LA CAN DE LA BASKERVILLES
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Capitol 4: Sir Henry Baskerville

Chapter 4. Sir Henry Baskerville

Nosa table de come prima ia es temprana limpida, e Holmes ia espeta en sua roba de matina la consenta prometeda. Nosa clientes ia veni puntual a sua taxe, car la orolojo ia veni de sona la ora des cuando Dr Mortimer ia es entrada, segueda par la baroneta joven. Esta ia es un om peti e atendente con oios oscur, de sirca tredes anios, con corpo multe solida, suprasiles negra densa e un fas forte combatosa. El ia porta un completa de tuid con tinje rojin e ia ave la aspeta airida de un person ci ia pasa la plu de sua tempo su la sielo, e an tal sua regarda firma e la autofida cuieta de sua manera ia conteni alga cosa indicante un nobil.

Our breakfast table was cleared early, and Holmes waited in his dressing-gown for the promised interview. Our clients were punctual to their appointment, for the clock had just struck ten when Dr. Mortimer was shown up, followed by the young baronet. The latter was a small, alert, dark-eyed man about thirty years of age, very sturdily built, with thick black eyebrows and a strong, pugnacious face. He wore a ruddy-tinted tweed suit and had the weather-beaten appearance of one who has spent most of his time in the open air, and yet there was something in his steady eye and the quiet assurance of his bearing which indicated the gentleman.

“Esta es Sir Henry Baskerville,” Dr Mortimer ia dise.

“This is Sir Henry Baskerville,” said Dr. Mortimer.

“He si,” – el ia dise – “e la parte strana es, Sr Sherlock Holmes, ce si mea ami asi no ia ta proposa visita tu a esta matina, me mesma ia ta veni solitar. Me comprende ce par serebri tu solve rompetestas peti, e me ia esperia un a esta matina cual esije plu serebri ca me es capas de dona a lo.”

“Why, yes,” said he, “and the strange thing is, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, that if my friend here had not proposed coming round to you this morning I should have come on my own account. I understand that you think out little puzzles, and I’ve had one this morning which wants more thinking out than I am able to give it.”

“Senta tu, per favore, Sir Henry. Esce me comprende ce tu dise ce tu mesma ia esperia alga cosa estracomun pos tua ariva en London?”

“Pray take a seat, Sir Henry. Do I understand you to say that you have yourself had some remarkable experience since you arrived in London?”

“No un cosa multe importante, Sr Holmes. Sola un broma, a la plu probable. Lo ia es esta letera, si on pote nomi lo un letera, cual ia ateni me a esta matina.”

“Nothing of much importance, Mr. Holmes. Only a joke, as like as not. It was this letter, if you can call it a letter, which reached me this morning.”

El ia pone un envelopa sur la table, e tota de nos ia apoia supra lo. Lo ia es de cualia comun, grisin de color. La adirije, “Sir Henry Baskerville, Otel Northumberland”, ia es scriveda en sinias bruta; la marca postal ia es “Charing Cross”, e la data de posta la sera presedente.

He laid an envelope upon the table, and we all bent over it. It was of common quality, greyish in colour. The address, “Sir Henry Baskerville, Northumberland Hotel,” was printed in rough characters; the post-mark “Charing Cross,” and the date of posting the preceding evening.

“Ci ia sabe ce tu vade a Otel Northumberland?” – Holmes ia demanda, lansante un regarda curiosa a nosa visitor.

“Who knew that you were going to the Northumberland Hotel?” asked Holmes, glancing keenly across at our visitor.

“Nun ia pote sabe. Nos ia deside lo sola pos cuando me ia encontra Dr Mortimer.”

“No one could have known. We only decided after I met Dr. Mortimer.”

“Ma Dr Mortimer ia es sin duta ja ospitada ala?”

“But Dr. Mortimer was no doubt already stopping there?”

“No, me ia reposa con un ami.” – la dotor la dise. “On ia ave no indica posible ce nos intende vade a esta otel.”

“No, I had been staying with a friend,” said the doctor. “There was no possible indication that we intended to go to this hotel.”

“Hm! Algun pare multe profonda interesada par tua moves.” De la envelopa el ia prende un duifolia de paper grande, pliada a cuatris. El ia abri esta e ia plani lo sur la table. Tra sua media, un frase solitar ia es formida par la metodo de coli sur lo parolas primida. La testo ia es: “Si tu valua tua vive o tua razona, teni tu a via de la stepe.”

“Hum! Someone seems to be very deeply interested in your movements.” Out of the envelope he took a half-sheet of foolscap paper folded into four. This he opened and spread flat upon the table. Across the middle of it a single sentence had been formed by the expedient of pasting printed words upon it. It ran: “As you value your life or your reason keep away from the moor.”

Sola la parola “stepe” ia es scriveda en inca.

The word “moor” only was printed in ink.

“Bon,” – Sir Henry Baskerville ia dise – “cisa tu va dise a me, Sr Holmes: cual de enferno acel sinifia, e ci es la person ci es tan interesada par mea atas?”

“Now,” said Sir Henry Baskerville, “perhaps you will tell me, Mr. Holmes, what in thunder is the meaning of that, and who it is that takes so much interest in my affairs?”

“Cual es tua opina sur lo, Dr Mortimer? Tu debe acorda ce esta conteni no parte supranatural, a la min?”

“What do you make of it, Dr. Mortimer? You must allow that there is nothing supernatural about this, at any rate?”

