Собака Баскервіллів
A Retrospection
Thescentsuggestedthepresenceofalady,andalreadymythoughtsbegantoturntowardstheStapletons. ThusIhadmadecertainofthehound,andhadguessedatthecriminalbeforeeverwewenttothewestcountry.
"ItwasmygametowatchStapleton. Itwasevident,however,thatIcouldnotdothisifIwerewithyou,sincehewouldbekeenlyonhisguard. Ideceivedeverybody,therefore,yourselfincluded,andIcamedownsecretlywhenIwassupposedtobeinLondon. Myhardshipswerenotsogreatasyouimagined,thoughsuchtriflingdetailsmustneverinterferewiththeinvestigationofacase. IstayedforthemostpartatCoombeTracey,andonlyusedthehutuponthemoorwhenitwasnecessarytobenearthesceneofaction. Cartwrighthadcomedownwithme,andinhisdisguiseasacountryboyhewasofgreatassistancetome. Iwasdependentuponhimforfoodandcleanlinen. WhenIwaswatchingStapleton,Cartwrightwasfrequentlywatchingyou,sothatIwasabletokeepmyhanduponallthestrings.
"Ihavealreadytoldyouthatyourreportsreachedmerapidly,beingforwardedinstantlyfromBakerStreettoCoombeTracey. Theywereofgreatservicetome,andespeciallythatoneincidentallytruthfulpieceofbiographyofStapleton’s. IwasabletoestablishtheidentityofthemanandthewomanandknewatlastexactlyhowIstood. ThecasehadbeenconsiderablycomplicatedthroughtheincidentoftheescapedconvictandtherelationsbetweenhimandtheBarrymores. Thisalsoyouclearedupinaveryeffectiveway,thoughIhadalreadycometothesameconclusionsfrommyownobservations.
"BythetimethatyoudiscoveredmeuponthemoorIhadacompleteknowledgeofthewholebusiness, butIhadnotacasewhichcouldgotoajury.
