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The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Chapter 7. The Stapletons of Merripit House

Chapter 7. The Stapletons of Merripit House

The fresh beauty of the following morning did something to efface from our minds the grim and gray impression which had been left upon both of us by our first experience of Baskerville Hall.

As Sir Henry and I sat at breakfast the sunlight flooded in through the high mullioned windows, throwing watery patches of colour from the coats of arms which covered them. The dark panelling glowed like bronze in the golden rays, and it was hard to realize that this was indeed the chamber which had struck such a gloom into our souls upon the evening before.

"I guess it is ourselves and not the house that we have to blame! " said the baronet. "We were tired with our journey and chilled by our drive, so we took a gray view of the place. Now we are fresh and well, so it is all cheerful once more. " "And yet it was not entirely a question of imagination," I answered. "Did you, for example, happen to hear someone, a woman I think, sobbing in the night? " "That is curious, for I did when I was half asleep fancy that I heard something of the sort. I waited quite a time, but there was no more of it, so I concluded that it was all a dream. " "I heard it distinctly, and I am sure that it was really the sob of a woman. "We must ask about this right away. " He rang the bell and asked Barrymore whether he could account for our experience. It seemed to me that the pallid features of the butler turned a shade paler still as he listened to his master's question.

"There are only two women in the house, Sir Henry," he answered. "One is the scullery-maid, who sleeps in the other wing. The other is my wife, and I can answer for it that the sound could not have come from her. " And yet he lied as he said it, for it chanced that after breakfast I met Mrs. Barrymore in the long corridor with the sun full upon her face.

She was a large, impassive, heavy-featured woman with a stern set expression of mouth. But her telltale eyes were red and glanced at me from between swollen lids. It was she, then, who wept in the night, and if she did so her husband must know it. Yet he had taken the obvious risk of discovery in declaring that it was not so. Why had he done this? And why did she weep so bitterly? Already round this pale-faced, handsome, black-bearded man there was gathering an atmosphere of mystery and of gloom. It was he who had been the first to discover the body of Sir Charles, and we had only his word for all the circumstances which led up to the old man's death. Was it possible that it was Barrymore, after all, whom we had seen in the cab in Regent Street? The beard might well have been the same. The cabman had described a somewhat shorter man, but such an impression might easily have been erroneous. How could I settle the point forever? Obviously the first thing to do was to see the Grimpen postmaster and find whether the test telegram had really been placed in Barrymore's own hands. Be the answer what it might, I should at least have something to report to Sherlock Holmes.

Sir Henry had numerous papers to examine after breakfast, so that the time was propitious for my excursion.

It was a pleasant walk of four miles along the edge of the moor, leading me at last to a small gray hamlet, in which two larger buildings, which proved to be the inn and the house of Dr. Mortimer, stood high above the rest. The postmaster, who was also the village grocer, had a clear recollection of the telegram.

"Certainly, sir," said he, "I had the telegram delivered to Mr. Barrymore exactly as directed. "Who delivered it? "My boy here. James, you delivered that telegram to Mr. Barrymore at the Hall last week, did you not? " "Yes, father, I delivered it. "Into his own hands? " I asked. "Well, he was up in the loft at the time, so that I could not put it into his own hands, but I gave it into Mrs. Barrymore's hands, and she promised to deliver it at once. "Did you see Mr. Barrymore? " "No, sir; I tell you he was in the loft. "If you didn't see him, how do you know he was in the loft? "Well, surely his own wife ought to know where he is," said the postmaster testily. "Didn't he get the telegram? If there is any mistake it is for Mr. Barrymore himself to complain. " It seemed hopeless to pursue the inquiry any farther, but it was clear that in spite of Holmes's ruse we had no proof that Barrymore had not been in London all the time.

Suppose that it were so—suppose that the same man had been the last who had seen Sir Charles alive, and the first to dog the new heir when he returned to England. What then? Was he the agent of others or had he some sinister design of his own? What interest could he have in persecuting the Baskerville family? I thought of the strange warning clipped out of the leading article of the Times. Was that his work or was it possibly the doing of someone who was bent upon counteracting his schemes? The only conceivable motive was that which had been suggested by Sir Henry, that if the family could be scared away a comfortable and permanent home would be secured for the Barrymores. But surely such an explanation as that would be quite inadequate to account for the deep and subtle scheming which seemed to be weaving an invisible net round the young baronet. Holmes himself had said that no more complex case had come to him in all the long series of his sensational investigations. I prayed, as I walked back along the gray, lonely road, that my friend might soon be freed from his preoccupations and able to come down to take this heavy burden of responsibility from my shoulders.

Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of running feet behind me and by a voice which called me by name.

I turned, expecting to see Dr. Mortimer, but to my surprise it was a stranger who was pursuing me. He was a small, slim, clean-shaven, prim-faced man, flaxen-haired and leanjawed, between thirty and forty years of age, dressed in a gray suit and wearing a straw hat. A tin box for botanical specimens hung over his shoulder and he carried a green butterfly-net in one of his hands.

"You will, I am sure, excuse my presumption, Dr. Watson," said he as he came panting up to where I stood. "Here on the moor we are homely folk and do not wait for formal introductions. You may possibly have heard my name from our mutual friend, Mortimer. I am Stapleton, of Merripit House. " "Your net and box would have told me as much," said I, "for I knew that Mr. Stapleton was a naturalist. But how did you know me? " "I have been calling on Mortimer, and he pointed you out to me from the window of his surgery as you passed. As our road lay the same way I thought that I would overtake you and introduce myself. I trust that Sir Henry is none the worse for his journey? " "He is very well, thank you. "We were all rather afraid that after the sad death of Sir Charles the new baronet might refuse to live here. It is asking much of a wealthy man to come down and bury himself in a place of this kind, but I need not tell you that it means a very great deal to the countryside. Sir Henry has, I suppose, no superstitious fears in the matter? " "I do not think that it is likely. "Of course you know the legend of the fiend dog which haunts the family? "I have heard it. "It is extraordinary how credulous the peasants are about here! Any number of them are ready to swear that they have seen such a creature upon the moor." He spoke with a smile, but I seemed to read in his eyes that he took the matter more seriously. "The story took a great hold upon the imagination of Sir Charles, and I have no doubt that it led to his tragic end. " "But how? "His nerves were so worked up that the appearance of any dog might have had a fatal effect upon his diseased heart. I fancy that he really did see something of the kind upon that last night in the yew alley. I feared that some disaster might occur, for I was very fond of the old man, and I knew that his heart was weak. " "How did you know that? "My friend Mortimer told me. "You think, then, that some dog pursued Sir Charles, and that he died of fright in consequence? "Have you any better explanation? "I have not come to any conclusion. "Has Mr. Sherlock Holmes? The words took away my breath for an instant but a glance at the placid face and steadfast eyes of my companion showed that no surprise was intended.

"It is useless for us to pretend that we do not know you, Dr. Watson," said he. "The records of your detective have reached us here, and you could not celebrate him without being known yourself. When Mortimer told me your name he could not deny your identity. If you are here, then it follows that Mr. Sherlock Holmes is interesting himself in the matter, and I am naturally curious to know what view he may take. " "I am afraid that I cannot answer that question. "May I ask if he is going to honour us with a visit himself? "He cannot leave town at present. He has other cases which engage his attention. " "What a pity! He might throw some light on that which is so dark to us. But as to your own researches, if there is any possible way in which I can be of service to you I trust that you will command me. If I had any indication of the nature of your suspicions or how you propose to investigate the case, I might perhaps even now give you some aid or advice. " "I assure you that I am simply here upon a visit to my friend, Sir Henry, and that I need no help of any kind. "Excellent! " said Stapleton. "You are perfectly right to be wary and discreet. I am justly reproved for what I feel was an unjustifiable intrusion, and I promise you that I will not mention the matter again. " We had come to a point where a narrow grassy path struck off from the road and wound away across the moor.

A steep, boulder-sprinkled hill lay upon the right which had in bygone days been cut into a granite quarry. The face which was turned towards us formed a dark cliff, with ferns and brambles growing in its niches. From over a distant rise there floated a gray plume of smoke.

"A moderate walk along this moor-path brings us to Merripit House," said he. "Perhaps you will spare an hour that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to my sister. " My first thought was that I should be by Sir Henry's side.

But then I remembered the pile of papers and bills with which his study table was littered. It was certain that I could not help with those. And Holmes had expressly said that I should study the neighbours upon the moor. I accepted Stapleton's invitation, and we turned together down the path.

"It is a wonderful place, the moor," said he, looking round over the undulating downs, long green rollers, with crests of jagged granite foaming up into fantastic surges. "You never tire of the moor. You cannot think the wonderful secrets which it contains. It is so vast, and so barren, and so mysterious. " "You know it well, then? "I have only been here two years. The residents would call me a newcomer. We came shortly after Sir Charles settled. But my tastes led me to explore every part of the country round, and I should think that there are few men who know it better than I do. " "Is it hard to know? "Very hard. You see, for example, this great plain to the north here with the queer hills breaking out of it. Do you observe anything remarkable about that? " "It would be a rare place for a gallop. "You would naturally think so and the thought has cost several their lives before now. You notice those bright green spots scattered thickly over it? " "Yes, they seem more fertile than the rest. Stapleton laughed.

