Собака Баскервиллей
The Curse of the Baskervilles
Ilookedoverhisshoulderattheyellowpaperandthefadedscript.Attheheadwaswritten: "BaskervilleHall,"andbelowinlarge,scrawlingfigures:"1742."
"Itappearstobeastatementofsomesort."
"Yes,itisastatementofacertainlegendwhichrunsintheBaskervillefamily."
"ButIunderstandthatitissomethingmoremodernandpracticaluponwhichyouwishtoconsultme?"
"Mostmodern.Amostpractical,pressingmatter,whichmustbedecidedwithintwenty-fourhours. Butthemanuscriptisshortandisintimatelyconnectedwiththeaffair.WithyourpermissionIwillreadittoyou."
Holmesleanedbackinhischair,placedhisfinger-tipstogether,andclosedhiseyes,withanairofresignation. Dr.Mortimerturnedthemanuscripttothelightandreadinahigh,crackingvoicethefollowingcurious,old-worldnarrative:—
"OftheoriginoftheHoundoftheBaskervillestherehavebeenmanystatements,yetasIcomeinadirectlinefromHugoBaskerville, andasIhadthestoryfrommyfather,whoalsohaditfromhis,Ihavesetitdownwithallbeliefthatitoccurredevenasisheresetforth. AndIwouldhaveyoubelieve,mysons,thatthesameJusticewhichpunishessinmayalsomostgraciouslyforgiveit, andthatnobanissoheavybutthatbyprayerandrepentanceitmayberemoved.
