Собака Баскервіллів
A Retrospection
ByencouragingtheintimacyhemadeitcertainthatSirHenrywouldfrequentlycometoMerripitHouseandthathewouldsoonerorlatergettheopportunitywhichhedesired. Onthedayofthecrisis,however,hiswifeturnedsuddenlyagainsthim. Shehadlearnedsomethingofthedeathoftheconvict,andsheknewthatthehoundwasbeingkeptintheout-houseontheeveningthatSirHenrywascomingtodinner. Shetaxedherhusbandwithhisintendedcrime,andafuriousscenefollowed,inwhichheshowedherforthefirsttimethatshehadarivalinhislove. Herfidelityturnedinaninstanttobitterhatredandhesawthatshewouldbetrayhim. Hetiedherup,therefore,thatshemighthavenochanceofwarningSirHenry, andhehoped,nodoubt,thatwhenthewholecountry-sideputdownthebaronet’sdeathtothecurseofhisfamily,astheycertainlywoulddo,hecouldwinhiswifebacktoacceptanaccomplishedfactandtokeepsilentuponwhatsheknew. InthisIfancythatinanycasehemadeamiscalculation,andthat,ifwehadnotbeenthere,hisdoomwouldnonethelesshavebeensealed. AwomanofSpanishblooddoesnotcondonesuchaninjurysolightly. Andnow,mydearWatson,withoutreferringtomynotes,Icannotgiveyouamoredetailedaccountofthiscuriouscase. Idonotknowthatanythingessentialhasbeenleftunexplained."
"HecouldnothopetofrightenSirHenrytodeathashehaddonetheoldunclewithhisbogiehound."
"Thebeastwassavageandhalf-starved. Ifitsappearancedidnotfrightenitsvictimtodeath,atleastitwouldparalyzetheresistancewhichmightbeoffered."
"Nodoubt. Thereonlyremainsonedifficulty. IfStapletoncameintothesuccession, howcouldheexplainthefactthathe,theheir,hadbeenlivingunannouncedunderanothernamesoclosetotheproperty? Howcouldheclaimitwithoutcausingsuspicionandinquiry?"
