巴斯克维尔猎犬-第5节

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omised　to　give　it　to　him　at　once．’

‘Did　you　see　Mr　Barrymore？’I　asked　him．

‘No，’said　the　boy，‘but　why　did　his　wife　say　he　was　upon　the　roof　if　he　wasn't？’

It　was　hopeless　to　ask　any　more　questions．It　was　clear　that　Holmes'　cleverness　with　the　telegram　had　not　given　us　the　proof　we　needed．

I　was　walking　away　from　the　post　office　when　I　heard　some…　one　running　after　me．A　voice　called　me　by　name，and　I　turned．I　expected　to　see　Dr　Mortimer，as　I　knew　nobody　else　in　the　village．To　my　surprise　it　was　a　stranger．He　was　a　small，thin　man，between　thirty　and　forty　years　old，with　fair　hair　and　no　beard．He　was　carrying　a　butterfly　net，and　a　box　for　putting　butterflies　in．

‘I　hope　you　will　excuse　me　for　introducing　myself，Dr　Wat－　son，’he　said　as　he　came　up　to　me．‘My　name　is　Stapleton．I　was　in　Dr　Mortimer's　house　and　we　saw　you．He　told　me　who　you　are．May　I　walk　along　with　you？　This　path　back　to　the　Hall　goes　near　my　home，Pen　House．Please　come　in　and　meet　my　sister，and　spend　an　hour　with　us．’

I　accepted　Stapleton's　invitation，and　we　walked　together．

‘I　know　that　you　are　a　close　friend　of　Sherlock　Holmes，’said　Stapleton．‘Has　Mr　Holmes　any　ideas　about　Sir　Charles　death？’

‘I'm　afraid　I　can't　answer　that　question，’I　said．

‘Will　Mr　Holmes　visit　us　himself？’he　asked．

‘He　can't　leave　London　at　the　moment，’I　answered．I　was　rather　surprised　that　he　was　asking　me　these　questions　

We　walked　on．Stapleton　told　me　that　he　and　his　sister　had　lived　in　Devonshire　for　only　two　years．They　had　moved　there　soon　after　Sir　Charles　had　begun　to　live　in　Baskerville　Hall．He　also　talked　about　the　moor　and　how　it　interested　him．He　told　me　to　look　across　the　moor　to　a　place　which　was　a　bright　green　colour．

‘That　is　the　Great　Grimpen　Marsh，’he　said　‘If　animals　or　men　go　into　the　marsh，they　will　sink　into　it　and　die．But　I　can　find　my　way　to　the　very　centre　of　it．Look，there　is　another　of　those　poor　horses．’

Something　brown　was　fighting　to　get　out　of　the　bright　green　of　the　marsh．Then　a　terrible　cry　came　across　the　moor．The　horse's　head　and　neck　disappeared　under　the　green．

‘It's　gone，’Stapleton　said．‘The　marsh　has　caught　and　killed　it．That　often　happens．It　is　an　evil　place，the　Great　Grimpen　Marsh．’

‘But　you　say　you　can　go　safely　in　and　out　of　it？’I　asked　him．

‘Yes，there　are　a　few　paths，and　I　have　found　them．The　low　hills　you　can　see　are　like　islands　surrounded　by　the　marsh．That　is　where　I　can　find　the　unusual　plants　and　butterflies．And　that's　why　I　found　my　way　through　the　marsh．’

‘I　shall　try　my　luck　one　day，’I　said．

He　looked　at　me　in　surprise．‘Please　don't　try，’he　said．‘You　would　never　return　alive，and　it　would　be　my　fault．’

‘Listen，’I　said．‘What　is　that？’

A　long，low　cry，very　deep　and　very　sad，came　over　the　moor．It　filled　the　whole　air．Then　it　died　away．

‘What　is　it？’I　asked，with　a　cold　fear　in　my　heart．

Stapleton　had　a　strange　look　on　his　face．‘The　people　say　it's　the　Hound　of　the　Baskervilles，which　is　calling　for　some－　thing　to　hunt　and　kill．I've　heard　it　once　or　twice　before，but　never　so　loud．’

