Собака Баскервіллів
Sir Henry Baskerville
Hismethodhadtheadditionaladvantagethatiftheyweretotakeacabhewasallreadytofollowthem. Ithas,however,oneobviousdisadvantage."
"Itputshiminthepowerofthecabman."
"Exactly."
"Whatapitywedidnotgetthenumber!"
"MydearWatson,clumsyasIhavebeen,yousurelydonotseriouslyimaginethatIneglectedtogetthenumber? No. 2704isourman. Butthatisnousetousforthemoment."
"Ifailtoseehowyoucouldhavedonemore."
"OnobservingthecabIshouldhaveinstantlyturnedandwalkedintheotherdirection. Ishouldthenatmyleisurehavehiredasecondcabandfollowedthefirstatarespectfuldistance,or,betterstill,havedriventotheNorthumberlandHotelandwaitedthere. WhenourunknownhadfollowedBaskervillehomeweshouldhavehadtheopportunityofplayinghisowngameuponhimselfandseeingwherehemadefor. Asitis,byanindiscreeteagerness,whichwastakenadvantageofwithextraordinaryquicknessandenergybyouropponent,wehavebetrayedourselvesandlostourman."
WehadbeensaunteringslowlydownRegentStreetduringthisconversation,andDr.Mortimer,withhiscompanion,hadlongvanishedinfrontofus.
"Thereisnoobjectinourfollowingthem,"saidHolmes. "Theshadowhasdepartedandwillnotreturn.
