Собака Баскервіллів
The Problem
"Excellent! Thisisacolleague,Watson,afterourownheart. Butthemarks?"
"Hehadlefthisownmarksalloverthatsmallpatchofgravel. Icoulddiscernnoothers."
SherlockHolmesstruckhishandagainsthiskneewithanimpatientgesture.
"IfIhadonlybeenthere! "hecried. "Itisevidentlyacaseofextraordinaryinterest,andonewhichpresentedimmenseopportunitiestothescientificexpert. ThatgravelpageuponwhichImighthavereadsomuchhasbeenlongerethissmudgedbytherainanddefacedbytheclogsofcuriouspeasants. Oh,Dr.Mortimer,Dr.Mortimer,tothinkthatyoushouldnothavecalledmein! Youhaveindeedmuchtoanswerfor."
"Icouldnotcallyouin,Mr.Holmes,withoutdisclosingthesefactstotheworld,andIhavealreadygivenmyreasonsfornotwishingtodoso. Besides,besides—"
"Whydoyouhesitate?"
"Thereisarealminwhichthemostacuteandmostexperiencedofdetectivesishelpless."
"Youmeanthatthethingissupernatural?"
"Ididnotpositivelysayso."
"No,butyouevidentlythinkit."
"Sincethetragedy,Mr.Holmes,therehavecometomyearsseveralincidentswhicharehardtoreconcilewiththesettledorderofNature."
