Собака Баскервіллів
A Retrospection
"Havingconceivedtheideaheproceededtocarryitoutwithconsiderablefinesse. Anordinaryschemerwouldhavebeencontenttoworkwithasavagehound. Theuseofartificialmeanstomakethecreaturediabolicalwasaflashofgeniusuponhispart. ThedogheboughtinLondonfromRossandMangles,thedealersinFulhamRoad. Itwasthestrongestandmostsavageintheirpossession. HebroughtitdownbytheNorthDevonlineandwalkedagreatdistanceoverthemoorsoastogetithomewithoutexcitinganyremarks. HehadalreadyonhisinsecthuntslearnedtopenetratetheGrimpenMire,andsohadfoundasafehiding-placeforthecreature. Herehekennelleditandwaitedhischance.
"Butitwassometimecoming. Theoldgentlemancouldnotbedecoyedoutsideofhisgroundsatnight. SeveraltimesStapletonlurkedaboutwithhishound,butwithoutavail. Itwasduringthesefruitlessqueststhathe,orratherhisally,wasseenbypeasants,andthatthelegendofthedemondogreceivedanewconfirmation. HehadhopedthathiswifemightlureSirCharlestohisruin,butheresheprovedunexpectedlyindependent. Shewouldnotendeavourtoentangletheoldgentlemaninasentimentalattachmentwhichmightdeliverhimovertohisenemy. Threatsandeven,Iamsorrytosay,blowsrefusedtomoveher. Shewouldhavenothingtodowithit,andforatimeStapletonwasatadeadlock.
"HefoundawayoutofhisdifficultiesthroughthechancethatSirCharles,whohadconceivedafriendshipforhim,madehimtheministerofhischarityinthecaseofthisunfortunatewoman,Mrs.LauraLyons. Byrepresentinghimselfasasinglemanheacquiredcompleteinfluenceoverher,andhegavehertounderstandthatintheeventofherobtainingadivorcefromherhusbandhewouldmarryher. HisplansweresuddenlybroughttoaheadbyhisknowledgethatSirCharleswasabouttoleavetheHallontheadviceofDr.Mortimer,withwhoseopinionhehimselfpretendedtocoincide.
