Собака Баскервіллів
Mr. Sherlock Holmes
Itismyexperiencethatitisonlyanamiablemaninthisworldwhoreceivestestimonials, onlyanunambitiousonewhoabandonsaLondoncareerforthecountry, andonlyanabsent-mindedonewholeaveshisstickandnothisvisiting-cardafterwaitinganhourinyourroom."
"Andthedog?"
"Hasbeeninthehabitofcarryingthisstickbehindhismaster. Beingaheavystickthedoghasheldittightlybythemiddle,andthemarksofhisteethareveryplainlyvisible. Thedog’sjaw,asshowninthespacebetweenthesemarks,istoobroadinmyopinionforaterrierandnotbroadenoughforamastiff. Itmayhavebeen—yes,byJove,itisacurly-hairedspaniel."
Hehadrisenandpacedtheroomashespoke.Nowhehaltedintherecessofthewindow. TherewassucharingofconvictioninhisvoicethatIglancedupinsurprise.
"Mydearfellow,howcanyoupossiblybesosureofthat?"
"FortheverysimplereasonthatIseethedoghimselfonourverydoor-step,andthereistheringofitsowner. Don’tmove,Ibegyou,Watson.Heisaprofessionalbrotherofyours,andyourpresencemaybeofassistancetome. Nowisthedramaticmomentoffate,Watson,whenyouhearastepuponthestairwhichiswalkingintoyourlife,andyouknownotwhetherforgoodorill. WhatdoesDr.JamesMortimer,themanofscience,askofSherlockHolmes,thespecialistincrime?Comein!"
Theappearanceofourvisitorwasasurprisetome,sinceIhadexpectedatypicalcountrypractitioner.
