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The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Chapter 8. First Report of Dr. Watson

Chapter 8. First Report of Dr. Watson

From this point onward I will follow the course of events by transcribing my own letters to Mr. Sherlock Holmes which lie before me on the table.

One page is missing, but otherwise they are exactly as written and show my feelings and suspicions of the moment more accurately than my memory, clear as it is upon these tragic events, can possibly do. Baskerville Hall, October 13th.

MY DEAR HOLMES: My previous letters and telegrams have kept you pretty well up to date as to all that has occurred in this most God-forsaken corner of the world. The longer one stays here the more does the spirit of the moor sink into one's soul, its vastness, and also its grim charm. When you are once out upon its bosom you have left all traces of modern England behind you, but, on the other hand, you are conscious everywhere of the homes and the work of the prehistoric people. On all sides of you as you walk are the houses of these forgotten folk, with their graves and the huge monoliths which are supposed to have marked their temples. As you look at their gray stone huts against the scarred hillsides you leave your own age behind you, and if you were to see a skin-clad, hairy man crawl out from the low door fitting a flint-tipped arrow on to the string of his bow, you would feel that his presence there was more natural than your own. The strange thing is that they should have lived so thickly on what must always have been most unfruitful soil. I am no antiquarian, but I could imagine that they were some unwarlike and harried race who were forced to accept that which none other would occupy. All this, however, is foreign to the mission on which you sent me and will probably be very uninteresting to your severely practical mind.

I can still remember your complete indifference as to whether the sun moved round the earth or the earth round the sun. Let me, therefore, return to the facts concerning Sir Henry Baskerville. If you have not had any report within the last few days it is because up to today there was nothing of importance to relate.

Then a very surprising circumstance occurred, which I shall tell you in due course. But, first of all, I must keep you in touch with some of the other factors in the situation. One of these, concerning which I have said little, is the escaped convict upon the moor.

There is strong reason now to believe that he has got right away, which is a considerable relief to the lonely householders of this district. A fortnight has passed since his flight, during which he has not been seen and nothing has been heard of him. It is surely inconceivable that he could have held out upon the moor during all that time. Of course, so far as his concealment goes there is no difficulty at all. Any one of these stone huts would give him a hiding-place. But there is nothing to eat unless he were to catch and slaughter one of the moor sheep. We think, therefore, that he has gone, and the outlying farmers sleep the better in consequence. We are four able-bodied men in this household, so that we could take good care of ourselves, but I confess that I have had uneasy moments when I have thought of the Stapletons.

They live miles from any help. There are one maid, an old manservant, the sister, and the brother, the latter not a very strong man. They would be helpless in the hands of a desperate fellow like this Notting Hill criminal if he could once effect an entrance. Both Sir Henry and I were concerned at their situation, and it was suggested that Perkins the groom should go over to sleep there, but Stapleton would not hear of it. The fact is that our friend, the baronet, begins to display a considerable interest in our fair neighbour.

It is not to be wondered at, for time hangs heavily in this lonely spot to an active man like him, and she is a very fascinating and beautiful woman. There is something tropical and exotic about her which forms a singular contrast to her cool and unemotional brother. Yet he also gives the idea of hidden fires. He has certainly a very marked influence over her, for I have seen her continually glance at him as she talked as if seeking approbation for what she said. I trust that he is kind to her. There is a dry glitter in his eyes and a firm set of his thin lips, which goes with a positive and possibly a harsh nature. You would find him an interesting study. He came over to call upon Baskerville on that first day, and the very next morning he took us both to show us the spot where the legend of the wicked Hugo is supposed to have had its origin.

It was an excursion of some miles across the moor to a place which is so dismal that it might have suggested the story. We found a short valley between rugged tors which led to an open, grassy space flecked over with the white cotton grass. In the middle of it rose two great stones, worn and sharpened at the upper end until they looked like the huge corroding fangs of some monstrous beast. In every way it corresponded with the scene of the old tragedy. Sir Henry was much interested and asked Stapleton more than once whether he did really believe in the possibility of the interference of the supernatural in the affairs of men. He spoke lightly, but it was evident that he was very much in earnest. Stapleton was guarded in his replies, but it was easy to see that he said less than he might, and that he would not express his whole opinion out of consideration for the feelings of the baronet. He told us of similar cases, where families had suffered from some evil influence, and he left us with the impression that he shared the popular view upon the matter. On our way back we stayed for lunch at Merripit House, and it was there that Sir Henry made the acquaintance of Miss Stapleton.

From the first moment that he saw her he appeared to be strongly attracted by her, and I am much mistaken if the feeling was not mutual. He referred to her again and again on our walk home, and since then hardly a day has passed that we have not seen something of the brother and sister. They dine here tonight, and there is some talk of our going to them next week. One would imagine that such a match would be very welcome to Stapleton, and yet I have more than once caught a look of the strongest disapprobation in his face when Sir Henry has been paying some attention to his sister. He is much attached to her, no doubt, and would lead a lonely life without her, but it would seem the height of selfishness if he were to stand in the way of her making so brilliant a marriage. Yet I am certain that he does not wish their intimacy to ripen into love, and I have several times observed that he has taken pains to prevent them from being tete-a-tete. By the way, your instructions to me never to allow Sir Henry to go out alone will become very much more onerous if a love affair were to be added to our other difficulties. My popularity would soon suffer if I were to carry out your orders to the letter. The other day—Thursday, to be more exact—Dr.