‘You　are　a　man　of　science，’I　said．‘You　don't　believe　that，do　you？Isn't　there　a　natural　explanation　for　the　sound？’

‘A　marsh　makes　strange　noises　sometimes．It　is　the　water　and　the　wet　ground　moving．’

‘But　that　was　the　voice　of　a　living　creature，’I　said．

‘Well，perhaps　it　was．There　are　some　very　unusual　birds　on　the　moors．It　was　most　probably　the　cry　of　one　of　those．’

At　that　moment　a　small　butterfly　flew　across　the　path　in　front　of　us．‘Excuse　me，Dr　Watson，’shouted　Stapleton，and　ran　off　to　try　to　catch　the　butterfly．He　ran　quickly　and　fol－　lowed　the　butterfly　on　to　the　marsh，but　he　knew　exactly　where　he　could　go，and　was　not　in　any　danger．

As　I　watched　him，I　heard　the　sound　of　steps　behind　me．I　turned　and　saw　a　woman　near　me　on　the　path．I　was　sure　she　was　Miss　Stapleton．She　was　very　beautiful．She　was　dark　and　tall，with　a　lovely　face．Before　I　could　say　anything，she　said：

‘Go　back！Go　straight　back　to　London，immediately．I　can－　not　tell　you　why，but　please　do　what　I　ask　you，and　never　come　near　the　moor　again．But　my　brother　is　coming．Not　a　word　to　him．’

Stapleton　had　caught　the　butterfly，and　was　walking　bath　to　us．

‘Hello，my　dear，’he　said　to　his　sister，but　it　seemed　to　me　that　his　voice　was　not　completely　friendly．‘I　see　that　you　two　have　already　introduced　yourselves．’

‘Yes，’she　said．‘I　was　telling　Sir　Henry　that　it　was　rather　late　in　the　year　for　him　to　see　the　true　beauty　of　the　moor．’

‘I　am　sorry，’I　said．‘You　have　made　a　mistake．I'm　not　Sir　Henry．I　am　a　friend　who　is　visiting　him，and　my　name　is　Dr　Watson．’

Miss　Stapleton　was　clearly　angry　with　herself．‘I'm　sorry，’　she　said．‘Please　forget　what　I　said．But　do　come　with　us　to　our　house．’

The　house　was　lonely　and　rather　grim．I　wondered　why　the　two　of　them　had　come　to　live　so　far　away　from　anyone　else．Stapleton　seemed　to　know　what　I　was　thinking，and　said：‘You　may　think　this　a　lonely，strange　place　to　live，but　the　moors　are　very　interesting，and　we　enjoy　it　here．I　owned　a　school　in　the　north　of　England，but　I　had　to　close　it．I　miss　the　boys　and　girls　but　thefe　is　plenty　to　do　here，and　we　have　good　neighbours．I　hope　Sir　Henry　will　become　one　of　tnem．May　I　visit　the　Hall　this　afternoon　to　meet　him，do　you　think？’

‘I'm　sure　he　will　be　very　pleased　to　meet　you，’I　said．‘I　must　go　back　to　the　Hall　now，and　I　shall　tell　him　immediately．’

I　said　goodbye　to　the　Stapletons，and　continued　on　the　path　back　to　the　Hall．I　had　been　walking　for　only　a　few　minutes　when　I　was　surprised　to　see　Miss　Stapleton　sitting　on　a　rock　ahead　of　me．She　was　breathing　quickly，and　I　realized　she　had　run　by　a　quicker　way　to　get　ahead　of　me．

‘Dr　Watson，’she　said．‘I　want　to　say　sorry　for　the　mistake　I　made．I　thought　you　were　Sir　Henry．Please　forget　what　I　said．I　did　not　mean　you　were　in　danger．Now　I　must　go，or　my　brother　will　miss　me．’

