Собака Баскервіллів
The Curse of the Baskervilles
Mymotiveforwithholdingitfromthecoroner’sinquiryisthatamanofscienceshrinksfromplacinghimselfinthepublicpositionofseemingtoindorseapopularsuperstition. IhadthefurthermotivethatBaskervilleHall,asthepapersays,wouldcertainlyremainuntenantedifanythingweredonetoincreaseitsalreadyrathergrimreputation. ForboththesereasonsIthoughtthatIwasjustifiedintellingratherlessthanIknew,sincenopracticalgoodcouldresultfromit,butwithyouthereisnoreasonwhyIshouldnotbeperfectlyfrank.
"Themoorisverysparselyinhabited,andthosewholiveneareachotherarethrownverymuchtogether. ForthisreasonIsawagooddealofSirCharlesBaskerville. WiththeexceptionofMr.Frankland,ofLafterHall,andMr.Stapleton,thenaturalist,therearenoothermenofeducationwithinmanymiles. SirCharleswasaretiringman,butthechanceofhisillnessbroughtustogether,andacommunityofinterestsinsciencekeptusso. HehadbroughtbackmuchscientificinformationfromSouthAfrica,andmanyacharmingeveningwehavespenttogetherdiscussingthecomparativeanatomyoftheBushmanandtheHottentot.
"WithinthelastfewmonthsitbecameincreasinglyplaintomethatSirCharles’snervoussystemwasstrainedtothebreakingpoint. HehadtakenthislegendwhichIhavereadyouexceedinglytoheart—somuchsothat,althoughhewouldwalkinhisowngrounds,nothingwouldinducehimtogooutuponthemooratnight. Incredibleasitmayappeartoyou,Mr.Holmes,hewashonestlyconvincedthatadreadfulfateoverhunghisfamily,andcertainlytherecordswhichhewasabletogiveofhisancestorswerenotencouraging.