“No, senior, ma lo es multe posible ce lo ia veni de algun ci es convinseda ce la conserna es supranatural.”

“No, sir, but it might very well come from someone who was convinced that the business is supernatural.”

“Cual conserna?” – Sir Henry ia demanda agu. “Lo pare a me ce tota vos seniores sabe un plu monton ca me sur mea propre ativia.”

“What business?” asked Sir Henry sharply. “It seems to me that all you gentlemen know a great deal more than I do about my own affairs.”

“Tu va comparti nosa sabes ante tua parti de esta sala, Sir Henry. Me promete esta a tu.” – Sherlock Holmes ia dise. “Nos va restrinje nos a presente, pos tua permete, a esta documento multe interesante, cual on ia debe composa e posta en la sera de ier. Esce tu ave la Times de ier, Watson?”

“You shall share our knowledge before you leave this room, Sir Henry. I promise you that,” said Sherlock Holmes. “We will confine ourselves for the present with your permission to this very interesting document, which must have been put together and posted yesterday evening. Have you yesterday’s Times, Watson?”

“Lo es asi en la angulo.”

“It is here in the corner.”

“Esce me ta pote solisita lo de tu – la paje interna, per favore, con la articles xef?” El ia regarda rapida a tra, corente sua oios a su e supra longo la colonas. “Esta es un article eselente sur comersia libre. Permete ce me leje un estraeda de lo. ‘Si tu es cisa convinseda a imajina ce tua propre comersia spesial o tua propre industria va es stimulada par un tarifa spesial, tu pote razona ce ultima tal leges va debe teni a via la ricia de la pais, diminui la valua de nosa emportas, e basi la state jeneral de vive en esta isola.’ Cual es tua opina sur esta, Watson?” – Holmes ia esclama en deleta alta, frotante sua manos a lunlotra con sasia. “Esce tu no crede ce esta es un punto de vista amirable?”

“Might I trouble you for it – the inside page, please, with the leading articles?” He glanced swiftly over it, running his eyes up and down the columns. “Capital article this on free trade. Permit me to give you an extract from it. ‘You may be cajoled into imagining that your own special trade or your own industry will be encouraged by a protective tariff, but it stands to reason that such legislation must in the long run keep away wealth from the country, diminish the value of our imports, and lower the general conditions of life in this island.’ What do you think of that, Watson?” cried Holmes in high glee, rubbing his hands together with satisfaction. “Don’t you think that is an admirable sentiment?”

Dr Mortimer ia regarda Holmes con un espresa de interesa profesal, e Sir Henry Baskerville ia turna a me un duple de oios oscur e confondeda.

Dr. Mortimer looked at Holmes with an air of professional interest, and Sir Henry Baskerville turned a pair of puzzled dark eyes upon me.

“Me no sabe multe sur la tarifa e cosas de acel spesie,” – el ia dise – “ma lo pare a me ce nos ia devia alga de la trasa pertinente a acel nota.”

“I don’t know much about the tariff and things of that kind,” said he, “but it seems to me we’ve got a bit off the trail so far as that note is concerned.”

“Par contrasta, me opina ce nos segue spesial zelosa la trasa, Sir Henry. Watson asi sabe plu sur mea metodos ca tu, ma me teme ce an el no ia comprende completa la sinifia de esta frase.”

“On the contrary, I think we are particularly hot upon the trail, Sir Henry. Watson here knows more about my methods than you do, but I fear that even he has not quite grasped the significance of this sentence.”

“No, me confesa ce me vide no lia.”

“No, I confess that I see no connection.”

“E an tal, mea cara Watson, on ave un lia tan multe prosima ce la un es estraeda de la otra. ‘Si’, ‘tu’, ‘tu’, ‘tua’, ‘tua’, ‘vive’, ‘o’, ‘razona’, ‘valua’, ‘teni a via’, ‘de la’. Esce tu no vide aora de do esta parolas ia es prendeda?”

“And yet, my dear Watson, there is so very close a connection that the one is extracted out of the other. ‘You,’ ‘your,’ ‘your,’ ‘life,’ ‘reason,’ ‘value,’ ‘keep away,’ ‘from the.’ Don’t you see now whence these words have been taken?”

“Tona de stona, tu dise coreta! Bon, esce acel no es astuta?” – Sir Henry ia esclama.

“By thunder, you’re right! Well, if that isn’t smart!” cried Sir Henry.

“Si cualce duta posible ia resta, lo es reposada par la fato ce ‘teni a via’ e ‘de la’ es taliada en un peso.”

“If any possible doubt remained it is settled by the fact that ‘keep away’ and ‘from the’ are cut out in one piece.”

“He, bon – lo es tal!”

“Well, now – so it is!”

“Vera, Sr Holmes, esta esede cualce cosa cual me ia ta pote imajina.” – Dr Mortimer ia dise, contemplante mea ami en stona. “Me ta pote comprende si algun ta dise ce la parolas ia veni de un jornal; ma ce tu pote nomi la jornal, e ajunta ce lo ia veni de la article xef, es vera un de la cosas la plu notable cual me ia esperia en la vive. Como tu ia fa lo?”

“Really, Mr. Holmes, this exceeds anything which I could have imagined,” said Dr. Mortimer, gazing at my friend in amazement. “I could understand anyone saying that the words were from a newspaper; but that you should name which, and add that it came from the leading article, is really one of the most remarkable things which I have ever known. How did you do it?”