"That is the great Grimpen Mire," said he. "A false step yonder means death to man or beast. Only yesterday I saw one of the moor ponies wander into it. He never came out. I saw his head for quite a long time craning out of the bog-hole, but it sucked him down at last. Even in dry seasons it is a danger to cross it, but after these autumn rains it is an awful place. And yet I can find my way to the very heart of it and return alive. By George, there is another of those miserable ponies! " Something brown was rolling and tossing among the green sedges.

Then a long, agonized, writhing neck shot upward and a dreadful cry echoed over the moor. It turned me cold with horror, but my companion's nerves seemed to be stronger than mine.

"It's gone! " said he. "The mire has him. Two in two days, and many more, perhaps, for they get in the way of going there in the dry weather and never know the difference until the mire has them in its clutches. It's a bad place, the great Grimpen Mire. " "And you say you can penetrate it? "Yes, there are one or two paths which a very active man can take. I have found them out. " "But why should you wish to go into so horrible a place? "Well, you see the hills beyond? They are really islands cut off on all sides by the impassable mire, which has crawled round them in the course of years. That is where the rare plants and the butterflies are, if you have the wit to reach them. " "I shall try my luck some day. He looked at me with a surprised face.

"For God's sake put such an idea out of your mind," said he. "Your blood would be upon my head. I assure you that there would not be the least chance of your coming back alive. It is only by remembering certain complex landmarks that I am able to do it. " "Halloa! " I cried. "What is that? " A long, low moan, indescribably sad, swept over the moor.

It filled the whole air, and yet it was impossible to say whence it came. From a dull murmur it swelled into a deep roar, and then sank back into a melancholy, throbbing murmur once again. Stapleton looked at me with a curious expression in his face.

"Queer place, the moor! " said he. "But what is it? "The peasants say it is the Hound of the Baskervilles calling for its prey. I've heard it once or twice before, but never quite so loud. " I looked round, with a chill of fear in my heart, at the huge swelling plain, mottled with the green patches of rushes.

Nothing stirred over the vast expanse save a pair of ravens, which croaked loudly from a tor behind us.

"You are an educated man. You don't believe such nonsense as that?" said I.

"What do you think is the cause of so strange a sound? " "Bogs make queer noises sometimes. It's the mud settling, or the water rising, or something. " "No, no, that was a living voice. "Well, perhaps it was. Did you ever hear a bittern booming? " "No, I never did. "It's a very rare bird—practically extinct—in England now, but all things are possible upon the moor. Yes, I should not be surprised to learn that what we have heard is the cry of the last of the bitterns. " "It's the weirdest, strangest thing that ever I heard in my life. "Yes, it's rather an uncanny place altogether. Look at the hillside yonder. What do you make of those? " The whole steep slope was covered with gray circular rings of stone, a score of them at least.

"What are they? Sheep-pens? " "No, they are the homes of our worthy ancestors. Prehistoric man lived thickly on the moor, and as no one in particular has lived there since, we find all his little arrangements exactly as he left them. These are his wigwams with the roofs off. You can even see his hearth and his couch if you have the curiosity to go inside.

"But it is quite a town. When was it inhabited? " "Neolithic man—no date. "What did he do? "He grazed his cattle on these slopes, and he learned to dig for tin when the bronze sword began to supersede the stone axe. Look at the great trench in the opposite hill. That is his mark. Yes, you will find some very singular points about the moor, Dr. Watson. Oh, excuse me an instant! It is surely Cyclopides. " A small fly or moth had fluttered across our path, and in an instant Stapleton was rushing with extraordinary energy and speed in pursuit of it.

To my dismay the creature flew straight for the great mire, and my acquaintance never paused for an instant, bounding from tuft to tuft behind it, his green net waving in the air. His gray clothes and jerky, zigzag, irregular progress made him not unlike some huge moth himself. I was standing watching his pursuit with a mixture of admiration for his extraordinary activity and fear lest he should lose his footing in the treacherous mire, when I heard the sound of steps and, turning round, found a woman near me upon the path. She had come from the direction in which the plume of smoke indicated the position of Merripit House, but the dip of the moor had hid her until she was quite close.

I could not doubt that this was the Miss Stapleton of whom I had been told, since ladies of any sort must be few upon the moor, and I remembered that I had heard someone describe her as being a beauty.

The woman who approached me was certainly that, and of a most uncommon type. There could not have been a greater contrast between brother and sister, for Stapleton was neutral tinted, with light hair and gray eyes, while she was darker than any brunette whom I have seen in England—slim, elegant, and tall. She had a proud, finely cut face, so regular that it might have seemed impassive were it not for the sensitive mouth and the beautiful dark, eager eyes. With her perfect figure and elegant dress she was, indeed, a strange apparition upon a lonely moorland path. Her eyes were on her brother as I turned, and then she quickened her pace towards me. I had raised my hat and was about to make some explanatory remark when her own words turned all my thoughts into a new channel.

"Go back! " she said. "Go straight back to London, instantly. " I could only stare at her in stupid surprise.

Her eyes blazed at me, and she tapped the ground impatiently with her foot.

"Why should I go back? " I asked. "I cannot explain. " She spoke in a low, eager voice, with a curious lisp in her utterance. "But for God's sake do what I ask you. Go back and never set foot upon the moor again. " "But I have only just come. "Man, man! " she cried. "Can you not tell when a warning is for your own good? Go back to London! Start tonight! Get away from this place at all costs! Hush, my brother is coming! Not a word of what I have said. Would you mind getting that orchid for me among the mare's-tails yonder? We are very rich in orchids on the moor, though, of course, you are rather late to see the beauties of the place. " Stapleton had abandoned the chase and came back to us breathing hard and flushed with his exertions.

"Halloa, Beryl! " said he, and it seemed to me that the tone of his greeting was not altogether a cordial one. "Well, Jack, you are very hot. "Yes, I was chasing a Cyclopides. He is very rare and seldom found in the late autumn. What a pity that I should have missed him!" He spoke unconcernedly, but his small light eyes glanced incessantly from the girl to me.

"You have introduced yourselves, I can see. "Yes. I was telling Sir Henry that it was rather late for him to see the true beauties of the moor. " "Why, who do you think this is? "I imagine that it must be Sir Henry Baskerville. "No, no," said I. "Only a humble commoner, but his friend. My name is Dr. Watson. " A flush of vexation passed over her expressive face.

"We have been talking at cross purposes," said she. "Why, you had not very much time for talk," her brother remarked with the same questioning eyes. "I talked as if Dr. Watson were a resident instead of being merely a visitor," said she. "It cannot much matter to him whether it is early or late for the orchids. But you will come on, will you not, and see Merripit House? " A short walk brought us to it, a bleak moorland house, once the farm of some grazier in the old prosperous days, but now put into repair and turned into a modern dwelling.

An orchard surrounded it, but the trees, as is usual upon the moor, were stunted and nipped, and the effect of the whole place was mean and melancholy. We were admitted by a strange, wizened, rusty-coated old manservant, who seemed in keeping with the house. Inside, however, there were large rooms furnished with an elegance in which I seemed to recognize the taste of the lady. As I looked from their windows at the interminable granite-flecked moor rolling unbroken to the farthest horizon I could not but marvel at what could have brought this highly educated man and this beautiful woman to live in such a place.

"Queer spot to choose, is it not? " said he as if in answer to my thought. "And yet we manage to make ourselves fairly happy, do we not, Beryl? " "Quite happy," said she, but there was no ring of conviction in her words. "I had a school," said Stapleton. "It was in the north country. The work to a man of my temperament was mechanical and uninteresting, but the privilege of living with youth, of helping to mould those young minds, and of impressing them with one's own character and ideals was very dear to me. However, the fates were against us. A serious epidemic broke out in the school and three of the boys died. It never recovered from the blow, and much of my capital was irretrievably swallowed up. And yet, if it were not for the loss of the charming companionship of the boys, I could rejoice over my own misfortune, for, with my strong tastes for botany and zoology, I find an unlimited field of work here, and my sister is as devoted to Nature as I am. All this, Dr. Watson, has been brought upon your head by your expression as you surveyed the moor out of our window. " "It certainly did cross my mind that it might be a little dull—less for you, perhaps, than for your sister. "No, no, I am never dull," said she quickly. "We have books, we have our studies, and we have interesting neighbours. Dr. Mortimer is a most learned man in his own line. Poor Sir Charles was also an admirable companion. We knew him well and miss him more than I can tell. Do you think that I should intrude if I were to call this afternoon and make the acquaintance of Sir Henry? " "I am sure that he would be delighted. "Then perhaps you would mention that I propose to do so. We may in our humble way do something to make things more easy for him until he becomes accustomed to his new surroundings. Will you come upstairs, Dr. Watson, and inspect my collection of Lepidoptera? I think it is the most complete one in the south-west of England. By the time that you have looked through them lunch will be almost ready. " But I was eager to get back to my charge.

The melancholy of the moor, the death of the unfortunate pony, the weird sound which had been associated with the grim legend of the Baskervilles, all these things tinged my thoughts with sadness. Then on the top of these more or less vague impressions there had come the definite and distinct warning of Miss Stapleton, delivered with such intense earnestness that I could not doubt that some grave and deep reason lay behind it. I resisted all pressure to stay for lunch, and I set off at once upon my return journey, taking the grass-grown path by which we had come.

