Собака Баскервіллів
Second Report of Dr. Watson
Itputmeinamostawkwardposition. Iwasatalosswhattosayorwhattodo,andbeforeIhadmadeupmymindhepickeduphiscaneandwasgone.
ButwhenIcametothinkthematterovermyconsciencereproachedmebitterlyforhavingonanypretextallowedhimtogooutofmysight. IimaginedwhatmyfeelingswouldbeifIhadtoreturntoyouandtoconfessthatsomemisfortunehadoccurredthroughmydisregardforyourinstructions. Iassureyoumycheeksflushedattheverythought. Itmightnotevennowbetoolatetoovertakehim,soIsetoffatonceinthedirectionofMerripitHouse.
IhurriedalongtheroadatthetopofmyspeedwithoutseeinganythingofSirHenry,untilIcametothepointwherethemoorpathbranchesoff. There,fearingthatperhapsIhadcomeinthewrongdirectionafterall,ImountedahillfromwhichIcouldcommandaview—thesamehillwhichiscutintothedarkquarry. ThenceIsawhimatonce. Hewasonthemoorpath,aboutaquarterofamileoff,andaladywasbyhissidewhocouldonlybeMissStapleton. Itwasclearthattherewasalreadyanunderstandingbetweenthemandthattheyhadmetbyappointment. Theywerewalkingslowlyalongindeepconversation,andIsawhermakingquicklittlemovementsofherhandsasifshewereveryearnestinwhatshewassaying,whilehelistenedintently,andonceortwiceshookhisheadinstrongdissent. Istoodamongtherockswatchingthem,verymuchpuzzledastowhatIshoulddonext. Tofollowthemandbreakintotheirintimateconversationseemedtobeanoutrage, andyetmycleardutywasneverforaninstanttolethimoutofmysight. Toactthespyuponafriendwasahatefultask. Still,Icouldseenobettercoursethantoobservehimfromthehill,andtoclearmyconsciencebyconfessingtohimafterwardswhatIhaddone.
