The Hound of the Baskervilles Part 17 (1/2)

”My dear fellow,” said he, ”Hols which have happened since I have been on the moor You understand me? I am sure that you are the last o out alone”

It put me in a most aard position I was at a loss what to say or what to do, and before I had one

But when I came to think theon any pretext allowed his would be if I had to return to you and to confess that soard for your instructions I assure you ht not even now be too late to overtake him, so I set off at once in the direction of Merripit House

I hurried along the road at the top ofof Sir Henry, until I came to the point where thethat perhaps I had co direction after all, I mounted a hill from which I could command a view--the same hill which is cut into the dark quarry Thence I saw him at once He was on the moor path about a quarter of a mile off, and a lady was by his side who could only be Miss Stapleton It was clear that there was already an understanding between the slowly along in deep conversation, and I saw herquick little movements of her hands as if she were very earnest in what she was saying, while he listened intently, and once or twice shook his head in strong dissent I stood a them, very much puzzled as to what I should do next To follow them and break into their intie, and yet my clear duty was never for an instant to let hiht To act the spy upon a friend was a hateful task Still, I could see no better course than to observe hi to him afterwards what I had done It is true that if any sudden danger had threatened him I was too far away to be of use, and yet I aree with me that the position was very difficult, and that there was nothing more which I could do

Our friend, Sir Henry, and the lady had halted on the path and were standing deeply absorbed in their conversation, when I was suddenly aware that I was not the only witness of their intervieisp of green floating in the air caught lance showedaround It was Stapleton with his butterfly-net He was very much closer to the pair than I was, and he appeared to bein their direction

At this instant Sir Henry suddenly drew Miss Stapleton to his side His ar away from him with her face averted He stooped his head to hers, and she raised one hand as if in protest Nextapart and turn hurriedly round Stapleton was the cause of the interruption He was running wildly towards theesticulated and almost danced with excitement in front of the lovers

What the scene ine, but it see Sir Henry, who offered explanations, which becary as the other refused to accept thehty silence Finally Stapleton turned upon his heel and beckoned in a perelance at Sir Henry, walked off by the side of her brother The naturalist's angry gestures showed that the lady was included in his displeasure The baronet stood for aafter them, and then he walked slowly back the way that he had co, the very picture of dejection

What all this ine, but I was deeply ashamed to have witnessed so intie I ran down the hill therefore and er and his brorinkled, like one who is at his wit's ends what to do

”Halloa, Watson! Where have you dropped from?” said he ”You don't mean to say that you ca to him: how I had found it impossible to remain behind, how I had followed him, and how I had witnessed all that had occurred For an instant his eyes blazed at er, and he broke at last into a rather rueful laugh

”You would have thought the middle of that prairie a fairly safe place for a man to be private,” said he, ”but, by thunder, the whole countryside seehty poor wooing at that! Where had you engaged a seat?”

”I was on that hill”

”Quite in the back row, eh? But her brother ell up to the front

Did you see him come out on us?”

”Yes, I did”

”Did he ever strike you as being crazy--this brother of hers?”

”I can't say that he ever did”

”I dare say not I always thought hih until today, but you can take it froht to be in a straitjacket

What's the matter with me, anyhow? You've lived near ht, now! Is there anything that would prevent ood husband to a woman that I loved?”

”I should say not”

”He can't object to my worldly position, so it ainst me? I never hurt man or woman in my life that I know of And yet he would not so ers”

”Did he say so?”

”That, and a deal more I tell you, Watson, I've only known her these feeeks, but from the first I just felt that she was made for me, and she, too--she was happy when she ith ht in a woman's eyes that speaks louder than words But he has never let us get together and it was only today for the first ti a feords with her alone She was glad to meet me, but when she did it was not love that she would talk about, and she wouldn't have let me talk about it either if she could have stopped it She kept coer, and that she would never be happy until I had left it I told her that since I had seen her I was in no hurry to leave it, and that if she really wanted o with me With that I offered in as many words to marry her, but before she could answer, down ca at us with a face on hiht eyes of his were blazing with fury What was I doing with the lady? How dared I offer her attentions which were distasteful to her?

Did I think that because I was a baronet I could do what I liked? If he had not been her brother I should have known better how to answer his towards his sister were such as I was not asha my wife That seemed to make the matter no better, so then I lost my temper too, and I answered hi that she was standing by So it ended by his going off with her, as you saw, and here am I as badly puzzled a man as any in this county Just tell me what it all means, Watson, and I'll owe you more than ever I can hope to pay”

I tried one or two explanations, but, indeed, I was completely puzzled e, his character, and his appearance are all in his favour, and I know nothing against him unless it be this dark fate which runs in his family That his advances should be rejected so brusquely without any reference to the lady's oishes and that the lady should accept the situation without protest is very a However, our conjectures were set at rest by a visit from Stapleton hiies for his rudeness of theprivate intervieith Sir Henry in his study the upshot of their conversation was that the breach is quite healed, and that we are to dine at Merripit House next Friday as a sign of it