Собака Баскервіллів
The Stapletons of Merripit House
IcouldnotdoubtthatthiswastheMissStapletonofwhomIhadbeentold,sinceladiesofanysortmustbefewuponthemoor, andIrememberedthatIhadheardsomeonedescribeherasbeingabeauty. Thewomanwhoapproachedmewascertainlythat,andofamostuncommontype. Therecouldnothavebeenagreatercontrastbetweenbrotherandsister, forStapletonwasneutraltinted,withlighthairandgrayeyes,whileshewasdarkerthananybrunettewhomIhaveseeninEngland—slim,elegant,andtall. Shehadaproud,finelycutface,soregularthatitmighthaveseemedimpassivewereitnotforthesensitivemouthandthebeautifuldark,eagereyes. Withherperfectfigureandelegantdressshewas,indeed,astrangeapparitionuponalonelymoorlandpath. HereyeswereonherbrotherasIturned,andthenshequickenedherpacetowardsme. Ihadraisedmyhatandwasabouttomakesomeexplanatoryremark,whenherownwordsturnedallmythoughtsintoanewchannel.
"Goback! "shesaid. "GostraightbacktoLondon,instantly."
Icouldonlystareatherinstupidsurprise. Hereyesblazedatme,andshetappedthegroundimpatientlywithherfoot.
"WhyshouldIgoback? "Iasked.
"Icannotexplain. "Shespokeinalow,eagervoice,withacuriouslispinherutterance. "ButforGod’ssakedowhatIaskyou. Gobackandneversetfootuponthemooragain."
"ButIhaveonlyjustcome."
"Man,man! "shecried. "Canyounottellwhenawarningisforyourowngood? GobacktoLondon! Startto-night! Getawayfromthisplaceatallcosts! Hush,mybrotheriscoming! NotawordofwhatIhavesaid.
