rmedbytheexpedientofpastingprintedwordsuponit.Itran:
Asyouvalueyourlifeoryourreasonkeepawayfromthemoor.
Theword“moor”onlywasprintedinink.
“Now,”saidSirHenryBaskerville,“perhapsyouwilltellme,Mr.Holmes,whatinthunderisthemeaningofthat,andwhoitisthattakessomuchinterestinmyaffairs?”
“Whatdoyoumakeofit,Dr.Mortimer?Youmustallowthatthereisnothingsupernaturalaboutthis,atanyrate?”
“No,sir,butitmightverywellcomefromsomeonewhowasconvincedthatthebusinessissupernatural.”
“Whatbusiness?”askedSirHenrysharply.“ItseemstomethatallyougentlemenknowagreatdealmorethanIdoaboutmyownaffairs.”
“Youshallshareourknowledgebeforeyouleavethisroom,SirHenry.Ipromiseyouthat,”saidSherlockHolmes.“Wewillconfineourselvesforthepresentwithyourpermissiontothisveryinterestingdocument,whichmusthavebeenputtogetherandpostedyesterdayevening.Haveyouyesterday’sTimes,Watson?”
“Itishereinthecorner.”
“MightItroubleyouforit—theinsidepage,please,withtheleadingarticles?”Heglancedswiftlyoverit,runninghiseyesupanddownthecolumns.“Capitalarticlethisonfreetrade.Permitmetogiveyouanextractfromit.
‘Youmaybecajoledintoimaginingthatyourownspecialtradeoryourownindustrywillbeencouragedbyaprotectivetariff,butitstandstoreasonthatsuchlegislationmustinthelongrunkeepawaywealthfromthecountry,diminishthevalueofourimports,andlowerthegeneralconditionsoflifeinthisisland.’
“Whatdoyouthinkofthat,Watson?”criedHolmesinhighglee,rubbinghishandstogetherwithsatisfaction.“Don’tyouthinkthatisanadmirablesentiment?”
Dr.MortimerlookedatHolmeswithanairofprofessionalinterest,andSirHenryBaskervilleturnedapairofpuzzleddarkeyesuponme.
“Idon’tknowmuchaboutthetariffandthingsofthatkind,”saidhe,“butitseemstomewe’vegotabitoffthetrailsofarasthatnoteisconcerned.”
“Onthecontrary,Ithinkweareparticularlyhotuponthetrail,SirHenry.Watsonhereknowsmoreaboutmymethodsthanyoudo,butIfe