Собака Баскервиллей
The Curse of the Baskervilles
WhenDr.MortimerhadfinishedreadingthissingularnarrativehepushedhisspectaclesuponhisforeheadandstaredacrossatMr.SherlockHolmes. Thelatteryawnedandtossedtheendofhiscigaretteintothefire.
"Well?"saidhe.
"Doyounotfinditinteresting?"
"Toacollectoroffairytales."
Dr.Mortimerdrewafoldednewspaperoutofhispocket.
"Now,Mr.Holmes,wewillgiveyousomethingalittlemorerecent. ThisistheDevonCountyChronicleofMay14thofthisyear. ItisashortaccountofthefactselicitedatthedeathofSirCharlesBaskervillewhichoccurredafewdaysbeforethatdate."
Myfriendleanedalittleforwardandhisexpressionbecameintent. Ourvisitorreadjustedhisglassesandbegan:
"TherecentsuddendeathofSirCharlesBaskerville,whosenamehasbeenmentionedastheprobableLiberalcandidateforMid-Devonatthenextelection,hascastagloomoverthecounty. ThoughSirCharleshadresidedatBaskervilleHallforacomparativelyshortperiodhisamiabilityofcharacterandextremegenerosityhadwontheaffection andrespectofallwhohadbeenbroughtintocontactwithhim. Inthesedaysofnouveauxrichesitisrefreshingtofindacasewherethescionofanoldcountyfamilywhichhasfallenuponevildaysisabletomakehisownfortune andtobringitbackwithhimtorestorethefallengrandeurofhisline. SirCharles,asiswellknown,madelargesumsofmoneyinSouthAfricanspeculation.