“Me suposa, Dotor, ce tu ta pote distingui la cranio de un person negra de lo de un inuit, si?”

“I presume, Doctor, that you could tell the skull of a negro from that of an Esquimau?”

“Multe serta.”

“Most certainly.”

“Ma como?”

“But how?”

“Car esta es mea pasatempo spesial. La diferes es evidente. La cresta supraorbital, la angulo de la fas, la curva de la masila, la —”

“Because that is my special hobby. The differences are obvious. The supra-orbital crest, the facial angle, the maxillary curve, the—”

“Ma esta es mea pasatempo spesial, e la diferes es egal evidente. On ave a mea oios tan multe difere, entre la tipo burjes spasida de un article en la Times e la primi desordinada de un jornal seral de duisentim, como on ta pote ave entre tua negra e tua inuit. La deteta de tipos de letera es un de la ramos de sabe la plu elementin per la esperta spesial de crimines, an si me confesa ce a un ves, cuando me ia es multe joven, me ia confusa la Mercurio de Leeds e la Novas Matinal Ueste. Ma un article xef en la Times es intera distinguida, e esta parolas ia pote es prendeda de no otra loca. Car lo ia es fada ier, lo ia es forte probable ce nos va trova la parolas en la numero de ier.”

“But this is my special hobby, and the differences are equally obvious. There is as much difference to my eyes between the leaded bourgeois type of a Times article and the slovenly print of an evening half-penny paper as there could be between your negro and your Esquimau. The detection of types is one of the most elementary branches of knowledge to the special expert in crime, though I confess that once when I was very young I confused the Leeds Mercury with the Western Morning News. But a Times leader is entirely distinctive, and these words could have been taken from nothing else. As it was done yesterday the strong probability was that we should find the words in yesterday’s issue.”

“Donce cuanto me pote segue tu, Sr Holmes,” – Sir Henry Baskerville ia dise – “algun ia talia esta mesaje par un sisor —”

“So far as I can follow you, then, Mr. Holmes,” said Sir Henry Baskerville, “someone cut out this message with a scissors—”

“Sisor de ungia.” – Holmes ia dise. “On pote vide ce lo ia es un sisor de lama multe corta, car la person usante lo ia debe fa du sisoris supra ‘teni a via’.”

“Nail-scissors,” said Holmes. “You can see that it was a very short-bladed scissors, since the cutter had to take two snips over ‘keep away.’”

“Lo es tal. Algun, alora, ia talia la mesaje par un sisor de lama corta, ia coli lo par cola —”

“That is so. Someone, then, cut out the message with a pair of short-bladed scissors, pasted it with paste—”

“Goma.” – Holmes ia dise.

“Gum,” said Holmes.

“Par goma a la paper. Ma me vole sabe perce la parola ‘stepe’ ia es scriveda?”

“With gum on to the paper. But I want to know why the word ‘moor’ should have been written?”

“Car el no ia pote trova lo primida. Tota la otra parolas ia es simple e on ta pote trova los en cualce numero, ma ‘stepe’ ia es min comun.”

“Because he could not find it in print. The other words were all simple and might be found in any issue, but ‘moor’ would be less common.”

“He, natural, esta esplica lo. Esce tu ia leje cualce otra cosa en esta mesaje, Sr Holmes?”

“Why, of course, that would explain it. Have you read anything else in this message, Mr. Holmes?”

“On ave un o du indicas, e an tal on ia labora estrema per elimina tota trasas. La adirije, tu oserva, es scriveda en sinias bruta. Ma la Times es un paper cual on trova rara en cualce otra manos ca los de la alta educadas. Nos pote suposa, donce, ce la letera ia es composada par un om educada ci ia desira finje un noneducada, e sua labora per asconde sua propre scrive sujesta ce acel scrive es cisa conoseda, o va es conoseda, par tu. Plu, tu va oserva ce la parolas no es colida longo un linia esata, ma ce algas es plu alta ca otras. ‘Vive’, per esemplo, es intera estra sua bon loca. Esta pote indica un nonatende o lo pote indica un ajita e freta a la lado de la person taliante. Jeneral me inclina a la suposa du, car la conserna ia es evidente importante, e lo es nonprobable ce la composor de un tal letera ta es nonatendente. Si el ia es fretante, esta abri la demanda interesante sur perce el ia es fretante, car cualce letera postada asta la temprana de la matina ta ateni Sir Henry ante cuando el ta parti de sua otel. Esce la composor ia teme un interompe – e par ci?”

“There are one or two indications, and yet the utmost pains have been taken to remove all clues. The address, you observe is printed in rough characters. But the Times is a paper which is seldom found in any hands but those of the highly educated. We may take it, therefore, that the letter was composed by an educated man who wished to pose as an uneducated one, and his effort to conceal his own writing suggests that that writing might be known, or come to be known, by you. Again, you will observe that the words are not gummed on in an accurate line, but that some are much higher than others. ‘Life,’ for example is quite out of its proper place. That may point to carelessness or it may point to agitation and hurry upon the part of the cutter. On the whole I incline to the latter view, since the matter was evidently important, and it is unlikely that the composer of such a letter would be careless. If he were in a hurry it opens up the interesting question why he should be in a hurry, since any letter posted up to early morning would reach Sir Henry before he would leave his hotel. Did the composer fear an interruption – and from whom?”

