Lo Canhas deus Baskervilles Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Hound of the Baskervilles

SIR
ARTHUR

L O C ANHÀS
CONAN
DOYLE

U
a maladiccion que pesa suus Baskerville, vielha familha qui senhoreja dentz

CANHÀS DEUS BASKERVILLES

lo Devonshire, suu país ensauvadgit de la lana de Dartmoor. Un Canhàs
gigant, demòni gessit de l’Ihèrn, que pareix e lo senhor de Baskerville que se’n
moreix.
La mòrt sobta e tragica de’N Charles Baskerville, los cridòris d’un canhàs DEUS
B ASKERVILLES
qui s’audéixenn capvath la lana, tot acò que dèixa créder la legenda que
poiré estar vaduda realitat.
Talèu arribat a Londras, vienent deu Canadà, En Henry Baskerville que receu
ua letra anonima : « Se tiénetz a la vòsta vita e a la vòsta rason, hètz-ves enlà de la
lana ». A maugrat d’aqueras miaças, En Henry decideix d’anar a Baskerville Hall. Hall.
Consultat, lo detectiu Sherlock Holmes encarga lo fidèu doctor Watson d’acompa-
nhar lo joenn baronet.
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
L’enquista de Sherlock Holmes qu’a començat... Que serà longuèira, mauaisida
e plea d’engoeix...

LO CANHÀ
Roman lo mei famós de’N Arthur Conan Doyle, jòia de la literatura policièira,
The Hound of Baskervilles qu’es estat arrevirat directament de l’anglés entau
gascon per Eric Chaplain, e presentat aquí en version bilingüa dab lo tèste originau anglés.

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
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

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ISBN 2.84618.020.2

2
 Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville

SirArthur Conan Doyle

LO
CANHÀS
DEUS
BASKERVILLE
BASKERVILLE
(arrevirada entau gascon de’N Eric Chaplain)

Princi Negue
Editou
3
r
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

4

En Sherlock Holmes
Capítou permèir
E
n Sherlock Holmes qui solèva alcobejar hòrt
tard, lhevat qüand ne cluchava pas la perpera de
la noeit — çò qui se li escadèva sovendetas
—, èra seitat davant la taula d’esdejuar. Pitat qu’èri jo
davant la chaminèia, que gahèi la cana qui lo nòste
vesitaire e s’avèva oblidat la noeit passada. Qu’èra un
bèth tròç de barròt, acabat en pomèu, d’aqueras canas
qui noméntann “Judge de Penang”. Just en devath deu
pomèu, qu’i avèva un anèth d’argent, larg d’un chic
mei de dus centimètres. Dessús qu’èra engravat : « Entà
James Mortimer, MRCS, de la part deus sons amics deu
CCH », dab la data de « 1884 ». Tota menada la cana
que’s hènn seguir los mèdges de familha de la mòda
vielha : digna, hòrta, rasseguranta.
— E bé, Watson, çò qui’n tíratz d’aquerò ?
Entaulat, Holmes que m’èra cuu-virat e n’avèvi pas
hèit arré qui li hadossi conéixer en de qué èri coentat.
— E com sàbetz çò qui soi a har ? Be’s creiré de qu’atz
oelhs au darrèir deu cap !
— Qu’èi de cara a jo, ua cafetèira d’argent plan hrobi-
da, ce dixó. E bé, disetz-me, Watson, de qué ne’n tíratz
de la cana deu nòste vesitaire ? Com s’es mauescadut de
que’u manquèssim e que ne sàbem pas l’encausa de sa
1 — Mr Sherlock Holmes
Mr Sherlock Holmes, who was usually very late in the mornings,
save upon those not infrequent occasions when he stayed up all
night, was seated at the breakfast table. I stood upon the heartrug
and picked up the stick which our visitor had left behind him the
night before. It was a fine, thick piece of wood, bulbous headed, of
the sort which is known as a « Penang lawyer ». Just under the head
was a broad silver band, nearly an inch across. « To James Mortimer,
MRCS, from his friends of the CCH », was engraved upon it, with the
date « 1884 ». It was just such a stick as the old-fashioned family
practitioner used to carry – dignified, solid, and reassuring.
« Well, Watson, what do you make of it ? »
Holmes was sitting with his back to me, and I had given him no
sign of my occupation.
« How did you know what I was doing ? I believe you have eyes in
the back of your head. »
« I have, at least, a well-polished, silver-platted coffee-pot in front
of me, » said he. « But, tell me, Watson, what do you make of our
visitor’s stick ? Since we have been so unfortunate as to miss him and
have no notion of his errand, this accidental souvenir becomes of
5
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
vesita, aqueste soviéner deixat a l’endarrèir que vad
importent. Haut ! Tornatz bastir l’òmi a partir de la ca-
na, que v’escoti.
— Me pensi, ce dixoi, en tot assajar de seguir los
metòdes deu men amic, aqueth doctor Mortimer qu’es
un mèdge d’adge, qui viu aisadament, estimat per la gent
puixque los qui’u conéixenn li hadonn l’auhèrta d’aquera
cana.
— Plan ! ce hadó Holmes. Hòrt plan !
— Que soi tabé casi segur que Mossenh Mortimer es un
mèdge de la campanha qui vesita de pèd la mage part de
sas praticas.
— E perqué donc ?
— Pr’amor aquesta cana — qui d’autescòps e divèva
finejar — qu’es tan desanada adara que ne magini pas
briga un mèdge de la vila a’s passejar dab. Lo tròç de hèrr
qu’es usat cap e tot, me sembla donc clar lo son proprietari
que s’a passejat bèra tropa de còps dab.
— Plan encontrat ! ce dixó Holmes.
— E mei se lei : « de la part deus sos amics deu
CCH ». Parii que s’ageix d’ua d’aqueras societats cacinèi-
ras qui ne’n soenhè belèu los sòcis qui, en tornas, li ha-
donn ua petita estrea entà l’arremerciar.
— Vertat, Watson, que’vs suberpàssatz ! ce hadó Hol-
mes en tot estremar sa cadèira e en s’alucar ua cigarreta.
importance. Let me hear you reconstruct the man by an examination
of it. »
« I think, » said I, following so far as I could the methods of my
companion, « that Dr Mortimer is a successful elderly medical man,
well-esteemed, since those who know him give him this mark of their
appreciation. »
« Good ! » said Holmes. « Excellent ! »
« I think also that the probability is in favour of his being a country
practitioner who does a great deal of his visiting on foot. »
« Why so ? »
« Because this stick, though originally a very handsome one, has
been so knocked about that I can hardly imagine a town practitioner
carrying it. The thick iron ferrule is worn down, so it is evident that
he has done a great amount of walking with it. »
« Perfectly sound ! » said Holmes.
« And then again, there is the “friend of the CCH”. I should guess
that to be the Something Hunt, the local hunt to whose members he
has possibly given some surgical assistance, and which has made
him a small presentation in return.
Really, Watson. you excel yourself, » said Holmes, pushing back
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Que’m cau díser dentz tots los racontes qui atz plan volut
escríver suus mens praubes esplèits, qu’atz de-hiu despresat
lo vòste capadge pròpi. Que’s pòt ne síitz pas per vos-medix
ua lutz mès que n’ètz ua mena de bon miaire, de la lutz.
Que i a gents atau qui, xentz de qu’àginn un engenh
particular, qu’ann lo poder de l’estimular en çò deus autes.
Jamèi ne me n’avèva tant dit e que convieni de
qu’aqueth parlament e’m hadó hòrt de gai. En efèit
un chic d’amarumi me gahava sovent davant l’in-
diferéncia qui amuixava Holmes cap a mon admira-
cion e aus mens esfòrç per tant de har conéixer mielhe
los sos metòdes. E mei qu’èri content de’m díser de
que mestrejavi pro lo son sistèmi e que l’aplicavi de
mòdes que m’ameritavi la soa aprobacion. Se’m tirè
alavetz la cana de las mans, la guinhè un momentonàs
a oelh vedent. Puix, tot d’un còp interessat, qu’estremè
la cigarreta e se hadó pròixe la frinèsta entà l’espiar
de-plan dab ua lópia.
— Curiós, e simplàs mei que mei ! ce hadó e se tornè
seitar suu coenh deu canapè qui l’agradava mei. Ua o
duas endicas qu’arremèrqui sus aquesta cana : d’aquí
avant qu’am la mestior per mantuas desdusidas.
— Quauquarré se m’auré escapat ? ce domandèi un
his chair and lighting a cigarette. « I am bound to say that in all the
accounts which you have been so good as to give of my own small
achievements you have habitually underrated your own abilities. It
may be that you are not yourself luminous but you are a conductor
of light. Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable
power of stimulating. I confess, my dear fellow, that I am very much
in your debt. »
He had never said as much before, and I must admit that his words
gave me keen pleasure, for I had often been piqued by his
indifference to my admiration and to the attempts which I had made
to give publicity to his methods. I was proud, too, to think that I
had so far mastered his system as to apply it in a way which earned
his approval. He now took the stick from my hands and examined
it for a few minutes with his naked eyes. Then, with an expression of
interest, he laid down his cigarette, and, carrying the cane to the
window, he looked over it again with a convex lens.
« Interesting, though elementary, » said he, as he returned to his
favourite corner of the settee. « There are certainly one or two
indications upon the stick. It gives us the basis for several deductions.
— Has anything escaped me ? » I asked, with some selfimportance.
6
chicòi gloriós. Ne crei pas d’aver negligit quau que sii
d’importent ?
— Qu’èi pòur, mon car Watson, que la mage part de
las vòstas conclusions e síinn faussas. Qüand disèvi
qu’ajudàvatz au men engenh, volèvi díser atau, per parlar
francament, qu’en tot notar las errors vòstas, s’escadèva de
que’m demièssitz entà la vertat. Que no pas que’vs síitz
enganat cap e tot en aquesta hèita. Solide que s’ageix d’un
mèdge de la campanha. E d’un grand caminaire.
— Donc qu’avèvi rason.
— Ò-bé, dinc aquí.
— Mès... qu’èra tot.
— Que nani, mon car Watson, n’es pas tot, briga tot.
Qu’aubirarí, pr’exemple, qu’un cadèu hèit en un mèdge
e pervien meilèu d’un espitau que no pas d’ua societat
cacinèira. E qüand las letras “C.C” e sonn hicadas davant
lo “H” de “Hospital”, los mots “Charing Cross” que vié-
nenn d’eths-medix a l’esperit.
— Qu’atz belèu rason.
— Mei que probable. Se pàrtim d’aquesta ipotèsi de
tribalh, lo nòste vesitaire desconeixut que’s reconstitueix
d’ua manèira tota navèra.
— E bé, pariam “C.C.H” que signifiqui “Charing Cross
Hospital”, qué vòletz que se’n pusqui tirar de mei ?
« I trust that there is nothing of consequence which I have over-loo-
ked ?
— I am afraid, my dear Watson, that most of your conclusions were
erroneous. When I said that you stimulated me I meant, to be frank,
that in noting your fallacies I was occasionally guided towards the
truth. Not that you are entirely wrong in this instance. The man is
certainly a country practitioner. And he walks a good deal.
— Then I was right.
— To that extent.
— But that was all.
— No, no, my dear Watson, not all – by no means all. I would
suggest, for example, that a presentation to a doctor is more likely
to come from a hospital than from a hunt, and that when the initials
“C C” are placed before that hospital the words “Charing Cross” very
naturally suggest themselves.
— You may be right.
— The probability lies in that direction. And if we take this as a
working hypothesis we have a fresh basis from which to start our
construction of this unknown visitor.
— Well, then, supposing that “CCH” does stand for “Charing
Cross Hospital”, what further inferences may we draw ?