Mortimer lunched with us. He has been excavating a barrow at Long Down and has got a prehistoric skull which fills him with great joy. Never was there such a single-minded enthusiast as he! The Stapletons came in afterwards, and the good doctor took us all to the yew alley at Sir Henry's request to show us exactly how everything occurred upon that fatal night. It is a long, dismal walk, the yew alley, between two high walls of clipped hedge, with a narrow band of grass upon either side. At the far end is an old tumble-down summer-house. Halfway down is the moor-gate, where the old gentleman left his cigar-ash. It is a white wooden gate with a latch. Beyond it lies the wide moor. I remembered your theory of the affair and tried to picture all that had occurred. As the old man stood there he saw something coming across the moor, something which terrified him so that he lost his wits and ran and ran until he died of sheer horror and exhaustion. There was the long, gloomy tunnel down which he fled. And from what? A sheep-dog of the moor? Or a spectral hound, black, silent, and monstrous? Was there a human agency in the matter? Did the pale, watchful Barrymore know more than he cared to say? It was all dim and vague, but always there is the dark shadow of crime behind it. One other neighbour I have met since I wrote last.

This is Mr. Frankland, of Lafter Hall, who lives some four miles to the south of us. He is an elderly man, red-faced, white-haired, and choleric. His passion is for the British law, and he has spent a large fortune in litigation. He fights for the mere pleasure of fighting and is equally ready to take up either side of a question, so that it is no wonder that he has found it a costly amusement. Sometimes he will shut up a right of way and defy the parish to make him open it. At others he will with his own hands tear down some other man's gate and declare that a path has existed there from time immemorial, defying the owner to prosecute him for trespass. He is learned in old manorial and communal rights, and he applies his knowledge sometimes in favour of the villagers of Fernworthy and sometimes against them, so that he is periodically either carried in triumph down the village street or else burned in effigy, according to his latest exploit. He is said to have about seven lawsuits upon his hands at present, which will probably swallow up the remainder of his fortune and so draw his sting and leave him harmless for the future. Apart from the law he seems a kindly, good-natured person, and I only mention him because you were particular that I should send some description of the people who surround us. He is curiously employed at present, for, being an amateur astronomer, he has an excellent telescope, with which he lies upon the roof of his own house and sweeps the moor all day in the hope of catching a glimpse of the escaped convict. If he would confine his energies to this all would be well, but there are rumours that he intends to prosecute Dr. Mortimer for opening a grave without the consent of the next of kin because he dug up the Neolithic skull in the barrow on Long Down. He helps to keep our lives from being monotonous and gives a little comic relief where it is badly needed. And now, having brought you up to date in the escaped convict, the Stapletons, Dr. Mortimer, and Frankland, of Lafter Hall, let me end on that which is most important and tell you more about the Barrymores, and especially about the surprising development of last night.

First of all about the test telegram, which you sent from London in order to make sure that Barrymore was really here.

I have already explained that the testimony of the postmaster shows that the test was worthless and that we have no proof one way or the other. I told Sir Henry how the matter stood, and he at once, in his downright fashion, had Barrymore up and asked him whether he had received the telegram himself. Barrymore said that he had. "Did the boy deliver it into your own hands?

asked Sir Henry. Barrymore looked surprised, and considered for a little time.

"No," said he, "I was in the box-room at the time, and my wife brought it up to me.

"Did you answer it yourself?

"No; I told my wife what to answer and she went down to write it.

In the evening he recurred to the subject of his own accord.

"I could not quite understand the object of your questions this morning, Sir Henry," said he.

"I trust that they do not mean that I have done anything to forfeit your confidence? Sir Henry had to assure him that it was not so and pacify him by giving him a considerable part of his old wardrobe, the London outfit having now all arrived.

Mrs.

Barrymore is of interest to me. She is a heavy, solid person, very limited, intensely respectable, and inclined to be puritanical. You could hardly conceive a less emotional subject. Yet I have told you how, on the first night here, I heard her sobbing bitterly, and since then I have more than once observed traces of tears upon her face. Some deep sorrow gnaws ever at her heart. Sometimes I wonder if she has a guilty memory which haunts her, and sometimes I suspect Barrymore of being a domestic tyrant. I have always felt that there was something singular and questionable in this man's character, but the adventure of last night brings all my suspicions to a head. And yet it may seem a small matter in itself.

