Собака Баскервиллей
The Man on the Tor
"None,sir,none. IamproudtosaythatIhadnointerestinthematter. Iactentirelyfromasenseofpublicduty. Ihavenodoubt,forexample,thattheFernworthypeoplewillburnmeineffigyto-night. Itoldthepolicelasttimetheydiditthattheyshouldstopthesedisgracefulexhibitions. TheCountyConstabularyisinascandalousstate,sir,andithasnotaffordedmetheprotectiontowhichIamentitled. ThecaseofFranklandv.Reginawillbringthematterbeforetheattentionofthepublic. Itoldthemthattheywouldhaveoccasiontoregrettheirtreatmentofme,andalreadymywordshavecometrue."
"Howso? "Iasked.
Theoldmanputonaveryknowingexpression.
"BecauseIcouldtellthemwhattheyaredyingtoknow; butnothingwouldinducemetohelptherascalsinanyway."
IhadbeencastingroundforsomeexcusebywhichIcouldgetawayfromhisgossip,butnowIbegantowishtohearmoreofit. Ihadseenenoughofthecontrarynatureoftheoldsinner tounderstandthatanystrongsignofinterestwouldbethesurestwaytostophisconfidences.
"Somepoachingcase,nodoubt?"saidI,withanindifferentmanner.
"Ha,ha,myboy,averymuchmoreimportantmatterthanthat! Whatabouttheconvictonthemoor?"
Istarted."Youdon’tmeanthatyouknowwhereheis?"saidI.
"Imaynotknowexactlywhereheis,butIamquitesurethatIcouldhelpthepolicetolaytheirhandsonhim. Hasitneverstruckyouthatthewaytocatchthatmanwastofindoutwherehegothisfood,andsotraceittohim?"
