Собака Баскервіллів
The Stapletons of Merripit House
"IassureyouthatIamsimplyhereuponavisittomyfriend,SirHenry,andthatIneednohelpofanykind."
"Excellent! "saidStapleton. "Youareperfectlyrighttobewaryanddiscreet. IamjustlyreprovedforwhatIfeelwasanunjustifiableintrusion,andIpromiseyouthatIwillnotmentionthematteragain."
Wehadcometoapointwhereanarrowgrassypathstruckofffromtheroadandwoundawayacrossthemoor. Asteep,boulder-sprinkledhilllayupontherightwhichhadinbygonedaysbeencutintoagranitequarry. Thefacewhichwasturnedtowardsusformedadarkcliff,withfernsandbramblesgrowinginitsniches. Fromoveradistantrisetherefloatedagrayplumeofsmoke.
"Amoderatewalkalongthismoor-pathbringsustoMerripitHouse,"saidhe. "PerhapsyouwillspareanhourthatImayhavethepleasureofintroducingyoutomysister."
MyfirstthoughtwasthatIshouldbebySirHenry’sside. ButthenIrememberedthepileofpapersandbillswithwhichhisstudytablewaslittered. ItwascertainthatIcouldnothelpwiththose. AndHolmeshadexpresslysaidthatIshouldstudytheneighboursuponthemoor. IacceptedStapleton’sinvitation,andweturnedtogetherdownthepath.
"Itisawonderfulplace,themoor," saidhe,lookingroundovertheundulatingdowns,longgreenrollers,withcrestsofjaggedgranitefoamingupintofantasticsurges. "Younevertireofthemoor. Youcannotthinkthewonderfulsecretswhichitcontains. Itissovast,andsobarren,andsomysterious."
"Youknowitwell,then?"