It seems, however, that there must have been some short cut for those who knew it, for before I had reached the road I was astounded to see Miss Stapleton sitting upon a rock by the side of the track.

Her face was beautifully flushed with her exertions and she held her hand to her side.

"I have run all the way in order to cut you off, Dr. Watson," said she. "I had not even time to put on my hat. I must not stop, or my brother may miss me. I wanted to say to you how sorry I am about the stupid mistake I made in thinking that you were Sir Henry. Please forget the words I said, which have no application whatever to you. " "But I can't forget them, Miss Stapleton," said I. "I am Sir Henry's friend, and his welfare is a very close concern of mine. Tell me why it was that you were so eager that Sir Henry should return to London. " "A woman's whim, Dr. Watson. When you know me better you will understand that I cannot always give reasons for what I say or do. " "No, no. I remember the thrill in your voice. I remember the look in your eyes. Please, please, be frank with me, Miss Stapleton, for ever since I have been here I have been conscious of shadows all round me. Life has become like that great Grimpen Mire, with little green patches everywhere into which one may sink and with no guide to point the track. Tell me then what it was that you meant, and I will promise to convey your warning to Sir Henry. " An expression of irresolution passed for an instant over her face, but her eyes had hardened again when she answered me.

"You make too much of it, Dr. Watson," said she. "My brother and I were very much shocked by the death of Sir Charles. We knew him very intimately, for his favourite walk was over the moor to our house. He was deeply impressed with the curse which hung over the family, and when this tragedy came I naturally felt that there must be some grounds for the fears which he had expressed. I was distressed therefore when another member of the family came down to live here, and I felt that he should be warned of the danger which he will run. That was all which I intended to convey.

"But what is the danger? "You know the story of the hound? "I do not believe in such nonsense. "But I do. If you have any influence with Sir Henry, take him away from a place which has always been fatal to his family. The world is wide. Why should he wish to live at the place of danger? " "Because it is the place of danger. That is Sir Henry's nature. I fear that unless you can give me some more definite information than this it would be impossible to get him to move. " "I cannot say anything definite, for I do not know anything definite. "I would ask you one more question, Miss Stapleton. If you meant no more than this when you first spoke to me, why should you not wish your brother to overhear what you said? There is nothing to which he, or anyone else, could object. " "My brother is very anxious to have the Hall inhabited, for he thinks it is for the good of the poor folk upon the moor. He would be very angry if he knew that I have said anything which might induce Sir Henry to go away. But I have done my duty now and I will say no more. I must go back, or he will miss me and suspect that I have seen you. Good-bye!" She turned and had disappeared in a few minutes among the scattered boulders, while I, with my soul full of vague fears, pursued my way to Baskerville Hall.

Chapter 7. The Stapletons of Merripit House Kapitel 7. Die Stapletons von Merripit House Capítulo 7. Los Stapleton de Merripit House Chapitre 7. Les Stapleton de Merripit House Глава 7. Стэплтоны из Меррипит Хаус

The fresh beauty of the following morning did something to efface from our minds the grim and gray impression which had been left upon both of us by our first experience of Baskerville Hall. Die frische Schönheit des folgenden Morgens trug etwas dazu bei, den düsteren und grauen Eindruck, den unsere erste Erfahrung mit Baskerville Hall bei uns beiden hinterlassen hatte, aus unserem Gedächtnis zu löschen.

As Sir Henry and I sat at breakfast the sunlight flooded in through the high mullioned windows, throwing watery patches of colour from the coats of arms which covered them. Als Sir Henry und ich beim Frühstück saßen, flutete das Sonnenlicht durch die hohen Sprossenfenster herein und warf wässrige Farbflecken auf die Wappen, die sie bedeckten. Коли ми з сером Генрі сиділи за сніданком, сонячне світло проникало крізь вікна з високими рамами, відкидаючи водянисті плями на герби, що їх прикривали. The dark panelling glowed like bronze in the golden rays, and it was hard to realize that this was indeed the chamber which had struck such a gloom into our souls upon the evening before. Die dunkle Vertäfelung glühte wie Bronze in den goldenen Strahlen, und es war schwer zu begreifen, dass dies tatsächlich das Gemach war, das uns am Abend zuvor so sehr bedrückt hatte. Темна обшивка відсвічувала бронзою в золотих променях, і важко було усвідомити, що це саме та кімната, яка напередодні ввечері навіяла такий морок на наші душі.

"I guess it is ourselves and not the house that we have to blame! "Ich glaube, wir sind selbst schuld und nicht das Haus! " said the baronet. ", sagte der Baronet. "We were tired with our journey and chilled by our drive, so we took a gray view of the place. "Wir waren müde von der Reise und abgekühlt von der Fahrt, also sahen wir uns den Ort grau an. "Ми були втомлені подорожжю і змерзли від їзди, тому ми сприйняли це місце сірим і безрадісним. Now we are fresh and well, so it is all cheerful once more. " Jetzt sind wir frisch und munter, also ist alles wieder fröhlich. " "And yet it was not entirely a question of imagination," I answered. "Und doch war es nicht nur eine Frage der Phantasie", antwortete ich. "Did you, for example, happen to hear someone, a woman I think, sobbing in the night? " "Haben Sie zum Beispiel zufällig jemanden, ich glaube eine Frau, in der Nacht schluchzen gehört? " "That is curious, for I did when I was half asleep fancy that I heard something of the sort. "Das ist seltsam, denn als ich im Halbschlaf war, glaubte ich, etwas in der Art gehört zu haben. "Це цікаво, бо мені, коли я був напівсонним, здавалося, що я чув щось подібне. I waited quite a time, but there was no more of it, so I concluded that it was all a dream. " Ich wartete eine ganze Weile, aber es kam nichts mehr, so dass ich zu dem Schluss kam, dass es nur ein Traum war. " "I heard it distinctly, and I am sure that it was really the sob of a woman. "Ich habe es deutlich gehört, und ich bin sicher, dass es wirklich das Schluchzen einer Frau war. "Я виразно це почув, і я впевнений, що це дійсно був жіночий ридання. "We must ask about this right away. "Wir müssen sofort danach fragen. "Ми повинні запитати про це одразу. " He rang the bell and asked Barrymore whether he could account for our experience. " Er läutete die Glocke und fragte Barrymore, ob er sich unser Erlebnis erklären könne. " Він подзвонив і запитав Баррімора, чи може він розповісти про наш досвід. It seemed to me that the pallid features of the butler turned a shade paler still as he listened to his master’s question. Mir schien, dass die blassen Züge des Butlers noch eine Spur blasser wurden, als er die Frage seines Herrn hörte.

"There are only two women in the house, Sir Henry," he answered. "Es sind nur zwei Frauen im Haus, Sir Henry", antwortete er. "One is the scullery-maid, who sleeps in the other wing. "Die eine ist die Küchenmagd, die im anderen Flügel schläft. «L'une est la soubrette, qui dort dans l'autre aile. "Одна з них - буфетниця, яка спить в іншому крилі. The other is my wife, and I can answer for it that the sound could not have come from her. " Die andere ist meine Frau, und ich kann es verantworten, dass das Geräusch nicht von ihr stammen kann. " And yet he lied as he said it, for it chanced that after breakfast I met Mrs. Barrymore in the long corridor with the sun full upon her face. Und doch log er, als er es sagte, denn zufällig traf ich nach dem Frühstück Mrs. Barrymore auf dem langen Korridor, wo die Sonne voll auf ihr Gesicht schien. Et pourtant il a menti en le disant, car il se peut qu'après le petit déjeuner, je rencontre Mme Barrymore dans le long couloir avec le soleil plein sur son visage. І все ж він збрехав, бо так сталося, що після сніданку я зустрів місіс Беррімор у довгому коридорі, і її обличчя було залите сонцем.

She was a large, impassive, heavy-featured woman with a stern set expression of mouth. Sie war eine große, teilnahmslose, schwergewichtige Frau mit einem strengen Mundwerk. Це була велика, незворушна, важка жінка з суворим виразом обличчя. But her telltale eyes were red and glanced at me from between swollen lids. Aber ihre verräterischen Augen waren rot und blickten mich zwischen geschwollenen Lidern an. Але її очі були червоними і дивилися на мене з-під набряклих повік. It was she, then, who wept in the night, and if she did so her husband must know it. Sie war es also, die in der Nacht weinte, und wenn sie es tat, musste ihr Mann es wissen. Yet he had taken the obvious risk of discovery in declaring that it was not so. Er war jedoch das offensichtliche Risiko eingegangen, entdeckt zu werden, indem er erklärte, dass dies nicht der Fall sei. Why had he done this? And why did she weep so bitterly? Und warum hat sie so bitterlich geweint? І чому вона так гірко плакала? Already round this pale-faced, handsome, black-bearded man there was gathering an atmosphere of mystery and of gloom. Um diesen blassen, gut aussehenden, schwarzbärtigen Mann hatte sich bereits eine geheimnisvolle und düstere Atmosphäre gebildet. Навколо цього блідолицього, вродливого, чорнобородого чоловіка вже збиралася атмосфера таємничості та похмурості. It was he who had been the first to discover the body of Sir Charles, and we had only his word for all the circumstances which led up to the old man’s death. Er war es, der als erster die Leiche von Sir Charles entdeckt hatte, und wir hatten nur sein Wort für alle Umstände, die zum Tod des alten Mannes führten. Was it possible that it was Barrymore, after all, whom we had seen in the cab in Regent Street? War es möglich, dass es doch Barrymore war, den wir im Taxi in der Regent Street gesehen hatten? Чи можливо, що це була та сама Беррімор, яку ми бачили в таксі на Ріджент-стріт? The beard might well have been the same. Der Bart könnte derselbe gewesen sein. Борода цілком могла бути такою самою. The cabman had described a somewhat shorter man, but such an impression might easily have been erroneous. Der Taxifahrer hatte einen etwas kleineren Mann beschrieben, aber dieser Eindruck konnte sich leicht irren. How could I settle the point forever? Wie könnte ich das Thema für immer abschließen? Comment pourrais-je régler le problème pour toujours? Obviously the first thing to do was to see the Grimpen postmaster and find whether the test telegram had really been placed in Barrymore’s own hands. Очевидно, що перше, що потрібно було зробити, це зустрітися з начальником пошти Грімпену і з'ясувати, чи справді тестова телеграма була передана в руки Берімору. Be the answer what it might, I should at least have something to report to Sherlock Holmes. Якою б не була відповідь, мені принаймні буде про що доповісти Шерлоку Холмсу.

