,andendedbyeachofusfallingasleepinourchairs. Fortunatelywewerenotdiscouraged,andwedeterminedtotryagain. Thenextnightweloweredthelamp,andsatsmokingcigaretteswithoutmakingtheleastsound.