‘I　cannot　forget　your　words，Miss　Stapleton，’I　said．‘If　Sir　Henry　is　in　danger，I　must　tell　him．’

‘You　know　the　story　of　the　Hound？’she　asked　me．

‘Yes，but　I　do　not　believe　it，’I　replied．

‘But　I　think　it's　true，’she　said．‘Please　persuade　Sir　Henry　to　leave　this　place．So　many　of　his　family　have　died　here　mys…　teriously．He　must　not　put　his　life　in　danger　by　staying　here．’

‘Sir　Henry　won't　leave　this　place　without　a　real　reason，’I　said．

‘I　can't　give　you　a　real　reason．I　don't　know　anything　for　certain．’

‘One　more　question，Miss　Stapleton，’I　said．‘The　story　of　the　Hound　is　well　known．Why　didn't　you　want　your　brother　to　hear　what　you　said？’

‘My　brother　wants　the　head　of　the　Baskerville　family　to　live　in　the　Hall，’she　said．‘He　wants　Sir　Henry　to　continue　the　good　work　that　Sir　Charles　began．He　doesn't　want　Sir　Henry　to　go　and　live　in　another　place．So　he　doesn't　want　me　to　talk　about　the　Hound．I　must　go　now，or　my　brother　will　guess　I　have　been　speaking　to　you．Goodbye！’

She　turned　and　went　back　towards　her　house，and　I　walked　on　to　Baskerville　Hall．

　　



　

9　　The　Escaped　Prisoner　

　　

Mr　Stapleton　came　to　the　Hall　and　met　Sir　Henry　that　same　afternoon．The　next　morning　he　took　us　to　the　place　where　the　evil　Sir　Hugo　died．Then　we　had　lunch　at　the　House．Sir　Henry　clearly　thought　Miss　Stapleton　was　very　beautiful．His　eyes　followed　her　everywhere．He　liked　her　very　much，and　I　was　sure　that　she　felt　the　same　about　him．He　spoke　about　her　again　and　again　as　we　walked　home．After　the　first　meeting，we　met　the　Stapletons　almost　every　day．

After　a　short　time　it　was　clear　that　Sir　Henry　had　fallen　deeply　in　love　with　the　beautiful　Miss　Stapleton．At　first　I　thought　that　Stapleton　would　be　very　pleased　if　his　sister　mar－　ried　Sir　Henry．However，I　soon　realized　that　he　did　not　want　their　friendship　to　grow　into　love．He　did　everything　he　could　to　make　sure　that　they　were　never　alone．On　one　or　two　occa－　sions　they　did　manage　to　meet　alone，but　Stapleton　followed　them　and　was　not　pleased　to　see　them　together．

I　soon　met　another　neighbour　of　Sir　Henry’s．His　name　was　Mr　Frankland，and　he　lived　about　four　miles　to　the　south　of　the　Hall．He　was　an　old　man　with　a　red　face　and　white　hair．He　had　two　hobbies．The　first　was　arguing．He　argued　with　everybody．The　second　hobby　was　studying　the　stars．For　this　he　had　a　very　big　telescope．For　several　days　he　had　been　watching　the　moor　through　the　telescope．He　wanted　to　find　Selden，the　escaped　murderer．Nobody　had　seen　the　prisoner　for　a　fortnight，and　we　all　thought　that　he　had　probably　left　the　moor．

A　few　nights　later　I　was　woken　by　a　noise　at　about　two　in　the　morning．I　heard　someone　walking　softly　outside　my　door．I　got　up，opened　the　door　and　looked　out．I　saw　Barrymore　moving　carefully　and　quietly　away　from　me．I　followed　him，as　quietly　as　I　could．He　went　into　one　of　the　empty　bedrooms　and　left　the　door　open．I　went　quietly　up　to　the　door　and　looked　in－　side．

Barrymore　was　standing　at　the　window．He　was　holding　a　light　in　his　hand　an