Sir Henry had numerous papers to examine after breakfast, so that the time was propitious for my excursion. Sir Henry hatte nach dem Frühstück zahlreiche Papiere zu prüfen, so dass die Zeit für meinen Ausflug günstig war. Після сніданку сер Генрі мав переглянути численні папери, тож час для моєї екскурсії був сприятливий.

It was a pleasant walk of four miles along the edge of the moor, leading me at last to a small gray hamlet, in which two larger buildings, which proved to be the inn and the house of Dr. Mortimer, stood high above the rest. Це була приємна прогулянка на чотири милі вздовж краю болота, яка нарешті привела мене до маленького сірого села, в якому дві великі будівлі, що виявилися корчмою і будинком доктора Мортімера, височіли над рештою. The postmaster, who was also the village grocer, had a clear recollection of the telegram. Der Postmeister, der auch der Lebensmittelhändler des Dorfes war, konnte sich noch genau an das Telegramm erinnern.

"Certainly, sir," said he, "I had the telegram delivered to Mr. Barrymore exactly as directed. "Gewiss, Sir", sagte er, "ich habe das Telegramm genau wie vorgeschrieben an Mr. Barrymore zustellen lassen. "Who delivered it? "Wer hat es geliefert? "My boy here. "Mein Junge hier. James, you delivered that telegram to Mr. Barrymore at the Hall last week, did you not? " James, du hast doch letzte Woche das Telegramm an Mr. Barrymore im Rathaus abgegeben, nicht wahr? " "Yes, father, I delivered it. "Ja, Vater, ich habe es abgegeben. "Into his own hands? "In seine eigenen Hände? " I asked. " fragte ich. "Well, he was up in the loft at the time, so that I could not put it into his own hands, but I gave it into Mrs. Barrymore’s hands, and she promised to deliver it at once. "Nun, er war zu der Zeit oben auf dem Dachboden, so dass ich es ihm nicht in die Hand geben konnte, aber ich gab es Mrs. Barrymore in die Hand, und sie versprach, es sofort zu liefern. "Ну, він тоді був на горищі, тож я не міг віддати його йому в руки, але я віддав його в руки місіс Беррімор, і вона пообіцяла доставити його негайно. "Did you see Mr. "Haben Sie Mr. Barrymore? " Barrymore? " "No, sir; I tell you he was in the loft. "Nein, Sir; ich sage Ihnen, er war auf dem Dachboden. "If you didn’t see him, how do you know he was in the loft? "Wenn Sie ihn nicht gesehen haben, woher wissen Sie dann, dass er auf dem Dachboden war? "Well, surely his own wife ought to know where he is," said the postmaster testily. "Ну, звичайно, його власна дружина повинна знати, де він", - сказав начальник пошти з пристрастю. "Didn’t he get the telegram? "Hat er das Telegramm nicht bekommen? If there is any mistake it is for Mr. Barrymore himself to complain. " Wenn es einen Fehler gibt, dann ist es an Herrn Barrymore selbst, sich zu beschweren. " Якщо є якась помилка, то скаржитися має сам пан Беррімор. " It seemed hopeless to pursue the inquiry any farther, but it was clear that in spite of Holmes’s ruse we had no proof that Barrymore had not been in London all the time. Es schien hoffnungslos, die Untersuchung weiterzuführen, aber es war klar, dass wir trotz Holmes' List keinen Beweis dafür hatten, dass Barrymore nicht die ganze Zeit in London gewesen war. Здавалося, що продовжувати розслідування безнадійно, але було зрозуміло, що, незважаючи на хитрощі Холмса, у нас немає доказів того, що Берімор не була в Лондоні весь цей час.

Suppose that it were so—suppose that the same man had been the last who had seen Sir Charles alive, and the first to dog the new heir when he returned to England. Nehmen wir an, es wäre so - nehmen wir an, derselbe Mann wäre der letzte gewesen, der Sir Charles lebend gesehen hätte, und der erste, der den neuen Erben bei seiner Rückkehr nach England verfolgt hätte. Supposons qu'il en soit ainsi - supposons que le même homme ait été le dernier à avoir vu Sir Charles vivant, et le premier à choper le nouvel héritier à son retour en Angleterre. Припустімо, що це так - припустімо, що той самий чоловік був останнім, хто бачив сера Чарльза живим, і першим, хто цькував нового спадкоємця, коли той повернувся до Англії. What then? Was he the agent of others or had he some sinister design of his own? What interest could he have in persecuting the Baskerville family? I thought of the strange warning clipped out of the leading article of the Times. Ich dachte an die seltsame Warnung, die aus dem Leitartikel der Times ausgeschnitten war. Was that his work or was it possibly the doing of someone who was bent upon counteracting his schemes? War das sein Werk oder war es möglicherweise das Werk von jemandem, der seine Pläne durchkreuzen wollte? Чи це була його робота, чи, можливо, справа рук когось, хто намагався протидіяти його планам? The only conceivable motive was that which had been suggested by Sir Henry, that if the family could be scared away a comfortable and permanent home would be secured for the Barrymores. Das einzig denkbare Motiv war das von Sir Henry vorgeschlagene: Wenn es gelänge, die Familie zu verscheuchen, würde den Barrymores ein komfortables und dauerhaftes Zuhause gesichert. Єдиним можливим мотивом був припущення сера Генрі, що якщо сім'ю вдасться відлякати, то для Беріморів буде забезпечено комфортне і постійне житло. But surely such an explanation as that would be quite inadequate to account for the deep and subtle scheming which seemed to be weaving an invisible net round the young baronet. Aber eine solche Erklärung wäre sicherlich völlig unzureichend, um die tiefen und subtilen Intrigen zu erklären, die ein unsichtbares Netz um den jungen Baronet zu weben schienen. Але, безумовно, таке пояснення було б цілком недостатнім, щоб пояснити глибокі і витончені інтриги, які, здавалося, плели невидиму сітку навколо молодого баронета. Holmes himself had said that no more complex case had come to him in all the long series of his sensational investigations. Holmes selbst hatte gesagt, dass ihm in der langen Reihe seiner sensationellen Ermittlungen kein komplexerer Fall untergekommen war. Сам Холмс говорив, що за всю довгу серію його сенсаційних розслідувань не було справи складнішої за цю. I prayed, as I walked back along the gray, lonely road, that my friend might soon be freed from his preoccupations and able to come down to take this heavy burden of responsibility from my shoulders. Während ich die graue, einsame Straße zurückging, betete ich, dass mein Freund bald von seinen Sorgen befreit sein möge und in der Lage sein möge, herunterzukommen, um diese schwere Last der Verantwortung von meinen Schultern zu nehmen. Повертаючись сірою самотньою дорогою, я молився, щоб мій друг незабаром звільнився від своїх турбот і зміг спуститися, щоб зняти з моїх плечей цей важкий тягар відповідальності.

Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by the sound of running feet behind me and by a voice which called me by name. Plötzlich wurden meine Gedanken durch das Geräusch laufender Füße hinter mir und durch eine Stimme, die mich beim Namen rief, unterbrochen. Раптом мої роздуми перервав звук біжучих ніг позаду мене і голос, який покликав мене на ім'я.

I turned, expecting to see Dr. Mortimer, but to my surprise it was a stranger who was pursuing me. Ich drehte mich um, in der Erwartung, Dr. Mortimer zu sehen, aber zu meiner Überraschung war es ein Fremder, der mich verfolgte. Я обернулася, очікуючи побачити доктора Мортімера, але, на мій подив, мене переслідував незнайомець. He was a small, slim, clean-shaven, prim-faced man, flaxen-haired and leanjawed, between thirty and forty years of age, dressed in a gray suit and wearing a straw hat. Er war ein kleiner, schlanker, glatt rasierter Mann mit schlichtem Gesicht, flachsfarbenen Haaren und mageren Köpfen, zwischen dreißig und vierzig Jahren alt, gekleidet in einen grauen Anzug und mit einem Strohhut. C'était un petit homme mince, rasé de près, au visage primitif, aux cheveux de lin et aux mâchoires maigres, âgé de trente à quarante ans, vêtu d'un costume gris et coiffé d'un chapeau de paille. Це був невисокий, стрункий, чисто поголений, манірний чоловік з льняним волоссям і тонкою щелепою, віком від тридцяти до сорока років, одягнений у сірий костюм і солом'яний капелюх. A tin box for botanical specimens hung over his shoulder and he carried a green butterfly-net in one of his hands. Über seiner Schulter hing eine Blechkiste für botanische Exemplare und in einer Hand hielt er ein grünes Schmetterlingsnetz. Через плече у нього висіла бляшана коробка для ботанічних зразків, а в одній руці він тримав зелений сачок для метеликів.