— No védetz pas briga ? Que sàbetz los mens metòdes,
aplicatz-los !
— Tot çò qui poix cutar mei es qu’aqueth òmi e prati-
què en vila permèir qui vadossi mèdge de campanha.
— Que’m sembla que’ns pòdem har mei en davant
encoèra. Espièm los hèits devath aquesta navèra lutz. En
quau escadença e s’auré podut har tau estrea ? Qüand se
serenn amassats sos amics entà li auherir aqueth testi-
moniadge d’estima ? Clar qu’èra au temps qui lo doctor
Mortimer e deixè lo servici espitalèir entà s’aubrir un
cabinet. Qu’es sabeder qu’i avó estrea. Que cútam de qu’i
avó mudament d’un espitau ciutadan entà-d ua installacion
a la campanha. Alavetz e seré miar trop enlà la desdusi-
da en bèth créder qu’aurenn hèit lo cadèu qüand s’escadó
lo mudament ?
— Solide, que’s pòt cutar atau.
— Que ns’avieneram tabé que no podèva pas estar un
deus patrons de l’espitau – pr’amor sonque un òmi dab
ua pratica plan establida en Londras ne’n pòt estar – e
mei, un òmi atau ne s’aniré pas estremar a la campanha.
Adonc quau èra lo nòste òmi ? Se tribalhava dentz un
espitau xentz de n’estar un patron, s’ageix solide d’un
intèrne en çurgia o medecina, tot dòi mei adjat qu’un
estudiant de fin d’estudis. Cinc-anns-a que quitè l’espitau
que la cana nse’n ensenha la data. Atau lo voste mèdge
— Do none suggest themselves ? You know my methods. Apply
them !
— I can only think of the obvious conclusion that the man has
practised in town before going to the country.
— I think that we might venture a little farther than this. Look at
it in this light. On what occasion would it be most probable that such
a presentation would be made ? When would his friends unite to give
him a pledge of their good will ? Obviously at the moment when Dr
Mortimer withdrew from the service of the hospital in order to start
in practice for himself. We know there has heen a presentation. We
believe there has been a change from a town hospital to a country
practice. Is it, then, stretching our inference too far to say that the
presentation was on the occasion of the change ?
— It certainly seems probable.
— Now, you will observe that he could not have been on the staff
of the hospital, since only a man well established in a London
practice could hold such a position, and such a one would not drift
into the country. What was he, then ? If he was in the hospital and
yet not on the staff, he could only have been a house-surgeon or a
house-physician – little more than a senior student. And he left five
years ago – the date is on the stick. So your grave, middle-aged family
7
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
d’adge, de la pratica familiau e s’estavaneix en hum, mon
car Watson, entà har plaça a un pratician joenn, qui
trenteneja, gaimant, xentz ambicion, oblidós. E mei que
poix assolidir de qu’a un can qui descriurèi a vista de nas
com mei gròs qu’un fòx-terrièr e mei petit qu’un mustin.
Que m’escargalhèi d’un arríder descrededer de tant
qui Holmes e’s tornava estanflar hentz lo canapè e
bohava quauquas anèras bluegentas de hum entau
plafond.
— Tocant a la vòsta desdusida darrèira, ce dixoi, n’èi
pas nat mejan de verificar, mès que serenn de bon trobar
au mentz quauquas hèitas sus l’adge d’aqueth òmi tau com
suu son mestèir.
Sus la posteta reservada a çò de medicau, que gahèi
l’anuari medicau e que’u hoelhetegèi. S’i mençonàvann
mantuns Mortimers mès un sol corresponèva au vesi-
taire nòste. Que lejoi a votz hauta çò d’escriut :
MORTIMER James MRCS 1889, Grimpen, Dartmoor, Devon. Intèrn en
çurgia de 1882 a 1884 au Charing Cross Hospital. Laureat deu prèmi
Jackson de patologia acomparada dab un estudi titolat “la malautia, ua
reversion ?”. Membre corresponent de la Societat suedesa de patologia.
Autor de “Quauques capricis de l’atavisme” (Lancet , 1882), “E’ns
hèm en davant ?” (Jornau de psicologia, Març de 1883). Mèdge sanitari
de las parròpias de Grimpen, Thorsley e High Barrow.
— No s’i parla pas de societat cacinèira, Watson, ce
practitioner vanishes into thin air, my dear Watson, and there
emerges a young fellow under thirty, amiable, unanbitious,
absent-minded, and the possessor of a favourite dog, which I should
describe roughly as beeing larger than a terrier and smaller than a
mastiff. »
I laughed incredulously as Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his
settee and blew little wavering rings of smoke up to the ceiling.
« As to the latter part, I have no means of checking you », Said I,
« but at least it is not difficult to find out a few particulars about
the man’s age and professional career. »
From my small medical shelf I took down the Medical Directory
and turned up the name. There were several Mortimers, but only one
who could be our visitor. I read his record aloud.
MORTIMER, JAMES, MRCS, 1889, GRIMPEN, DARTMOOR, DEVON. HOUSE-
SURGEON, FROM 1882 TO 1884, AT CHARING CROSS HOSPITAL. WINNER OF THE
JACKSON PRIZE FOR COMPARATIVE PATHOLOGY, WITH ESSAY ENTITLED “IS DISEASE A
REVERSION?” C ORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE SWEDISH PATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY .
AUTHOR OF “S OME F REAKS OF ATAVISM ” (LANCET, 1882), “DO W E PROGRESS?”
(JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY, MARCH, 1883). MEDICAL OFFICER FOR THE PARISHES
OF GRIMPEN, THORSLEY, AND HIGH BARROW.
« No mention of that local hunt, Watson, » said Holmes, with a
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
hadó Holmes dab un sorríder escarniau, mès d’un mèdge
de campanha com at avèvatz astuciosament aubirat. Me
pensi que las mias conclusions e sonn meilèu justificadas.
Que’u descrivoi – se’m brembi plan – com gaimant, xentz
ambicion e oblidós. Gaimant, pr’amor sols los que’n son
– segond la mia esperiéncia — e recébenn testimoniadges
d’estima en aqueth monde, xentz ambicion, pr’amor son-
que quauqu’un atau abandonaré ua carrièra londoniana
en-per la campanha ; oblidós, pr’amor sonque quauqu’un
atau e’s deixaré la cana en plaça de la carta de vesita
arrond d’aver esperat ua orada en la vòsta sala d’espèra.
— E lo can ?
— Lo can qu’es estat ensenhat a’s portar la cana au
darrèir deu son mèste. Com la cana es pesuga, lo can que
se la nhaca preu mitan e las soas escaixiladas que sonn
de bon véder. La maixèra deu can, dessinada per l’espaci
enter las escaixiladas qu’es – au men enténer – trop larg
per un fòx-terrièr e pas pro per un mustin. Que puiré estar...
quiò, Diu Vivant ! acò qu’es, un espanhèu deu peu anherat.
En tot parlar s’èra lhevat e que travessè la pèça. Puix
s’estanquè au coenh de la frinèsta. De tant qu’èra
assegurada la soa votz, que’u oelhiquèi estonat.
— Amic men, com pòdetz n’estar tan seguràs ?
— Per la rason simplassa que vei lo can eth-medix suu
solh deu nòste ostau e, aquí qu’am a sonar lo son mèste.
mischievous smile, « but a country doctor, as you very astutely
observed. I think that I am fairly justified in my inferences. As to the
adjectives, I said, if I remember right, amiable, unambitious, and
absent-minded. It is my experience that it is only an amiable man
in this world who receives testimonials, only an unambitious one who
abandons a London career for the country, and only an absent-minded
one who leaves his stick and not his visiting-card after waiting an
hour in your room.
And the dog ?
Has heen in the habit of carrying this stick behind his master.
Being a heavy stick the dog has held it tightly by the middle, and
the marks of his teeth are very plainly visible. The dog’s jaw, as shown
in the space between these marks, is too broad in my opinion for
a terrier and not broad enough for a mastiff. It may have been – yes,
by Jove it is a curly-haired spaniel. »
He had risen and paced the room as he spoke. Now he halted in
the recess of the window. There was such a ring of conviction in his
voice that I glanced up in surprise.
« My dear fellow, how can you possibly be so sure of that ?
For the very simple reason that I see the dog himself on our very
doorstep, and there is the ring of its owner. Don’t move, I beg you,
8
Estètz- ves aquí, que’vs prèi, Watson ! Qu’es un deus vòstes
confrairs e la vòsta preséncia me puirà estar ajudabla. Aquí
lo moment dramatic deu hat, Watson, qüand s’audeix un
trepejar en l’escalèir, un gent va hentrar dehentz la vòsta
vita e ne sàbetz pas s’es preu milhor o preu piri. Çò qui
va domandar lo doctor James Mortimer, òmi de sciéncia,
a Sherlock Holmes, l’especialista deu crimi ? Hentratz !
L’aspèct deu nòste vesitaire m’estonè d’autant mei
qu’èri solide d’encontrar un mèdge de campanha deus
tipics. Qu’èra grand de talha, prim, dab un long nas
de gahús qui salhiva enter dus oelhs gris, hissants,
pausats pròixes l’un de l’aut e lugranejants darrèir un
parelh de lunetas enrodadas d’òrr. Qu’èra vestit com
ne’n sòu estar un mèdge mès meilèu mau acatralhat,
la levita qu’èra esblasida e los debàs deus pantalons
eshilats. Per estar joenn, que plegava dijà l’esquia e que
caminava en tot capejar entà davant. Ua mena de curio-
sèr amistós se destacava deu son aspèct generau. Autalèu
entrat, que guinhè la cana hentz las mans de Holmes.
Que li anó de cap dab un esclam gaujós.
— Content be soi donc ! ce dixó. Me domandavi se l’aví
oblidada ací o a l’agéncia maritima. Ne la vorrí pas pèrder
per un empèri.
— Gadgi de qu’es ua estrea, ce domandè Holmes.
— Ò-bé, Mossur.
Watson. He is a professional brother of yours, and your presence may
be of assistance to me. Now is the dramatic moment of fate, Watson,
when you hear a step upon the stair which is walking into your life,
and you know not whether for good or ill. What does Dr James
Mortimer, the man of science, ask of Sherlock Holmes, the specialist
in crime ? Come in ! »
The appearance of our visitor was a surprise to me since I had
expected a typical country practitioner. He was a very tall, thin man,
with a long nose like a beak, which shot out between two keen, grey
eyes, set closely together and sparkling brightly from behind a pair
of gold-rimmed glasses. He was clad in a professional but rather
slovenly fashion, for his frock-coat was dingy and his trousers frayed.
Though young, his long back was already bowed, and he walked with
a forward thrust of his head and a general air of peering benevolence.
As he entered his eyes fell upon the stick in Holmes’s hand, and he
ran towards it with an exclamation of joy.
« I am so very glad, » said he. «I was not sure whether I had left
it here or in the Shipping Office. I would not lose that stick for the
world.
« A presentation, I see », said Holmes.
« Yes, sir. »

— Deu Charing Cross Hospital ?
— De quauques amics qu’avèvi aquí, a l’escadença deu
men maridadge.
— Mon diu, mon diu, b’es pecat ! ce hadó Holmes en
capejant.
Lo doctor Mortimer que’ns espiè de cap, a travèrs de
sas lunetas dab un cèrt estonament.
— E perqué seré pecat ?
— E bé, sonque pr’amor qu’atz atau destorbat las nòstas
petitas desdusidas. A l’escadença deu maridadge vòste, ce
dísetz ?
— E-ò, Mossur. Me maridèi e atau quitèi l’espitau e
arresignèi aus espèrrs d’estar mèdge de consulta. Que’m calè
establir au men compte.
— Anèm, anèm, ne ns’èram egau pas tròp enganats,
ce dixó Holmes. E adara doctor James Mortimer...
— Mossur Mortimer, que’vs prèi, mossur Mortimer, que
ne soi pas qu’un praube MRCS.
— E un òmi d’esperit precís, solide.
— Un barbolhaire en sciéncia, mossur Holmes, un
amassaire de clanquèus suu bòrn de la grand mar deu
desconeixut. Que gadgi qu’es dab mossur Holmes que soi
a devisar adara e no pas...
— Vertat, aquí lo men amic, lo doctor Watson.
— Gai que’m hè de’vs conéixer, mossur. Qu’èi avut
« From Charing Cross Hospital ? »
« From one or two friends there on the occasion of my marriage ».
« Dear, dear, that’s bad ! » said Holmes, shaking his head.
Dr Mortimer blinked through his glasses in mild astonishment.
« Why was it bad ? »
« Only that you have disarranged our little deductions. Your
marriage, you say ? »
« Yes, sir. I married, and so left the hospital, and with it all hopes
of a consulting practice. It was necessary to make a home of my own.
« Come, come, we are not so far wrong after all », said Holmes.
« And now, Dr James Mortimer – »
« Mister, sir, Mister – a humble MRCS. »
« And a man of precise mind, evidently. »
« A dabbler in science, Mr Holmes, a picker-up of shells on the
shores of the great unknown ocean. I presume that it is Mr Sherlock
Holmes whom I am addressing and not – »
« No, this is my friend Dr Watson. »
« Glad to meet you, sir. I have heard your name mentioned in
connection with that of your friend. You interest me very much, Mr
9
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
entenut lo nom vòste de cotria dab lo deu vòste amic. Que
m’enteréssatz hòrt, mossur Holmes, n’aurí pas esperat de
qu’avóssitz un cran tan dolicocefalic ni tapauc arcadas
oelhaus tan desenvolopadas. Ne’vs haré pas poixiu que
passèssi lo dit sus las vòstas bòças parietaus ? Un molladge
deu vòste cran, mossur, en l’espèra qui l’originau estossi
disponible, haré miranda dehentz quau musèu entropologic
qui sii. Ne vorrí pas paréixer flatonhèc mès que cohessi que’u
cobedegi hòrt au vòste cran.
Sherlock Holmes ensenhè ua cadèira a l’estranh vesi-
taire.
— Se me sembla que v’i hètz dab estrambòrd au mestèir
qui atz hèit vòste com jo m’i hèi tot parierament, ce dixó
eth. Au vòste dit merdèir que vei que’vs rollatz las cigarre-
tas. N’aténditz pas se’n vòletz cramar ua.
L’òmi qu’espochiquè papèir e tobac e rollè l’un dentz
l’aut dab ua adretia estonanta. Qu’avè dits deus longs,
perpitants, escarps e vius com antenas d’aujami.
Holmes que’s teisava mès los oelhats que li mandava
me hadènn pro véder qu’aqueth curiós companh nòste
l’enteressava hòrt.
— Esmagini, mossur, ce tornè Holmes, que n’es pas
solament dab la tòca de m’examinar la cruca que m’atz
hèit l’aunor de viéner a nòste asser e de tornar oei ?
— Que nani, mossur, a maugrat que sii urós de n’aver
Holmes. I had hardly expected so dolichocephalic a skull or such
well marked supra-orbital development. Would you have any
objection to my running my finger along your parietal fissure ? A cast
of your skull, sir, until the original is available, would be an ornament
to any anthropological museum. It is not my intention to be fulsome,
but l confess that I covet your skull. »
Sherlock Holmes waved our strange visitor into a chair.
« You are an enthusiast in your line of thought, I perceive, sir, as
I am in mine », said he. « I observe from your forefinger that you make
your own cigarettes. Have no hesitation in lighting one. »
The man drow out paper and tobacco and twirled the one up in
the other with surprising dexterity. He had long, quivering fingers
as agile and restless as the antennae of an insect.
Holmes was silent, but his little darting glances showed me the
interest which he took in our curious companion.
« I presume, sir », said he at last, « that it was not merely for the
purpose of examining my skull that you have done me the honour
to call here last night and again today ? »
« No, sir, no ; though I am happy to have had the opportunity of
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
avut lo parat taplan. Que’vs soi vingut vesitar pr’amor
que’m sèi òmi chic pratic e que m’encontri tot d’un còp un
problèma grèu e mei estraordinari. E com vos coneixi com
lo segond mei grand especialista europenc...
— Vertat, mossur ? E’vs poix domandar qui a l’aunor
de n’estar lo permèir, ce questionè Holmes dab un parlar
un chic asprejant.
— Per un òmi aimador de precision scientifica, los
tribalhs de mossur Bertillon que son xentz nat contra.
doing that as well, I came to you, Mr Holmes, because I recognize
that I am myself an unpractical man, and because I am suddenly
confronted with a most serious and extraordinary problem.
Recognizing, as I do, that you are the second highest expert in
Europe – »
« Indeed, sir ! May I inquire who has the honour to be the
first ? » asked Holmes, with some asperity.
« To the man of precisely scientific mind the work of Monsieur
10
— Ne haretz pas mielhe de l’anar consultar a-d eth ?
— Que dixoi, mossur, per un òmi aimador de precision
scientifica. Mès com òmi d’esperiéncia deus ahars, qu’es
sabeder qu’ètz unic. Que cuti, mossur, que n’èi pas per
mauescadença...
— Sonque un chic, ce’u copè Holmes. Me pensi, doctor
Mortimer, que haretz mei de’m díser la natura exacta deu
problèma preu quau me domàndatz ajuda, xentz hornir
arré mei.
Bertillon must always appeal strongly. »
« Then had you not better consult him ? »
« I said, sir, to the precisely scientific mind. But as a practical man
of affairs it is acknowledged that you stand alone. I trust, sir, that
I have not inadvertently – »
« Just a little, » said Holmes. « I think, Dr Mortimer, you would do
wisely if without more ado you would kindly tell me plainly what the
exact nature of the problem is in which you demand my assistan-
ce. »

