Собака Баскервіллів
Second Report of Dr. Watson
ItistruethatifanysuddendangerhadthreatenedhimIwastoofarawaytobeofuse,andyetIamsurethatyouwillagreewithmethatthepositionwasverydifficult,andthattherewasnothingmorewhichIcoulddo.
Ourfriend,SirHenry,andtheladyhadhaltedonthepathandwerestandingdeeplyabsorbedintheirconversation,whenIwassuddenlyawarethatIwasnottheonlywitnessoftheirinterview. Awispofgreenfloatingintheaircaughtmyeye, andanotherglanceshowedmethatitwascarriedonastickbyamanwhowasmovingamongthebrokenground. ItwasStapletonwithhisbutterfly-net. HewasverymuchclosertothepairthanIwas,andheappearedtobemovingintheirdirection. AtthisinstantSirHenrysuddenlydrewMissStapletontohisside. Hisarmwasroundher,butitseemedtomethatshewasstrainingawayfromhimwithherfaceaverted. Hestoopedhisheadtohers,andsheraisedonehandasifinprotest. NextmomentIsawthemspringapartandturnhurriedlyround. Stapletonwasthecauseoftheinterruption. Hewasrunningwildlytowardsthem,hisabsurdnetdanglingbehindhim. Hegesticulatedandalmostdancedwithexcitementinfrontofthelovers. WhatthescenemeantIcouldnotimagine,butitseemedtomethatStapletonwasabusingSirHenry,whoofferedexplanations,whichbecamemoreangryastheotherrefusedtoacceptthem. Theladystoodbyinhaughtysilence. FinallyStapletonturneduponhisheelandbeckonedinaperemptorywaytohissister,who,afteranirresoluteglanceatSirHenry,walkedoffbythesideofherbrother. Thenaturalist’sangrygesturesshowedthattheladywasincludedinhisdispleasure. Thebaronetstoodforaminutelookingafterthem,andthenhewalkedslowlybackthewaythathehadcome,hisheadhanging,theverypictureofdejection.
WhatallthismeantIcouldnotimagine,butIwasdeeplyashamedtohavewitnessedsointimateascenewithoutmyfriend’sknowledge. Irandownthehillthereforeandmetthebaronetatthebottom.
