that?”
“MyfriendMortimertoldme.”
“Youthink,then,thatsomedogpursuedSirCharles,andthathediedoffrightinconsequence?”
“Haveyouanybetterexplanation?”
“Ihavenotcometoanyconclusion.”
“HasMr.SherlockHolmes?”
Thewordstookawaymybreathforaninstantbutaglanceattheplacidfaceandsteadfasteyesofmycompanionshowedthatnosurprisewasintended.
“Itisuselessforustopretendthatwedonotknowyou,Dr.Watson,”saidhe.“Therecordsofyourdetectivehavereachedushere,andyoucouldnotcelebratehimwithoutbeingknownyourself.WhenMortimertoldmeyournamehecouldnotdenyyouridentity.Ifyouarehere,thenitfollowsthatMr.SherlockHolmesisinterestinghimselfinthematter,andIamnaturallycurioustoknowwhatviewhemaytake.”
“IamafraidthatIcannotanswerthatquestion.”
“MayIaskifheisgoingtohonouruswithavisithimself?”
“Hecannotleavetownatpresent.Hehasothercaseswhichengagehisattention.”
“Whatapity!Hemightthrowsomelightonthatwhichissodarktous.Butastoyourownresearches,ifthereisanypossiblewayinwhichIcanbeofservicetoyouItrustthatyouwillcommandme.IfIhadanyindicationofthenatureofyoursuspicionsorhowyouproposetoinvestigatethecase,Imightperhapsevennowgiveyousomeaidoradvice.”
“IassureyouthatIamsimplyhereuponavisittomyfriend,SirHenry,andthatIneednohelpofanykind.”
“Excellent!”saidStapleton.“Youareperfectlyrighttobewaryanddiscreet.IamjustlyreprovedforwhatIfeelwasanunjustifiableintrusion,andIpromiseyouthatIwillnotmentionthematteragain.”
Wehadcometoapointwhereanarrowgrassypathstruckofffromtheroadandwoundawayacrossthemoor.Asteep,boulder-sprinkledhilllayupontherightwhichhadinbygonedaysbeencutintoagranitequarry.Thefacewhichwasturnedtowardsusformedadarkcliff,withfernsandbramblesgrowinginitsniches.Fromoveradistantrisetherefloatedagreyplumeofsmoke.
“Amoderatewalkalongthismoor-pathbringsustoMerripitHouse,”saidhe.“PerhapsyouwillspareanhourthatImayhavethepleasureofintroducingyoutomysister.”
MyfirstthoughtwasthatIshouldbebySirHenry’sside.ButthenIrememberedthepileofpapersandbillswithwhichhisstudytablewaslittered.ItwascertainthatIcouldnothelpwiththose.AndHolmeshadexpresslysaidthatIshouldstudytheneighboursuponthemoor.IacceptedStapleton’sinvitation,andweturnedtogetherdownthepath.
“Itisawonderfulplace,them