“Nos veni aora alga a la rejion de divinas.” – Dr Mortimer ia dise.

“We are coming now rather into the region of guesswork,” said Dr. Mortimer.

“Dise, plu coreta, a la rejion do nos pesa la posibles e eleje la plu probable. Lo es la usa siensal de la imajina, ma nos ave sempre alga funda material sur cual nos comensa nosa esplora. Bon, tu ta nomi lo un divina, sin duta, ma me es cuasi serta ce esta adirije ia es scriveda en un otel.”

“Say, rather, into the region where we balance probabilities and choose the most likely. It is the scientific use of the imagination, but we have always some material basis on which to start our speculation. Now, you would call it a guess, no doubt, but I am almost certain that this address has been written in a hotel.”

“Como de mundo tu pote dise esta?”

“How in the world can you say that?”

“Si tu esamina atendente lo, tu va vide ce e la pen e la inca ia dona problemes a la scrivor. La pen ia sputa a du veses en un sola parola e ia deveni seca a tre veses en un adirije corta, mostrante ce la botela ia conteni vera poca inca. Bon, on no permete comun ce un pen o botela privata de inca ave un tal state, e la combina de la du debe es vera rara. Ma tu conose la inca de otel e la pen de otel, do on trova rara cualce otra tipo. Si, me esita vera poca en dise ce, si nos ta pote esamina la sestos de dejetadas de la oteles sirca Charing Cross asta trova la restas de la article xef mutilada de la Times, nos ta pote catura sin pausa la person ci ia envia esta mesaje unica. He, he! Cual es esta?”

“If you examine it carefully you will see that both the pen and the ink have given the writer trouble. The pen has spluttered twice in a single word and has run dry three times in a short address, showing that there was very little ink in the bottle. Now, a private pen or ink-bottle is seldom allowed to be in such a state, and the combination of the two must be quite rare. But you know the hotel ink and the hotel pen, where it is rare to get anything else. Yes, I have very little hesitation in saying that could we examine the waste-paper baskets of the hotels around Charing Cross until we found the remains of the mutilated Times leader we could lay our hands straight upon the person who sent this singular message. Halloa! Halloa! What’s this?”

El ia esamina atendente la folia sur cual la parolas ia es colida, teninte lo a sola un pico de sentimetres de sua oios.

He was carefully examining the foolscap, upon which the words were pasted, holding it only an inch or two from his eyes.

“E?”

“Well?”

“No cosa.” – el ia dise, dejetante lo. “Lo es un duifolia blanca de paper, sin an un filigrana sur se. Me crede ce nos ia estrae tan multe como nos pote de esta letera strana; e aora, Sir Henry, esce cualce otra cosa interesante ia aveni a tu en cuando tu es en London?”

“Nothing,” said he, throwing it down. “It is a blank half-sheet of paper, without even a water-mark upon it. I think we have drawn as much as we can from this curious letter; and now, Sir Henry, has anything else of interest happened to you since you have been in London?”

“Ma no, Sr Holmes. Me pensa ce no.”

“Why, no, Mr. Holmes. I think not.”

“Tu no ia oserva algun ci segue o oserva tu?”

“You have not observed anyone follow or watch you?”

“Lo pare ce me ia pasea direta a la media de un novela supradramosa.” – nosa visitor ia dise. “Perce de enferno cualcun ta segue o oserva me?”

“I seem to have walked right into the thick of a dime novel,” said our visitor. “Why in thunder should anyone follow or watch me?”

“Nos veni a esta. Tu ave no otra cosa per reporta a nos ante cuando nos entra a esta conserna?”

“We are coming to that. You have nothing else to report to us before we go into this matter?”

“Bon, lo depende de lo cual merita es reportada, en tua opina.”

“Well, it depends upon what you think worth reporting.”

“Me opina ce cualce cosa estra la costum normal de la vive merita es reportada.”

“I think anything out of the ordinary routine of life well worth reporting.”

Sir Henry ia surie.

Sir Henry smiled.

“Me ancora no conose multe la vive brites, car me ia pasa cuasi tota mea tempo en la Statos Unida e en Canada. Ma me espera ce la perde de un bota no parteni a la costum normal de la vive asi.”

“I don’t know much of British life yet, for I have spent nearly all my time in the States and in Canada. But I hope that to lose one of your boots is not part of the ordinary routine of life over here.”

“Tu ia perde un de tua botas?”

“You have lost one of your boots?”

“Mea cara senior,” – Dr Mortimer ia esclama – “lo es mera malponeda. Tu va trova lo cuando tu reveni a la otel. Cual es la valua de disturba Sr Holmes par tal triviales?”

“My dear sir,” cried Dr. Mortimer, “it is only mislaid. You will find it when you return to the hotel. What is the use of troubling Mr. Holmes with trifles of this kind?”

“Ma el ia demanda a me per cualce cosa estra la costum normal.”

“Well, he asked me for anything outside the ordinary routine.”

“Esata,” – Holmes ia dise – “an si la aveni pote pare fol. Tu ia perde un de tua botas, tu dise?”

“Exactly,” said Holmes, “however foolish the incident may seem. You have lost one of your boots, you say?”

“Bon, ia malpone lo, en cualce caso. Me ia pone ambos estra mea porte a la sera ier, e sola un ia es ala a la matina. Me ia pote oteni no bon informa de la om ci limpi los. La parte la plu mal es ce me ia compra la duple a sola la sera pasada en Strada Strand, e me ia usa nunca los.”