You are aware that I am not a very sound sleeper, and since I have been on guard in this house my slumbers have been lighter than ever. Last night, about two in the morning, I was aroused by a stealthy step passing my room. I rose, opened my door, and peeped out. A long black shadow was trailing down the corridor. It was thrown by a man who walked softly down the passage with a candle held in his hand. He was in shirt and trousers, with no covering to his feet. I could merely see the outline, but his height told me that it was Barrymore. He walked very slowly and circumspectly, and there was something indescribably guilty and furtive in his whole appearance. I have told you that the corridor is broken by the balcony which runs round the hall, but that it is resumed upon the farther side.

I waited until he had passed out of sight and then I followed him. When I came round the balcony he had reached the end of the farther corridor, and I could see from the glimmer of light through an open door that he had entered one of the rooms. Now, all these rooms are unfurnished and unoccupied so that his expedition became more mysterious than ever. The light shone steadily as if he were standing motionless. I crept down the passage as noiselessly as I could and peeped round the corner of the door. Barrymore was crouching at the window with the candle held against the glass.

His profile was half turned towards me, and his face seemed to be rigid with expectation as he stared out into the blackness of the moor. For some minutes he stood watching intently. Then he gave a deep groan and with an impatient gesture he put out the light. Instantly I made my way back to my room, and very shortly came the stealthy steps passing once more upon their return journey. Long afterwards when I had fallen into a light sleep I heard a key turn somewhere in a lock, but I could not tell whence the sound came. What it all means I cannot guess, but there is some secret business going on in this house of gloom which sooner or later we shall get to the bottom of. I do not trouble you with my theories, for you asked me to furnish you only with facts. I have had a long talk with Sir Henry this morning, and we have made a plan of campaign founded upon my observations of last night. I will not speak about it just now, but it should make my next report interesting reading.

Chapter 8. First Report of Dr. Watson Capítulo 8. Primer informe del Dr. Watson Chapitre 8. Premier rapport du Dr Watson Capítulo 8. Primeiro relatório do Dr. Watson Глава 8. Первый доклад доктора Ватсона

From this point onward I will follow the course of events by transcribing my own letters to Mr. Sherlock Holmes which lie before me on the table.

One page is missing, but otherwise they are exactly as written and show my feelings and suspicions of the moment more accurately than my memory, clear as it is upon these tragic events, can possibly do. Однієї сторінки не вистачає, але в іншому вони точнісінько такі, як написані, і відображають мої почуття та підозри на той момент точніше, ніж це може зробити моя пам'ять, настільки чиста, наскільки вона є після цих трагічних подій. Baskerville Hall, October 13th.

MY DEAR HOLMES: My previous letters and telegrams have kept you pretty well up to date as to all that has occurred in this most God-forsaken corner of the world. The longer one stays here the more does the spirit of the moor sink into one’s soul, its vastness, and also its grim charm. When you are once out upon its bosom you have left all traces of modern England behind you, but, on the other hand, you are conscious everywhere of the homes and the work of the prehistoric people. Lorsque vous êtes une fois sur son sein, vous avez laissé derrière vous toutes les traces de l'Angleterre moderne, mais, d'un autre côté, vous êtes partout conscient des maisons et du travail des peuples préhistoriques. On all sides of you as you walk are the houses of these forgotten folk, with their graves and the huge monoliths which are supposed to have marked their temples. Auf Ihrem Weg sehen Sie überall die Häuser dieser vergessenen Menschen, ihre Gräber und die riesigen Monolithen, die ihre Tempel markieren sollen. З усіх боків вас оточують будинки цих забутих людей, їхні могили і величезні моноліти, які, як передбачається, позначали їхні храми. As you look at their gray stone huts against the scarred hillsides you leave your own age behind you, and if you were to see a skin-clad, hairy man crawl out from the low door fitting a flint-tipped arrow on to the string of his bow, you would feel that his presence there was more natural than your own. En regardant leurs huttes en pierre grise contre les collines cicatrisées, vous laissez votre âge derrière vous, et si vous voyiez un homme vêtu de peau et poilu ramper hors de la porte basse ajustant une flèche à pointe de silex sur la chaîne de son arc, vous sentiriez que sa présence là-bas était plus naturelle que la vôtre. Дивлячись на їхні сірі кам'яні хатини на тлі порізаних шрамами схилів пагорбів, ви залишаєте свій вік позаду, і якби ви побачили, як з низьких дверей виповзає закутаний у шкіру волохатий чоловік із крем'яним наконечником стріли на тятиві свого лука, ви б відчули, що його присутність там більш природна, ніж ваша власна. The strange thing is that they should have lived so thickly on what must always have been most unfruitful soil. Дивно, що вони жили так густо на землі, яка, мабуть, завжди була найбільш неродючою. I am no antiquarian, but I could imagine that they were some unwarlike and harried race who were forced to accept that which none other would occupy. Ich bin kein Antiquar, aber ich könnte mir vorstellen, dass es sich um eine unkriegerische und bedrängte Rasse handelte, die gezwungen war, das zu akzeptieren, was kein anderer besetzen wollte. Je ne suis pas un antiquaire, mais je pourrais imaginer qu'ils étaient une race non guerrière et harcelée qui a été forcée d'accepter ce qu'aucune autre n'occuperait. Não sou um antiquário, mas poderia imaginar que eles fossem uma raça hostil e hostil, obrigada a aceitar o que nenhum outro ocuparia. Я не антиквар, але можу собі уявити, що вони були якоюсь неприязною і пригнобленою расою, яка була змушена прийняти те, що ніхто інший не захотів би займати. All this, however, is foreign to the mission on which you sent me and will probably be very uninteresting to your severely practical mind. All dies ist jedoch dem Auftrag, mit dem Sie mich geschickt haben, fremd und wird für Ihren streng praktischen Verstand wahrscheinlich sehr uninteressant sein. Все це, однак, не стосується місії, з якою ви мене послали, і, ймовірно, буде дуже нецікавим для вашого суворого практичного розуму.