La maladiccion deus
Capítou Dusau
Baskervilles
Q
u’ei dentz la pòcha un manescriut, c’entamiè
lo doctor James Mortimer.
— Que l’arremerquèi talèu com hentrètz ací,
ce copè Holmes.
— Un vielh manescriut qu’es.
— Deu començar deu sègle XVIIau a mentz d’estar faus.
— Com pòdetz assolidir acò, Mossur ?
— Mentre que’vs prosejàvatz, que me n’amuixètz quau-
ques centimètres au men curiosèr. Que seré estar plan
praube especialista que no pas poder datar un document
a un detzenat d’anadas près. Qu’atz belèu legit la pichona
monografia qu’escrivoi sus aqueth subgèct. Que’u situeixi
de cap a 1730.
— 1742 qu’es la data vertadèira. Lo Doctor Mortimer
que se l’espochiquè de la levita. Aqueth papèir de
familha m’estó hidat pre’N Charles Baskerville qui la soa
mòrt sobta e tragica escaduda tres mes-a, e tant hiquè lo
destroble en Devonshire. Que’m cau hornir qu’èri lo son
amic autant com lo son mèdge. En Charles Baskerville
qu’èra un òmi de capadge, Mossur, un òmi d’esperit puntut
e pratic, qui com jo n’èra pas briga fantasierós. Que
consideriva egau dab hòrt de seriosèr lo document aqueste
2 — The Curse of the Baskervilles
« I have in my pocket a manuscript, » said Dr James Mortimer.
« I observed it as you entered the room, » said Holmes.
« It is an old manuscript. »
« Early eighteenth century, unless it is a forgery. »
« How can you say that, sir ? »
« You have presented an inch or two of it to my examination all
the time that you have been talking. It would be a poor expert who
could not give the date of a document within a decade or so. You
may possibly have read my little monograph upon the subject. I put
that at 1730. »
« The exact date is 1742. » Dr Mortimer drew it from his breast-pocket.
« This family paper was committed to my care by Sir Charles Bas-
kerville, whose sudden and tragic death some three months ago
created so much excitement in Devonshire. I may say that I was his
personal friend as well as his medical attendant. He was a strong-
minded man, sir, shrewd, practical, and as unimaginative as I am
myself. Yet he took this document very seriously, and his mind was
prepared for just such an end as did eventually overtake him. »
Holmes stretched out his hand for the manuscript and flattened
11
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
e que s’avèva mentaument preparat a ua tau acabada
com la qui belèu se l’emportè.
Holmes que tenó la man entà gahar lo manescriut
e que’u se despleguè suus jolhs.
— Qu’arremerqueratz, Watson, que s’utilísann los “s”
longs e los bracs adarrond. Aquí un deus numerós hèits qui
me permetonn de ne’n har la datada.
Per dessús la soa espalla qu’espièi lo papèir jaunejant
de l’escritura esblasida. Que mentavèva l’en-cap :
« Baskerville Hall » e devath, en xifras gròssas grifonha-
das : « 1742 ».
— Be sembla estar ua mena de raconte ?
— Ò-bé, qu’es lo raconte d’ua cèrta legenda qui’s
transmet dentz la familha deus Baskervilles.
— Mès solide qu’es pr’amor d’ua causa mei recenta e mei
pratica que’m desíratz consultar ?
— Hòrt recenta. Un ahar pratic e urgent qui’s diu reglar
en las 24 òras. Mès lo manescriut qu’es brac e estretament
ligat a l’ahar. Dab la vòsta permission, que’u ves vau legir.
Holmes que’s tornè estanflar dehentz lo canapè en
tot júnher los caps deus dits e que cluchè los oelhs dab
un aire resignat. Lo doctor Mortimer que’s virè lo
manescriut entà la lutz e’s botè a léger, dab ua votz
hòrta qui hadèva cracar las paraulas, aqueth vielh
raconte estranh qui atz aquí :
it upon his knee.
« You will observe, Watson, the alternative use of the long s and
the short. It is one of several indications which enabled me to fix the
date. »
I looked over his shoulder at the yellow paper and the faded
script. At the head was written : « Baskerville Hall », and below, in
large scrawling figures : « 1742 ».
« It appears to be a statement of some sort. »
« Yes, it is a statement of a certain legend which runs in the
Baskerville family. »
« But I understand that it is something more modern and practical
upon which you wish to consult me ? »
« Most modern. A most practical, pressing matter, which must be
decided within twenty-four hours. But the manuscript is short and
is intimately connected with the affair. With your permission I will
read it to you. »
Holmes leaned back in his chair, placed his finger-tips together,
and closed his eyes, with an air of resignation. Dr Mortimer turned
the manuscript to the light, and read in a high, crackling voice the
following curious, old-world narrative.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
« Sus la vadença deu Canhàs deus Baskervilles, man-
tuas versions que s’entenónn. Mès com soi de la des-
cendéncia dirècta de’N Hugo Baskerville e que tieni
l’istoèra deu men pair, atau com eth e la tienè deu son,
que la boti per escriut en tot créder fèrme que tot e’s
debanè de la manèira qui n’es ací raportada. E que
vorrí, hilhs mens, sentíssitz que la medixa Justícia qui
castiga lo pecat e’u pòt tabé absòlver per misericòrdia,
e que tota bandida, per tan pesuga qui pareixossi e pòt
estar lhevada per pregària e pendiment. E podossi
aqueth raconte ves ensenhar de no pas tant crànher las
consequéncias deu passat que mèileu amuixar prudéncia
d’arenlà que totas aqueras malas reumas qui la nòsta
familha n’a avut tant degrèu ne tornèssinn pas estadas
desencadenadas.
« Aprenetz donc qu’a la tempsada de la Grand
Susmauta (qui lo saberut lord Clarendon n’escrivó ua
istòria qui v’arrecomandi hòrt) la mansa de Baskerville
qu’èra tinguda per Hugo deu medix nom. Ne’s pòt pas
denegar qu’èra un lèd creat, herodge e impiós. Acò,
vertat que lo vesiadge l’at auré podut desencusar,
pr’amor ne vedonn pas jamei la santetat a pràver en
aqueths parçans. Mès que’s portava en eth un gorrinís
e ua crudelitat esquèrrs qui li hadènn ua mala fama
capvath l’Oèst tot. Que desavienó qu’aqueth Hugo e
« Of the origin of the Hound of the Baskervilles there have been
many statements, yet as I come in a direct line from Hugo Baskerville,
and as I had the story from my father, who also had it from his, I
have set it down with all belief that it occured even as is here set forth.
And I would have you believe, my sons, that the same Justice which
punishes sin may also most graciously forgive it, and that no ban
is so heavy but that prayer and repentance it may be removed. Learn
then from this story not to fear the fruits of the past, but rather to
be circumspect in the future, that those foul passions whereby our
family has suffered so grievously may not again be loosed to our
undoing.
« Know then that in the time of the Great Rebellion (the history of
which by the learned Lord Clarendon I most earnestly commend to
your attention) this Manor of Baskerville was held by Hugo of that
name, nor can it be gainsaid that he was a most wild, profane, and
godless man. This, in truth, his neighbours might have pardoned,
seeing that saints have never flourished in those parts, but there was
in him a certain wanton and cruel humour which made his name a
byword through the West. It chanced that this Hugo came to love
(if, indeed, so dark a passion may he known under so bright a name)
12
s’enamorè (s’un mot tan beròi e pòt designar ua
passion tan nega) de la hilha d’un bordèir qui hadèva
vàler bens còsta lo domeni de Baskerville. Mès la gojata
qui èra sàvia e de bona reputation que s’i hadèva a
l’esvitar de tant qui cranhèva la soa mala fama. Per Sent-
Miquèu aqueth Hugo, de cotria dab cinc o xeis companhs
esvagats e gorrins com eth, que’s rendó a la bòrda,
d’amagat, que raubè la gojata pr’amor de qu’èra
assabentat que pair e hrairs n’èrann pas a casa. Un còp
miada a la Mansa que l’embarrènn dehentz ua cramba
deu dessús, mentre que’N Hugo e los sos amics s’en-
taulàvann per ua grand hartèira com solèvann har tot
desser. La praubina a l’en-sus – que’n divèva estar tota
part-virada sonque a audir los cants, los cridatòris, los
tarribles arnècs qui, deu plan-pèd avant, trenívann a
sas aurelhas ; d’efeit se ditz que lo parlar de’N Hugo
Baskerville qüand èra hart, auré podut periclar lo
qui’us prononciaré. Fin finala, per estar espaventada,
que gausè, era, çò qui auré descoradjat los mei hagards
o los mei lèstes deus òmis : en tot s’ajudar de la gèira
qui cobriva (e cobreix encoèra) la paret de davant que
devarè de l’avant-teit dinc’au sòu, e que se la gahè entà
soa-casa, tres legas enlà de la Mansa capvath la lana.
Que s’escadó, quauques temps après, Hugo que
deixè los convidats entà portar lo béver e lo minjar a
the daughter of a yeoman who held lands near the Baskerville estate.
But the young maiden, being discreet and of good repute, would ever
avoid him, for she feared his evil name. So it came to pass that one
Michaelmas this Hugo, with five or six of his idie and wicked
companions, stole down upon the farm and carried off the maiden,
her father and brothers being from home, as he well knew. When they
had brought her to the Hall the maiden was placed in an upper
chamber, while Hugo and his friends sat down to a long carouse as
was their nightly custom. Now, the poor lass upstairs was like to have
her wits turned at the singing and shouting and terrible oaths which
came up to her from below, for they say that the words used by Hugo
Baskerville, when he was in wine, were such as might blast the man
who said them. At last in the stress of her fear she did that which
might have daunted the bravest or most active man, for by the aid
of the growth of ivy which covered (and still covers) the south wall,
she came down from under the eaves, and so homeward across the
moor, there being three leagues betwixt the Hall and her father’s
farm.
« It chanced that some little time later Hugo left his guests to carry
food and drink – with other worse things, perchance – to his captive,

la soa presonèira, e mei dab idèias beròi sordeissas, de-
segur. Qu’es atau que trobè la gàbia voeita e l’ausèth
envolat. Alavetz com qui seré vadut endemoniat, que
devarè los escalèirs deus qüate pèds, s’arronsè hentz la
sala deu minjar e sautè dessús la grand taula en tot
escobar flascas e cotèras e que jurè davant tot sos
companhs aquesta noeit medixa d’auherir amna e còs
a las poténcias deu Mau se li èra permetut de tornar
gahar la gojata. Mentre qui los hartanèus èrann estam-
bornits davant lo furiosèr de l’òmi, un mei hastiau o
belèu mei pintat que no pas los autes, cridè que caliva
botar los cans au darrèir de la hugidora. En aqueras,
Hugo que sortí, mandè aus vailets de li serar la cavala
e de desestacar la muta ; aus cans, que’us hadó flairejar
un mocader de cap de la gojata, e, au miei deu cridatòri,
que’us botè suu son tralh hentz la lana esclarida preu
clar de lua.
D’aqueth temps los convidats que damorènn bocas
clavadas ua grand pausa, xentz poder compréner tot
çò qui s’èra debanat en ua tau virolejada. Mès lèu lor
capadge estambornit se deixudè de mòdes que com-
prenonn çò qui s’anava passar per la lana. Demiei ua
tarabastèra generau, d’aubuns que reclamènn los
pistolets, d’autes los xibaus e quauques uns de qué
pintar mei. Mès finaument un chic de seriosèr que
and so found the cage empty and the bird escaped. Then, as it would
seem, he became as one that hath a devil, for rushing down the stairs
into the dining-hall, he sprang upon the great table, flagons and
trenchers flying before him, and he cried aloud before all the
company that he would that very night render his body and soul to
the Powers of Evil if he might but overtake the wench. And while the
revellers stood aghast at the fury of the man, onc more wicked or,
it may be, more drunken than the rest, cried out that they should
put the hounds upon her. Whereat Hugo ran from the house, crying
to his grooms, that they should saddle his mare and unkennel the
pack, and giving the hounds a kerchief of the maid’s he swung them
to the line, and so off full cry in the moonlight over the moor.
« Now, for some space the revellers stood agape, unable to
understand all that had been done in such haste. But anon their
bemused wits awoke to the nature of the deed which was like to be
done upon the moorlands. Everything was now in an uproar, some
calling for their pistols, some for their horses, and some for another
flask of wine. But at length some sense came back to their crazed
minds, and the whole of them, thirteen in number, took horse and
13
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
tornè dentz lors esperits embohats, e tots, los tredze
qui èrann, s’encavalènn e comencènn la perseguida. La
lua qu’esclariva en dessús d’eths e que tirrènn preu
camin qui la gojata auré divut gahar entà tornà-se’n
a soa-casi.
Qu’avèvann hèit dus o tres quilomètres qüand en-
cotrènn un deus aulhèrs qui èrann de noeit sus la lana
e li domandènn en bèth cridassejar s’avèva vist a la
muta. E l’òmi – atau ditz lo raconte – qu’èra tan
capvariat que podèva tot dòi motejar, mès a la fin de
la fin que dixó qu’avèva plan vist a la prauba gojata,
acossada preus cans. « Mès qu’èi vist mei qu’acò, ce
horní, En Hugo Baskerville me passè sus sa cavala nega
e, au darrèir d’eth, corrè silenciós — un canhàs au segur
gessit de l’Ihèrn que Diu me’n goardi de l’aver jamei
suus mens tralhs ». Los cavalèirs embriagats que mau-
dinn l’aulhèir e’s hadonn en davant. Mès lèu qu’estonn
sangglaçats qüand audinn ua galaupada capvath la lana
e la cavala nega, trempa de grauma blanca, los-i passè
davant ; la brida qu’arrossegava suu sòu e la sèra voeita
qu’èra. Los convidats alavetz se sarrènn los uns deus
auts pr’amor ua grand pòur los-i èra caduda dessús mès
que contunhènn egau endavant a maugrat que tot
d’un, s’èra estat tot solet, seré estat plan content de
virar la brida dentz l’aute sens. Atau n’anant tot toixau
started in pursuit. The moon shone clear above them, and they rode
swiftly abreast, taking that course which the maid must needs have
taken if she were to reach her own home.
« They had gone a mile or two when they passed one of the night
sheperds upon the moorlands, and they cried to him to know if he
had seen the hunt. And the man, as the story goes, was so crazed
with fear that he could scarce speak, but at last he said that he had
indeed seen the unhappy maiden, with the hounds upon her track.
“But I have seen more than that,” said he, “for Hugo Baskerville
passed me upon his black mare, and there ran mute behind him such
a hound of hell as God forbid should ever be at my heels.”
« So the drunken squires cursed the shepherd and rode onwards.
But soon their skins turned cold, for there came a sound of galloping
across the moor, and the black mare, dabbled with white froth, went
past with trailing bridle and empty saddle. Then the revellers rode
close together, for a great fear was on them, but they still followed
over the moor, though each, had he been alone, would have been
right glad to have turned his horse’s head. Riding slowly in this
fashion, they came at last upon the hounds. These, though known
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
que juntènn los cans. Aqueths, per estar coneixuts
pr’amor de lor hardidèr e de lor raça, qu’èrann a
gemicar amassats, au bòrn d’ua leta pregonda qui per
nòste e’s ditz “goyal”, d’aubuns se n’estremàvann
carabaixs, d’auts, dab lo peu ahriçat e l’oelh mòrt,
guinhàvann entà la leta estreta qui s’aubriva davant
eths.
La compania que hadó estanc ; com at pòdetz cutar
qu’èrann beròi mei desen.hartats que no pas deu temps
qui partívann. La mage part ne volonn pas briga hà’s
mei en davant, mès tres demiei eths, los mei hagards,
o beleu los mei embriagats, s’ahoninn totjamei acavalats
cap-hentz lo “goyal”. Aqueth dava sus un plèir dab
duas pèiras quilhadas qui totjamei s’i pòdenn véder,
apitadas aquí per ua poblacion desbrembada bèth
temps-a. La lua que lugranejava au dessús deu plèir.
Au bèth miei, mòrta d’esglasi e d’agamiment, qu’èra
ajacada la prauba gojata, a-ond èra caduda. Mès n’èra
pas la vista deu son còs ni mei lo de’N Hugo Baskerville
qui gesiva còsta era, qui hadèva ahriçar lo peu deu cap
deus tres cavalèirs endavant-hèits : Pitat sus En Hugo
e lo bohilhant lo ganitèr de sas caixilas, ua criatura
hastiala, ua bestiassa nega tantvau un can, mès plan
mei gròssa que quau can qui estossi e qu’avossi jamei
vist nat crestian. Deu temps qu’espiàvann, la malabèstia
for their valour and their breed, were whimpering in a cluster at the
head of a deep dip or goyal, as we call it, upon the moor, some
slinking away and some, with starting hackles and staring eyes,
gazing down the narrow valley before them.
« The company had come to a halt, more sober men, as you may
guess, than when they started. The most of them would by no means
advance, but three of them, the boldest, or, it may be the most
drunken, rode forward down the goyal. Now it opened into a broad
space in which stood two of those great stones, still to be seen there,
which were set by certain forgotten peoples in the days of old. The
moon was shining bright upon the clearing, and there in the centre
lay the unhappy maid where she had fallen, dead of fear and of
fatigue. But it was not the sight of her body, nor yet was it that of
the body of Hugo Baskerville Iying near her, which raised the hair
upon the heads of these three dare-devil roisterers, but it was that,
standing over Hugo, and plucking at his throat, there stood a foul
thing, a great, black beast, shaped like a hound yet larger than any
hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon. And even as they looked
the thing tore the throat out of Hugo Baskerville, on which, as it
turned its blazing eyes and dripping jaws upon them, the three
14
qu’esperraquè la ganitèra de’N Hugo Baskerville e
qüand virè sos oelhs lugranejants e sas maixèras
bavassudas de cap entà-d eths, los tres òmis uglènn
d’eixante e s’escapènn capvariats en bèth contunhar de
bramassejar capvath la lana. Se ditz qu’un ne’n morí
aquera noeit medixa e los dus auts que n’estonn macats
per la vita sancèra.
Atau qu’es, hilhs mens, lo raconte de la vadença deu
Canhàs qui d’ara-enlà turmentè tan malament la nòsta
familha. S’at èi escriut qu’es pr’amor qu’ua causa
sabuda n’es pas tan hastiala com qüand es sonque
aubirada o mau esplicada. E mei ne’s pòt pas denegar
que bèra tropa deus nòstes que’s morinn malastrosament
: mòrts sagnosas o misteriosas. Que pòdem egau
hidà’ns en l’enfenida bontat de la Pro-vidéncia qui ne
castigarà pas lo qui es innocent après la tresau o quatau
generacion tau qui es miaçada dentz las Sentas Escrituras.
En aquera Providéncia, hilhs mens, que’vs arrecomandi
donc e mei ves aconselhi de v’i avisar de no pas travessar
la lana mentre aquestas òras escuras que s’i enàirann
las Malas poténcias. [Acò de’N Hugo Baskerville entaus
sos hilhs Rodger e John, en tot los-i comandar de ne’n
parlar pas briga a la lor sòr Elisabèth] ».
Qüand lo doctor Mortimer avó acabat de léger
aqueth raconte esquèrr, que’s lhevè las lunetas suu
shrieked with fear and rode for dear life, still screaming, across the
moor. One, it is said, died that very night of what he had seen, and
the other twain were but broken men for the rest of their days.
« Such is the tale, my sons, of the coming of the hound which is
said to have plagued the family so sorely ever since. lf I have set it
down it is because that which is clearly known hath less terror than
that which is but hinted at and guessed. Nor can it be denied that
many of the family have been unhappy in their deaths, which have
been sudden, bloody, and mysterious. Yet may we shelter ourselves
in the infinite goodness of Providence, which would not for ever
punish the innocent beyond that third or fourth generation which
is threatened in Holy Writ. To that Providence, my sons, I hereby
commend you, and I counsel you by way of caution to forbear from
crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are
exalted.
« (This from Hugo Baskerville to his sons Rodger and John, with
instructions that they say nothing thereof to their sister Eliza-
beth.) »
When Dr Mortimer had finished reading this singular narrative he
pushed his spectacles up on his forehead and stared across at Mr

