Собака Баскервиллей
The Man on the Tor
Shemetmydifficultywiththeutmostreadiness.
"Therewereseveralgentlemenwhoknewmysadhistoryandunitedtohelpme. OnewasMr.Stapleton,aneighbourandintimatefriendofSirCharles’s. Hewasexceedinglykind,anditwasthroughhimthatSirCharleslearnedaboutmyaffairs."
IknewalreadythatSirCharlesBaskervillehadmadeStapletonhisalmoneruponseveraloccasions,sothelady’sstatementboretheimpressoftruthuponit.
"DidyoueverwritetoSirCharlesaskinghimtomeetyou?"Icontinued.
Mrs.Lyonsflushedwithangeragain.
"Really,sir,thisisaveryextraordinaryquestion."
"Iamsorry,madam,butImustrepeatit."
"ThenIanswer,certainlynot."
"NotontheverydayofSirCharles’sdeath?"
Theflushhadfadedinaninstant,andadeathlyfacewasbeforeme. Herdrylipscouldnotspeakthe"No"whichIsawratherthanheard.
"Surelyyourmemorydeceivesyou,"saidI. "Icouldevenquoteapassageofyourletter. Itran‘Please,please,asyouareagentleman,burnthisletter,andbeatthegatebyteno’clock.’"
Ithoughtthatshehadfainted,butsherecoveredherselfbyasupremeeffort.
"Istherenosuchthingasagentleman? "shegasped.
