Собака Баскервіллів
A Retrospection
EvenStapleton’sattemptuponSirHenrythatnightwhichendedinthedeathoftheunfortunateconvictdidnothelpusmuchinprovingmurderagainstourman. Thereseemedtobenoalternativebuttocatchhimred-handed,andtodosowehadtouseSirHenry,aloneandapparentlyunprotected,asabait. Wedidso,andatthecostofasevereshocktoourclientwesucceededincompletingourcaseanddrivingStapletontohisdestruction. ThatSirHenryshouldhavebeenexposedtothisis,Imustconfess,areproachtomymanagementofthecase, butwehadnomeansofforeseeingtheterribleandparalyzingspectaclewhichthebeastpresented,norcouldwepredictthefogwhichenabledhimtoburstuponusatsuchshortnotice. WesucceededinourobjectatacostwhichboththespecialistandDr.Mortimerassuremewillbeatemporaryone. Alongjourneymayenableourfriendtorecovernotonlyfromhisshatterednervesbutalsofromhiswoundedfeelings. Hislovefortheladywasdeepandsincere,andtohimthesaddestpartofallthisblackbusinesswasthatheshouldhavebeendeceivedbyher.
"Itonlyremainstoindicatethepartwhichshehadplayedthroughout. TherecanbenodoubtthatStapletonexercisedaninfluenceoverher whichmayhavebeenloveormayhavebeenfear,orverypossiblyboth,sincetheyarebynomeansincompatibleemotions. Itwas,atleast,absolutelyeffective. Athiscommandsheconsentedtopassashissister,thoughhefoundthelimitsofhispoweroverherwhenheendeavouredtomakeherthedirectaccessorytomurder. ShewasreadytowarnSirHenrysofarasshecouldwithoutimplicatingherhusband,andagainandagainshetriedtodoso. Stapletonhimselfseemstohavebeencapableofjealousy,andwhenhesawthebaronetpayingcourttothelady, eventhoughitwaspartofhisownplan,stillhecouldnothelpinterruptingwithapassionateoutburstwhichrevealedthefierysoulwhichhisself-containedmannersocleverlyconcealed.