“Well, mislaid it, anyhow. I put them both outside my door last night, and there was only one in the morning. I could get no sense out of the chap who cleans them. The worst of it is that I only bought the pair last night in the Strand, and I have never had them on.”

“Si tu ia usa nunca los, perce tu ia pone los a estra per limpi?”

“If you have never worn them, why did you put them out to be cleaned?”

“Los ia es botas tanada e ia es nunca vernisida. Per esta razona me ia pone los.”

“They were tan boots and had never been varnished. That was why I put them out.”

“Donce me comprende ce, pos tua ariva en London ier, tu ia sorti direta e ia compra un duple de botas?”

“Then I understand that on your arrival in London yesterday you went out at once and bought a pair of boots?”

“Me ia fa un monton de compra. Dr Mortimer ia acompania me. Tu vide, si me va es la imobilor ala en Devon, me debe ave vestes conveninte, e cisa me ia deveni pico nonatendente a mea abituas en la Statos distante. Entre otra cosas, me ia compra esta botas brun – ia dona ses dolares per los – e un ia es furada de me an ante cuando me ia ave los sur mea pedes.

“I did a good deal of shopping. Dr. Mortimer here went round with me. You see, if I am to be squire down there I must dress the part, and it may be that I have got a little careless in my ways out West. Among other things I bought these brown boots – gave six dollars for them – and had one stolen before ever I had them on my feet.”

“Lo pare un furada notable nonusosa.” – Sherlock Holmes ia dise. “Me confesa ce me comparti la crede de Dr Mortimer ce pos no longa la bota mancante va es trovada.”

“It seems a singularly useless thing to steal,” said Sherlock Holmes. “I confess that I share Dr. Mortimer’s belief that it will not be long before the missing boot is found.”

“E aora, seniores,” – la baroneta ia dise desidente – “lo pare a me ce me ia parla ja plen sufisinte sur la poca cual me sabe. La tempo ia veni cuando vos debe reali tua promete e dona a me un esplica completa de lo a cual tota pertine.”

“And, now, gentlemen,” said the baronet with decision, “it seems to me that I have spoken quite enough about the little that I know. It is time that you kept your promise and gave me a full account of what we are all driving at.”

“Tua solisita es multe asetable.” – Holmes ia responde. – “Dr Mortimer, me crede ce tu va ata la plu bon si tu raconta tua nara tal como tu ia raconta lo a nos.”

“Your request is a very reasonable one,” Holmes answered. “Dr. Mortimer, I think you could not do better than to tell your story as you told it to us.”

Tal corajida, nosa ami siensal ia estrae sua paperes de sua pox e ia presenta la caso intera como el ia fa a la matina presedente. Sir Henry Baskerville ia escuta con atende la plu profonda e con un esclama surprendeda de ves a ves.

Thus encouraged, our scientific friend drew his papers from his pocket and presented the whole case as he had done upon the morning before. Sir Henry Baskerville listened with the deepest attention and with an occasional exclamation of surprise.

“Bon, lo pare ce me ia entra a un erita intensa.” – el ia dise cuando la nara longa ia es finida. “Natural, me oia ja parla sur la can de cuando me ia es en la enfanteria. Lo es la raconta favoreda de la familia, an si me ia pensa nunca a ante ce me debe trata seria lo. Ma sur la mori de mea tio – aora, tota pare boli en mea testa, e me ancora no pote comprende clar lo. Lo pare ce tu ancora no ia deside completa esce lo es un caso per un polisior o un eglesor.”

“Well, I seem to have come into an inheritance with a vengeance,” said he when the long narrative was finished. “Of course, I’ve heard of the hound ever since I was in the nursery. It’s the pet story of the family, though I never thought of taking it seriously before. But as to my uncle’s death – well, it all seems boiling up in my head, and I can’t get it clear yet. You don’t seem quite to have made up your mind whether it’s a case for a policeman or a clergyman.”

“Esata.”

“Precisely.”

“E aora on ave esta conserna de la letera a me a la otel. Me suposa ce acel cabe a sua loca.”

“And now there’s this affair of the letter to me at the hotel. I suppose that fits into its place.”

“Lo pare mostra ce algun sabe plu ca nos sur lo cual aveni sur la stepe.” – Dr Mortimer ia dise.

“It seems to show that someone knows more than we do about what goes on upon the moor,” said Dr. Mortimer.

“E ance” – Holmes ia dise – “ce algun no es nonsimpatiosa a tu, car el averti tu contra peril.”

“And also,” said Holmes, “that someone is not ill-disposed towards you, since they warn you of danger.”

“O cisa el desira, per sua propre intendes, asusta me a via.”

“Or it may be that they wish, for their own purposes, to scare me away.”

“Bon, natural, ance esta es posible. Me deta vera multe a tu, Dr Mortimer, car tu ia presenta a me un problem cual esibi alga alternativas interesante. Ma la punto pratical cual nos debe aora deside, Sir Henry, es esce lo es conselable o no ce tu vade a Cason Baskerville.”

“Well, of course, that is possible also. I am very much indebted to you, Dr. Mortimer, for introducing me to a problem which presents several interesting alternatives. But the practical point which we now have to decide, Sir Henry, is whether it is or is not advisable for you to go to Baskerville Hall.”

“Perce me no ta vade?”

“Why should I not go?”

“On pare ave un peril.”

