Собака Баскервіллів
The Stapletons of Merripit House
"Certainly,sir,"saidhe,"IhadthetelegramdeliveredtoMr.Barrymoreexactlyasdirected."
"Whodeliveredit?"
"Myboyhere. James,youdeliveredthattelegramtoMr.BarrymoreattheHalllastweek,didyounot?"
"Yes,father,Ideliveredit."
"Intohisownhands? "Iasked.
"Well,hewasupintheloftatthetime,sothatIcouldnotputitintohisownhands,butIgaveitintoMrs.Barrymore’shands,andshepromisedtodeliveritatonce."
"DidyouseeMr.Barrymore?"
"No,sir;Itellyouhewasintheloft."
"Ifyoudidn’tseehim,howdoyouknowhewasintheloft?"
"Well,surelyhisownwifeoughttoknowwhereheis,"saidthepostmastertestily. "Didn’thegetthetelegram? IfthereisanymistakeitisforMr.Barrymorehimselftocomplain."
Itseemedhopelesstopursuetheinquiryanyfarther,butitwasclearthatinspiteofHolmes’srusewehadnoproofthatBarrymorehadnotbeeninLondonallthetime. Supposethatitwereso —supposethatthesamemanhadbeenthelastwhohadseenSirCharlesalive,andthefirsttodogthenewheirwhenhereturnedtoEngland. Whatthen? Washetheagentofothersorhadhesomesinisterdesignofhisown? WhatinterestcouldhehaveinpersecutingtheBaskervillefamily?
