Собака Баскервиллей
The Man on the Tor
AndyetthemoreIthoughtofthelady’sfaceandofhermannerthemoreIfeltthatsomethingwasbeingheldbackfromme. Whyshouldsheturnsopale? Whyshouldshefightagainsteveryadmissionuntilitwasforcedfromher? Whyshouldshehavebeensoreticentatthetimeofthetragedy? Surelytheexplanationofallthiscouldnotbeasinnocentasshewouldhavemebelieve. ForthemomentIcouldproceednofartherinthatdirection,butmustturnbacktothatothercluewhichwastobesoughtforamongthestonehutsuponthemoor.
Andthatwasamostvaguedirection. IrealizeditasIdrovebackandnotedhowhillafterhillshowedtracesoftheancientpeople. Barrymore’sonlyindicationhadbeenthatthestrangerlivedinoneoftheseabandonedhuts,andmanyhundredsofthemarescatteredthroughoutthelengthandbreadthofthemoor. ButIhadmyownexperienceforaguidesinceithadshownmethemanhimselfstandinguponthesummitoftheBlackTor. Thatthenshouldbethecentreofmysearch. FromthereIshouldexploreeveryhutuponthemooruntilIlightedupontherightone. IfthismanwereinsideitIshouldfindoutfromhisownlips,atthepointofmyrevolverifnecessary,whohewasandwhyhehaddoggedussolong. HemightslipawayfromusinthecrowdofRegentStreet,butitwouldpuzzlehimtodosouponthelonelymoor. Ontheotherhand,ifIshouldfindthehutanditstenantshouldnotbewithinitImustremainthere,howeverlongthevigil,untilhereturned. HolmeshadmissedhiminLondon. ItwouldindeedbeatriumphformeifIcouldrunhimtoearth,wheremymasterhadfailed.
Luckhadbeenagainstusagainandagaininthisinquiry,butnowatlastitcametomyaid. AndthemessengerofgoodfortunewasnoneotherthanMr.Frankland,whowasstanding,gray-whiskeredandred-faced,outsidethegateofhisgarden,whichopenedontothehighroadalongwhichItravelled.
