Собака Баскервиллей
Three Broken Threads
Anotheritemhadbeenaddedtothatconstantandapparentlypurposelessseriesofsmallmysterieswhichhadsucceededeachothersorapidly. SettingasidethewholegrimstoryofSirCharles’sdeath,wehadalineofinexplicableincidentsallwithinthelimitsoftwodays,whichincludedthereceiptoftheprintedletter,theblack-beardedspyinthehansom,thelossofthenewbrownboot,thelossoftheoldblackboot,andnowthereturnofthenewbrownboot. HolmessatinsilenceinthecabaswedrovebacktoBakerStreet,andIknewfromhisdrawnbrowsandkeenfacethathismind,likemyown,wasbusyinendeavouringtoframesomeschemeintowhichallthesestrangeandapparentlydisconnectedepisodescouldbefitted. Allafternoonandlateintotheeveninghesatlostintobaccoandthought.
Justbeforedinnertwotelegramswerehandedin. Thefirstran:—
"HAVEJUSTHEARDTHATBARRYMOREISATTHEHALL. —BASKERVILLE."
Thesecond:—
"VISITEDTWENTY-THREEHOTELSASDIRECTED,BUTSORRYTOREPORTUNABLETOTRACECUTSHEETOFTIMES. —CARTWRIGHT."
"Theregotwoofmythreads,Watson. Thereisnothingmorestimulatingthanacasewhereeverythinggoesagainstyou. Wemustcastroundforanotherscent."
"Wehavestillthecabmanwhodrovethespy."
"Exactly. IhavewiredtogethisnameandaddressfromtheOfficialRegistry. Ishouldnotbesurprisedifthiswereananswertomyquestion."
