Собака Баскервіллів
The Curse of the Baskervilles
Morewisethanthosewhogoonuntilthewheelturnsagainstthem,herealizedhisgainsandreturnedtoEnglandwiththem. ItisonlytwoyearssincehetookuphisresidenceatBaskervilleHall,anditiscommontalkhowlargewerethoseschemesofreconstructionandimprovementwhichhavebeeninterruptedbyhisdeath. Beinghimselfchildless,itwashisopenlyexpresseddesirethatthewholecountry-sideshould,withinhisownlifetime,profitbyhisgoodfortune, andmanywillhavepersonalreasonsforbewailinghisuntimelyend. Hisgenerousdonationstolocalandcountycharitieshavebeenfrequentlychronicledinthesecolumns.
"ThecircumstancesconnectedwiththedeathofSirCharlescannotbesaidtohavebeenentirelyclearedupbytheinquest, butatleastenoughhasbeendonetodisposeofthoserumourstowhichlocalsuperstitionhasgivenrise. Thereisnoreasonwhatevertosuspectfoulplay,ortoimaginethatdeathcouldbefromanybutnaturalcauses. SirCharleswasawidower,andamanwhomaybesaidtohavebeeninsomewaysofaneccentrichabitofmind. Inspiteofhisconsiderablewealthhewassimpleinhispersonaltastes,andhisindoorservantsatBaskervilleHallconsistedofamarriedcouplenamedBarrymore, thehusbandactingasbutlerandthewifeashousekeeper. Theirevidence,corroboratedbythatofseveralfriends, tendstoshowthatSirCharles’shealthhasforsometimebeenimpaired,andpointsespeciallytosomeaffectionoftheheart, manifestingitselfinchangesofcolour,breathlessness,andacuteattacksofnervousdepression. Dr.JamesMortimer,thefriendandmedicalattendantofthedeceased,hasgivenevidencetothesameeffect.
"Thefactsofthecasearesimple. SirCharlesBaskervillewasinthehabiteverynightbeforegoingtobedofwalkingdownthefamousYewAlleyofBaskervilleHall.
