Chapter 7. The Stapletons of Merripit House
關燈
小
中
大
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.”
“Howdidyouknowthat?”
“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