elongseriesofhissensationalinvestigations.Iprayed,asIwalkedbackalongthegrey,lonelyroad,thatmyfriendmightsoonbefreedfromhispreoccupationsandabletocomedowntotakethisheavyburdenofresponsibilityfrommyshoulders.
Suddenlymythoughtswereinterruptedbythesoundofrunningfeetbehindmeandbyavoicewhichcalledmebyname.Iturned,expectingtoseeDr.Mortimer,buttomysurpriseitwasastrangerwhowaspursuingme.Hewasasmall,slim,clean-shaven,prim-facedman,flaxen-hairedandlean-jawed,betweenthirtyandfortyyearsofage,dressedinagreysuitandwearingastrawhat.Atinboxforbotanicalspecimenshungoverhisshoulderandhecarriedagreenbutterfly-netinoneofhishands.
“Youwill,Iamsure,excusemypresumption,Dr.Watson,”saidheashecamepantinguptowhereIstood.“Hereonthemoorwearehomelyfolkanddonotwaitforformalintroductions.Youmaypossiblyhaveheardmynamefromourmutualfriend,Mortimer.IamStapleton,ofMerripitHouse.”
“Yournetandboxwouldhavetoldmeasmuch,”saidI,“forIknewthatMr.Stapletonwasanaturalist.Buthowdidyouknowme?”
“IhavebeencallingonMortimer,andhepointedyououttomefromthewindowofhissurgeryasyoupassed.AsourroadlaythesamewayIthoughtthatIwouldovertakeyouandintroducemyself.ItrustthatSirHenryisnonetheworseforhisjourney?”
“Heisverywell,thankyou.”
“WewereallratherafraidthatafterthesaddeathofSirCharlesthenewbaronetmightrefusetolivehere.Itisaskingmuchofawealthymantocomedownandburyhimselfinaplaceofthiskind,butIneednottellyouthatitmeansaverygreatdealtothecountryside.SirHenryhas,Isuppose,nosuperstitiousfearsinthematter?”
“Idonotthinkthatitislikely.”
“Ofcourseyouknowthelegendofthefienddogwhichhauntsthefamily?”
“Ihaveheardit.”
“Itisextraordinaryhowcredulousthepeasantsareabouthere!Anynumberofthemarereadytoswearthattheyhaveseensuchacreatureuponthemoor.”Hespokewithasmile,butIseemedtoreadinhiseyesthathetookthemattermoreseriously.“ThestorytookagreatholdupontheimaginationofSirCharles,andIhavenodoubtthatitledtohistragicend.”
“Buthow?”
“Hisnervesweresoworkedupthattheappearanceofanydogmighthavehadafataleffectuponhisdiseasedheart.Ifancythathereallydidseesomethingofthekinduponthatlastnightintheyewalley.Ifearedthatsomedisastermightoccur,forIwasveryfondoftheoldman,andIknewthathisheartwasweak.”
“Howdidyouknow