Собака Баскервіллів
First Report of Dr. Watson
SirHenryhadtoassurehimthatitwasnotsoandpacifyhimbygivinghimaconsiderablepartofhisoldwardrobe,theLondonoutfithavingnowallarrived.
Mrs.Barrymoreisofinteresttome. Sheisaheavy,solidperson,verylimited,intenselyrespectable,andinclinedtobepuritanical. Youcouldhardlyconceivealessemotionalsubject. YetIhavetoldyouhow,onthefirstnighthere,Iheardhersobbingbitterly,andsincethenIhavemorethanonceobservedtracesoftearsuponherface. Somedeepsorrowgnawseveratherheart. SometimesIwonderifshehasaguiltymemorywhichhauntsher,andsometimesIsuspectBarrymoreofbeingadomestictyrant. Ihavealwaysfeltthattherewassomethingsingularandquestionableinthisman’scharacter,buttheadventureoflastnightbringsallmysuspicionstoahead.
Andyetitmayseemasmallmatterinitself. YouareawarethatIamnotaverysoundsleeper,andsinceIhavebeenonguardinthishousemyslumbershavebeenlighterthanever. Lastnight,abouttwointhemorning,Iwasarousedbyastealthysteppassingmyroom. Irose,openedmydoor,andpeepedout. Alongblackshadowwastrailingdownthecorridor. Itwasthrownbyamanwhowalkedsoftlydownthepassagewithacandleheldinhishand. Hewasinshirtandtrousers,withnocoveringtohisfeet. Icouldmerelyseetheoutline,buthisheighttoldmethatitwasBarrymore. Hewalkedveryslowlyandcircumspectly,andtherewassomethingindescribablyguiltyandfurtiveinhiswholeappearance.
Ihavetoldyouthatthecorridorisbrokenbythebalconywhichrunsroundthehall,butthatitisresumeduponthefartherside. IwaiteduntilhehadpassedoutofsightandthenIfollowedhim. WhenIcameroundthebalconyhehadreachedtheendofthefarthercorridor,andIcouldseefromtheglimmeroflightthroughanopendoorthathehadenteredoneoftherooms.
