Собака Баскервіллів
Three Broken Threads
"Sheisaninvalidlady,sir. HerhusbandwasoncemayorofGloucester. Shealwayscomestouswhensheisintown."
"Thankyou; IamafraidIcannotclaimheracquaintance. Wehaveestablishedamostimportantfactbythesequestions,Watson,"hecontinuedinalowvoiceaswewentupstairstogether. "Weknownowthatthepeoplewhoaresointerestedinourfriendhavenotsettleddowninhisownhotel. Thatmeansthatwhiletheyare,aswehaveseen,veryanxioustowatchhim,theyareequallyanxiousthatheshouldnotseethem. Now,thisisamostsuggestivefact."
"Whatdoesitsuggest?"
"Itsuggests—halloa,mydearfellow,whatonearthisthematter?"
AswecameroundthetopofthestairswehadrunupagainstSirHenryBaskervillehimself. Hisfacewasflushedwithanger,andheheldanoldanddustybootinoneofhishands. Sofuriouswashethathewashardlyarticulate,andwhenhedidspeakitwasinamuchbroaderandmoreWesterndialectthananywhichwehadheardfromhiminthemorning.
"Seemstometheyareplayingmeforasuckerinthishotel,"hecried. "They’llfindthey’vestartedintomonkeywiththewrongmanunlesstheyarecareful. Bythunder,ifthatchapcan’tfindmymissingboottherewillbetrouble. Icantakeajokewiththebest,Mr.Holmes,butthey’vegotabitoverthemarkthistime."
"Stilllookingforyourboot?"
"Yes,sir,andmeantofindit."
"But,surely,yousaidthatitwasanewbrownboot?"
