Собака Баскервиллей
Fixing the Nets
"IknowwhatisgoodwhenIseeit,andIseeitnow. That’saKneller,I’llswear,thatladyinthebluesilkoveryonder, andthestoutgentlemanwiththewigoughttobeaReynolds. Theyareallfamilyportraits,Ipresume?"
"Everyone."
"Doyouknowthenames?"
"Barrymorehasbeencoachingmeinthem,andIthinkIcansaymylessonsfairlywell."
"Whoisthegentlemanwiththetelescope?"
"ThatisRear-AdmiralBaskerville,whoservedunderRodneyintheWestIndies. ThemanwiththebluecoatandtherollofpaperisSirWilliamBaskerville,whowasChairmanofCommitteesoftheHouseofCommonsunderPitt."
"AndthisCavalieroppositetome—theonewiththeblackvelvetandthelace?"
"Ah,youhavearighttoknowabouthim. Thatisthecauseofallthemischief,thewickedHugo,whostartedtheHoundoftheBaskervilles. We’renotlikelytoforgethim."
Igazedwithinterestandsomesurpriseupontheportrait.
"Dearme! "saidHolmes, "heseemsaquiet,meek-manneredmanenough,butIdaresaythattherewasalurkingdevilinhiseyes. Ihadpicturedhimasamorerobustandruffianlyperson."
"There’snodoubtabouttheauthenticity,forthenameandthedate,1647,areonthebackofthecanvas."