"You will, I am sure, excuse my presumption, Dr. Watson," said he as he came panting up to where I stood. "Sie entschuldigen sicher meine Anmaßung, Dr. Watson", sagte er, als er keuchend auf mich zukam, wo ich stand. "Я впевнений, що ви пробачите мені мою зухвалість, докторе Ватсоне", - сказав він, задихаючись, підходячи до того місця, де я стояв. "Here on the moor we are homely folk and do not wait for formal introductions. "Hier im Moor sind wir gemütliche Leute und warten nicht darauf, dass man uns formell vorstellt. "Тут, на болоті, ми - домашні люди і не чекаємо формальних представлень. You may possibly have heard my name from our mutual friend, Mortimer. Sie haben meinen Namen vielleicht schon von unserem gemeinsamen Freund Mortimer gehört. I am Stapleton, of Merripit House. " "Your net and box would have told me as much," said I, "for I knew that Mr. Stapleton was a naturalist. But how did you know me? " "I have been calling on Mortimer, and he pointed you out to me from the window of his surgery as you passed. "Ich habe Mortimer aufgesucht, und er hat mich vom Fenster seiner Praxis aus auf Sie aufmerksam gemacht, als Sie vorbeikamen. "Я дзвонив Мортимеру, і він вказав мені на вас з вікна свого кабінету, коли ви проходили повз. As our road lay the same way I thought that I would overtake you and introduce myself. Da unser Weg in die gleiche Richtung führte, dachte ich, ich überhole Sie und stelle mich vor. Оскільки наша дорога пролягала в один бік, я вирішив наздогнати вас і представитися. I trust that Sir Henry is none the worse for his journey? " Ich hoffe, Sir Henry hat seine Reise gut überstanden? " Сподіваюся, сер Генрі не постраждав від своєї подорожі? " "He is very well, thank you. "We were all rather afraid that after the sad death of Sir Charles the new baronet might refuse to live here. "Wir hatten alle ein wenig Angst, dass sich der neue Baronet nach dem traurigen Tod von Sir Charles weigern könnte, hier zu leben. "Ми всі дуже боялися, що після сумної смерті сера Чарльза новий баронет відмовиться тут жити. It is asking much of a wealthy man to come down and bury himself in a place of this kind, but I need not tell you that it means a very great deal to the countryside. Заможна людина не може приїхати і поховати себе в такому місці, але я не повинен вам говорити, що це дуже багато значить для сільської місцевості. Sir Henry has, I suppose, no superstitious fears in the matter? " Гадаю, сер Генрі не має жодних забобонних побоювань з цього приводу? " "I do not think that it is likely. "Of course you know the legend of the fiend dog which haunts the family? "Звичайно, ви знаєте легенду про злого пса, який переслідує сім'ю? "I have heard it. "It is extraordinary how credulous the peasants are about here! "Дивовижно, наскільки тут довірливі селяни! Any number of them are ready to swear that they have seen such a creature upon the moor." Будь-хто з них готовий заприсягтися, що бачив таку істоту на болоті". He spoke with a smile, but I seemed to read in his eyes that he took the matter more seriously. Він говорив з посмішкою, але мені здалося, що в його очах я прочитав, що він ставиться до цього питання більш серйозно. "The story took a great hold upon the imagination of Sir Charles, and I have no doubt that it led to his tragic end. " "Ця історія сильно захопила уяву сера Чарльза, і я не сумніваюся, що вона призвела до його трагічного кінця. " "But how? "His nerves were so worked up that the appearance of any dog might have had a fatal effect upon his diseased heart. "Seine Nerven waren so angespannt, dass das Erscheinen eines Hundes eine tödliche Wirkung auf sein krankes Herz hätte haben können. "Його нерви були настільки розхитані, що поява будь-якої собаки могла фатально вплинути на його хворе серце. I fancy that he really did see something of the kind upon that last night in the yew alley. Я гадаю, що він справді бачив щось подібне тієї ночі в тисовій алеї. I feared that some disaster might occur, for I was very fond of the old man, and I knew that his heart was weak. " Ich befürchtete ein Unglück, denn ich mochte den alten Mann sehr, und ich wusste, dass sein Herz schwach war. " Я боявся, що може статися якесь нещастя, бо дуже любив старого і знав, що в нього слабке серце. " "How did you know that? "My friend Mortimer told me. "You think, then, that some dog pursued Sir Charles, and that he died of fright in consequence? "Du glaubst also, dass ein Hund Sir Charles verfolgt hat und er deshalb vor Angst gestorben ist? "Отже, ви думаєте, що якийсь собака переслідував сера Чарльза, і в результаті він помер від переляку? "Have you any better explanation? "У вас є краще пояснення? "I have not come to any conclusion. "Has Mr. Sherlock Holmes? The words took away my breath for an instant but a glance at the placid face and steadfast eyes of my companion showed that no surprise was intended. Від цих слів у мене на мить перехопило подих, але погляд на спокійне обличчя і непохитні очі мого супутника показав, що несподіванки не передбачалося.

"It is useless for us to pretend that we do not know you, Dr. Watson," said he. "Es ist sinnlos, so zu tun, als würden wir Sie nicht kennen, Dr. Watson", sagte er. "Нам марно вдавати, що ми вас не знаємо, докторе Ватсон, - сказав він. "The records of your detective have reached us here, and you could not celebrate him without being known yourself. "До нас дійшли записи вашого детектива, і ви не могли його відсвяткувати, не будучи відомим самі. When Mortimer told me your name he could not deny your identity. Коли Мортимер назвав мені твоє ім'я, він не зміг заперечити твою особистість. If you are here, then it follows that Mr. Sherlock Holmes is interesting himself in the matter, and I am naturally curious to know what view he may take. " "I am afraid that I cannot answer that question. "May I ask if he is going to honour us with a visit himself? "He cannot leave town at present. He has other cases which engage his attention. " Er hat andere Fälle, die seine Aufmerksamkeit erfordern. " У нього є інші справи, які привертають його увагу. " "What a pity! He might throw some light on that which is so dark to us. But as to your own researches, if there is any possible way in which I can be of service to you I trust that you will command me. Was aber Ihre eigenen Nachforschungen betrifft, so vertraue ich darauf, dass Sie mich anweisen werden, wenn ich Ihnen in irgendeiner Weise behilflich sein kann. Що ж до ваших власних досліджень, то якщо я можу вам чимось допомогти, то сподіваюся, що ви мені накажете. If I had any indication of the nature of your suspicions or how you propose to investigate the case, I might perhaps even now give you some aid or advice. " Якби я мав хоч якесь уявлення про природу ваших підозр або про те, як ви плануєте розслідувати справу, я, можливо, навіть зараз міг би надати вам якусь допомогу чи пораду. " "I assure you that I am simply here upon a visit to my friend, Sir Henry, and that I need no help of any kind. "Ich versichere Ihnen, dass ich nur zu Besuch bei meinem Freund Sir Henry bin und keinerlei Hilfe benötige. "Запевняю вас, що я тут просто в гостях у мого друга, сера Генрі, і що мені не потрібна ніяка допомога. "Excellent! " said Stapleton. "You are perfectly right to be wary and discreet. I am justly reproved for what I feel was an unjustifiable intrusion, and I promise you that I will not mention the matter again. " Мені справедливо докоряють за те, що я вважаю невиправданим втручанням, і я обіцяю вам, що більше не буду згадувати про це питання. " We had come to a point where a narrow grassy path struck off from the road and wound away across the moor.

A steep, boulder-sprinkled hill lay upon the right which had in bygone days been cut into a granite quarry. Auf der rechten Seite lag ein steiler, mit Felsbrocken übersäter Hügel, der in früheren Zeiten in einen Granitsteinbruch gehauen worden war. Une colline escarpée et parsemée de rochers s'étendait sur la droite qui avait autrefois été taillée en carrière de granit. Праворуч лежав крутий, посипаний валунами пагорб, який в минулі часи був розрізаний на гранітний кар'єр. The face which was turned towards us formed a dark cliff, with ferns and brambles growing in its niches. Повернутий до нас бік утворював темну скелю, в нішах якої росли папороть і чагарники. From over a distant rise there floated a gray plume of smoke. Von einer entfernten Anhöhe schwebte eine graue Rauchfahne herüber. З-за далекого пагорба плив сірий шлейф диму.

"A moderate walk along this moor-path brings us to Merripit House," said he. "Perhaps you will spare an hour that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to my sister. " "Vielleicht haben Sie eine Stunde Zeit, damit ich das Vergnügen habe, Sie meiner Schwester vorzustellen. " "Можливо, у вас знайдеться година, щоб я мав честь познайомити вас з моєю сестрою". " My first thought was that I should be by Sir Henry’s side. Моєю першою думкою було, що я маю бути поруч із сером Генрі.