I can still remember your complete indifference as to whether the sun moved round the earth or the earth round the sun. Ich kann mich noch gut daran erinnern, dass es Ihnen völlig gleichgültig war, ob sich die Sonne um die Erde oder die Erde um die Sonne dreht. Я досі пам'ятаю твою цілковиту байдужість до того, чи сонце рухається навколо землі, чи земля навколо сонця. Let me, therefore, return to the facts concerning Sir Henry Baskerville. If you have not had any report within the last few days it is because up to today there was nothing of importance to relate. Якщо ви не отримали жодного звіту за останні кілька днів, це тому, що до сьогоднішнього дня не було нічого важливого, про що можна було б повідомити.

Then a very surprising circumstance occurred, which I shall tell you in due course. Потім сталася дуже дивовижна обставина, про яку я розповім вам свого часу. But, first of all, I must keep you in touch with some of the other factors in the situation. Але, перш за все, я повинен тримати вас в курсі деяких інших факторів ситуації. One of these, concerning which I have said little, is the escaped convict upon the moor. Одна з них, про яку я мало говорив, - це в'язень-втікач на болоті.

There is strong reason now to believe that he has got right away, which is a considerable relief to the lonely householders of this district. A fortnight has passed since his flight, during which he has not been seen and nothing has been heard of him. З моменту його втечі минуло два тижні, протягом яких його ніхто не бачив і нічого про нього не чути. It is surely inconceivable that he could have held out upon the moor during all that time. Звісно, неможливо уявити, що він міг протриматися на болоті весь цей час. Of course, so far as his concealment goes there is no difficulty at all. Звісно, його приховування не становить жодних труднощів. Any one of these stone huts would give him a hiding-place. Будь-яка з цих кам'яниць могла б стати для нього схованкою. But there is nothing to eat unless he were to catch and slaughter one of the moor sheep. We think, therefore, that he has gone, and the outlying farmers sleep the better in consequence. Тому ми думаємо, що він пішов, і селяни, що живуть в околицях, будуть спати спокійніше. We are four able-bodied men in this household, so that we could take good care of ourselves, but I confess that I have had uneasy moments when I have thought of the Stapletons. Wir sind vier kräftige Männer in diesem Haushalt, so dass wir gut auf uns selbst aufpassen könnten, aber ich gestehe, dass ich unruhige Momente hatte, wenn ich an die Stapletons dachte. Нас четверо працездатних чоловіків у цій сім'ї, тож ми могли б подбати про себе, але, зізнаюся, у мене бували тривожні моменти, коли я думав про Стейплтонів.

They live miles from any help. There are one maid, an old manservant, the sister, and the brother, the latter not a very strong man. They would be helpless in the hands of a desperate fellow like this Notting Hill criminal if he could once effect an entrance. Вони були б безпорадними в руках відчайдушного хлопця, як цей злочинець з Ноттінг-Гілла, якби він зміг одного разу проникнути всередину. Both Sir Henry and I were concerned at their situation, and it was suggested that Perkins the groom should go over to sleep there, but Stapleton would not hear of it. І сер Генрі, і я були стурбовані їхнім становищем, і запропонували нареченому Перкінсу переночувати там, але Степлтон і слухати про це не хотів. The fact is that our friend, the baronet, begins to display a considerable interest in our fair neighbour. Справа в тому, що наш друг, баронет, починає виявляти неабиякий інтерес до нашого доброго сусіда.

It is not to be wondered at, for time hangs heavily in this lonely spot to an active man like him, and she is a very fascinating and beautiful woman. Це не дивно, адже в цьому самотньому місці для такого активного чоловіка, як він, час дуже швидко спливає, а вона - дуже цікава і красива жінка. There is something tropical and exotic about her which forms a singular contrast to her cool and unemotional brother. У ній є щось тропічне і екзотичне, що створює особливий контраст з її холодним і неемоційним братом. Yet he also gives the idea of hidden fires. Але він також дає уявлення про приховані пожежі. He has certainly a very marked influence over her, for I have seen her continually glance at him as she talked as if seeking approbation for what she said. Він, безумовно, має дуже помітний вплив на неї, бо я бачив, як вона постійно поглядала на нього, коли говорила, ніби шукаючи схвалення того, що говорила. I trust that he is kind to her. There is a dry glitter in his eyes and a firm set of his thin lips, which goes with a positive and possibly a harsh nature. В його очах - сухий блиск, а тонкі губи міцно стиснуті, що поєднується з позитивним і, можливо, суворим характером. You would find him an interesting study. Ви знайдете його цікавим дослідженням. He came over to call upon Baskerville on that first day, and the very next morning he took us both to show us the spot where the legend of the wicked Hugo is supposed to have had its origin. Першого ж дня він завітав до Баскервілів, а вже наступного ранку взяв нас обох, щоб показати місце, звідки, за легендою, походить легенда про злого Гюго.

