Собака Баскервіллів
Second Report of Dr. Watson
Thatseemedtomakethematternobetter,sothenIlostmytempertoo,andIansweredhimrathermorehotlythanIshouldperhaps,consideringthatshewasstandingby. Soitendedbyhisgoingoffwithher,asyousaw,andhereamIasbadlypuzzledamanasanyinthiscounty. Justtellmewhatitallmeans,Watson,andI’lloweyoumorethaneverIcanhopetopay."
Itriedoneortwoexplanations,but,indeed,Iwascompletelypuzzledmyself. Ourfriend’stitle,hisfortune,hisage,hischaracter,andhisappearanceareallinhisfavour,andIknownothingagainsthimunlessitbethisdarkfatewhichrunsinhisfamily. Thathisadvancesshouldberejectedsobrusquelywithoutanyreferencetothelady’sownwishes, andthattheladyshouldacceptthesituationwithoutprotest,isveryamazing. However,ourconjecturesweresetatrestbyavisitfromStapletonhimselfthatveryafternoon. Hehadcometoofferapologiesforhisrudenessofthemorning,andafteralongprivateinterviewwithSirHenryinhisstudy,theupshotoftheirconversationwasthatthebreachisquitehealed,andthatwearetodineatMerripitHousenextFridayasasignofit.
"Idon’tsaynowthatheisn’tacrazyman,"saidSirHenry; "Ican’tforgetthelookinhiseyeswhenheranatmethismorning,butImustallowthatnomancouldmakeamorehandsomeapologythanhehasdone."
"Didhegiveanyexplanationofhisconduct?"
"Hissisteriseverythinginhislife,hesays. Thatisnaturalenough,andIamgladthatheshouldunderstandhervalue. Theyhavealwaysbeentogether,andaccordingtohisaccounthehasbeenaverylonelymanwithonlyherasacompanion,sothatthethoughtoflosingherwasreallyterribletohim. Hehadnotunderstood,hesaid,thatIwasbecomingattachedtoher,butwhenhesawwithhisowneyesthatitwasreallyso,andthatshemightbetakenawayfromhim, itgavehimsuchashockthatforatimehewasnotresponsibleforwhathesaidordid.