But then I remembered the pile of papers and bills with which his study table was littered. Doch dann erinnerte ich mich an den Stapel von Papieren und Rechnungen, mit dem sein Arbeitstisch übersät war. Але потім я згадав купу паперів і рахунків, якими був завалений його робочий стіл. It was certain that I could not help with those. And Holmes had expressly said that I should study the neighbours upon the moor. А Холмс чітко сказав, що я повинен вивчити сусідів на болоті. I accepted Stapleton’s invitation, and we turned together down the path.

"It is a wonderful place, the moor," said he, looking round over the undulating downs, long green rollers, with crests of jagged granite foaming up into fantastic surges. "Es ist ein wundervoller Ort, das Moor", sagte er und blickte über die hügelige Landschaft, lange grüne Walzen, deren Kämme aus zerklüftetem Granit zu fantastischen Wogen aufschäumten. "É um lugar maravilhoso, a charneca", disse ele, olhando em volta sobre as colinas ondulantes, longos rolos verdes, com cristas de granito recortado formando ondas fantásticas. "Це чудове місце, болото", - сказав він, оглядаючи хвилясті спуски, довгі зелені вали, з гребенями зубчастого граніту, що піняться у фантастичних сплесках. "You never tire of the moor. "Man wird des Moors nicht müde. You cannot think the wonderful secrets which it contains. Ви не можете уявити, які чудові таємниці вона містить. It is so vast, and so barren, and so mysterious. " "You know it well, then? "I have only been here two years. The residents would call me a newcomer. We came shortly after Sir Charles settled. Ми приїхали невдовзі після того, як сер Чарльз оселився. But my tastes led me to explore every part of the country round, and I should think that there are few men who know it better than I do. " Aber mein Geschmack hat mich dazu gebracht, jeden Teil des Landes zu erforschen, und ich denke, dass es nur wenige Menschen gibt, die es besser kennen als ich. " Але мої смаки спонукали мене дослідити всі куточки країни, і я вважаю, що мало хто знає її краще за мене. " "Is it hard to know? "Very hard. You see, for example, this great plain to the north here with the queer hills breaking out of it. Ви бачите, наприклад, цю велику рівнину на півночі з химерними пагорбами, що вириваються з неї. Do you observe anything remarkable about that? " "It would be a rare place for a gallop. "Це було б рідкісне місце для галопу. "You would naturally think so and the thought has cost several their lives before now. "Das würde man natürlich denken, und der Gedanke hat schon einige das Leben gekostet. You notice those bright green spots scattered thickly over it? " "Yes, they seem more fertile than the rest. Stapleton laughed.

"That is the great Grimpen Mire," said he. "Das ist das große Grimpenmoor", sagte er. "Це велике болото Грімпен", - сказав він. "A false step yonder means death to man or beast. «Un faux pas là-bas signifie la mort de l'homme ou de la bête. "Неправильний крок туди означає смерть для людини чи тварини. Only yesterday I saw one of the moor ponies wander into it. Лише вчора я бачив, як один з болотяних поні забрів до нього. He never came out. I saw his head for quite a long time craning out of the bog-hole, but it sucked him down at last. Ich sah, wie er lange Zeit seinen Kopf aus dem Sumpfloch streckte, aber schließlich saugte es ihn ein. J'ai vu sa tête se tendre pendant un long moment hors de la tourbière, mais elle l'a finalement aspiré. Even in dry seasons it is a danger to cross it, but after these autumn rains it is an awful place. Selbst in trockenen Jahreszeiten ist es gefährlich, ihn zu überqueren, aber nach den Regenfällen im Herbst ist er ein schrecklicher Ort. And yet I can find my way to the very heart of it and return alive. By George, there is another of those miserable ponies! " Bei Gott, da ist noch eines dieser elenden Ponys! " Клянуся Джорджем, є ще один з тих нещасних поні! " Something brown was rolling and tossing among the green sedges. Quelque chose de brun roulait et se balançait parmi les carex verts.

Then a long, agonized, writhing neck shot upward and a dreadful cry echoed over the moor. Потім довга, агонізуюча, звивиста шия вистрілила вгору, і жахливий крик пролунав над болотом. It turned me cold with horror, but my companion’s nerves seemed to be stronger than mine.

"It’s gone! " said he. "The mire has him. Two in two days, and many more, perhaps, for they get in the way of going there in the dry weather and never know the difference until the mire has them in its clutches. Двоє за два дні, і, можливо, набагато більше, бо вони заважають йти туди в суху погоду і не знають різниці, доки болото не затягне їх у свої лабети. It’s a bad place, the great Grimpen Mire. " "And you say you can penetrate it? "Und Sie sagen, Sie können sie durchdringen? "Yes, there are one or two paths which a very active man can take. I have found them out. " "But why should you wish to go into so horrible a place? "Well, you see the hills beyond? They are really islands cut off on all sides by the impassable mire, which has crawled round them in the course of years. Це справді острови, відрізані з усіх боків непролазною трясовиною, яка повзла навколо них роками. That is where the rare plants and the butterflies are, if you have the wit to reach them. " C'est là que se trouvent les plantes rares et les papillons, si vous avez l'esprit pour les atteindre. " Саме там знаходяться рідкісні рослини і метелики, якщо у вас вистачить розуму до них дістатися. " "I shall try my luck some day. He looked at me with a surprised face.

"For God’s sake put such an idea out of your mind," said he. "Um Gottes willen, schlag dir diese Idee aus dem Kopf", sagte er. "Your blood would be upon my head. «Votre sang serait sur ma tête. I assure you that there would not be the least chance of your coming back alive. Запевняю вас, що не було б ані найменшого шансу, що ви повернетесь живими. It is only by remembering certain complex landmarks that I am able to do it. " Nur wenn ich mich an bestimmte komplexe Orientierungspunkte erinnere, kann ich das tun. " Тільки пам'ятаючи певні складні орієнтири, я можу це робити. " "Halloa! " I cried. "What is that? " A long, low moan, indescribably sad, swept over the moor. Довгий, низький стогін, невимовно сумний, прокотився над болотом.

It filled the whole air, and yet it was impossible to say whence it came. From a dull murmur it swelled into a deep roar, and then sank back into a melancholy, throbbing murmur once again. Von einem dumpfen Murmeln schwoll es zu einem tiefen Brüllen an, um dann wieder in ein melancholisches, pochendes Murmeln zu sinken. З глухого дзюрчання вона переросла в глибокий рев, а потім знову занурилася в меланхолійне, пульсуюче дзюрчання. Stapleton looked at me with a curious expression in his face.

"Queer place, the moor! " said he. "But what is it? "The peasants say it is the Hound of the Baskervilles calling for its prey. I’ve heard it once or twice before, but never quite so loud. " I looked round, with a chill of fear in my heart, at the huge swelling plain, mottled with the green patches of rushes. Mit einem Schauer der Angst im Herzen blickte ich auf die riesige, anschwellende Ebene, gesprenkelt mit den grünen Flecken der Binsen. Я озирнувся, з холодом страху в серці, на величезну розбухаючу рівнину, поцятковану зеленими плямами очерету.

Nothing stirred over the vast expanse save a pair of ravens, which croaked loudly from a tor behind us. Nichts rührte sich in der Weite, außer einem Rabenpaar, das laut krächzend aus einem Tor hinter uns kam. Ніщо не ворушилося над величезним простором, окрім пари круків, які голосно крякали з тору позаду нас.

"You are an educated man. You don’t believe such nonsense as that?" said I.

"What do you think is the cause of so strange a sound? " "Bogs make queer noises sometimes. It’s the mud settling, or the water rising, or something. " "No, no, that was a living voice. "Well, perhaps it was. Did you ever hear a bittern booming? " Hast du schon mal eine Rohrdommel dröhnen gehört? " Avez-vous déjà entendu un butor en plein essor? " Ви коли-небудь чули гіркий гул? " "No, I never did. "It’s a very rare bird—practically extinct—in England now, but all things are possible upon the moor. "Er ist ein sehr seltener Vogel, der in England praktisch ausgestorben ist, aber im Moor ist alles möglich. "Це дуже рідкісний птах - практично вимерлий - в Англії, але на болоті все можливо. Yes, I should not be surprised to learn that what we have heard is the cry of the last of the bitterns. " Так, я не здивуюся, якщо дізнаюся, що те, що ми почули, - це крик останнього з гіркоти. " "It’s the weirdest, strangest thing that ever I heard in my life. "Das ist das Seltsamste, was ich je in meinem Leben gehört habe. "Yes, it’s rather an uncanny place altogether. "Так, це взагалі досить дивне місце. Look at the hillside yonder. Sehen Sie sich den Hügel dort drüben an. What do you make of those? " The whole steep slope was covered with gray circular rings of stone, a score of them at least. Der gesamte steile Hang war mit grauen, kreisrunden Steinringen bedeckt, mindestens eine ganze Reihe davon. Весь крутий схил був вкритий сірими круглими кільцями з каменю, їх було не менше десятка.