front e guinhè Mossur Sherlock Holmes. Aqueste que
badalhè e soguè la rèsta de la soa cigarreta dehentz lo
hoec.
— E alavetz ? ce domandè eth.
— Ne tròbatz pas acò interessent ?
— Entà un aimador de contes de hadas.
Lo doctor Mortimer que tirè un diari plegat de la
pòcha.
— Adara, Mossur Holmes, que’vs vau muixar quauquar-
ré un chic mei recent. Acò qu’es lo Devon County Chro-
nicle deu 14 de Mai d’aquest ann. Que i cap un rendut-
compte brac de las vegadas pertocant a la mòrt de’N
Charles Baskerville qui s’escadó quauques jorns au davant.
Lo men amic que’s penó un chic endavant, muixant
ua cara còpsèc mei atentiva. Lo nòste vesitaire que tornè
ajustar las lunetas e comencè de léger :
« La mòrt sobta, recentament escaduda, de’N Charles
Baskerville, qui lo nom èra estat mentavut com probable
candidat liberau deu Mid-Devon entà las eleccions qui
arríbann, qu’a entristit l’encontrada tota sancèra.
A maugrat En Charles Baskerville qu’estossi damorat
en Baskerville Hall sonque ua tempsada corteta, lo son
amis-tosèr e la soa grand generositat li avèvann ganhat
l’afeccion e lo respèct de tots los qui l’avèvann encontrat.
En aquestes temps de nouveaux riches, que hè gai de
Sherlock Holmes. The latter yawned and tossed the end of his
cigarette into the fire.
« Well ? » said he.
« Do you find it interesting ? »
« To a collector of fairy-tales. »
Dr Mortimer drew a folded newspaper out of his pocket.
« Now, Mr Holmes, we will give you something a little more recent.
This is the Devon County Chronicle of June 14th of this year. It is a
short account of the facts elicited at the death of Sir Charles
Baskerville which occurred a few days before that date. »
My friend Ieaned a little forward and his expression became
intent. Our visitor readjusted his glasses and began :
« The recent sudden death of Sir Charles Baskerville, whose name
has been mentioned as the probable liberal candidate for Mid-
Devon at the next election, has cast a gloom over the county. Though
Sir Charles had resided at Baskerville Hall for a comparatively short
period his amiahility of character and extreme generosity had won
the affection annd respect of all who had heen brought into contact
with him. In these days of nouveaux riches it is refreshing to find a
15
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
trobar un descendent d’ua vielha familha deu Comtat,
qui s’èra d’autscòps enmalurada, qui sii capable de har
fortuna mercès a-d eth solet e de se’n servir entà-d arre-
vitar la grandor passada de la linhada soa. En Charles,
acò qu’es sabeder, que’s ganhè hòrt de moneda en bèth
especular en Africa deu Sud. Mei savi que los qui s’i
hènn dinc’a l’arròda de la fortuna e s’arreviri contra
eths, que s’amassè los sos ganhs e se’us hadó seguir en
Anglatèrra. Sonque dus anns que s’èra estallat en
Baskerville Hall e’s devisava hòrt d’aqueths progècts
deus bèths entà-d arrebastir e melhorar la Mansa qui
la soa defuntada a estancats. Com eth-medix èra des-
mainadat, qu’èra causa sabuda e coneixuda que desirava
tot lo parçan que profieitèssi – deu temps qui èra viu
– de la soa bona fortuna. A mei d’un que harà dòu la
soa fin prematurada. Que mentavom sovent en aquestas
colonas los dons generós qui hadó a Societats caritadosas
deu parçan taplan com deu Comtat.
Ne’s pòt pas díser que las vegadas de la mòrt de’N
Charles estòssinn vertadeirament tiradas a lutz per
l’enquista hèita. Au mentz pro, totun, entà que las ma-
laditas vadudas d’ua suspersticion locau e s’esmudís-
sinn. N’i a pas nada rason entà sospieitar ua malahèita
o entà maginar que la mòrt aquesta e podossi aver
unhauta encausa que no pas de las naturaus. En
case where the scion of an old county family which has fallen upon
evil days is able to make his own fortune and to bring it back with
him to restore the fallen grandeur of his line. Sir Charles, as is well
known, made large sums of money in South African speculation.
More wise than those who go on until the wheel turns against them,
he realized his gains and returned to England with them. It is only
two years since he took up his residence at Baskerville Hall, and it
is common talk how large were those schemes of reconstruction and
improvement which have been interrupted by his death. Being
himself childless, it was his openly expressed desire that the whole
countryside should, within his own lifetime, profit by his good
fortune, and many will have personal reasons for bewailing his
untimely end. His generous donations to local and county charities
have been frequently chronicled in these columns.
« The circumstances connected with the death of Sir Charles
cannot be said to have been entirely cleared up by the inquest, but
at Ieast enough has been done to dispose of those rumours to which
local superstition has given rise. There is no reason whatever to
suspect foul play, or to imagine that death could be from any but
natural causes. Sir Charles was a widower, and a man who may be
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Charles qu’èra vedon, e un chicòi haubarèu per d’aubuns
costats. Per estar rixàs, qu’avèva gosts deus comuns e
tau servici de casa qu’emplegava un coble maridat, los
Barrymore que l’òmi hadèva lo mèste d’ostalaria e la
hemna la goja. Lor testimoniadge, en.hortit per los de
mantuns amics, que haré pensar que la santat de’N
Charles s’èra desanada desempuix quauques temps e
que pativa especiaument moriments de còr qui
s’amuixàvann per sobtes cambiaments de color, boha-
bracs e atacs aguts de depression nerviosa. Lo doctor
James Mortimer, mèdge e amic deu defuntat que
testimoniè de la medixa faiçon.
Las hèitas que’n sonn simplas. En Charles Baskerville
que solèva passejà’s, tot desser, davant que se n’ani au
lheit, per la famosa lèia deus taixs de Baskerville Hall.
Los testimoniadges deus Barrymore que confirma de
qu’èra la soa abitud. Lo 4 de junh, En Charles que dixó
qu’avèva l’intencion de se n’anar lo lendoman entà
Londras e qu’avèva mandat Barrymore de li aprestar
los bagadges. Aquera noeit que sortí com de costuma
per la soa passejada noeitau mentra la quau solèva
humar un cigarro. Jamei ne tornava pas. A miejanoeit,
qüand Barrymore trobè tostem ubèrta la pòrta de la
Mansa que’s dè chepic e en tot alucar ua lantèrna se
botè en cèrca deu son mèste. La jornada qu’èra estada
said to have been in some ways of an eccentric habit of mind. In spite
of his considerable wealth he was simple in his personal tastes, and
his indoor servants at Baskerville Hall consisted of a married couple
named Barrymore, the husband acting as butler and the wife as
housekeeper. Their evidence, corroborated by that of several friends,
tends to show that Sir Charles’s health has for some time been
impaired, and points especially to some affection of the heart,
manifesling itself in changes of colour, breathlessness, and acute
attacks of nervous depression. Dr James Mortimer, the friend and
medical attendant of the deceased, has given evidence to the same
effect.
« The facts of the case are simple. Sir Charles Baskerville was in
the habit every night before going to bed of walking down the famous
Yew Alley of Baskerville Hall. The evidence of the Barrymores shows
that this had been his custom. On the 4th of June Sir Charles had
declared his intention of starting next day for London, and had
ordered Barrymore to prepare his luggage. That night he went out
as usual for his nocturnal walk, in the course of which he was in the
habit of smoking a cigar. He never returned. At twelve o’clock
Barrymore, finding the hall door still open, became alarmed and,
lighting a lantern, went in search of his master. The day had been
16
plujosa e las piadas de’N Charles qu’èrann plan vede-
deras per la lèia. A miei-camin, s’aubreix un cledon qui
directament mia entà la lana. Que i avèva endicas
que’N Charles s’èra estancat aquí ua pausa. Puix
qu’avèva contunhat capbaix la lèia e qu’es au cap
d’aquesta qu’estó descubèrt lo son còs. Ua causa n’es
pas estada esplicada : d’après Barrymore las piadas deu
son mèste cambiènn deu cledon avant : que semblava,
qu’èra com se lo son mèste se seré botat a caminar a
puntetas. Un bohèmi nomentat Murphy, maquinhon
de xibaus qu’èra per la lana en d’aqueth temps pas tant
esloenhat qu’acò, mès que cohessè qu’èra meilèu hart
pintat. Que declarè qu’avèva entenut a cridar mès
qu’estó encapable de precisir de quau costat e vienèva.
Nat signe de violéncia n’estó pas destriat suu còs de’N
Charles. La depausicion deu mèdge que mentau ua
desformacion de la cara qui n’èra pas de créder de
mòdes que lo Doctor Mortimer s’arrefusè tot permèir
d’assolidar de qu’èra plan lo son amic e pacient ajacat
aquí davant eth. L’esplica n’estó qu’acò’s un simptòma
qui n’es pas desacostumèir en los cas de dispnea o de
moriment de còr. Emei aquesta endica qu’estó en.hor-
tida per l’autopsia qui muixè lo praube En Charles que
sofriva d’ua vielha malaudia organica. La jurada, en
aqueras hèitas, que rendó ua senténcia qui seguiva l’avís
wet, and Sir Charles’s footmarks were easily traced down the Alley.
Half-way down this walk there is a gate which leads out on to the
moor. There were indications that Sir Charles had stood for some
little time here. He then proceeded down the Alley, and it was at the
far end of it that his body was discovered. One fact which has not
been explained is the statement of Barrymore that his master’s
footprints altered their character from the time he passed the
moor-gate, and that he appeared from thence onwards to have been
walking upon his toes. One Murphy, a gipsy horse-dealer, was on
the moor at no great distance at the time, but he appears by his own
confession to have been the worse for drink. He declares that he
heard cries, but is unable to state from what direction they came.
No signs of violence were to be discovered upon Sir Charles’s person,
and though the doctor’s evidence pointed to an almost incredible
facial distortion – so great that Dr Mortimer refused at first to believe
that it was indeed his friend and patient who lay before him – it was
explained that that is a symptom which is not unusual in cases of
dyspnoea and death from cardiac exhaustion. This explanation was
borne out by the post-mortem examination, which showed
long-standing organic disease, and the coroner’s jury returned a
verdict in accordance with the medical evidence. It is well that this

medicau. Qu’es urós qu’atau ne’n vírinn las causas
pr’amor que cau a tot hòrt que l’eretèir de’N Charles
e vieni damorar au Hall e contunhi lo brabe prètz-hèit
qui estó tan malament interromput. N’avossi pas lo
decís prosaïc deu coroner balhat ua acabada a las
contaralhas qui’s marmusàvann a prepaus d’aqueth
ahar, que seré estat de maixant trobar un estadjant entà
Baskerville Hall. Que sembla lo mei pròixe parent qu’es
Mr Henry Baskerville s’es tostem viu, hilh deu hrair
capdèth de’N Charles Baskerville. A las darrèiras novèras,
lo gojat qu’èra en America. Recèrcas que sonn estadas
lançadas per fin de li ensenhar la bona fortuna que se
li escad.
Lo doctor Mortimer que tornè plegar lo jornau e
se’u botè dehentz la pòcha.
— Aquí qu’atz, Mossur Holmes, las hèitas sabudas de
tot d’un tocant a la mòrt de ’N Charles Baskerville.
— Que’vs divi mercejar, ce dixó Sherlock Holmes,
d’aver atirat la mia atencion sus un cas qui, m’at pensi,
e presenta ua tropa de hèits interessents. Qu’avèvi lejut un
article de jornau qui at mençonava, mès d’aqueth temps
qu’èri de tròp enqueharit pr’aqueste aharòt deus camèas
deu Vatican e, dentz la desirança qu’avèvi d’obligar lo
Papa, manquèi ua tropa d’ahars interessents en Angla-
is so, for it is obviously of the utmost importance that Sir Charles’s
heir should settle at the Hall, and continue the good work which has
been so sadly interropted. Had the prosaic finding of the coroner
not finally put an end to the romantic stories which have been
whispered in connection with the affair, it might have been difficult
to find a tenant for Baskerville Hall. It is understood that the
next-of-kin is Mr Henry Baskerville, if he be still alive, the son of Sir
Charles Baskerville’s younger brother. The young man, when last
heard of, was in America, and inquiries are being instituted with a
view to informing him of his good fortune. »
Dr Mortimer refolded his paper and replaced it in his pocket.
« Those are the public facts, Mr Holmes, in connection with the
death of Sir Charles Baskerville. »
« I must thank you, » said Sherlock Holmes, « for calling my
attention to a case which certainly prescnts some features of interest.
I had observed some newspaper comment at the time, but I was
excedingly preoccupied by that little affair of the Vatican cameos,
and in my anxiety to oblige the Pope I lost touch with several
interesting English cases. This article, you say, contains all the
public facts ? »
17
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
tèrra. Que dísetz en aqueste article que i càbenn tots los
hèits publics ?
— Quiò.
— Alavetz hètz-me assàber los qui ne’n sonn pas.
Que’s tornè estanflar dehentz lo canapè, hadó juntar
los caps deus sos dits e’s prenó un aire impassible
tantvau un judge.
— Çò que’vs vau contar, ce declarè lo doctor Morti-
mer qui comencava de muixar quauques signes de
grand esmavuda, n’at èi pas jamei hidat en digun. S’at
èi amagat mentre l’enquista deu coroner, qu’es pr’amor
deu hasti qui n’a un òmi de sciència de paréixer créder
publicament a supersticions populàrias. E mei me pensa-
vi – com at escriu lo jornau – que Baskerville Hall
damoraré xentz mèste se quauquarré èra hornit a la dijà
pro mala fama deu lòc. Per aqueras duas rasons m’esti-
mèi mei de’n díser mentz que ne’n sabèvi pr’amor arré de
bon ne se’n podèva seguir. Mès dab vos n’ei pas nat motiu
tà no pas parlar tot a fèit francament.
La lana n’a pas abonde de gents e los qui damòrann
pròixe los uns deus auts sonn demiats a s’encontrar
soventament. Tabé que vesitavi hòrt En Charles Basker-
ville. Lhevat Mr Frankland de Lafter Hall e Mr Staple-
ton, lo naturalista, n’i a pas nat aute letra-herit a lègas
a l’entorn. En Charles qu’èra un òmi retrèit mès la soa
« It does. »
« Then let me have the private ones. » He leaned back, put his
finger-tips together, and assumed his most impassive and judicial
expression.
« In doing so, » said Dr Mortimcr, who had begun to show signs
of some strong emotion, « I am telling that which I have not confided
to anyone. My motive for withholding it from the coroner’s inquiry
is that a man of science shrinks from placing himself in the public
position of seeming to endorse a popular superstition. I had the
further motive that Baskerville Hall, as the paper says, would cer-
tainly remain untenanted if anything were done to increase its
already rather grim reputation. For both these reasons I thought
that I was justified in telling rather less than I knew, since no
practical good could result from it, but with you there is no reason
why I should not be perfectly frank.
« The moor is very sparsely inhabited, and those who live near each
other are thrown very much together. For this reason I saw a good
deal of Sir Charles Baskerville. With the exception of Mr Frankland,
of Lafter Hall, and Mr Stapleton, the naturalist, there are no other
men of education within many miles. Sir Charles was a retiring man,
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
malaudia qu’estó l’encausa de la nòsta amistança e lo
nòste interés comun per las causas scientificas l’esperlon-
guèt. Que s’avèva hèit seguir ua tropa d’endicas scienti-
ficas d’Africa deu Sud e que passèm hòrt de seradas
agradivas a devisar de l’anatomia acomparada deus
Bushmen e deus Hottentòs.
Desempuix quauquas mesadas qu’èra de mei en mei clar
que lo sistèma nerviós de’N Charles qu’èra a’s desclicotar.
Qu’avèva pres tròp a còr aquesta legenda que’vs legivi
totara, de tau mòda que, a maugrat que li agradèssi de’s
passejar per sos bens, arré ne l’auré pas decidit a sortir sus
la lana de noeit. Per tant encredible qu’acò vos pusqui
semblar, Mr Holmes, En Charles qu’èra sincerament con-
vençut qu’ua maladiccion tarribla pesava sus la soa
familha. Solide que las endicas que’m podó balhar sus sos
davancèirs n’èrann pas goaire aconortaires. L’idèia d’ua
présencia hantaumatica l’obsedava cap e tot e a man-
tuns còps que’m domandè se, mentra las mias vesitas medi-
caus, n’avèvi pas jamei encontrat quauqua bèstia esquèr-
ra o audit lo lairar d’un canhàs. Sus aquesta darrèira
hèita mei que mei ne questionè mei d’un còp e tostem dab
ua votz plenhada d’excitacion.
Que’m brembi plan estar anat a soa-casi un desser
viron tres semmanas davant la malahèita. S’èra escadut
qu’estossi suu solh de la pòrta de la Mansa. Que devarèi
but the chance of his illness brought us together, and a community
of interests in science kept us so. He had brought back much
scientific information from South Africa, and many a charming
evening we have spent together discussing the comparative anato-
my of the Bushman and the Hottentot.
« Within the last few months it became increasingly plain to me
that Sir Charles’s nervous system was strained to breaking point.
He had taken this legend which I have read you exceedingly to heart
– so much so that, although he would walk in his own grounds,
nothing would induce him to go out upon the moor at night.
Incredible as it may appear to you, Mr Holmes, he was honestly
convinced that a dreadful fate overhung his family, and certainly the
records which he was able to give of his ancestors were not
encouraging. The idea of some ghastly presence constantly haunted
him, and on more than one occasion he has asked me whether I had
on my medical journeys at night ever seen any strange creature or
heard the baying of a hound. The latter question he put to me several
times, and always with a voice which vibrated with excitement.
« I can well remember driving up to his house in the evening, some
three weeks before the fatal event. He chanced to be at his hall door.
18
deu cabriolet e que’m tienèvi davant eth qüand lo vedoi
oelh-tirar per dessús las mias espallas de cap a l’endarrèir,
qu’avèva ua espression d’eixante tarrible qui’u minjava la
cara. Que’m virèi e que’m vaguè d’apercéber lo mormòc
de quauquarré que prenoi tà un gròs vedèth néguer qui
passava au cap de la lèia. Tan capvariat e espaventat
qu’èra que’m sentii obligat d’avançar dinc a l’indret a-
ond èra estada vista la bèstia. Qu’espièi de tots costats, mès
partida qu’èra. L’incident que hadó egau ua impression
maixantassa sus l’esperit de’N Charles. Que damorèi dab
eth tota la desseirada e qu’es a d’aqueste parat que’m hidè
lo raconte que’vs legii qüand arribèi, per tant de m’esplicar
l’esmavuda qui se l’èra gahat. Que mentavi aqueth petit
episòdi pr’amor que prend quauqua importència dentz la
tragedia qui sèc ; mès suu moment qu’èri persuadit l’ahar
qu’èra simplàs e ne justificava pas ua tau estrementida.
Qu’es suus mens conselhs que’N Charles èra per partir
entà Londras. Qu’avèva lo còr amalautit – at sabèvi – e
l’engoeix constent ond vivèva, tot medix s’èrann quimèras
qui n’èrann l’encausa, n’èra pas xentz aver maus efèits sus
la soa santat. Que pensavi que quauquas mesadas passadas
dentz los divertiments de la vila ne’m harenn un òmi
arrequinquilhat. Mr Stapleton, un amic comun qui’s dava
chepic tabé per la santat de’N Charles, qu’avèva lo medix
I had descended from my gig and was standing in front of him, when
I saw his eyes fix themselves over my shoulder, and stare past me
with an expression of the most dreadful horror. I whisked round and
had just time to catch a glimpse of something which I took to be a
large black calf passing at the head of the drive. So excited and
alarmed was he that I was compelled to go down to the spot where
the animal had been and look around for it. It was gone, however,
and the incident appeared to make the worst impression upon his
mind. I stayed with him all the evening, and it was on that occasion,
to explain the emotion which he had shown, that he confided to my
keeping that narrative which I read to you when first I came. I
mention this small episode because it assumes some importance
in view of the tragedy which followed, but I was convinced at the time
that the matter was entirely trivial and that his excitement had no
justification.
« It was at my advice that Sir Charles was about to go to London.
His heart was, I knew, affected, and the constant anxiety in which
he lived, however chimerical the cause of it might be, was evidently
having a serious effect upon his health. I thought that a few months
among the distractions of town would send him back a new man.