It was an excursion of some miles across the moor to a place which is so dismal that it might have suggested the story. Це була екскурсія на кілька миль через болото до місця, настільки похмурого, що воно могло б наштовхнути на думку про цю історію. We found a short valley between rugged tors which led to an open, grassy space flecked over with the white cotton grass. Ми знайшли коротку долину між скелястими торами, яка вивела нас на відкритий трав'янистий простір, вкритий білою бавовняною травою. In the middle of it rose two great stones, worn and sharpened at the upper end until they looked like the huge corroding fangs of some monstrous beast. Au milieu de celui-ci s'élevaient deux grosses pierres, usées et aiguisées à l'extrémité supérieure jusqu'à ce qu'elles ressemblent aux énormes crocs corrodés d'une bête monstrueuse. Посередині його височіли два великі камені, зношені і загострені на верхньому кінці, поки не стали схожими на величезні ікла, що роз'їдають, якогось жахливого звіра. In every way it corresponded with the scene of the old tragedy. Вона в усьому відповідала місцю дії давньої трагедії. Sir Henry was much interested and asked Stapleton more than once whether he did really believe in the possibility of the interference of the supernatural in the affairs of men. Сер Генрі був дуже зацікавлений і не раз запитував Степлтона, чи дійсно він вірить у можливість втручання надприродного у справи людей. He spoke lightly, but it was evident that he was very much in earnest. Il parlait légèrement, mais il était évident qu'il était très sérieux. Він говорив легко, але було видно, що він дуже серйозно налаштований. Stapleton was guarded in his replies, but it was easy to see that he said less than he might, and that he would not express his whole opinion out of consideration for the feelings of the baronet. Стейплтон був обережний у своїх відповідях, але було легко помітити, що він сказав менше, ніж міг би, і що він не висловить всієї своєї думки з огляду на почуття баронета. He told us of similar cases, where families had suffered from some evil influence, and he left us with the impression that he shared the popular view upon the matter. Він розповів нам про подібні випадки, коли сім'ї страждали від злого впливу, і залишив у нас враження, що він поділяє народну думку з цього приводу. On our way back we stayed for lunch at Merripit House, and it was there that Sir Henry made the acquaintance of Miss Stapleton. На зворотному шляху ми зупинилися пообідати в Мерріпіт-хаусі, і саме там сер Генрі познайомився з міс Степлтон.

From the first moment that he saw her he appeared to be strongly attracted by her, and I am much mistaken if the feeling was not mutual. Vom ersten Augenblick an, als er sie sah, schien er sich stark zu ihr hingezogen zu fühlen, und ich täusche mich sehr, wenn das Gefühl nicht auf Gegenseitigkeit beruhte. З першої ж миті, як він її побачив, він відчув сильний потяг до неї, і я сильно помиляюся, якщо це почуття не було взаємним. He referred to her again and again on our walk home, and since then hardly a day has passed that we have not seen something of the brother and sister. Він згадував про неї знову і знову, коли ми йшли додому, і з тих пір не було жодного дня, щоб ми не бачили щось про брата і сестру. They dine here tonight, and there is some talk of our going to them next week. One would imagine that such a match would be very welcome to Stapleton, and yet I have more than once caught a look of the strongest disapprobation in his face when Sir Henry has been paying some attention to his sister. Можна було б уявити, що Стейплтон був би дуже радий такому збігу обставин, і все ж я не раз ловив на собі вираз найсильнішого несхвалення, коли сер Генрі приділяв увагу його сестрі. He is much attached to her, no doubt, and would lead a lonely life without her, but it would seem the height of selfishness if he were to stand in the way of her making so brilliant a marriage. Er hängt zweifellos sehr an ihr und würde ohne sie ein einsames Leben führen, aber es wäre der Gipfel des Egoismus, wenn er einer so glänzenden Heirat im Wege stehen würde. Без сумніву, він дуже прив'язаний до неї, і без неї йому було б самотньо, але було б верхом егоїзму, якби він став на її шляху до такого блискучого шлюбу. Yet I am certain that he does not wish their intimacy to ripen into love, and I have several times observed that he has taken pains to prevent them from being tete-a-tete. Але я впевнена, що він не бажає, щоб їхня близькість переросла в кохання, і кілька разів помічала, що він докладав зусиль, щоб вони не були тет-а-тет. By the way, your instructions to me never to allow Sir Henry to go out alone will become very much more onerous if a love affair were to be added to our other difficulties. До речі, ваша вказівка ніколи не дозволяти серу Генрі виходити на вулицю наодинці стане набагато більш обтяжливою, якщо до інших наших труднощів додасться ще й любовна інтрижка. My popularity would soon suffer if I were to carry out your orders to the letter. Моя популярність швидко постраждала б, якби я виконував ваші накази в точності. The other day—Thursday, to be more exact—Dr.