"What are they? Sheep-pens? " Schafställe? " Вівчарня? " "No, they are the homes of our worthy ancestors. "Nein, es sind die Häuser unserer würdigen Vorfahren. "Ні, це домівки наших гідних предків. Prehistoric man lived thickly on the moor, and as no one in particular has lived there since, we find all his little arrangements exactly as he left them. These are his wigwams with the roofs off. You can even see his hearth and his couch if you have the curiosity to go inside. Ви навіть можете побачити його вогнище і диван, якщо у вас вистачить цікавості зайти всередину.

"But it is quite a town. When was it inhabited? " "Neolithic man—no date. "What did he do? "He grazed his cattle on these slopes, and he learned to dig for tin when the bronze sword began to supersede the stone axe. "Er weidete sein Vieh an diesen Hängen und lernte, nach Zinn zu graben, als das Bronzeschwert die Steinaxt abzulösen begann. Look at the great trench in the opposite hill. That is his mark. Yes, you will find some very singular points about the moor, Dr. Watson. Так, ви знайдете кілька дуже особливих моментів про болото, докторе Ватсон. Oh, excuse me an instant! Вибачте, я на хвилинку! It is surely Cyclopides. " Es ist sicherlich Cyclopides. " A small fly or moth had fluttered across our path, and in an instant Stapleton was rushing with extraordinary energy and speed in pursuit of it. Eine kleine Fliege oder Motte war über unseren Weg geflattert, und im Nu war Stapleton mit außerordentlicher Energie und Geschwindigkeit hinter ihr hergeeilt. Маленька муха чи метелик пурхнула через наш шлях, і за мить Стейплтон з надзвичайною енергією та швидкістю помчав за нею.

To my dismay the creature flew straight for the great mire, and my acquaintance never paused for an instant, bounding from tuft to tuft behind it, his green net waving in the air. Zu meinem Entsetzen flog die Kreatur geradewegs auf den großen Sumpf zu, und mein Bekannter hielt keinen Augenblick inne, sondern hüpfte hinter ihr von Büschel zu Büschel, wobei sein grünes Netz in der Luft wehte. À ma grande consternation, la créature a volé droit vers le grand bourbier, et ma connaissance ne s'est jamais arrêtée un instant, bondissant de touffe en touffe derrière elle, son filet vert ondulant dans les airs. His gray clothes and jerky, zigzag, irregular progress made him not unlike some huge moth himself. Mit seiner grauen Kleidung und seinem ruckartigen, zickzackförmigen, unregelmäßigen Gang glich er selbst einer riesigen Motte. Сірий одяг і рвучкий, зигзагоподібний, нерівномірний рух робили його схожим на величезного метелика. I was standing watching his pursuit with a mixture of admiration for his extraordinary activity and fear lest he should lose his footing in the treacherous mire, when I heard the sound of steps and, turning round, found a woman near me upon the path. Ich stand da und beobachtete seine Verfolgung mit einer Mischung aus Bewunderung für seine außergewöhnliche Aktivität und Angst, dass er in dem tückischen Morast den Halt verlieren könnte, als ich Schritte hörte und, als ich mich umdrehte, eine Frau neben mir auf dem Pfad entdeckte. Я стояв і спостерігав за його переслідуванням із сумішшю захоплення його надзвичайною активністю і страху, щоб він не загубив ноги в підступному болоті, коли почув звук кроків і, обернувшись, побачив на стежці жінку, яка йшла поруч зі мною. She had come from the direction in which the plume of smoke indicated the position of Merripit House, but the dip of the moor had hid her until she was quite close. Вона прийшла з того боку, звідки шлейф диму вказував на розташування будинку Мерріпіт, але пагорб болота ховав її, поки вона не наблизилася зовсім близько.

I could not doubt that this was the Miss Stapleton of whom I had been told, since ladies of any sort must be few upon the moor, and I remembered that I had heard someone describe her as being a beauty. Я не сумнівався, що це була міс Степлтон, про яку мені розповідали, адже на болоті, мабуть, небагато жінок, і я згадав, що чув, як хтось описував її як красуню.

The woman who approached me was certainly that, and of a most uncommon type. Жінка, яка підійшла до мене, безумовно, була такою, причому дуже рідкісного типу. There could not have been a greater contrast between brother and sister, for Stapleton was neutral tinted, with light hair and gray eyes, while she was darker than any brunette whom I have seen in England—slim, elegant, and tall. She had a proud, finely cut face, so regular that it might have seemed impassive were it not for the sensitive mouth and the beautiful dark, eager eyes. Sie hatte ein stolzes, fein geschnittenes Gesicht, so ebenmäßig, dass es teilnahmslos hätte wirken können, wären da nicht der empfindliche Mund und die schönen dunklen, eifrigen Augen gewesen. У неї було горде, чітко окреслене обличчя, настільки правильне, що могло б здатися незворушним, якби не чутливий рот і красиві темні, сповнені жаги очі. With her perfect figure and elegant dress she was, indeed, a strange apparition upon a lonely moorland path. З її ідеальною фігурою та елегантною сукнею вона справді була дивною примарою на самотній болотистій стежці. Her eyes were on her brother as I turned, and then she quickened her pace towards me. Її очі дивилися на брата, коли я повернувся, а потім вона прискорила крок до мене. I had raised my hat and was about to make some explanatory remark when her own words turned all my thoughts into a new channel. Я підняв капелюха і збирався зробити якесь пояснювальне зауваження, коли її власні слова спрямували всі мої думки в інше русло.

"Go back! " she said. "Go straight back to London, instantly. " I could only stare at her in stupid surprise.

Her eyes blazed at me, and she tapped the ground impatiently with her foot. Ihre Augen funkelten mich an, und sie klopfte ungeduldig mit dem Fuß auf den Boden.

"Why should I go back? " I asked. "I cannot explain. " She spoke in a low, eager voice, with a curious lisp in her utterance. "But for God’s sake do what I ask you. Go back and never set foot upon the moor again. " "But I have only just come. "Man, man! " she cried. "Can you not tell when a warning is for your own good? "Хіба ви не розумієте, коли попередження для вашого ж блага? Go back to London! Start tonight! Get away from this place at all costs! Hush, my brother is coming! Тихіше, мій брат іде! Not a word of what I have said. Would you mind getting that orchid for me among the mare’s-tails yonder? Würden Sie mir bitte diese Orchidee zwischen den Stutenschwänzen dort drüben holen? Ви не могли б знайти для мене ту орхідею серед кобилячих хвостів? We are very rich in orchids on the moor, though, of course, you are rather late to see the beauties of the place. " Ми дуже багаті на орхідеї на болоті, хоча, звичайно, ви запізнилися, щоб побачити красу цього місця. " Stapleton had abandoned the chase and came back to us breathing hard and flushed with his exertions.

"Halloa, Beryl! " said he, and it seemed to me that the tone of his greeting was not altogether a cordial one. "сказав він, і мені здалося, що тон його привітання був не зовсім привітним. "Well, Jack, you are very hot. "Yes, I was chasing a Cyclopides. "Ja, ich habe einen Zyklopen gejagt. "Так, я переслідував циклопіда. He is very rare and seldom found in the late autumn. Він дуже рідкісний, і його рідко можна зустріти пізньої осені. What a pity that I should have missed him!" He spoke unconcernedly, but his small light eyes glanced incessantly from the girl to me.

"You have introduced yourselves, I can see. "Yes. I was telling Sir Henry that it was rather late for him to see the true beauties of the moor. " "Why, who do you think this is? "Чому, хто це, по-твоєму? "I imagine that it must be Sir Henry Baskerville. "No, no," said I. "Only a humble commoner, but his friend. «Seulement un humble roturier, mais son ami. My name is Dr. Watson. " A flush of vexation passed over her expressive face. На її виразному обличчі проступив рум'янець роздратування.

"We have been talking at cross purposes," said she. "Ми говорили на різні теми, - сказала вона. "Why, you had not very much time for talk," her brother remarked with the same questioning eyes. "У тебе було небагато часу на розмови", - зауважив її брат з тими самими запитальними очима. "I talked as if Dr. Watson were a resident instead of being merely a visitor," said she. "It cannot much matter to him whether it is early or late for the orchids. "Для нього не має великого значення, рано чи пізно для орхідей. But you will come on, will you not, and see Merripit House? " Але ти ж прийдеш, чи не так, і побачиш будинок Мерріпіт? " A short walk brought us to it, a bleak moorland house, once the farm of some grazier in the old prosperous days, but now put into repair and turned into a modern dwelling. Коротка прогулянка привела нас до нього, похмурого будинку на болоті, що колись був фермою якогось пастуха в старі процвітаючі часи, але зараз відремонтований і перетворений на сучасне житло.

An orchard surrounded it, but the trees, as is usual upon the moor, were stunted and nipped, and the effect of the whole place was mean and melancholy. We were admitted by a strange, wizened, rusty-coated old manservant, who seemed in keeping with the house. Нас прийняв дивний, зачарований, вкритий іржею старий слуга, який, здавалося, дуже пасував до цього будинку. Inside, however, there were large rooms furnished with an elegance in which I seemed to recognize the taste of the lady. As I looked from their windows at the interminable granite-flecked moor rolling unbroken to the farthest horizon I could not but marvel at what could have brought this highly educated man and this beautiful woman to live in such a place. Als ich aus ihren Fenstern auf das unendliche granitgesprenkelte Moor blickte, das sich ungebrochen bis zum Horizont erstreckte, konnte ich nicht anders, als mich zu fragen, was diesen hochgebildeten Mann und diese schöne Frau dazu gebracht haben könnte, an einem solchen Ort zu leben. Дивлячись з їхніх вікон на нескінченні гранітні болота, що безперервно котилися до самого горизонту, я не міг не дивуватися, що могло привести цього високоосвіченого чоловіка і цю вродливу жінку жити в такому місці.