avís. Au darrèir instant se debanè aqueste malastre hastiau.
La noeit qui’N Charles e’s morí, Barrymore, lo mèste
d’ostalaria, qui descobrí lo còs, mandè Perkins, lo vailet
dab un xibau entà m’anar avertir. Com n’èri pas encoèra
cochat, que podoi aténher Baskerville Hall ua orada après
l’eveniment. Que verifiquèi e contarollèi totas las hèitas qui
estonn mençonadas a l’enquista. Que seguii las piadas
dentz la lèia deus taixs, que vedoi lo lòc còsta lo cledon qui
aubreix entà la lana a-ond sembla qu’agi esperat ua
pausa. Que remarquèi lo cambiament – d’aquí avant –
de las soas piadas. Que notèi que n’i avèva pas nada auta
piada lhevada las de Barrymore suu gravèir prim de la
lèia. Enfin qu’examinèi detalhadament lo còs qui n’èra
pas estat tocat davant qui arribi. En Charles qu’èra
espatarrat dab los braç en crotz, los dits en.hicats hentz
Mr Stapleton, a mutual friend, who was much concerned at his state
of health, was of the same opinion. At the last instant came this
terrible catastrophe.
« On the night of Sir Charles’s death Barrymore the butler, who
made the discovery, sent Perkins the groom on horseback to me, and
as I was sitting up late I was able to reach Baskerville Hall within
an hour of the event. I checked and corroborated all the facts which
were mentioned at the inquest. I followed the footsteps down the Yew
Alley, I saw the spot at the moor-gate where he seemed to have
waited, I remarked the change in the shape of the prints after that
point, I noted that there were no other footsteps save those of
Barrymore on the soft gravel, and finally I carefully examined the
body, which had not been touched until my arrival. Sir Charles lay
19
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
lo sòu e los sos trèits èrann torçuts per ua estrementida d’ua
tau intensitat que seré estat a malaisa qu’avossi jurat de
qu’èra eth. Nada alebada n’èra pas de conéixer. Mès
Barrymore, mentra l’enquista, que hadó ua faussa
declaracion. Que dixó que n’i avèva pas nat tralh a
l’entorn deu còs. Ne n’observè pas nat mès jo, si-bé : un
chicòt mei enlà deu còs, mès fresc e vededer.
— Piadas ?
— Piadas.
— D’un òmi o d’ua hemna ?
Lo doctor Mortimer que’ns guinhè estranhament ua
estona puix la soa votz s’achequí dinc’a un marmús
qüand responó :
— Mossur Holmes, qu’èrann las piadas d’un canhàs
gigant !
on his face, his arms out, his fingers dug into the ground, and his
features convulsed with some strong emotion to such an extent that
I could hardly have sworn to his identity. There was certainly no
physical injury of any kind. But one false statement was made by
Barrymore at the inquest. He said that there were no traces upon the
ground round the hody. He did not observe any. But I did – some
little distance off, but fresh and clear. »
« Footprints ? »
« Footprints. »
« A man’s or a woman’s ? »
Dr Mortimer looked strangely at us for an instant, and his voice
sank almost to a whisper as he answered :
« Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound ! »
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Lo Problèma
Capítou tresau

— Ne plavèva pas ?

Q
ue cohessi qu’a l’enténer d’aquestes paraulas — No.
qu’estoi tot estramolit. La votz deu mèdge — A de qué sembla la lèia ?
qu’avèva la tremolèira çò qui muixava plan — Qu’es bordurada per duas sègas de taixs vielhs, hau-
l’esmavuda qui l’avèva gahat en tot nes con- tas de qüate mètres e briga passaderas. La lèia, era-medixa,
tar l’ahar. Holmes que’s penó entà davant, hòrt ahiscat, qu’es larga de dus mètres e miei viron.
e lo son espiar qu’èra hissant de tant qui lo son curio- — E i a quauquarré enter sègas e lèia ?
sèr èra deixudat. — Ò-bé. Ua correja de tascat qui hè dus mètres de
— E vedotz las piadas ? larg, haut o baix.
— Autan clarament com vos vei. — S’èi plan comprés, en un cèrt indret, la sèga de taixs
— E ne dixotz pas arré ? es copada per ua pòrta ?
— Entà qué har ? — Ò-bé. Un cledon qui aubreix cap a la lana.
— Com se hè que digun mei ne las agi pas arremerca- — Nada auta ubertura ?
das ? — Nada.
— Que’s trobàvann enlà, a un vintenat de mètres deu — De tau mòde qu’entà juntar la lèia deus taixs, tot
còs e digun ne se’n chautè pas. Que gadgi qu’aurí hèit tot d’un es obligat de passar per l’ostau o bé per lo cledon.
parièr se n’avèvi pas sabut la legenda. — Que i a unhauta sortida per un pavelhon d’estiu a
— E i a hòrt de cans d’aulhèr per la lana ? l’aute estrem.
— Quiò ! mès n’èra pas un can d’aulhèr. — En Charles l’avèva atenhut ?
— Que dísetz qu’èra un can deus bèths ? — No. Se’n mancava d’un cinquantenat de mètres.
— Grossàs qu’èra. — Adara, disetz-me, doctor Mortimer, – acò qu’es hòrt
— Mès ne’s hadó pas pròixe deu còs ? importent – las piadas qu’avèvatz vistas, èrann vistablas
— No. sus la lèia e no pas suu tascat ?
— Com èra lo temps en aquera noeit ? — Nada n’èra pas vistabla suu tascat.
— Aigassut e hred.
3 — The Problem « Damp and raw. »
I confess that at these words a shudder passed through me. There « But not actually raining ? »
was a thrill in the doctor »s voice which showed that he was himself « No. »
deeply moved by that which he told us. Holmes Ieaned forward in « What is the alley like ? »
his excitement, and his eyes had the hard, dry glitter which shot from « There are two lines of old yew hedge, twelve feet high and
them when he was keenly interested. impenetrable. The walk in the centre is about eight feet across. »
« You saw this ? » « Is there anything between the hedges and the walk ? »
« As clearly as I see you. » « Yes, there is a strip of grass about six feet broad on either si-
« And you said nothing ? » de. »
« What was the use ? » « I understand that the yew hedge is penetrated at one point by
« How was it that no one else saw it ? » a gate ? »
« The marks were some twenty yards from the body, and no one « Yes, th wicket-gate which leads on to the moor. »
gave them a thought. I don’t suppose I should have done so had « Is there any other opening ? »
I not known this legend. » « None. »
« There are many sheepdogs on the moor ? » « So that to reach the Yew Alley one either has to come down it from
« No doubt, but this was no sheepdog. » the house or else to enter it by the moor-gate ?
« You say it was large ? » « There is an exit through a summer-house at the far end. »
« Enormous. » « Had Sir Charles reached this ? »
« But it had not approached the body ? » « No ; he lay about fifty yards from it. »
« No. » « Now, tell me, Dr Mortimer– and this is important – the marks
« What sort of night was it ? » which you saw were on the path and not on the grass ? »

20
 Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville

— Aquestas èrann preu medix estrem com la porteta — Sus aqueth petit tròç de la lèia las soas piadas
sus la lana ? s’entermesclènn mès ne’n trobèi pas d’autas.
— Ò-bé. Preu medix estrem e tòca-tocant lo bòrn de la Dab un gèste despacient, Sherlock Holmes que’s
lèia. truquè lo jolh dab la man.
— Be m’interéssatz hòrt ! Unhauta causa : la porteta — Avossi podut estar present ! ce cridèt. Qu’es de-segur
sus la lana èra barrada ? un ahar d’un interés estraordinari e qui balha a un expert
— Barrada e clavada dab un cadenat. scientific ua tropa de possibilitats. Aquesta lèia de grava,
— Hauta de... ? qu’i aurí podut legir tantas causas, i a bèra pausa adara
— Un mètre e vint-e-cinc centimètres. qu’es eslavassada per la pluja e mascarada preus esclòps
— Donc de bon passar ? de paisans curiosàs. Ò doctor Mortimer, doctor Mortimer,
— Ò-bé. perqué ne m’atz pas aperat mei lèu ? Qu’atz aquí ua
— E quaus traç vedotz còsta aquesta porteta ? responsabilitat gròssa !
— Nat qui sii particulari. — Ne’vs podèvi pas contactar, Mossur Holmes, xentz
— Diu vivant ! Digun mei n’i pensè gueitar ? rénder tots aqueths hèits sabeders au monde e que’vs dixoi
— Si-bé. Jo. dijà las rasons per las quaus m’estimèi mei carar. E puix...
— E ne constatètz pas arré ? — Perqué esítatz ?
— Qu’èra ua mesclanha de piadas. Qu’èra de bon véder — Qu’am aquí un domeni que lo mei abinle e lo mei
que’N Charles s’i estanquè cinc o dètz minutas. esperimentat deus detectius s’i tròba despoderat.
— Qu’es çò qui’vs permet d’at assolidir ? — Que s’ageix – au vòste enténer – d’ua causa suberna-
— Per dus còps la brasa deu son cigarro que cadó preu turau ?
sòu. — N’at èi pas dit atau francament...
— Excellent ! Watson, aquí qu’atz un confrair com — No pas mès solide qu’at pénsatz.
m’agràdann. Mès las piadas ? — Desempuix aquesta malahèita, Mossur Holmes,

« No marks could show on the grass. » the marks ? »

« Were they on the same side of the path as the moor-gate ? » « He had left his own marks all over that small patch of gravel. I
« Yes ; they were on the edge of the path on the same side as the could discern no others. »
moor-gate. » Sherlock Holmes struck his hand against his knee with an
« You interest me exceedingly. AnotlIer point : was the wicket-gate impatient gesture.
closed ? » « If I had only been there ! » he cried. « It is evidently a case of
« Closed and padlocked. » extraordinary interest, and one which presented immense op-
« How high was it ? portunities to the scientific expert. That gravel path upon which I
« About four feet high » might have read so much has been long ere this smudged by the rain
« Then anyone could have got over it ? » and defaced by the clogs of curious peasants. Oh, Dr Mortimer, Dr
« Yes. » Mortimer, to think that you should not have called me in ! You have
« And what marks did you see by the wicket-gate? » indeed much to answer for. »
« None in particular. » « I could not call you in, Mr Holmes, without disclosing these facts
« Good Heaven ! Did no one examine ? » to the world, and I have already given my reasons for no wishing to
« Yes, T examined myself. » do so. Besides, besides – »
« And found nothing ? » « Why do you hesitate ? »
« It was all very confused Sir Charles had evidently stood there for « There is a realm in which the most acute and most experienced
five or ten minutes. » of detectives is helpless. »
« How do you know that ? » « You mean that the thing is supernatural ? »
« Because the ash had twice dropped from his cigar. » « I did not positively say so. »
« Excellent ! This is a colleague, Watson, after our own heart. But « No, but you evidently think it. »

