Chapter 8. First Report of Dr. Watson

ssleepthebetterinconsequence. Wearefourable-bodiedmeninthishousehold,sothatwecouldtakegoodcareofourselves,butIconfessthatIhavehaduneasymomentswhenIhavethoughtoftheStapletons.Theylivemilesfromanyhelp.Thereareonemaid,anoldmanservant,thesister,andthebrother,thelatternotaverystrongman.TheywouldbehelplessinthehandsofadesperatefellowlikethisNottingHillcriminalifhecouldonceeffectanentrance.BothSirHenryandIwereconcernedattheirsituation,anditwassuggestedthatPerkinsthegroomshouldgoovertosleepthere,butStapletonwouldnothearofit. Thefactisthatourfriend,thebaronet,beginstodisplayaconsiderableinterestinourfairneighbour.Itisnottobewonderedat,fortimehangsheavilyinthislonelyspottoanactivemanlikehim,andsheisaveryfascinatingandbeautifulwoman.Thereissomethingtropicalandexoticaboutherwhichformsasingularcontrasttohercoolandunemotionalbrother.Yethealsogivestheideaofhiddenfires.Hehascertainlyaverymarkedinfluenceoverher,forIhaveseenhercontinuallyglanceathimasshetalkedasifseekingapprobationforwhatshesaid.Itrustthatheiskindtoher.Thereisadryglitterinhiseyesandafirmsetofhisthinlips,whichgoeswithapositiveandpossiblyaharshnature.Youwouldfindhimaninterestingstudy. HecameovertocalluponBaskervilleonthatfirstday,andtheverynextmorninghetookusbothtoshowusthespotwherethelegendofthewickedHugoissupposedtohavehaditsorigin.Itwasanexcursionofsomemilesacrossthemoortoaplacewhichissodismalthatitmighthavesuggestedthestory.Wefoundashortvalleybetweenruggedtorswhichledtoanopen,grassyspacefleckedoverwiththewhitecottongrass.Inthemiddleofitrosetwogreatstones,wornandsharpenedattheupperenduntiltheylookedlikethehugecorrodingfangsofsomemonstrousbeast.Ineverywayitcorrespondedwiththesceneoftheoldtragedy.SirHenrywasmuchinterestedandaskedStapletonmorethanoncewhetherhedidreallybelieveinthepossibilityoftheinterferenceofthesupernaturalintheaffairsofmen.Hespokelightly,butitwasevidentthathewasverymuchinearnest.Stapletonwasguardedinhisreplies,butitwaseasytoseethathesaidlessthanhemight,andthathewouldnotexpresshiswholeopinionoutofconsiderationforthefeelingsofthebaronet.Hetoldusofsimilarcases,wherefamilieshadsufferedfromsomeevilinfluence,andheleftuswiththeimpressionthathesharedthepopularviewuponthematter. OnourwaybackwestayedforlunchatMerripitHouse,anditwastherethatSirHenrymadetheacquaintanceofMissStapleton.Fromthefirstmomentthathesawherheappearedtobestronglyattractedbyher,andIammuchmistakenifthefeelingwasnotmutual.Hereferredtoheragainandaga