Собака Баскервіллів
First Report of Dr. Watson
Yethealsogivestheideaofhiddenfires. Hehascertainlyaverymarkedinfluenceoverher, forIhaveseenhercontinuallyglanceathimasshetalkedasifseekingapprobationforwhatshesaid. Itrustthatheiskindtoher. Thereisadryglitterinhiseyes,andafirmsetofhisthinlips,whichgoeswithapositiveandpossiblyaharshnature. Youwouldfindhimaninterestingstudy.
HecameovertocalluponBaskervilleonthatfirstday,andtheverynextmorninghetookusbothtoshowusthespotwherethelegendofthewickedHugoissupposedtohavehaditsorigin. Itwasanexcursionofsomemilesacrossthemoortoaplacewhichissodismalthatitmighthavesuggestedthestory. Wefoundashortvalleybetweenruggedtorswhichledtoanopen,grassyspacefleckedoverwiththewhitecottongrass. Inthemiddleofitrosetwogreatstones,wornandsharpenedattheupperend,untiltheylookedlikethehugecorrodingfangsofsomemonstrousbeast. Ineverywayitcorrespondedwiththesceneoftheoldtragedy. SirHenrywasmuchinterestedandaskedStapletonmorethanoncewhetherhedidreallybelieveinthepossibilityoftheinterferenceofthesupernaturalintheaffairsofmen. Hespokelightly,butitwasevidentthathewasverymuchinearnest. Stapletonwasguardedinhisreplies,butitwaseasytoseethathesaidlessthanhemight,andthathewouldnotexpresshiswholeopinionoutofconsiderationforthefeelingsofthebaronet. Hetoldusofsimilarcases,wherefamilieshadsufferedfromsomeevilinfluence, andheleftuswiththeimpressionthathesharedthepopularviewuponthematter.
OnourwaybackwestayedforlunchatMerripitHouse,anditwastherethatSirHenrymadetheacquaintanceofMissStapleton. Fromthefirstmomentthathesawherheappearedtobestronglyattractedbyher,andIammuchmistakenifthefeelingwasnotmutual.