21
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
m’estonn raportadas mantuas hèitas qui sonn de maixant
conciliar dab l’òrdi establit de la Natura.
— Per exemple ?
— Qu’aprenoi que, davant aqueste tarrible eveni-
ment, ua tropa de gents avèvann vist per la lana ua
criatura qui, d’après la descripcion hèita, sembla tot menat
lo demòni deus Baskerville, e mei qui ne correspond pas
a nada bèstia coneixuda de la sciéncia. Tots que s’avié-
nenn enta díser qu’èra ua bestiassa gròssa, hastialassa e
com qui seré luminosa. Que susmetoi aqueths testimònis
a ua mena de contra-interrogatòri. Un qu’es paisan
capborrut, l’aut manescau, e lo darrèir qu’es bordèir sus
la lana. E bé, tots que’m descrivonn de la medixa manèi-
ra aquesta aparicion esvarjabla qui es tot cagat lo senha-
lament deu Canhàs ihernau de la legenda. Un hum
d’espante que passa suu viladge e que carré estar pro ha-
gard entà ha’s endavant sus la lana qüand noeiteja.
— E vos, un òmi de sciéncia esperimentat, crédetz
qu’acò’s un fenomènn subernaturau ?
— Ne sèi pas mei que créder.
Holmes que haussè las espallas :
— Dinc adara, ce dixó, que limitèi las mias enquistas
a-d aqueth monde. D’ua manèira modèsta qu’èi combatut
lo mau mès har aus trucs dab Cohet eth-medix seré belèu
se’n créder de tròp. E mei dívetz adméter que las piadas
« Since the tragedy, Mr Holmes, there have come to my ears seve-
ral incidents which are hard to reconcile with the settle order of
Nature. »
« For example ? »
« I find that before the terrible event occurred several people had
seen a creature upon the moor which corresponds with the Baskerville
demon, and which could not possibly be any animal known to
science. They all agreed that it was a huge creature, luminous,
ghastly and spectral. I have cross-examined these men, one of them
a hard-headed countryman, one a farrier, and one a moorland
farmer, who all tell the same story of this dreadful apparition,
exactly corresponding to the hell-hound of the legend. I assure you
that there is a reign of terror in the district and that it is a hardy man
who will cross the moor at night. »
« And you, a trained man of science, believe it to be supernatu-
ral ? »
« I do not knew what to believe. »
Holmes shrugged his shoulders. « I have hitherto confined my
investigations to this world, » said he. « In a modest way I have
combated evil, but to take on the Father of Evil himself would
perhaps, be too ambitious a task. Yet you must admit that the
22
e sonn causas materiaus.
— Lo Canhàs de la legenda qu’èra pro materiau tabé
entà esperracar la ganitèra d’un òmi e n’èra pas mentz
ua criatura gessida de l’ihèrn.
— Que vei qu’ètz adara cap e tot partidari de la solucion
subernaturau. Mès disetz-me, doctor Mortimer, se’n vira
atau, perqué me viéner vesitar ? Que’m declàratz d’ua
medixa alentada de que seré inutile d’enquistar sus la
mòrt de’N Charles e puix que desíratz qu’at hèci.
— Ne v’èi pas dit qu’at desirèssi.
— Alavetz en qué ves poix estar ajudable ?
— En tot m’aconselhar sus çò qui cau que hèci rapòrt
a’N Henry Baskerville qui arriba a Waterloo Station...
Lo doctor Mortimer que s’espiè la montra, ...dentz ua
orada e un quart exactament.
— Es l’eretèir ?
— E-ò. Après la mort de’N Charles, que’ns botèm en
cèrca d’aqueth joenn gentleman e qu’aprenom que ha-
dèva vàler un ben au Canadà. D’après las endicas qui
recebom, qu’es un gojat hòrt de-plan. Adara n’es pas mei
lo mèdge qui’vs parla mès lo testamentèr de’N Charles.
— Gadgi que n’i a pas d’aut pretendent ?
— No, digun mei. Lo sol parent de’N Charles que n’agi
podut arretrobar lo tralh qu’es Rodger Baskerville, lo
mei joenn deus tres hrairs que l’ainat n’èra aqueste prau-
footmark is material. »
The original hound was material enough to tug a man’s throat out,
and yet he was diabolical as well. »
« l see that you have quite gone over to the supernaturalists. But
now, Dr Mortimer, tell me this. If you hold these views, why have you
come to consult me at all ? You tell me in the same breath that it is
useless to investigate Sir Charles’s death, and that you desire me
to do it. »
« l did not say that I desire you to do it. »
« Then, how can l assist you ? »
« By advising me as to what I should do with Sir Henry Bas kerville,
who arrives at Waterloo Station » – Dr Mortimer looked at his watch
– « in exactly one hour and a quarter. »
« He being th eheir ? »
« Yes. On the death of Sir Charles we inquired for this young
gentleman, and found that he had been farming in Canada. From
the accounts which have reached us he is an excellent fellow in every
way. I speak now not as a medical man but as a trustee and executor
of Sir Charles’s will. »
« There is no other claimant, I presume ? »
« None. The only other kinsman whom we have been able to trace

be En Charles. Lo segond hrair, mòrt de-d’òra, èra lo pair
d’aqueth Henry. Lo tresau, Rodger, qu’èra lo “mauton
néguer” de la familha. Qu’avèva eretat l’esperit domi-
naire deus sos aujòus e – ce m’ann dit – semblava lo vielh
Hugo tot menat. De tant qui miè ua vita de cocarrèr ne
podó pas damorar en Anglatèrra e s’escapè entà l’America
Centrau que s’i morí de la frèber jauna en 1876. Henry
qu’es lo darrèir deus Baskerville. Dentz ua orada e cinc
minuta que l’aculhirèi a Waterloo Station. Qu’estoi avisat
per telegrama qu’arribava oei matin a Southampton.
Alavetz, Mossur Holmes, çò qui m’aconsélhatz rapòrt a-d
eth ?
— Perqué ne s’aniré pas víver en la damorança deus sos
davancèirs ?
— Qu’es çò qui pareix lo mei naturau, vertat ? Mès
empensatz que tots los Baskerville qui i damorènn i patinn
ua mala acabada. Que soi solide que se’N Charles m’avèva
podut parlar davant de morir, m’auré desconselhat de har
viéner lo darrèir representent d’ua familha vielha e eretèir
d’ua grand fortuna entà-d aqueste indret maladit.
D’unhauta part ne’s pòt pas denegar que la prosperitat
d’aqueth parçan praubejant e endarrerit e depend de la
soa preséncia. Tot lo brabe prètz-hèit complit pre’N
Charles que serà descanilhat se Baskerville Hall n’a pas
lo son cap-casau. Qu’èi pòur de’m deixar har influençar
was Rodger Baskerville, the youngest of three brothers of whom poor
Sir Charles was the elder. The second brother, who died young, is
the father of this lad Henry. The third, Rodger was the black sheep
of the family. He came of the old masterful Baskerville strain, and
was the very image, they tell me, of the family picture of old Hugo.
He made England too hot to hole him, fled to Central America, and
died there in 1876 of yellow fever. Henry is the last of the Baskervilles.
In one hour and five minutes I meet him at Waterloo Station. I have
had a wire that he arrived at Southampton this morning. Now, Mr
Holmes what would you advise me to do with him ? »
« Why should he not go to the home ot his fathers? »
« It seems natural, does it not ? And yet, consider that every
Baskerville who goes there meets with an evil fate. I feel sure that if
Sir Charles could have spoken with we me before his death he would
have warned me against bringing this, the last of the old race, and
the heir to great wealth, to that deadly place. And yet it cannot be
denied that the prosperity of the whole poor, bleak countryside
depends upon his presence. All the good work which has been done
by Sir Charles will crash to the ground if there is no tenant of the Hall.
I fear lest I should be swayed too much by my own obvious interest
in the matter, and that is why I bring the case before you and ask
23
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
preus mens pròpis interés personaus de mòdes que’vs soi
vienut presentar l’ahar aqueste e vse’n domandar conselh.
Holmes que perpensè ua pausòta :
— Entà parlar clar, l’ahar que n’es atau, ce dixó. Au
vòste enténer, ua poténcia diabolica que hè perilhosa la
damorança d’un Baskerville a Dartmoor, acò qu’es lo vòste
avís ?
— Qu’anirèi au mentz dinc’a díser que i a quauqua
evidéncia entà que’n sii atau.
— Solide. Mès se la vòsta teoria subernaturau es corrècta,
lo gojat poiré autaplan estar miaçat a Londras com en
Devonshire. Un demòni qui n’auré pas sonque poders
localisats com lo d’un curat de parròpia e’m sembla ua
causa qui es de mau engolir.
— Ne colhonaretz pas atau, Mossur Holmes, de-segur,
s’èratz personaument en contacte dab aqueras hèitas. S’èi
plan comprés lo voste conselh, lo gojat serà autant en
seguretat en Devonshire com a Londras. Qu’arriba d’aquí
cinquanta minutas. Çò qui m’arrecomàndatz ?
— Que v’arrecomandi, Mossur, de’vs préner un fiacre
e’vs har seguir lo vòste espanhèu qui es a gratar a la pòrta
d’entrada e d’anar dinc a Waterloo Station coélher En
Henry Baskerville.
— Apuix ?
— Apuix ne li diratz pas briga arré dinc a que jo m’agi
for your advice. »
Holmes considered for a little time. « Put into plain words, the
matter is this, » said he. « ln your opinion there is a diabolical agency
which makes Dartmoor an unsafe abode for a Baskerville – that is
your opinion ? »
« At least I might go the length of saying that there is some evidence
that this may be so.
« Exactly. But surely if your supernatural theory be correct it could
work the young man evil in London as easily as in Devonshire. A devil
with merely local powers like a parish vestry would be too inconceivable
a thing. »
« You put the matter more flippantly, Mr Holmes, than you would
probably do if you were brought into personal contact with these
things. Your advice, then, as I understand it, is that the young man
will be as safe in Devonshire as in London. He comes in fifty minutes.
What would you recommend ? »
« I recommend, sir, that you take a cab, call off your spaniel, who
is scratching at my front door, and proceed to Waterloo to meet Sir
Henry Baskerville. »
« And then ? »
« And then you will say nothing to him at all until I have made up
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
hèit ua opinion sus aqueth ahar.
— E qüant de temps vos carrà entà’vs har ua opi-
nion ?
— Vint-e-qüate òras. Doctor Mortimer, que m’agradaré
que tornèssitz doman matin a dètz oras e qu’ajudaré los
mens plans entà l’avenider se’vs pòdetz har acompanhar
pre’N Henry Baskerville.
— Atau que serà hèit, Mossur Holmes.
Que’s grifonhè lo rendetz-vos suu punhet de la ca-
misa e s’escapèt dab aqueste aire esquèrr e oblidós qui
èra son. Holmes que l’estanquèt au som de l’escalèir.
— Sonque ua question encoèra, doctor Mortimer. Que
dixotz mantuns gents qu’avèvann vist a l’aparicion cap-
vath la lana davant la mòrt de’N Charles Baskerville.
— Tres gents qu’at vedonn.
— E desempuix que s’es mòrt En Charles ?
— N’at èi pas entenut a díser.
— Mercí hòrt. Adixatz.
Holmes que’s tornè seitar dab aqueste aire tranquillòt
de satisfaccion interiora qui muixava que’s trobava cap
e cap dab un problèma digne de las soas capacitats.
— E sòrtitz, Watson ?
— Ò-bé, a mentz que’vs posqui ajudar.
— Nani, amic men, qu’es au moment de l’accion que’m
viri de cap a vos entà cercar ajuda. Mès per d’aubuns punts
my mind about the matter. »
« How long will it take you to make up your mind ? »
« Twenty-four hours. At ten o’clock tomorrow, Dr Mortimer, l will
be much obliged to you if you will call upon me here, and it will be
of help to me in my plans for the future if you will bring Sir Henry
Baskerville wih you. »
« I will do so, Mr Holmes. »
He scribbled the appointment on his shirt-cuff and hurried off in
his strange,peering,absent-minded fashion. Holmes stopped him
at the head of the stair.
« 0nly one more question, Dr Mortimer. You say that before Sir
Charles Baskerville’s death several people saw this apparition upon
the moor ? »
« Three people did. »
« Did any see it after ? »
« l have not heard of any. »
«Thank you. Good morning. »
Holmes returned to his seat with that quiet look of inward
satisfaction which meant that he had a congenial task before him.
« Going out, Watson ? »
« Unless I can help you. »
No, my dear fellow, it is at the hour of action that l turn to you for
24
aqueth ahar qu’es unic, amirader. Qüand pàssitz davant
Bradley’s, hètz-li m’enviar ua liura deu son tobac miut deu
mei hòrt, xentz de’vs comandar. Mercí hòrt. Que seré
autaplan s’acò vos destorba pas de tròp de no pas tornar
davant lo desser. Que’m harà gai alavetz d’acomparar las
nòstas impressions pertocant aqueth plan interessent
problèma qui’ns estó susmetut oei matin.
Que sabèvi que soletat e tranquilletat èrann necessàrias
au men amic en aquestas oradas d’intensa concentracion
mentau mentra las quaus pesava cada part de testi-
moniadge, bastiva teorias contradictòrias en tot las
opausar las uas contra a las autas e hadèva la tria enter
çò d’essenciau e çò d’estremader. Que passèi donc la
jornada au men club e ne tornèi pas a Baker Street
davant lo desser. Qu’èrann casi nau òras qüand m’arre-
trobèi dehentz lo salon un còp mei. Qüand aubrii la
pòrta, que credoi permèir que la pèça èra estada a hoec
de tant qu’èra ahumada, e la lutz deu calelh sus la taula
n’èra tota atupida. Com hentravi, los mens chepics
s’escapènn pr’amor qu’èra lo hum d’un tobac hòrt
deus grossièrs qui’m hadó bohar brac e tossicar. A
travèrs de la humadèra, que destrièi Holmes en rauba
de cramba, acocolat dentz un fautulh, dab la soa pipa
de tèrra nega aus pòts. Mantuns rollèus de papèir èrann
esbarrisclats a l’entorn d’eth.
aid. But this is splendid, really unique from some points of view.
When you pass Bradley’s, would you ask him to sell up a pound of
the strongest shag tobacco ? Thank you. It would be as well if you
could make it convenient not to return before evening. Then I should
be very glad to compare impressions as to this most interesting
problem which has been submitted to us this morning. »
I knew that seclusion and solitude were very necessary for my
friend in those hours of intense mental concentration during which
he weighed every particle of evidence, constructed alternative
theories, balanced one against the other and made up his mind as
to which points were essential and which immaterial. I therefore
spent the day at my club, and did not return to Baker Street until
evening. It was nearly nine o’clock when l found myself in the sitting-
room once more. -
My first impression as I opened the door was that a fire has broken
out, for the room was so filled with smoke that the light of the lamp
upon the table was blurred by it. As I entered, however, my fears were
set at rest, for it was the acrid fumes of strong, coarse tobacco which
took me by the throat and set me coughing. Through the haze l had
a vague vision of Holmes in his dressing-gown coiled up in an
armchair with his black clay pipe between his lips. Several rolls of
paper lay around him.

