Собака Баскервиллей
The Stapletons of Merripit House
AsourroadlaythesamewayIthoughtthatIwouldovertakeyouandintroducemyself. ItrustthatSirHenryisnonetheworseforhisjourney?"
"Heisverywell,thankyou."
"WewereallratherafraidthatafterthesaddeathofSirCharlesthenewbaronetmightrefusetolivehere. Itisaskingmuchofawealthymantocomedownandburyhimselfinaplaceofthiskind,butIneednottellyouthatitmeansaverygreatdealtothecountry-side. SirHenryhas,Isuppose,nosuperstitiousfearsinthematter?"
"Idonotthinkthatitislikely."
"Ofcourseyouknowthelegendofthefienddogwhichhauntsthefamily?"
"Ihaveheardit."
"Itisextraordinaryhowcredulousthepeasantsareabouthere! Anynumberofthemarereadytoswearthattheyhaveseensuchacreatureuponthemoor. "Hespokewithasmile,butIseemedtoreadinhiseyesthathetookthemattermoreseriously. "ThestorytookagreatholdupontheimaginationofSirCharles,andIhavenodoubtthatitledtohistragicend."
"Buthow?"
"Hisnervesweresoworkedupthattheappearanceofanydogmighthavehadafataleffectuponhisdiseasedheart. IfancythathereallydidseesomethingofthekinduponthatlastnightintheYewAlley. Ifearedthatsomedisastermightoccur,forIwasveryfondoftheoldman,andIknewthathisheartwasweak."
"Howdidyouknowthat?"
