Собака Баскервиллей
Three Broken Threads
"ButDr.Mortimerhashispracticetoattendto,andhishouseismilesawayfromyours. Withallthegoodwillintheworldhemaybeunabletohelpyou. No,SirHenry,youmusttakewithyousomeone,atrustyman,whowillbealwaysbyyourside."
"Isitpossiblethatyoucouldcomeyourself,Mr.Holmes?"
"IfmatterscametoacrisisIshouldendeavourtobepresentinperson; butyoucanunderstandthat,withmyextensiveconsultingpracticeandwiththeconstantappealswhichreachmefrommanyquarters,itisimpossibleformetobeabsentfromLondonforanindefinitetime. AtthepresentinstantoneofthemostreverednamesinEnglandisbeingbesmirchedbyablackmailer,andonlyIcanstopadisastrousscandal. YouwillseehowimpossibleitisformetogotoDartmoor."
"Whomwouldyourecommend,then?"
Holmeslaidhishanduponmyarm.
"Ifmyfriendwouldundertakeitthereisnomanwhoisbetterworthhavingatyoursidewhenyouareinatightplace. NoonecansaysomoreconfidentlythanI."
Thepropositiontookmecompletelybysurprise,butbeforeIhadtimetoanswer,Baskervilleseizedmebythehandandwrungitheartily.
"Well,now,thatisrealkindofyou,Dr.Watson,"saidhe. "Youseehowitiswithme,andyouknowjustasmuchaboutthematterasIdo. IfyouwillcomedowntoBaskervilleHallandseemethroughI’llneverforgetit."
Thepromiseofadventurehadalwaysafascinationforme,andIwascomplimentedbythewordsofHolmesandbytheeagerness withwhichthebaronethailedmeasacompanion.
