巴斯克维尔猎犬-第7部分

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I　asked　Mrs　Lyons　a　number　of　other　questions，but　she　did　not　change　her　story，whatever　I　asked　her．I　was　sure　that　she　was　telling　the　truth．I　could　check　two　important　parts　of　the　story．If　they　were　right，there　could　be　no　doubt　that　she　was　telling　the　truth．I　could　check　that　she　had　begun　to　get　her　divorce　at　about　the　time　of　Sir　Charles'　death．I　could　also　check　that　she　had　not　been　to　Baskerville　Hall　on　the　night　of　Sir　Charles'　death．

But　I　was　not　sure　that　she　had　told　me　the　whole　truth．Why　had　she　nearly　fainted　when　I　had　told　her　about　the　let…　ter？　That　was　not　completely　explained　by　the　story　she　had　told　me．

I　had　discovered　all　I　could　for　the　moment．I　left　her，and　went　to　search　for　more　information　in　a　different　place．

　　



　
12　　The　Man　on　the　Moor　

　　

I　drove　out　of　Newtown　and　went　to　begin　my　search　for　the　mysterious　man　on　the　moor．There　were　hundreds　of　the　old　stone　huts　on　the　moor．Barrymore　did　not　know　in　which　of　them　the　mysterious　man　was　living。I　had　seen　the　man　on　the　night　when　Sir　Henry　and　I　had　chased　Selden，so　I　decided　to　start　my　search　near　that　place．

The　path　I　took　ran　past　Mr　Frankland's　house，and　I　saw　him　standing　at　his　gate　He　called　to　me，and　invited　me　to　go　in　and　have　a　drink　with　him．He　had　been　arguing　with　the　police，and　was　angry　with　them．He　began　to　tell　me　about　it．

‘But　they　will　be　sorry，’he　said．‘I　could　tell　them　where　to　look　for　the　escaped　prisoner，but　I　am　not　going　to　help　them．You　see，I　have　been　searching　the　moors　with　my　telescope，and　although　I　have　not　actually　seen　the　prisoner，I　have　seen　the　person　who　is　taking　him　food．’

I　thought　of　Barrymore　and　Mrs　Barrymore's　worried　faces．But　Mr　Frankland's　next　words　showed　me　that　I　did　not　need　to　worry．

‘You　will　be　surprised　to　hear　that　a　young　boy　takes　food　to　the　prisoner．The　boy　goes　by　at　about　the　same　time　each　day，and　he　is　always　carrying　a　bag．Who　else　can　he　be　going　to　see—except　the　prisoner？Come　and　look　through　my　tele…　scope，and　you　will　see　that　I　am　right．It　is　about　this　time　each　day　that　the　boy　goes　by．’

We　went　up　onto　the　roof，and　we　did　not　have　to　wait　long．There　was　someone　moving　on　a　hill　in　front　of　the　house．I　looked　through　the　telescope　and　saw　a　small　boy　with　a　bag　over　his　shoulder。He　looked　around　to　make　sure　that　noboay　was　following　him，and　then　he　disappeared　over　the　hill．

‘Remember　that　I　don't　want　the　police　to　know　my　secret，Dr　Watson，’Frankland　reminded　me．‘I'm　too　angry　with　them　at　the　moment　to　help　them．’

I　agreed　not　to　tell　the　police，and　said　goodbye。I　walked　along　the　road　while　Frankland　was　watching　me，but　as　soon　as　I　was　round　the　corner，I　went　towards　the　hill　where　we　had　seen　the　boy．

The　sun　was　already　going　down　when　I　reached　the　top　of　the　hill。I　could　not　see　the　boy，and　there　was　nothing　else　in　that　lonely　place　Beneath　me　on　the　other　side　of　the　hill　was　a　circle　of　old　stone　huts．In　the　middle　of　the　circle　was　one　hut　that　had　a　better　roof　than　the　others，so　it　would　keep　out　the　wind　and　the　rain．This　must　be　the　place　where　the　mysteri…　ous　man　was　hiding！I　would　soon　know　his　secret．

As　I　walked　towards　the　hut，I　saw　that　someone　had　cer…tainly　been　using　it．A　path　had　been　worn　up　to　the　door．I　took　my　revolver　out　of　my　pocket，and　checked　that　it　was　ready　to　fire．I　walked　quickly　and　quietly　up　to　the　hut，and　looked　inside．The　place　was　empty．