“There seems to be danger.”

“Esce tu vole dise un peril de esta monstro familial o tu vole dise un peril de umanas?”

“Do you mean danger from this family fiend or do you mean danger from human beings?”

“Bon, esta es lo cual nos debe descovre.”

“Well, that is what we have to find out.”

“Cual ta es la peril, mea responde es fisada. On ave no diablo en enferno, Sr Holmes, e on ave no person sur la tera ci pote preveni me de vade a la casa de mea propre familia, e tu pote aseta esta como mea responde final.” Sua suprasiles oscur ia deveni fronsida e sua fas ia roji profonda en sua parla. Lo ia es evidente ce la tempera focosa de la Baskervilles no ia es estinguida en esta, sua representor ultima. “Entretempo,” – el ia dise – “me ia ave apena la tempo per considera tota cual vos ia dise a me. Lo es tro grande per es comprendeda e desideda en sola un consenta. Me ta desira ave un ora cuieta en solitaria per fa mea conclui. Bon, vide, Sr Holmes, lo es aora un dui pos des-un, e me va revade direta a mea otel. Me proposa ce tu e tua ami, Dr Watson, ariva per come media con nos a la ora du. Me va pote alora dise plu clar a vos como esta conserna pare a me.”

“Whichever it is, my answer is fixed. There is no devil in hell, Mr. Holmes, and there is no man upon earth who can prevent me from going to the home of my own people, and you may take that to be my final answer.” His dark brows knitted and his face flushed to a dusky red as he spoke. It was evident that the fiery temper of the Baskervilles was not extinct in this their last representative. “Meanwhile,” said he, “I have hardly had time to think over all that you have told me. It’s a big thing for a man to have to understand and to decide at one sitting. I should like to have a quiet hour by myself to make up my mind. Now, look here, Mr. Holmes, it’s half-past eleven now and I am going back right away to my hotel. Suppose you and your friend, Dr. Watson, come round and lunch with us at two. I’ll be able to tell you more clearly then how this thing strikes me.”

“Esce lo es oportun per tu, Watson?”

“Is that convenient to you, Watson?”

“Perfeta.”

“Perfectly.”

“Donce tu pote espeta nos. Me ta clama un caro?”

“Then you may expect us. Shall I have a cab called?”

“Me ta prefere pasea, car esta situa ia ajita me e alga grado.”

“I’d prefer to walk, for this affair has flurried me rather.”

“Me va pasea con tu, con plaser.” – sua acompanior ia dise.

“I’ll join you in a walk, with pleasure,” said his companion.

“Alora nos va encontra nos denova a la ora du. Asta revide, e bon matina!”

“Then we meet again at two o’clock. Au revoir, and good-morning!”

Nos ia oia la pasos de nosa visitores desendente la scalera e la pum de la porte xef. En un momento, Holmes ia cambia ja de un fantasior pigra a un om ativa.

We heard the steps of our visitors descend the stair and the bang of the front door. In an instant Holmes had changed from the languid dreamer to the man of action.

“Tua xapo e botas, Watson, rapida! No perde un momento!”

“Your hat and boots, Watson, quick! Not a moment to lose!”

El ia freta a sua sala en sua roba de matina e ia reveni pos un pico de secondos en un jacon. Nos ia freta juntada en desende de la scalera e en sorti a la strada. Dr Mortimer e Baskerville ia es ancora vidable a sirca dusento metros ante nos en la dirije de Strada Oxford.

He rushed into his room in his dressing-gown and was back again in a few seconds in a frock-coat. We hurried together down the stairs and into the street. Dr. Mortimer and Baskerville were still visible about two hundred yards ahead of us in the direction of Oxford Street.

“Esce me ta core a ante e para los?”

“Shall I run on and stop them?”

“En no modo de mundo, mea cara Watson. Me es intera sasiada par tua acompania si tu va tolera la mea. Nosa amis es saja, car lo es serta un matina multe bela per pasea.”

“Not for the world, my dear Watson. I am perfectly satisfied with your company if you will tolerate mine. Our friends are wise, for it is certainly a very fine morning for a walk.”

El ia rapidi sua pasos asta cuando nos ia redui la distantia dividente nos asta sirca un dui. A pos, ancora manteninte un distantia de sento metros, nos ia segue en Strada Oxford e tal longo Strada Regent. A un ves, nosa amis ia para e ia regarda tra la fenetra de un boteca, a cual Holmes ia fa la mesma. A un instante plu tarda, el ia fa un esclama peti de contenti, e, seguente la dirije de sua oios zelosa, me ia vide ce un taxi-caro conteninte un om, cual ia para a la otra lado de la strada, continua aora avansa lenta denova.

He quickened his pace until we had decreased the distance which divided us by about half. Then, still keeping a hundred yards behind, we followed into Oxford Street and so down Regent Street. Once our friends stopped and stared into a shop window, upon which Holmes did the same. An instant afterwards he gave a little cry of satisfaction, and, following the direction of his eager eyes, I saw that a hansom cab with a man inside which had halted on the other side of the street was now proceeding slowly onward again.

“Ala es nosa om, Watson! Veni con me! Nos va fa un bon regarda a el, an si nos no pote ata plu.”

“There’s our man, Watson! Come along! We’ll have a good look at him, if we can do no more.”

