Собака Баскервіллів
Baskerville Hall
Butthedining-roomwhichopenedoutofthehallwasaplaceofshadowandgloom. Itwasalongchamberwithastepseparatingthedaiswherethefamilysatfromthelowerportionreservedfortheirdependents. Atoneendaminstrel’sgalleryoverlookedit. Blackbeamsshotacrossaboveourheads,withasmoke-darkenedceilingbeyondthem. Withrowsofflaringtorchestolightitup,andthecolourandrudehilarityofanold-timebanquet,itmighthavesoftened; butnow,whentwoblack-clothedgentlemensatinthelittlecircleoflightthrownbyashadedlamp,one’svoicebecamehushedandone’sspiritsubdued. Adimlineofancestors,ineveryvarietyofdress,fromtheElizabethanknighttothebuckoftheRegency,stareddownuponusanddauntedusbytheirsilentcompany. Wetalkedlittle,andIforonewasgladwhenthemealwasoverandwewereabletoretireintothemodernbilliard-roomandsmokeacigarette.
"Myword,itisn’taverycheerfulplace,"saidSirHenry. "Isupposeonecantonedowntoit,butIfeelabitoutofthepictureatpresent. Idon’twonderthatmyunclegotalittlejumpyifhelivedallaloneinsuchahouseasthis. However,ifitsuitsyou,wewillretireearlyto-night,andperhapsthingsmayseemmorecheerfulinthemorning."
IdrewasidemycurtainsbeforeIwenttobedandlookedoutfrommywindow. Itopeneduponthegrassyspacewhichlayinfrontofthehalldoor. Beyond,twocopsesoftreesmoanedandswunginarisingwind. Ahalfmoonbrokethroughtheriftsofracingclouds. InitscoldlightIsawbeyondthetreesabrokenfringeofrocks,andthelong,lowcurveofthemelancholymoor. Iclosedthecurtain,feelingthatmylastimpressionwasinkeepingwiththerest.
Andyetitwasnotquitethelast. Ifoundmyselfwearyandyetwakeful,tossingrestlesslyfromsidetoside,seekingforthesleepwhichwouldnotcome.