— Que v’ètz en.hredit, Watson ?
— No pas. Qu’es pr’amor d’aqueste aire emposoat.
— Solide qu’es un chic espés, adara qu’at mençónatz.
— Espés ! Ne s’i pòt pas aledar.
— E bé, alàndatz la frinèsta ! Que m’apercebi de
qu’atz passat la jornada au vòste club.
— Mon car Holmes !
— N’es pas vertat ?
— Si-bé mes com... ?
Que se n’arridó deu men estonament.
— Qu’ètz deliciosament innocent, Watson, e que n’es
un plaser d’exerçar los petits poders qui sonn mens aus vòstes
despends. Un gentleman que sòrt per un jorn de pluja e
de hanha. Que se’n torna au desser, net, dab lo capèth e
las cauçaduras totjamei autan lustrós. Qu’es damorat suu
medix lòc tot lo long deu jorn. E n’es pas un òmi qui a
amics deus pròixes. A-ond, donc, a-ond es podut anar ?
N’es pas evident ?
— D’acòrdi, qu’es meilèu evident.
— Lo monde qu’es plenhat de causas evidentas que
digun n’arremerca pas jamei. A-ond, pénsatz que soi
estat ?
— Qu’ètz damorat ací ?
— Au contra, que soi estat entau Devonshire.
— En esperit ?
« Caught cold, Watson ? » said he.
« No, it’s this poisonous atmosphere. »
« l suppose it is pretty thick, now that you mention it. »
« Thick ! It is intolerable. »
« Open the window, then ! You have been at your club all day, I
perceive. »
« My dear Holmes ! »
« Am I right ? »
« Certainly, but how – ? »
He laughed at my bewildered expression.
« There is a delightful freshness about you, Watson, which it a
pleasure to exercise any small powers which I possess at your
expense. A gentleman goes forth on a showery and miry day. He
returns immaculate in the evening with the gloss still on his hat and
his boots. He has been a fixture therefore all day. He is not a man
with intimate friends. Where, then, could he have benn ? Is it not
obvious ? »
« Well, it is rather obvious. »
« The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance
ever observes. Where do you think that I have been ? »
« A fixture also. »
25
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— Que quiò. Lo men còs que s’es estat en aquesta grand
cadèira ; e que me hè dòu de véder que, mentra qu’èri
absent, ne’n profieitè entà consumar duas bèras cafeteira-
das e ua quantitat de tobac qui n’es pas de créder. Après
lo vòste despartir, que’m hadoi portar de Stanford’s la
mapa d’estat-major d’aqueste parçan de la lana e lo men
esperit que s’i passegè tota la jornada. Que’m flati de m’i
no pas poder descaminar.
— Que gadgi qu’es ua mapa de l’escala grana.
— De l’escala hòrt grana.
Que’n desenrollè un tròç e l’estalè suus sos jolhs.
— Aquí qu’atz lo districte qui’ns pertanh particulari-
ment. Aquí, Baskerville Hall qu’es au bèth miei.
— E un bòsc tot a l’entorn.
— Ò-bé. Que supausi que la lèia deus taixs, a mau-
grat que ne sii pas atau xafrada aquí, e diu s’esténer lo
long d’aquesta linha, dab la lana, com at védetz, a man
dreta. Aquesta petit borgat ací qu’es Grimpen, que lo nòste
amic lo doctor Mortimer s’i a establit lo son quartièr ge-
nerau. Dentz un aròu de viron oeit quilomèstres, espiatz,
qu’i a sonque quauques ostaus esbarrisclats. Aquí qu’am
Lafter Hall qui estó mentavut dentz lo raconte. Qu’i a un
ostau, ensenhat aquí, qui diu estar la damorança deu
naturalista – Stapleton, se me brembi plan, que s’apèra.
Aquí duas bòrdas sus la lana, High Tor e Foulmire. Puix
« On the contrary, I have been to Devonshire. »
« In spirit ? »
« Exactly. My body has remained in this armchair ; and has, I regret
to observe, consumed in my absence two large pots of coffee and
an incredible amount of. tobacco. After you left I sent down to
Stanford’s for the Ordnance map of this portion of the moor, and
my spirit has hovered over it all day. I flatter myself that I could find
my way about. »
« A large scale map, I presume ? »
« Very large. » He unrolled one section and held it over his knee.
« Here you have the particular district which concerns us. That is,
Baskerville Hall in the middle. »
« With a wood round it ? »
« Exactly. I fancy the Yew Alley, though not marked under that
name, must stretch along this line, with the moor, as you perceive,
upon the right of it. This small clump of buildings here is the hamlet
of Grimpen, where our friend Dr Mortimer has his headquarters.
Within a radius of five miles there are, as you see, only a very few
scattered dwellings. Here is Lafter Hall, which was mentioned in the
narrative. There is a house indicated here which may be the residence
of the naturalist – Stapleton, if I remember right, was his name. Here
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
vint quilomèstres mei enlà la grand preson deus forçats de
Princetown. Enter aqueths lòcs apartits e a lor entorn
s’esplandeix la lana desolada e ensauvadgida. Aquí donc
l’empont que s’i debanè la tragedia e qu’assajaram de l’i
reconstituir.
— Be diu estar un lòc hastiau.
— E-ò, l’indret qu’es digne d’interés. Se lo diable se vòu
mesclar deus ahars deus òmis...
— E tienetz adara vos-medix entà l’esplica subernatu-
rau ?
— Los agents deu diable que pòdenn estar de carn e d’òs,
vertat ? Duas questions que’ns espèrann talèu lo comen-
çar : la permèira qu’es : i a avut crimi vertadeirament ?
la segonda qu’es : quau es lo crimi e com estó cometut ?
De-segur se l’ipotèsi deu doctor Mortimer es verificada,
qu’am ahar dab hòrças esterioras a las leis ordinàrias de
la Natura e donc pòdem deixar càder lo nòste prètz-hèit.
Mès que’ns cau hòrabandir permèir totas las autas pos-
sibilitats davant d’acceptar aquera. Que pensi que vam
tornar barrar aquesta frinèsta se ne’vs desagrada pas. Que
sembla esquèrr mès que tròbi qu’ua atmosfèra concentra-
da ajuda a la concentracion de la pensada. N’èi pas miat
aquesta reuma dinc’a m’embarrar dehentz ua gàbia entà
pensar mès que seré lo compliment logic de las mias con-
viccions. Qu’atz perpensat au nòste ahar ?
are two moorland farmhouses, High Tor and Foulmire. Then fourteen
miles away the great convict prison of Princetown. Between and
around these scattered points extends the desolate, lifeless moor.
This, then, is the stage upon which tragedy has been played, and
upon which we may help to play it again. »
« lt must be a wild place. » - distinction about it. That change in the footprints, for example.
« Yes, the setting is a worthy one. If the devil did desire to have
a hand in the affairs of men – »
« Then you are yourself inclining to the supernatural explaina-
tion. »
« The devil’s agents may be of flesh and blood, may they not ? There
are two questions waiting for us at the outset. The one is whether any
crime has been committed at all ; the second is, what is the crime
and how was it committed ? Of course, if Dr Mortimer’s surmise
should be correct, and we are dealing with forces outside the
ordinary laws of Nature, there is an end our investigation. But we are
bound to exhaust all other hypotheses before falling back upon this
one. I think we’ll shut that window again, if you don’t mind. It is a
singular thing, but I find that a concentrated atmosphere helps a
concentration of thought. I have not pushed it to the length of getting
into a box to think, but that is the logical outcome of my convictions.
26
— Ò-bé. Qu’i èi hòrt pensat pendent tot lo batent deu
jorn.
— E çò qui’n conclúditz ?
— Que’n soi desarrotat.
— Qu’a de-segur un aspèct d’aquestes e mei s’i tròbann
quauques detalhs insolites. Aqueth cambiament de las
piadas, çò qué ne’n pénsatz ?
— Mortimer que dixó l’òmi que marxè a puntetas a
partir d’aquesta part de la lèia.
— Que tornè díser sonque çò qui quauque pèc aurà dit
a l’enquista. Perqué un òmi e caminaré a puntetas a partir
d’aquesta part de la lèia.
— Qu’es egau...
— Que corrè, Watson, que corrè desesperadament, que
corrè entà’s sauvar la vita, que corrè dinc a petèssi lo son
còr, que s’espotissi e que se’n morissi tot sobte.
— Pr’amor de qué èra a córrer ?
— Aquí lo nòste problèma. Quauquas endicas que hènn
pensar que l’òmi èra hòu d’espante davant que comenci
quitament de córrer.
— E com at pòdetz assolidir ?
— Que supausi que l’encausa deu son espante e’u vienè
de cap a travèrs la lana. S’acò es vrai – e que sembla hòrt
probable – sonque un òmi en.holiat se seré hèit enlà de
l’ostau en plaça de se’n har ençà. Se lo testimoniadge deu
Have you turned the case over in your mind ? »
« Yes, l have thought a good deal of it in the course of the day. »
« What do you make of it ? »
« lt is very bewildering. »
« lt has certainly a character of its own. There are points of
What do you make of that? »
« Mortimer said that the man had walked on tiptoe down that
alley. » -
« He only repeated what some fool had said at the inquest. Why
should a man walk on tiptoe down the alley ? »
« What then ? »
« He was running, Watson – running desperately, runing for his life,
running until he burst his heart and fell dead upon his face. »
« Running from what ? »
« There lies our problem. There are indications that the man was
crazed with fear before ever he began to run. »
« How can you say that ? »
« l am presuming that the cause of his fears came to him across
the moor. If that were so, and it seems most probable, only a man
who had lost his wits would have run from the house instead of

bohèmi e pòt estar considerat com valeder, que corró en tot
cridar ajuda-a-Diu dentz la direccion ond s’i escaderé lo
mentz a trobar ajuda. E mei encoèra, qui En Charles èra
donc a esperar aquera noeit e perqué èra a esperar après,
dentz la lèia deus taixs meilèu que no pas a soa-casi ?
— E pénsatz qu’èra a esperar quauqu’un ?
— L’òmi qu’èra d’adge e chic hardit. Se pòt compréner
l’enveja d’ua passejada noeitau mès lo sòu qu’èra aigassut
e la noeit chic agradiva. E’vs pareix naturau que s’estè cinc
o dètz minutas com at desdusí lo doctor Mortimer a partir
de las brasas de cigarro, dab d’alhors un sens pratic que
towards it. If the gipsy’s evidence may be taken as true, he ran with
cries for help in the direction where help was least likely to be. Then
again, whom was he waiting for that night, and why was he waiting
for him in the Yew Alley rather than in his own house ? »
« You think that he was waiting for someone ? »
« The man was elderly and infirm. We can understand his taking
an evening stroll, but the ground was damp and the night inclement.
Is it natural that he should stand for five or ten minutes, as Dr
Mortimer, with more practical sense than I should have given him
27
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
ne li aurí pas coneixut de-tira.
— Mès que se passejava tot desser.
— Me sembla chic probable que’N Charles agi esperat
còsta lo cledon cada desser. Au contra qu’es segur qu’esvitava
la lana. Aquera noeit qu’esperè en aqueth lòc. Qu’èra la
noeit de davant la soa partença enta Londras. L’ahar que’s
basteix, Watson. Que vad coërent. Que’vs prèi de’m har
passar lo men vriulon e qu’arrepossaram tot auta perpensada
sus aqueth ahar dinc a qu’àgim avut l’avantadge d’encon-
trar lo doctor Mortimer e’N Henry Baskerville doman de
matin.
credit for, deduced from the cigar ash ?
« But he went out every evening. »
« l think it unlikely that he waited at the moor-eate every evening.
On the contrary, the evidence is that he avoided the moor. That night
he waited there. It was the night before he was to take his departure
for London. The thing takes shape, Watson. It becomes coherent.
Might I ask you to hand me my violin, and we will postpone all further
thought upon this business until we have had the advantage of
meeting Dr Mortimer and Sir Henry Baskerville in the morning. »
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
En Henry Baskerville
Capítou qüatau
L
a nòsta taula d’esdejuar qu’estó desbarrassada de
d’òra e Holmes, en rauba de cramba, qu’esperè
l’entrevista anonciada. Los nòstes clients qu’es-
tonn ponctuaus au rendetz-vos pr’amor l’arrelòdge
qu’acabava de picar dètz òras qüand entrè lo doctor
Mortimer, seguit preu joenn baronet. Aqueste qu’èra
un òmi petit, brinchut e viu, qui trentenejava. Néguer
de oelhs, dab sorcilhs morets deus espés sus ua cara
hòrta e batalhaira. Qu’èra apelhat d’un costume de
tweed de color rogejanta e qu’avèva l’aparéncia usclada
de’u qui a passat la mage part deu son temps a l’aire
batent, mès quauquarré dentz los oelhs segurets e
aqueth anar tranquille qu’ensenhava l’òmi de-plan.
— Que’vs presenti En Henry Baskerville, ce dixó lo
doctor Mortimer.
— E bé, òc, ce dixot, e çò de mei esquèrr, Mossur Hol-
mes, se n’èra pas estat lo men amic qui m’avossi prepau-
sat de’vs viéner vesitar oei matin, que serí jo vienut deu men
sicap. Qu’èi entenut a díser que resòlvetz petitas enig-
mas e s’escadó oei matin un copa-cap d’aquestes qui do-
manda mei de capadge que ne’n poix balhar jo.
— Seitatz-ve, que ve’n prèi. E divi compréner que se v’es
escadut ua benalèia talèu arribat en Londras ?
— Arré de hòrt importent, Mossur Holmes. Ua colhona-
4 — Sir Henry Baskerville
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 whenDrMor-
timer was shown up, followed by the young baronet. The latter was
as mall,alert,dark-eyed man about thirty years of age, very sturdily
built, with thick black eye-brows 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.
« This is Sir Henry Baskerville, » saidDr Mortimer.
« 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. I understand that you think
out little puzzles, and I’ve had one this morning which wants more
thinking out than l am able to give it. »
« 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 ? »
da qu’es au segur. Qu’es aquesta letra, s’acò se pòt aperar
ua letra, qui m’es arribada aqueste matin.
Que pausè sus la taula ua envolòpa e que ns’i clinèm
tots dessús. Qu’èra ua envolòpa grisosa, de qualitat
comuna. L’adreça « En Henry Baskerville – Nor-
thumberland Hotel » qu’èra escriuta en letras grossiè-
ras. Lo sagèth qu’ensenhava que lo lòc de posta-da
qu’èra Charing Cross, e la data qu’èra deu jorn prece-
dent.
— Quau sabè qu’anàvatz aubergar au Northumber-
land Hotel ? ce domandè Holmes en bèth guinhar de
cap au nòste vesitaire.
— Digun n’at podèva pas saber. Que’ns decidim arrond
de’ns encontrar dab lo doctor Mortimer.
— Mes lo doctor Mortimer, bahida, qu’i aubergava
dijà ?
— Que nani. Qu’estoi lodjat per un amic men, ce
responó lo doctor. Nada endica donc que nse n’anirem
en-d aquesta ostalaria.
— Hem ! Quauqu’un sembla s’interessar pregonda-
ment aus vòstes agís.
Holmes que tirè de l’envolòpa ua miei-hoelha de
papèir menistre plegada en qüate. Que la despleguè
e l’estalè sus la taula. Au mitan ua sola frasa hèita a
partir de mots imprimits pegats. Que disèva : Se tienetz
« 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. »
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 charac-
ters ; the post-mark « CharingCross »,and the date of posting the
preceding evening.
« Who knew that you were going to the Northumberland Ho-
tel ? » asked Holmes, glancing keenly across at our visitor.
__ « No one could have known. We only decided after I met Dr
Mortimer. »
« But Dr Mortimer was, no doubt, already stopping there ? »
« No, I had been staying with a friend, » said the doctor. There was
no possible indication that we intended to go to this hotel. »
« Hum ! Someone seems to be very deeply interested in your
movements. »
Out of the envelope he took a half-sheet of fools-cap 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
28

a sauvagardar la vòsta vita o la vòsta rason hètz-ve enlà
de la lana. Sonque lo mot “lana” èra hèit dab tinta
d’escríver.
— Adara, ce dixó En Henry Baskerville, que’m diratz
belèu, Mossur Holmes, çò qui lo diable vòu díser aqueth
messadge e qui donc s’interèssa tant aus mens ahars ?
— Çò qué ne’n pénsatz, doctor Mortimer ? Que dívetz
adméter en tot cas que n’i a pas arré de subernaturau,
aquí.
— D’acòrdi, mès que pòt autaplan perviéner de quau-
qu’un qui es convençut l’ahar qu’es subernaturau.
— Quau ahar ? ce questionè En Henry sobtament.
Que’m sembla que tots aquí, Mossurs, e’n sàbetz beròi mei
que no pas jo suus mens pròpis ahars.
— Que seratz assabentat de çò qui conéixem davant de
sortir d’aquesta peça, En Henry. Que v’at prometi, ce dixó
Holmes. Que’ns estancaram adara – dab la vòsta per-
mission – a-d aqueth document hòrt interessent qui divó
estar assemblat e postat asser. Lo Times de gèir, l’atz aquí
Watson ?
— Aquí dentz lo coenh.
— Xentz de’vs comandar... la paja interiora, vos prèi,
la deus editoriaus ?
Que l’espiè lèu-lèu, en tòt har córrer lo oelh deu cap
au pèd de las colonas.
pasting printed words upon it. It ran : « As you value your life or your
reason keep away from the moor. » The word moor only was printed
in ink.
« Now, » said Sir Henry Bakerville, « 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 ? »
« What do you make of it, Dr Mortimer ? You must allow that there
is nothing supernatural about this, at any rate ? »
« No, sir, but it might very well come from someone who was
convinced that the business is supernatural. »
« What business ? » asked Sir Henry, sharply, « lt seems to me that
all you gentlemen know a great deal more than I do about my own
affairs. »
« 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 interes-
ting document, which must have been put together and posted
yesterday evening. Have you yesterday’s Times, Watson ? »
« It is here in the corner. »
« Might I trouble you for it – the inside page, please, with the
leading articles ? » He glanced swiftly over it, running his eyes up and
29
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— Aquí un article majorau suu Libre Escambi. Permé-
tetz-me de ve’n léger un tròç : « Se tienetz au vòste comèrci
o a la vòsta industria, hètz-ve enlà d’aquesta idèia qu’ua
politica proteccionista e’us pòt sauvagardar. La rason
que’ns ensenha qu’ua tau legislacion amendreix la
vòsta prosperitat, achequeix la valor de las importacions
e abaixa lo nivèu de vita generau deu país ». Çò qué ne’n
pénsatz, Watson ?, s’escridè Holmes dab hòrt de gai en
tot fretà’s las mans de contentèr. Ne pénsatz pas qu’acò’s
ua opinion amiradera ?
Lo doctor Mortimer que’s guinhè Holmes dab un
interés tot professionau e’N Henry Baskerville virè de
cap a jo un parelh de oelhs néguers estambornits.
— Ne m’i coneixi pas goaire en-d aqueths ahars de
proteccionisme e causas atau, ce hadó, mès me sembla
que’ns aloénham un chic deu tralh qui pertòca aquesta
letra.
— Au contra, que’m pensi que nes l’am encontrat
a-d aqueste tralh, En Henry. Watson, eth, que sap mie-
lhe los mens metòdes que no pas vos mès que cranhi que
n’agi pas quitament sasit çò qui vòu díser aquesta frasa.
— No, que cohessi que ne vei pas nat rapòrt.
— Qu’es egau, car Watson, lo rapòrt qu’es tant estret
que l’un e’s tira de l’aut :
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 land. » 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 looked at Holmes with an air of professional interest,
and Sir Henry Baskerville-turned a pair of puzzled dark eyes upon
me.
« l 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. »
« 0n 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, I confess that I see no connection. »
« And yet, my dear Watson, there is so very close a connection that
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Se tienetz, la vòsta, hètz-ve enlà, sauvagardar,
la rason, la vòsta, la, de vita.
E védetz adara d’a-ond estonn trèits aqueths
mots ?
— Hilh de puta ! B’atz rason ! E bé n’es pas de cré-
der ! ce cridè En Henry.
— S’avèvatz encoèra quauques dobtes, lo hèit que hètz-
ve enlà, Se tiénetz e sonn descopats d’un sol tenent ve’n
lhevaré los darrèirs.
— E bé hòu !, vertat qu’es.
— Mossur Holmes, tòt acò que passa la mesura de tot
çò qui aurí podut maginar, ce dixó lo doctor Mortimer
en bèth guinhar lo men amic dab estambornida. Que
podèvi adméter qu’aqueths mots e pervienèvann d’un
jornau mès que’n pósquitz balhar lo nom e mei assolidir
que cabèvann dentz l’editoriau, acò qu’es vertadeirament
ua de las causas mei amiraderas qu’agi jamei coneixut.
Com s’i pòt escàder ?
— Que gadgi, Doctor, que poiretz diferenciar lo cran
d’un Negre de lo d’un Esquimau ?
— Plan segur.
— Mès com ?
— Pr’amor qu’es la mia especialitat. Las diferéncias
que sonn vedederas La crèsta suprà-orbitau, l’angle
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 ?
« By thunder, you’re right ! Well, if that isn ’t smart ! » cried Sir Henry.
« lf any possible doubt remained it is settled by the fact that «keep
away» and «from the» are cut out in one piece.
« Well now – so it is ! »
«Really, Mr Holmes, this exceeds anything which I could have
imagined, » said Dr Mortimer, gazing at my friend in amazement.
« l 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 ? »
« I presume, doctor, that you could tell the skull of a Negro from
that of an Esquimaux ? »
« Most certainly. »
« But how ? »
« Because that is my special hobby. The differences are obvious.The
supra-orbital crest, the facial angle, the maxillary curve !the – »
« But this is my special hobby, and the differences are equally
30
faciau, la corba deu maixerar, lo...
— E qu’es la mia especialitat tabé e las diferéncias que’n
sonn tot parièr vedederas. Que i a tant de desparièr aus
mens oelhs enter las letras de molle borgesas d’un article
deu Times e l’impression maixantassa d’un diari deu
desser que no pas enter lo vòste Negre e lo vòste Esquimau.
Saber distinguir las menas de letras de molle qu’es ua de
las causas mei comunas de l’aprenedissadge d’un cri-
minològue, a maugrat que deu temps qui èri joenòt encoèra
– m’arribè un còp de cohóner lo Leeds Mercury e lo
Western Morning News. Mes un editoriau deu Times
qu’es de bon destriar e los mots aquestes ne’s podèvann pas
tirar d’unhaute diari quau qu’estossi. Com acò se hadó gèir,
qu’èra solide qu’anàvam trobar los mots dehentz lo numerò
de gèir.
— Donc, se’vs sègui plan, Mossur Holmes, ce dixó En
Henry Baskerville, quauqu’un que descopè aqueth mes-
sadge dab cisèus...
— Cisèus de talhar las unglas, ce rectifiquè Holmes.
Que pòdetz véder que s’agiva de cisèus de las lamas cortas
puixque lo descopaire s’i divó har a dus còps per tréger hètz-
ve enlà.
— Vertat qu’es. Quauqu’un, donc, descopè lo messadge
dab un par de cisèus de las lamas cortas, l’empeguè dab
còla...
obvious. There is as much difference to my eyes between the
bourgeois type of a Times article and the slovenly print of an evening
halfpenny paper as there could be between your and your Esquimaux.
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. »
« So far as I can follow you, then, Mr Holmes, » said Sir Henry
Baskerville, « someone cut out this message with a scissors – »
« 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”. »
« That is so. Someone, then, cut out the message with a pair of
short-bladed scissors, pasted it with paste – »
« Gum, » said Holmes.
« With gum on to the paper. But I want to know why the word
“moor” should have been written ? »