Mortimer lunched with us. He has been excavating a barrow at Long Down and has got a prehistoric skull which fills him with great joy. Він розкопував курган у Лонг-Дауні і знайшов доісторичний череп, який наповнює його великою радістю. Never was there such a single-minded enthusiast as he! Ніколи не було такого цілеспрямованого ентузіаста, як він! The Stapletons came in afterwards, and the good doctor took us all to the yew alley at Sir Henry’s request to show us exactly how everything occurred upon that fatal night. Згодом прийшли Стейплтони, і добрий лікар на прохання сера Генрі повів нас усіх до тисової алеї, щоб показати, як саме все відбувалося тієї фатальної ночі. It is a long, dismal walk, the yew alley, between two high walls of clipped hedge, with a narrow band of grass upon either side. Це довга, похмура прогулянка тисовою алеєю між двома високими стінами підстриженого живоплоту, з вузькою смугою трави по обидва боки. At the far end is an old tumble-down summer-house. У дальньому кінці стоїть стара розвалена літня альтанка. Halfway down is the moor-gate, where the old gentleman left his cigar-ash. It is a white wooden gate with a latch. Beyond it lies the wide moor. I remembered your theory of the affair and tried to picture all that had occurred. Я згадав вашу теорію про роман і спробував уявити все, що сталося. As the old man stood there he saw something coming across the moor, something which terrified him so that he lost his wits and ran and ran until he died of sheer horror and exhaustion. Стоячи на місці, старий побачив, як через болото щось наближається, щось таке, що налякало його так, що він втратив розум і побіг, побіг, побіг, поки не помер від жаху і виснаження. There was the long, gloomy tunnel down which he fled. And from what? A sheep-dog of the moor? Or a spectral hound, black, silent, and monstrous? Або примарного гончака, чорного, мовчазного і жахливого? Was there a human agency in the matter? Did the pale, watchful Barrymore know more than he cared to say? It was all dim and vague, but always there is the dark shadow of crime behind it. One other neighbour I have met since I wrote last.