But　this　was　certainly　where　the　man　lived。As　I　looked　round　the　hut，I　knew　that　the　mysterious　man　must　have　a　very　strong　character．No　other　person　could　live　in　conditions　as　bad　as　these．There　were　some　blankets　on　a　flat　stone　where　the　man　slept．There　had　been　a　fire　in　one　corner．There　were　some　cooking　pots，and　a　large　bowl　half　full　of　wa…　ter．In　the　middle　of　the　hut　was　another　large　flat　stone　which　was　used　as　a　table，and　on　it　was　the　bag　the　boy　had　been　carrying．Under　the　bag　I　saw　a　piece　of　paper　with　writing　on　it．Quickly，I　picked　up　the　paper　and　read　what　was　written　on　it．It　said：‘Dr　Watson　has　gone　to　Newtown．’

I　realized　that　the　mysterious　man　had　told　someone　to　watch　me，and　this　was　a　message　from　his　spy．Was　the　man　a　dangerous　enemy？　Or　was　he　a　friend　who　was　watching　us　to　make　sure　we　were　safe？I　decided　I　would　not　leave　the　hut　until　I　knew．

Outside，the　sun　was　low　in　the　sky．Everything　looked　calm　and　peaceful　in　the　golden　evening　light．But　I　did　not　feel　peaceful　or　calm．I　felt　frightened　as　I　waited　for　the　mysterious　man．

Then　I　heard　footsteps　coming　towards　the　hut．As　they　came　closer，I　moved　into　the　darkest　corner　of　the　hut．I　did　not　want　the　man　to　see　me　until　I　had　looked　closely　at　him．The　footsteps　stopped，and　I　could　hear　nothing　at　all．Then　the　man　began　to　move　again，and　the　footsteps　came　closer．A　shadow　fell　across　the　door　of　the　hut．

‘It's　a　lovely　evening，my　dear　Watson，’said　a　voice　I　knew　well．‘I　really　think　you　will　enjoy　it　more　out　here．’

　　



　
13　　Too　Late

　　

For　a　moment　or　two　I　could　neither　breathe　nor　move．

Then　I　felt　my　fear　and　unhappiness　disappear，as　I　knew　that　I　was　no　longer　alone　in　my　responsibility　for　Sir　Henry．The　dangers　all　around　me　did　not　seem　so　frightening．The　cool　voice　could　belong　to　only　one　man　in　the　world．‘Holmes！’I　cried．‘Holmes！’

I　went　outside　the　hut，and　there　was　Holmes．He　was　sit…　ting　on　a　stone，and　his　grey　eyes　were　dancing　with　amuse…　ment．He　was　thin　and　worn，but　bright　and　wide…awake．His　skin　was　brown　from　the　wind　and　the　sun．But　his　chin　was　smooth，and　his　shirt　was　white．He　did　not　look　like　a　man　who　had　been　living　in　the　middle　of　the　moor．

‘I　have　never　been　so　glad　to　see　anyone　in　my　life，’I　said，‘nor　so　surprised．’

‘I　am　surprised，too，’Holmes　said，as　he　shook　me　warmly　by　the　hand．‘How　did　you　find　me？’

I　told　him　about　Frankland，and　how　I　had　seen　the　boy　with　the　food．

Holmes　went　into　the　hut，and　looked　at　the　food，and　at　the　note　with　it．‘　I　guess　that　you　have　been　to　see　Mrs　Laura　Lyons，’　he　said，and　when　I　told　him　that　he　was　right，he　went　on：‘　When　we　put　together　everything　that　each　of　us　has　discovered，I　expect　we　shall　know　almost　everything　about　this　case．’

‘But　how　did　you　get　here？’I　asked　him．‘And　what　have　you　been　doing？　I　thought　you　had　to　finish　your　case　in　Lon…　don．’

‘That　is　what　I　wanted　you　to　think，’he　said．

‘Then　you　have　tricked　me，and　have　no　confidence　in　me，’　I　said．I　was　upset　and　angry　because　he　had　not　told　me　his　plans．