"Queer spot to choose, is it not? " said he as if in answer to my thought. "And yet we manage to make ourselves fairly happy, do we not, Beryl? " "І все ж нам вдається зробити себе досить щасливими, чи не так, Берил? " "Quite happy," said she, but there was no ring of conviction in her words. "Цілком щаслива", - сказала вона, але в її словах не було впевненості. "I had a school," said Stapleton. "It was in the north country. The work to a man of my temperament was mechanical and uninteresting, but the privilege of living with youth, of helping to mould those young minds, and of impressing them with one’s own character and ideals was very dear to me. However, the fates were against us. Doch das Schicksal war gegen uns. A serious epidemic broke out in the school and three of the boys died. It never recovered from the blow, and much of my capital was irretrievably swallowed up. Він так і не оговтався від удару, і значна частина мого капіталу була безповоротно поглинута. And yet, if it were not for the loss of the charming companionship of the boys, I could rejoice over my own misfortune, for, with my strong tastes for botany and zoology, I find an unlimited field of work here, and my sister is as devoted to Nature as I am. І все ж, якби не втрата чарівного товариства хлопців, я міг би радіти власному нещастю, адже з моїми сильними смаками до ботаніки та зоології я знаходжу тут необмежене поле для роботи, а моя сестра так само віддана природі, як і я. All this, Dr. Watson, has been brought upon your head by your expression as you surveyed the moor out of our window. " "It certainly did cross my mind that it might be a little dull—less for you, perhaps, than for your sister. "Ich habe schon daran gedacht, dass es ein bisschen langweilig sein könnte - für dich vielleicht weniger als für deine Schwester. "No, no, I am never dull," said she quickly. "We have books, we have our studies, and we have interesting neighbours. Dr. Mortimer is a most learned man in his own line. Poor Sir Charles was also an admirable companion. We knew him well and miss him more than I can tell. Do you think that I should intrude if I were to call this afternoon and make the acquaintance of Sir Henry? " "I am sure that he would be delighted. "Then perhaps you would mention that I propose to do so. "Dann sollten Sie vielleicht erwähnen, dass ich das vorhabe. "Тоді, можливо, ви згадаєте, що я пропоную це зробити. We may in our humble way do something to make things more easy for him until he becomes accustomed to his new surroundings. Ми можемо у свій скромний спосіб зробити щось, щоб полегшити йому життя, поки він не звикне до нового оточення. Will you come upstairs, Dr. Watson, and inspect my collection of Lepidoptera? I think it is the most complete one in the south-west of England. By the time that you have looked through them lunch will be almost ready. " But I was eager to get back to my charge. Але я дуже хотів повернутися до своїх підопічних.

The melancholy of the moor, the death of the unfortunate pony, the weird sound which had been associated with the grim legend of the Baskervilles, all these things tinged my thoughts with sadness. Die Melancholie des Moors, der Tod des unglücklichen Ponys, das unheimliche Geräusch, das mit der düsteren Legende der Baskervilles in Verbindung gebracht wurde, all diese Dinge färbten meine Gedanken mit Traurigkeit. Then on the top of these more or less vague impressions there had come the definite and distinct warning of Miss Stapleton, delivered with such intense earnestness that I could not doubt that some grave and deep reason lay behind it. Dann kam zu diesen mehr oder weniger vagen Eindrücken die eindeutige und deutliche Warnung von Miss Stapleton hinzu, die mit so großem Ernst ausgesprochen wurde, dass ich nicht daran zweifeln konnte, dass ein ernster und tiefer Grund dahintersteckte. Потім на вершині цих більш-менш невиразних вражень з'явилося чітке і ясне попередження міс Степлтон, виголошене з такою напруженою серйозністю, що я не міг сумніватися в тому, що за цим стоїть якась серйозна і глибока причина. I resisted all pressure to stay for lunch, and I set off at once upon my return journey, taking the grass-grown path by which we had come. Ich widerstand dem Druck, zum Mittagessen zu bleiben, und machte mich sofort auf den Rückweg, wobei ich den grasbewachsenen Weg nahm, über den wir gekommen waren. Я не піддався на всілякі умовляння залишитися на обід і одразу ж вирушив у зворотний шлях порослою травою стежкою, якою ми приїхали.

It seems, however, that there must have been some short cut for those who knew it, for before I had reached the road I was astounded to see Miss Stapleton sitting upon a rock by the side of the track. Здається, однак, що для тих, хто знав дорогу, мав бути якийсь короткий шлях, бо ще до того, як я вийшов на дорогу, я був вражений, побачивши міс Степлтон, яка сиділа на камені на узбіччі дороги.

Her face was beautifully flushed with her exertions and she held her hand to her side. Її обличчя гарно почервоніло від навантажень, і вона тримала руку в боці.

"I have run all the way in order to cut you off, Dr. Watson," said she. "Я пробігла весь цей шлях, щоб підрізати вас, докторе Ватсон", - сказала вона. "I had not even time to put on my hat. I must not stop, or my brother may miss me. I wanted to say to you how sorry I am about the stupid mistake I made in thinking that you were Sir Henry. Я хотів сказати вам, як мені шкода за ту дурну помилку, якої я припустився, думаючи, що ви - сер Генрі. Please forget the words I said, which have no application whatever to you. " Будь ласка, забудьте мої слова, які не мають до вас жодного стосунку. " "But I can’t forget them, Miss Stapleton," said I. "I am Sir Henry’s friend, and his welfare is a very close concern of mine. "Ich bin Sir Henrys Freund, und sein Wohlergehen liegt mir sehr am Herzen. Tell me why it was that you were so eager that Sir Henry should return to London. " Sagen Sie mir, warum Sie unbedingt wollten, dass Sir Henry nach London zurückkehrt. " "A woman’s whim, Dr. Watson. «Un caprice de femme, Dr Watson. When you know me better you will understand that I cannot always give reasons for what I say or do. " "No, no. I remember the thrill in your voice. I remember the look in your eyes. Please, please, be frank with me, Miss Stapleton, for ever since I have been here I have been conscious of shadows all round me. Будь ласка, будьте відверті зі мною, міс Степлтон, бо відколи я тут, мені здається, що навколо мене тіні. Life has become like that great Grimpen Mire, with little green patches everywhere into which one may sink and with no guide to point the track. Життя стало схожим на велике болото Грімпен, з маленькими зеленими плямами, в які можна провалитися, і без жодного орієнтира, який би вказував шлях. Tell me then what it was that you meant, and I will promise to convey your warning to Sir Henry. " Тоді скажіть мені, що ви мали на увазі, і я обіцяю передати ваше застереження серу Генрі. " An expression of irresolution passed for an instant over her face, but her eyes had hardened again when she answered me. Вираз нерішучості на мить зник з її обличчя, але її очі знову стали твердими, коли вона відповіла мені.

"You make too much of it, Dr. Watson," said she. "Ви робите з мухи слона, докторе Ватсон, - сказала вона. "My brother and I were very much shocked by the death of Sir Charles. We knew him very intimately, for his favourite walk was over the moor to our house. Ми знали його дуже близько, бо його улюбленою прогулянкою була прогулянка через болото до нашого будинку. He was deeply impressed with the curse which hung over the family, and when this tragedy came I naturally felt that there must be some grounds for the fears which he had expressed. I was distressed therefore when another member of the family came down to live here, and I felt that he should be warned of the danger which he will run. That was all which I intended to convey. Das war alles, was ich vermitteln wollte.

"But what is the danger? "You know the story of the hound? "I do not believe in such nonsense. "But I do. If you have any influence with Sir Henry, take him away from a place which has always been fatal to his family. The world is wide. Світ широкий. Why should he wish to live at the place of danger? " "Because it is the place of danger. That is Sir Henry’s nature. I fear that unless you can give me some more definite information than this it would be impossible to get him to move. " Я боюся, що якщо ви не надасте мені більш точної інформації, ніж ця, буде неможливо змусити його переїхати. " "I cannot say anything definite, for I do not know anything definite. "I would ask you one more question, Miss Stapleton. If you meant no more than this when you first spoke to me, why should you not wish your brother to overhear what you said? Якщо ти мав на увазі саме це, коли вперше заговорив зі мною, то чому не хочеш, щоб твій брат почув твої слова? There is nothing to which he, or anyone else, could object. " "My brother is very anxious to have the Hall inhabited, for he thinks it is for the good of the poor folk upon the moor. He would be very angry if he knew that I have said anything which might induce Sir Henry to go away. But I have done my duty now and I will say no more. I must go back, or he will miss me and suspect that I have seen you. Я мушу повернутися, інакше він буде сумувати за мною і запідозрить, що я бачився з тобою. Good-bye!" She turned and had disappeared in a few minutes among the scattered boulders, while I, with my soul full of vague fears, pursued my way to Baskerville Hall.