This is Mr. Frankland, of Lafter Hall, who lives some four miles to the south of us. He is an elderly man, red-faced, white-haired, and choleric. His passion is for the British law, and he has spent a large fortune in litigation. Його пристрасть - британське право, і він витратив чималі статки на судові процеси. He fights for the mere pleasure of fighting and is equally ready to take up either side of a question, so that it is no wonder that he has found it a costly amusement. Er kämpft aus reinem Vergnügen am Kämpfen und ist gleichermaßen bereit, sich auf die eine oder andere Seite einer Frage zu schlagen, so dass es kein Wunder ist, dass er dies als kostspieliges Vergnügen empfunden hat. Він бореться заради самого задоволення від боротьби і однаково готовий стати на будь-який бік, тож не дивно, що для нього це дорога розвага. Sometimes he will shut up a right of way and defy the parish to make him open it. Manchmal verschließt er eine Vorfahrt und fordert die Gemeinde auf, sie zu öffnen. Іноді він закриває проїзд і кидає виклик парафії, яка намагається змусити його відкрити. At others he will with his own hands tear down some other man’s gate and declare that a path has existed there from time immemorial, defying the owner to prosecute him for trespass. In anderen Fällen reißt er eigenhändig das Tor eines anderen ein und erklärt, dass dort seit jeher ein Weg existiert, und fordert den Eigentümer auf, ihn wegen Hausfriedensbruchs zu belangen. В інших випадках він власноруч зруйнує чужу браму і заявить, що стежка існувала тут споконвіку, не дозволяючи власнику притягнути себе до відповідальності за незаконне проникнення. He is learned in old manorial and communal rights, and he applies his knowledge sometimes in favour of the villagers of Fernworthy and sometimes against them, so that he is periodically either carried in triumph down the village street or else burned in effigy, according to his latest exploit. Il est instruit dans les vieux droits seigneuriaux et communaux, et il applique ses connaissances parfois en faveur des villageois de Fernworthy et parfois contre eux, de sorte qu'il est périodiquement soit porté en triomphe dans la rue du village, soit brûlé en effigie, selon son dernier exploit. Він знається на старовинних маєткових та общинних правах і застосовує свої знання то на користь селян Фернворті, то проти них, так що його періодично то тріумфально проносять вулицею села, то спалюють як опудало, відповідно до його останнього подвигу. He is said to have about seven lawsuits upon his hands at present, which will probably swallow up the remainder of his fortune and so draw his sting and leave him harmless for the future. Man sagt, dass er derzeit etwa sieben Prozesse am Hals hat, die wahrscheinlich den Rest seines Vermögens verschlingen und ihn so für die Zukunft unschädlich machen werden. On dit qu'il a actuellement environ sept poursuites en justice, qui engloutiront probablement le reste de sa fortune et attirent ainsi son aiguillon et le laisseront inoffensif pour l'avenir. Кажуть, що зараз у нього на руках близько семи судових позовів, які, ймовірно, поглинуть решту його статків і, таким чином, витягнуть його жало і залишать його в безпеці на майбутнє. Apart from the law he seems a kindly, good-natured person, and I only mention him because you were particular that I should send some description of the people who surround us. Abgesehen vom Gesetz scheint er ein freundlicher, gutmütiger Mensch zu sein, und ich erwähne ihn nur, weil Sie darauf bestanden haben, dass ich eine Beschreibung der Menschen, die uns umgeben, schicken sollte. Крім закону, він здається доброю, добродушною людиною, і я згадую про нього лише тому, що ви наполягали, щоб я надіслав опис людей, які нас оточують. He is curiously employed at present, for, being an amateur astronomer, he has an excellent telescope, with which he lies upon the roof of his own house and sweeps the moor all day in the hope of catching a glimpse of the escaped convict. Als Amateurastronom besitzt er ein ausgezeichnetes Teleskop, mit dem er auf dem Dach seines Hauses liegt und den ganzen Tag das Moor absucht, in der Hoffnung, einen Blick auf den entflohenen Sträfling zu erhaschen. Зараз він має цікаве заняття, адже, будучи астрономом-аматором, він має чудовий телескоп, з яким він лежить на даху власного будинку і цілими днями підмітає болото в надії побачити в ньому в'язня-втікача. If he would confine his energies to this all would be well, but there are rumours that he intends to prosecute Dr. Mortimer for opening a grave without the consent of the next of kin because he dug up the Neolithic skull in the barrow on Long Down. Wenn er sich darauf beschränken würde, wäre alles in Ordnung, aber es gibt Gerüchte, dass er Dr. Mortimer strafrechtlich verfolgen will, weil er den neolithischen Schädel im Grabhügel von Long Down ohne die Zustimmung der nächsten Angehörigen ausgegraben hat. Якби він обмежився цим, все було б добре, але ходять чутки, що він має намір притягнути до відповідальності доктора Мортимера за те, що той розкопав могилу без згоди найближчих родичів, оскільки відкопав неолітичний череп у кургані на Лонг-Даун. He helps to keep our lives from being monotonous and gives a little comic relief where it is badly needed. Він допомагає вберегти наше життя від монотонності і дає невелике комічне розвантаження там, де воно вкрай необхідне. And now, having brought you up to date in the escaped convict, the Stapletons, Dr. Mortimer, and Frankland, of Lafter Hall, let me end on that which is most important and tell you more about the Barrymores, and especially about the surprising development of last night. А тепер, після того, як я розповів вам про в'язня-втікача, Стейплтонів, доктора Мортимера і Френкленда з Лафтер-холу, дозвольте мені закінчити на найважливішому і розповісти вам більше про Барріморів, а особливо про дивовижний розвиток подій минулої ночі.

First of all about the test telegram, which you sent from London in order to make sure that Barrymore was really here. Насамперед про контрольну телеграму, яку ви надіслали з Лондона, щоб переконатися, що Берімор справді тут.

I have already explained that the testimony of the postmaster shows that the test was worthless and that we have no proof one way or the other. Я вже пояснював, що свідчення начальника пошти показують, що перевірка була марною, і що ми не маємо жодних доказів, так чи інакше. I told Sir Henry how the matter stood, and he at once, in his downright fashion, had Barrymore up and asked him whether he had received the telegram himself. Я розповів серу Генрі, в чому справа, і він одразу ж, у притаманній йому манері, підняв Баррімора і запитав, чи отримав він сам телеграму. Barrymore said that he had. "Did the boy deliver it into your own hands?

asked Sir Henry. Barrymore looked surprised, and considered for a little time. Берімор виглядала здивованою і на деякий час замислилася.

"No," said he, "I was in the box-room at the time, and my wife brought it up to me.

"Did you answer it yourself?

"No; I told my wife what to answer and she went down to write it.

In the evening he recurred to the subject of his own accord. Am Abend kam er von sich aus auf das Thema zurück. Увечері він повернувся до цієї теми за власним бажанням.

"I could not quite understand the object of your questions this morning, Sir Henry," said he.

"I trust that they do not mean that I have done anything to forfeit your confidence? "Сподіваюся, вони не мають на увазі, що я зробив щось таке, що могло б зашкодити вашій довірі? Sir Henry had to assure him that it was not so and pacify him by giving him a considerable part of his old wardrobe, the London outfit having now all arrived. Sir Henry musste ihm versichern, dass dies nicht der Fall war, und ihn beruhigen, indem er ihm einen beträchtlichen Teil seiner alten Garderobe schenkte, da die Londoner Kleidung nun vollständig eingetroffen war. Серу Генрі довелося запевнити його, що це не так, і заспокоїти, віддавши йому значну частину свого старого гардеробу - лондонське вбрання вже прибуло.

