Собака Баскервіллів
The Problem
WhenyoupassBradley’s,wouldyouaskhimtosendupapoundofthestrongestshagtobacco? Thankyou. Itwouldbeaswellifyoucouldmakeitconvenientnottoreturnbeforeevening. ThenIshouldbeverygladtocompareimpressionsastothismostinterestingproblemwhichhasbeensubmittedtousthismorning."
Iknewthatseclusionandsolitudewereverynecessaryformyfriendinthosehoursofintensementalconcentrationduringwhichheweighedeveryparticleofevidence,constructedalternativetheories,balancedoneagainsttheother,andmadeuphismindastowhichpointswereessentialandwhichimmaterial. IthereforespentthedayatmyclubanddidnotreturntoBakerStreetuntilevening. Itwasnearlynineo’clockwhenIfoundmyselfinthesitting-roomoncemore.
MyfirstimpressionasIopenedthedoorwasthatafirehadbrokenout,fortheroomwassofilledwithsmokethatthelightofthelampuponthetablewasblurredbyit. AsIentered,however,myfearsweresetatrest,foritwastheacridfumesofstrongcoarsetobaccowhichtookmebythethroatandsetmecoughing. ThroughthehazeIhadavaguevisionofHolmesinhisdressing-gowncoiledupinanarmchairwithhisblackclaypipebetweenhislips. Severalrollsofpaperlayaroundhim.
"Caughtcold,Watson? "saidhe.
"No,it’sthispoisonousatmosphere."
"Isupposeitisprettythick,nowthatyoumentionit."
"Thick! Itisintolerable."
