Собака Баскервиллей
Baskerville Hall
"Iwasaboyinmy‘teensatthetimeofmyfather’sdeath,andhadneverseentheHall,forhelivedinalittlecottageontheSouthCoast. ThenceIwentstraighttoafriendinAmerica. ItellyouitisallasnewtomeasitistoDr.Watson,andI’maskeenaspossibletoseethemoor."
"Areyou? Thenyourwishiseasilygranted,forthereisyourfirstsightofthemoor,"saidDr.Mortimer,pointingoutofthecarriagewindow.
Overthegreensquaresofthefieldsandthelowcurveofawoodthereroseinthedistanceagray,melancholyhill,withastrangejaggedsummit,dimandvagueinthedistance,likesomefantasticlandscapeinadream. Baskervillesatforalongtime,hiseyesfixeduponit,andIreaduponhiseagerfacehowmuchitmeanttohim, thisfirstsightofthatstrangespotwherethemenofhisbloodhadheldswaysolongandlefttheirmarksodeep. Therehesat,withhistweedsuitandhisAmericanaccent,inthecornerofaprosaicrailway-carriage, andyetasIlookedathisdarkandexpressivefaceIfeltmorethaneverhowtrueadescendanthewasofthatlonglineofhigh-blooded,fiery,andmasterfulmen. Therewerepride,valour,andstrengthinhisthickbrows,hissensitivenostrils,andhislargehazeleyes. Ifonthatforbiddingmooradifficultanddangerousquestshouldliebeforeus,thiswasatleastacomradeforwhomonemightventuretotakeariskwiththecertaintythathewouldbravelyshareit.
Thetrainpulledupatasmallwaysidestationandwealldescended. Outside,beyondthelow,whitefence,awagonettewithapairofcobswaswaiting. Ourcomingwasevidentlyagreatevent,forstation-masterandportersclusteredroundustocarryoutourluggage. Itwasasweet,simplecountryspot,butIwassurprisedtoobservethatbythegatetherestoodtwosoldierlymenindarkuniforms, wholeanedupontheirshortriflesandglancedkeenlyatusaswepassed.