‘I　am　sorry　if　it　seems　I　have　tricked　you，my　dear　Watson．I　did　not　want　our　enemy　to　know　I　was　here，but　I　wanted　to　be　near　enough　to　make　sure　that　you　and　Sir　Henry　were　safe．You　are　a　kind　person—too　kind　to　leave　me　alone　out　here　in　bad　weather．Our　enemy　would　guess　I　was　here　if　he　saw　you　coming　out　with　food，or　with　important　news．You　have　been　a　very　real　help　to　me．Your　letters　with　all　their　valuable　information　have　been　brought　to　me．You　have　done　excellent　work，and　without　you　I　would　not　have　all　the　im…　portant　details　I　needed．’

Holmes’　warm　words　of　thanks　made　me　feel　much　happier，and　I　saw　that　he　was　right．

‘That's　better，’he　said，as　he　saw　the　shadow　lift　from　my　face．‘Now　tell　me　about　your　visit　to　Mrs　Laura　Lyons．’

I　told　Holmes　everything　Mrs　Lyons　had　said．

This　is　all　very　important，’Holmes　said．‘It　answers　ques…　tions　I　have　been　unable　to　answer、Did　you　know　that　Mrs　Lyons　and　Stapleton　are　very　close　friends？　They　often　meet，and　they　write　to　each　other．Perhaps　I　can　use　this　informa…　tion　to　turn　Stapleton's　wife　against　him…’

‘His　wife？’I　asked．‘Who　and　where　is　she？’

‘The　lady　called　Miss　Stapleton，who　pretends　to　be　his　sis…ter，is　really　his　wife，’said　Holmes．

‘Good　heavens，Holmes！Are　you　sure？If　she　is　his　wife，why　did　Stapleton　allow　Sir　Henry　to　fall　in　love　with　her？’　‘Sir　Henry　hurt　nobody　except　himself　when　he　fell　in　love　with　her．Stapleton　took　care　that　Sir　Henry　did　not　make　love　to　her．I　repeat　that　the　lady　is　his　wife，and　not　his　sister．They　came　here　only　two　years　ago，and　before　that　he　had　owned　a　school　in　the　north　of　England．He　told　you　that，and　you　told　me　in　your　letter．I　checked　on　the　school，and　found　that　the　man　who　had　owned　it　went　away　with　his　wife　when　the　school　closed．They　changed　their　name，but　the　couple　who　were　described　to　me　were　without　doubt　the　Stapletons．’‘But　why　do　they　pretend　to　be　brother　and　sister？’　I　asked．‘Because　Stapleton　thought　that　she　would　be　very　much　more　useful　to　him　if　she　appeared　to　be　a　free　woman．’

Suddenly　I　saw　behind　Stapleton's　smiling　face　a　heart　with　murder　in　it．‘So　he　is　our　enemy！He　is　the　man　who　followed　us　in　London！　And　the　warning　note　to　Sir　Henry　came　form　Miss　Stapleton．’

‘Exactly，’said　Holmes．

‘But　if　Miss　Stapleton　is　really　his　wife，why　is　he　a　close　friend　of　Mrs　Laura　Lyons？’

‘Your　excellent　work　has　given　us　the　answer　to　that　ques－　tion，Watson　When　you　told　me　that　Mrs　Lyons　was　getting　a　divorce，I　realized　that　she　hoped　to　marry　Stapleton．He　told　her　that　he　was　unmarried，and　that　he　wanted　to　make　her　his　wife．When　she　learns　the　truth，she　may　decide　to　help　us．We　must　go　and　see　her　tomorrow．’

‘One　last　question，Holmes，’I　said。‘What　is　Stapleton　try…　ing　to　do？’

Holmes　dropped　his　voice　as　he　answered：‘Murder，cold…　blooded　murder．That　is　what　Stapleton　is　trying　to　do．Do　not　ask　me　for　details．I　am　about　to　catch　him　in　a　trap．There　is　only　one　danger——that　he　will　act　before　I　am　ready．Another　day，or　perhaps　two，and　I　shall　complete　my　case．Until　then　you　must　guard　Sir　Henry　very　closely．You　should　be　with　him　today．However，what　you　have　discovered　is　very　valuable．’

As　he　finished　speaking，an　awful　scream——a　long　cry　of　pain　and　horror——broke　the　silence　of　the　moor．The　sound　turned　my　blood　to　ice．

‘Oh，my　God，’I　whispered．‘What　is　that？’

Holmes　had　jumped　to　his　feet．‘Where　is　it，Watson？’　he　wh