A acel momento, me ia es consensa de un barba negra brosin e un duple de oios agu dirijeda a nos tra la fenetra ladal de la caro. Instante, la porte orizonal a la teto ia xuta a supra, alga cosa ia es xiliada a la gidor, e la caro ia vola a via nonfrenida longo Strada Regent. Holmes ia xerca zelosa un otra caro, ma un vacua no ia es vidable. Alora el ia core en xasa savaje entre la flue de la trafica, ma la vantaje ia es tro grande, e ja la caro ia desapare.

At that instant I was aware of a bushy black beard and a pair of piercing eyes turned upon us through the side window of the cab. Instantly the trapdoor at the top flew up, something was screamed to the driver, and the cab flew madly off down Regent Street. Holmes looked eagerly round for another, but no empty one was in sight. Then he dashed in wild pursuit amid the stream of the traffic, but the start was too great, and already the cab was out of sight.

“Tal lo vade!” – Holmes ia dise amarga cuando el ia emerji, con respira rapida e palia iritada, de la marea de veculos. “A cual ves pasada on ia es tan malfortunosa e ance tan malmanejada? Watson, Watson, si tu es un om onesta, tu va rejistra ance esta e contrapesa par lo mea susedes!”

“There now!” said Holmes bitterly as he emerged panting and white with vexation from the tide of vehicles. “Was ever such bad luck and such bad management, too? Watson, Watson, if you are an honest man you will record this also and set it against my successes!”

“Ci ia es la om?”

“Who was the man?”

“Me ave no idea.”

“I have not an idea.”

“Spior?”

“A spy?”

“Bon, lo ia es clar, de lo cual nos ia oia, ce Baskerville es multe prosima segueda par algun de pos sua ariva en la site. Par cual otra modo on ta sabe tan rapida ce Otel Northumberland es lo cual el ia eleje? Si esta person ia segue el a la dia prima, me ia razona ce esta va segue el ance a la dia du. Tu ia oserva cisa ce me ia pasea a la fenetra a du veses en cuando Dr Mortimer ia leje sua lejenda.”

“Well, it was evident from what we have heard that Baskerville has been very closely shadowed by someone since he has been in town. How else could it be known so quickly that it was the Northumberland Hotel which he had chosen? If they had followed him the first day I argued that they would follow him also the second. You may have observed that I twice strolled over to the window while Dr. Mortimer was reading his legend.”

“Si, me recorda.”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Me ia regarda a estra per persones pigrinte sur la strada, ma me ia vide nun. La om pertinente es astuta, Watson. Esta conserna afeta multe profonda, e an si me no ia deside final esce el ci es en contata con nos es un ajente bonvolente o un malvolente, me es sempre consensa de potes e intendes. Cuando nosa amis ia parti, me ia segue direta los con la espera de identifia sua atendor nonvidable. El ia es tan rusosa ce el no ia fida se a pede, ma el ia dispone a se un caro per pote lenti pos los o freta a ultra e evade tal sua oserva. Sua metodo ia ave la vantaje ajuntada ce, si los ta usa un caro, el ta es bon preparada per segue los. Lo ave, an tal, un nonvantaje evidente.”

“I was looking out for loiterers in the street, but I saw none. We are dealing with a clever man, Watson. This matter cuts very deep, and though I have not finally made up my mind whether it is a benevolent or a malevolent agency which is in touch with us, I am conscious always of power and design. When our friends left I at once followed them in the hopes of marking down their invisible attendant. So wily was he that he had not trusted himself upon foot, but he had availed himself of a cab so that he could loiter behind or dash past them and so escape their notice. His method had the additional advantage that if they were to take a cab he was all ready to follow them. It has, however, one obvious disadvantage.”

“Lo pone el a la potia de la taxiste.”

“It puts him in the power of the cabman.”

“Esata.”

“Exactly.”

“Tan triste ce nos no ia nota la numero!”

“What a pity we did not get the number!”

“Mea cara Watson, an si me ia es torpe, serta tu no suposa seria ce me ia fali nota la numero? Numero 2704 es nosa om. Ma esta ave no valua a nos a esta momento.”

“My dear Watson, clumsy as I have been, you surely do not seriously imagine that I neglected to get the number? No. 2704 is our man. But that is no use to us for the moment.”

“Me no comprende como tu ia ta pote fa plu.”

“I fail to see how you could have done more.”

“Oservante la caro, me ia debe turna sin pausa per pasea en la otra dirije. A pos, me ia debe nonfretada lua un caro du per segue la prima a distantia respetosa, o, an plu bon, ia debe viaja a Otel Northumberland per espeta ala. Cuando nosa nonconoseda ia segue Baskerville a casa, nos ia ta ave la posible de fa sua propre jua contra el mesma e vide do el vade. En realia, par un zelo nondiscreta, cual ia es esplotada con rapidia e enerjia estracomun par nosa oposor, nos ia revela nos e ia perde nosa om.”

“On observing the cab I should have instantly turned and walked in the other direction. I should then at my leisure have hired a second cab and followed the first at a respectful distance, or, better still, have driven to the Northumberland Hotel and waited there. When our unknown had followed Baskerville home we should have had the opportunity of playing his own game upon himself and seeing where he made for. As it is, by an indiscreet eagerness, which was taken advantage of with extraordinary quickness and energy by our opponent, we have betrayed ourselves and lost our man.”

Nos ia pasea pigra longo Strada Regent en esta conversa, e Dr Mortimer, con sua acompanior, ia desapare de ante nos a tempo longa pasada.