Mrs.

Barrymore is of interest to me. Мені цікава Беррімор. She is a heavy, solid person, very limited, intensely respectable, and inclined to be puritanical. Вона важка, солідна людина, дуже обмежена, дуже респектабельна і схильна до пуританства. You could hardly conceive a less emotional subject. Yet I have told you how, on the first night here, I heard her sobbing bitterly, and since then I have more than once observed traces of tears upon her face. Some deep sorrow gnaws ever at her heart. Якась глибока печаль постійно гризе її серце. Sometimes I wonder if she has a guilty memory which haunts her, and sometimes I suspect Barrymore of being a domestic tyrant. Manchmal frage ich mich, ob sie ein schlechtes Gewissen hat, das sie heimsucht, und manchmal habe ich den Verdacht, dass Barrymore ein häuslicher Tyrann ist. Іноді я думаю, чи не переслідують її спогади про провину, а іноді підозрюю Берімор у тому, що вона домашній тиран. I have always felt that there was something singular and questionable in this man’s character, but the adventure of last night brings all my suspicions to a head. Я завжди відчував, що в характері цього чоловіка є щось дивне і сумнівне, але пригода минулої ночі розвіяла всі мої підозри. And yet it may seem a small matter in itself. І все ж це може здатися дрібницею.

You are aware that I am not a very sound sleeper, and since I have been on guard in this house my slumbers have been lighter than ever. Ви знаєте, що я не дуже міцно сплю, але відколи я чергую в цьому будинку, мої сновидіння стали легшими, ніж будь-коли. Last night, about two in the morning, I was aroused by a stealthy step passing my room. Минулої ночі, близько другої години ночі, мене розбудив тихий крок, що пройшов повз мою кімнату. I rose, opened my door, and peeped out. A long black shadow was trailing down the corridor. Довга чорна тінь тягнулася коридором. It was thrown by a man who walked softly down the passage with a candle held in his hand. Його кинув чоловік, який тихо йшов проходом зі свічкою в руці. He was in shirt and trousers, with no covering to his feet. Er trug Hemd und Hose, seine Füße waren nicht bedeckt. Він був у сорочці та штанях, без взуття на ногах. I could merely see the outline, but his height told me that it was Barrymore. Я бачив лише обриси, але його зріст підказав мені, що це Берімор. He walked very slowly and circumspectly, and there was something indescribably guilty and furtive in his whole appearance. Він ішов дуже повільно і обережно, і в усьому його вигляді було щось невимовно винувате і потайливе. I have told you that the corridor is broken by the balcony which runs round the hall, but that it is resumed upon the farther side. Я вже казав, що коридор переривається балконом, який проходить навколо зали, але продовжується на дальньому боці.

I waited until he had passed out of sight and then I followed him. When I came round the balcony he had reached the end of the farther corridor, and I could see from the glimmer of light through an open door that he had entered one of the rooms. Now, all these rooms are unfurnished and unoccupied so that his expedition became more mysterious than ever. Nun sind alle diese Räume unmöbliert und unbewohnt, so dass seine Expedition noch mysteriöser wurde als je zuvor. The light shone steadily as if he were standing motionless. Das Licht leuchtete gleichmäßig, als ob er regungslos dastehen würde. Світло світило рівномірно, ніби він стояв нерухомо. I crept down the passage as noiselessly as I could and peeped round the corner of the door. Я прокралася по коридору якомога тихіше і зазирнула за ріг дверей. Barrymore was crouching at the window with the candle held against the glass. Берімор сиділа навпочіпки біля вікна, притуливши свічку до скла.

His profile was half turned towards me, and his face seemed to be rigid with expectation as he stared out into the blackness of the moor. For some minutes he stood watching intently. Then he gave a deep groan and with an impatient gesture he put out the light. Instantly I made my way back to my room, and very shortly came the stealthy steps passing once more upon their return journey. Long afterwards when I had fallen into a light sleep I heard a key turn somewhere in a lock, but I could not tell whence the sound came. Пізніше, коли я вже поринув у легкий сон, я почув, як десь у замку повертається ключ, але не міг визначити, звідки долинає цей звук. What it all means I cannot guess, but there is some secret business going on in this house of gloom which sooner or later we shall get to the bottom of. Що все це означає, я не можу здогадатися, але в цьому будинку темряви відбувається якась таємна справа, в якій рано чи пізно ми доберемося до суті. I do not trouble you with my theories, for you asked me to furnish you only with facts. I have had a long talk with Sir Henry this morning, and we have made a plan of campaign founded upon my observations of last night. I will not speak about it just now, but it should make my next report interesting reading. Я не буду говорити про це зараз, але це має зробити мою наступну доповідь цікавим читанням.