We had been sauntering slowly down Regent Street during this conversation, and Dr. Mortimer, with his companion, had long vanished in front of us.

“Nos va ave no valua en segue los.” – Holmes ia dise. “La spior ia parti e no va reveni. Nos debe vide cual plu cartas nos ave en nosa manos e jua los en modo desidente. Esce tu ta pote jura reconose la fas de acel om en la caro?”

“There is no object in our following them,” said Holmes. “The shadow has departed and will not return. We must see what further cards we have in our hands and play them with decision. Could you swear to that man’s face within the cab?”

“Me ta pote jura sola a tema de la barba.”

“I could swear only to the beard.”

“Como ance me – e de esta me conclui ce, con tota probablia, lo ia es falsa. A un om astuta en un taxe tan delicata, un barba es usosa sola per asconde la cualias de sua fas. Entra asi, Watson!”

“And so could I – from which I gather that in all probability it was a false one. A clever man upon so delicate an errand has no use for a beard save to conceal his features. Come in here, Watson!”

El ia turna a en un de la ofisias distrital de mesajores, do el ia es amin salutada par la manejor.

He turned into one of the district messenger offices, where he was warmly greeted by the manager.

“A, Wilson, me vide ce tu no ia oblida la caso peti en cual me ia ave la bon fortuna de aida tu?”

“Ah, Wilson, I see you have not forgotten the little case in which I had the good fortune to help you?”

“No, senior, vera me no ia oblida. Tu ia salva mea bon reputa, e cisa mea vive.”

“No, sir, indeed I have not. You saved my good name, and perhaps my life.”

“Mea cara bonom, tu esajera. Me ave un recorda, Wilson, ce tu ave entre tua jovenes un xico nomida Cartwright, ci ia mostra alga capasia en la investiga.”

“My dear fellow, you exaggerate. I have some recollection, Wilson, that you had among your boys a lad named Cartwright, who showed some ability during the investigation.”

“Si, senior, el labora ancora asi.”

“Yes, sir, he is still with us.”

“Tu ta pote clama el? – grasias! E me ta desira cambia esta bileta de sinco paundes a monetas.”

“Could you ring him up? – thank you! And I should be glad to have change of this five-pound note.”

Un xico de des-cuatro anios, con fas zelosa animada, ia obedi la clama de la manejor. El ia sta aora regardante con respeta grande la detetor famosa.

A lad of fourteen, with a bright, keen face, had obeyed the summons of the manager. He stood now gazing with great reverence at the famous detective.

“Ta ce me ave la Cataloga de Oteles.” – Holmes ia dise. “Grasias! Aora, Cartwright, on ave asi la nomes de dudes-tre oteles, tota direta visina a Charing Cross. Tu vide?”

“Let me have the Hotel Directory,” said Holmes. “Thank you! Now, Cartwright, there are the names of twenty-three hotels here, all in the immediate neighbourhood of Charing Cross. Do you see?”

“Si, senior.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Tu va visita cada de estas pos lunlotra.”

“You will visit each of these in turn.”

“Si, senior.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Tu va comensa en cada caso par dona un xiling a la portor esterna. Prende esta dudes-tre xilinges.”

“You will begin in each case by giving the outside porter one shilling. Here are twenty-three shillings.”

“Si, senior.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Tu va dise a el ce tu vole vide la paperes ier dejetada. Tu va dise ce un telegram importante ia es maldirijeda e ce tu xerca lo. Tu comprende?”

“You will tell him that you want to see the waste-paper of yesterday. You will say that an important telegram has miscarried and that you are looking for it. You understand?”

“Si, senior.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Ma lo cual tu xerca vera es la paje sentral de la Times con alga bucos taliada en lo par sisor. Prende esta copia de la Times. Esta es la paje. Tu va pote reconose fasil lo, no?”

“But what you are really looking for is the centre page of the Times with some holes cut in it with scissors. Here is a copy of the Times. It is this page. You could easily recognize it, could you not?”

“Si, senior.”

“Yes, sir.”

“En cada caso, la portor esterna va clama la portor interna, a ci ance tu va dona un xiling. Prende esta dudes-tre xilinges. Tu va es alora informada, en cisa dudes casos de la dudes-tre, ce on ia arde o sutrae ja la dejetadas de la dia presedente. En la tre otra casos, on va mostra a tu un monton de paperes e tu va xerca esta paje de la Times entre los. La probablia es enorme oposada a tua trova de lo. Prende plu esta des xilinges per caso de problemes. Ta ce me ave un reporta par telegram a Strada Baker ante fini de la posmedia. E aora, Watson, la sola cosa cual resta a nos es descovre par telegram la identia de la taxiste, numero 2704, e pos esta nos va fa un visita a un de la galerias de depintas a Strada Bond per ocupa la tempo asta cuando on espeta nos a la otel.”

“In each case the outside porter will send for the hall porter, to whom also you will give a shilling. Here are twenty-three shillings. You will then learn in possibly twenty cases out of the twenty-three that the waste of the day before has been burned or removed. In the three other cases you will be shown a heap of paper and you will look for this page of the Times among it. The odds are enormously against your finding it. There are ten shillings over in case of emergencies. Let me have a report by wire at Baker Street before evening. And now, Watson, it only remains for us to find out by wire the identity of the cabman, No. 2704, and then we will drop into one of the Bond Street picture galleries and fill in the time until we are due at the hotel.”