— Goma arabica, ce’u tornè copar Holmes.
— Dab goma arabica suu papèir. Mès que vorrí saber
perqué lo mot lana estó escriut a la man ?
— Pr’amor que ne’u trobè pas imprimit. Tots los autes
mots qu’èrann comuns e que’s trobàvann aisidament dentz
quau diari qui sii, mès lana qu’èra de mentz bon trobar.
— Çò qui at pòt esplicar solide. Atz dobinat quauquar-
ré mei a travèrs aqueth messadge, Mr. Holmes ?
— Ua o duas endicas a maugrat que s’agi hèit lo diu
e lo diable entà no pas deixar nat indici. L’adreça, qu’at
arremercaratz, qu’es redigida en letras esquèrras. Mès The
Times qu’es un diari qui’s tròba ralament en d’autas mans
que las de gents letruts. Que’n dívem donc compréner que
la letra estó compausada pr’un òmi letrut qui desirava ha’s
passar entà-d un qui ne n’èra pas. Los esfòrç que hadó entà
escóner lo son pròpi escríver hènn pensar que’u poiretz
conéixer o au mentz que s’escaderé que’u podóssitz conéixer.
De mei qu’arremercaratz que los mots ne sonn pas empegats
sus ua linha medixa e que mantuns e sonn plan mei hauts
que los auts. Vita, per exemple, qu’es completament descalat
rapòrt a la plaça qui es soa. Acò que pòt significar que
l’autor es negligent o au contra qu’es nerviós e destrigat.
Fin finala que’m clini a l’ipotèsi darrèira, pr’amor l’ahar
qu’èra evidentament importent, e ne sembla pas probable
que lo compausaire d’ua tau letra e pusqui estar negligent.
« 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. »
« Why,of course, that would explain it. Have you read anything else
in this message, Mr Holmes ? »
« 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. lf he were in a hurry it
opens up the interesting question why he should be in a hurry, since
31
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
S’èra destrigat, ua question interessenta que’s pausa :
perqué i avèva destric puixque ua letra postada davant la
darrèira lhevada deu matin e junheré En Henry davant
que quitèssi l’ostalaria. Lo compausaire e cranhé d’estar
interromput ? E per qui ?
— Qu’éntram adara dehentz lo domeni de las causas
verdiusas-verdausas, ce dixó lo doctor Mortimer.
— Disetz meilèu, suu terrenh que s’i pésann las pro-
babilitats davant que’s causissi la mei probabla. Que
dívem har ua usança scientifica de la nòsta imaginacion
mès qu’am totjamei a man quauquas bonas basas mate-
riaus entà desmarrar las nòstas especulacions. Qu’aperaratz
acò ua colhonada, bahida, mès que soi casi segur qu’aques-
ta adreça estó escriuta dentz ua ostalaria.
— Com lo diable pòdetz assolidir açò ?
— Se l’examínatz de-plan, que veiratz que lo qui escrivó
avó autant de trabucs dab lo calam com dab la tinta. Lo
calam que craixotegè dus còps en un sol mot e se n’assequè
tres còps en ua adreça tan braca çò qui amuixa que sobrava
hòrt chic de tinta dehentz lo tintèir. Ne’s permétenn pas
a casa qu’un calam o bé un tintèir e síinn dentz un estat
parièr e a mei hòrta rason, que los dus ne’n síinn, be diu
estar ua causa plan riala. Au contra que sàbetz çò qui
vàlenn los calams e la tinta de las ostalarias ond n’es pas
briga possible d’obtiéner mielhe. Que soi solide que se’ns
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 ? »
« We are coming now rather into the region of guess work. » said
Dr Mortimer.
« Say, rather, into the region where we halance 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 speculations.
Now, you would call it a guess, no doubt, but I am almost certain
that this address has been written in an hotel. »
« How in the world can you say that ? »
« 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 combi-
nation 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 wastepaper
baskets of the hotels round Charing Cross until we found the remains
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
èra permetut de sorguilhar dentz las caixas de salopèr de
las ostalarias a l’entorn de Charing Cross de mòdes que
pósquim trobar las rèstas de l’exemplari mutilat deu
Times, botarem lèu la man suu gent qui mandè aqueth
messadge esquèrr. Òu ! e çò qu’es acò ?
Holmes que guinhava minuciosament la hoelha de
papèir sus la quau èrann estats empegats los mots en
tot se la tiéner a quauques centimètres deus oelhs.
— E bé ?
— Arré, ce responó en tot la tornar pausar. Qu’es
sonque ua miei-hoelha de papèir blanc xentz un quite
filigrane. Que’m pensi qu’aquesta letra estranha nes a
liurat tot çò qui pòdem aubirar. Adara En Henry, desem-
puix qu’ètz arribat a Londras, se v’escadó quauquarré
especiau ?
— Nani, ma he, Mossur Holmes. No pensi pas.
— N’atz pas hèit cas s’èratz seguit o susvelhat ?
— Que’m sembla de cabuixar dehentz un roman néguer,
ce hadó lo nòste vesitaire. Perqué lo diable quauqu’un
e’m seguiré o me susvelharé ?
— Qu’i viénem lèu. N’atz pas arré mei a’ns har assàber
davant que’ns i hècim sus aqueste subjècte ?
— E bé, acò depend de çò qui considératz com contadís.
— Tot çò qui salh de la rotina ordinària de la vita
vitanta qu’es contadís, au men enténer.
of the mutilaled Times leader we could lay our hands straight upon
the person who sent this singular message. Halloa ! Halloa ! What’s
this ? »
He was carefully examining the foolscap, upon which the words
were pasted, holding it only an inch or two from his eyes.
« Well ? »
« Nothing, » said he, throwing it down. « It is a blank half-sheet
of paper, without even a watermark 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 heen in
London ? »
« Why, no » Mr Holmes I think not. »
« You have not observed anyone follow or watch you ? »
« 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 ? »
« We are coming to that. You have nothing else to report to us
before we go into this matter ? »
« Well. It depends upon what you think worth reporting. »
« I think anything out of the ordinary routine of life well worth
reporting. »
32
Qu’arridolegè En Henry.
— Ne soi pas encoèra trop acostumat au víver deus Anglés
puixque passèi casi tota la mia vita aus Estats-Units e au
Canadà. Mes qu’espèri que de pèrder ua de las soas bòtas
ne hè pas partida de la rotina de la vita vitanta de per
’quí.
— Qu’atz perdut ua de las vòstas cauçaduras ? ,
— Mon car Mossur ! c’esclamè lo doctor Mortimer, qu’es
sonque esbarrida. Que la tornaratz trobar qüand réntritz
a l’ostalaria. Ne’vs cau pas destorbar Mossur Holmes dab
taus pequinhadas !
— Mès que’m domandè de li contar tot çò qui èra hòra
la rotina ordinària.
— De segur, ce dixó Holmes. Autan pèc que’vs podossi
paréixer l’eveniment. Qu’atz donc perdut ua de las vòstas
cauçaduras ?
— E bé, esbarrit au mentz. Que las botèi totas duas
davant la pòrta de la mia cramba, la noeit passada. E
ne’n sobrava sonque ua au matin. Deu ceraire, ne’n podoi
pas tirar nada esplica. Çò de sordeis es que las crompèi asser
dentz lo Strand e que ne’m vaguè pas de las cauçar.
— Se ne las avèvatz pas jamei botadas, perqué las har
cerar ?
— Qu’èrann botinas de las brunas e n’èrann pas jamei
estadas vernissadas. Pr’amor de ’cò las pausèi a cerar.
Sir Henry smiled. « I don’t know much of British Iife 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. »
You have lost one of your boots ? »
« My dear sir, » cried Dr Mortimer, « it is only mislaid. You wil find
it when you return to the hotel. What is the use of troubling Mr Holmes
wilh trifles of this kind ? »
« Well, he asked me for anything outside the ordinary routine. »
« Exactly, » said Holmes, « however foolish the incident may seem.
You have lost one of your boots, you say ? »
« 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. »
« If you have never worn them, why did you put them out to be
cleaned ? »
« They were tan boots, and had never been varnished. That was
why I put them out. »
« Then I understand that on your arrival in London yesterday you

— Donc se compreni plan, qüand arribètz gèir en
Londras, que sortitz de tira entà anar crompar un par de
cauçaduras ?
— Que hadoi ua tropa de crompas. Lo doctor Morti-
mer que m’acompanhava. Vedetz, se devi har au casteran
alahòra, que cau que m’apelhi en fonccion e dinc adara
m’èri meilèu negligentament acatralhat dentz l’Oèst
american. Per demiei d’autas causas que crompèi aquestas
botinas brunas – qui me costènn xeis dolarrs – e l’ua m’estó
raubada permèir que’m vagui de las aver aus pèds.
— Panar un objecte atau me sembla particulariment
xentz interés, ce dixó Holmes. Que cohessi que soi d’acòrdi
dab lo doctor Mortimer qüand ditz que la tornaratz tro-
bar lèu, a-d aquesta cauçadura mancanta.
— E adara, Mossurs, ce dixó lo baronet d’un aire
decisiu, que’m sembla qu’èi pro batalat deu chic qui
sabèvi. Que se’n va temps que tiénitz çò de prometut e que
m’assabéntitz de çò qui v’es coneixut.
— La vòsta domanda qu’es de las rasonablas, ce
responó Holmes. Doctor Mortimer, gadgi que ne poiretz
pas har mentz que contar l’istòria com nes la contètz a
nosatis.
Atau encoradjat, lo nòste scientific e amic qu’espo-
chiquè los sos papèirs e’ns presentè l’ahar de la manèira
medixa com lo matin de davant. En Henry Baskerville
went out at once and bought a pair of boots ? »
« 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. »
« lt 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. »
« 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. »
« 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. »
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 lhe deepest
attention and with an occasional exclamation of surprise.
33
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
qu’escotè dab la mei pregonda atencion e de temps en
qüand larguè un esclam de suspresa.
— E bé, se m’escad un eretadge acompanhat d’ua
venjança, ce’m sembla, ce dixó qüand estó acabat lo long
raconte. Plan segur qu’entenoi a parlar deu Canhàs, deu
brèç avant. Qu’es ua istoèra qui se transmet dentz la
familha a maugrat ne la prenoi pas jamei au seriós, au
davant. E pertocant a la mòrt deu men toton – tot acò
que’m boreix dehentz la cruca e la lutz ne’s hè pas encoèra.
Ne sémblatz pas aver causit entà saber s’èra un ahar de
polícia o de religion.
— Vertat.
— Apuix aquera letra qui m’èra adreçada a l’ostalaria.
Qu’aubiri que’s restaca au çò d’aut.
— Qu’amuixa quauqu’un que’n sap mei que no pas
nosatis sus çò qui’s debana capvath la lana, ce dixó lo
doctor Mortimer.
— E mei, ce horní Holmes, qu’aqueth quauqu’un n’es
pas maudispausat cap a vos puixque v’averteix d’un dan-
gèir.
— A mentz que ne desírinn – entà servir las lors visadas
– ha’m hoéger.
— Qu’es tot a fèit possible tabé, de-segur. Que’vs soi hòrt
reconeixent a vos, doctor Mortimer, entà m’aver susmetut
un problèma qui presentava tant d’alternativas interes-
« Well I seem to have come into an inheritance with a vengean-
ce, » 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. »
« Precisely. »
« And now there’s this affair of the letter to me at the hotel. I
suppose that fits into its place. »
« It seems to show that someone is not ill-disposed towards you,
since they warn you of danger. »
« Or it may be that they wish for their own purposes to scare me
away. »
« 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. »
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
sentas. Mes çò de pratic e que dívem decidir adara qu’es
de saber, En Henry, se’vs cau anar a Baskerville Hall o
no.
— E perqué n’i anirí pas ?
— Que sembla de qu’i agi dangèir.
— Qu’enténetz dangèir vienent d’aqueste demòni de la
legenda o bé dangèir vienent de creats umans ?
— E bé qu’es çò qui dévem tirar a lutz.
— Qué que’n viri, lo men decís qu’es hèit. N’i a pas nat
diable dentz l’ihèrn, Mossur Holmes, e nat òmi sus aquesta
tèrra qui m’empachi de tornar a la damorança deus mens
aujòus. E que pòdetz considerar acò com la mia responsa
finau.
Los sos sorcilhs néguers qu’èrann froncits e qu’èra
vadut crèsta-roi en bèth devisar. Qu’èra vededer lo
temperament hagard deus Baskerville que racejava
encoèra en la persona deu son darrèir representent.
— Mentretant, ce contunhèt, que’m vaguè a penas
d’empensar tot çò qui’m contètz. Qu’es un copa-cap
entà-d un òmi de s’assabentar e de decidir a de-reng.
Que’m carré ua orada tranquilla entà perpensar de-plan.
Bon, Mossur Holmes que sonn adara onze òras e mieja,
me’n vau anar directament entà l’ostalaria. E vòletz vié-
ner dinnar dab nosauts a duas òras, dab lo vòste amic,
lo doctor Watson ? Que serèi alavetz capable de’vs díser
« Why should I not go ? »
« There seems to be danger. »
« Do you mean danger from this family fiend or do you mean
danger from human beings ? »
« Well, that is what we have to find out. »
« 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, l have hardly had time to think over all that
you have told me. lt’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. »
34
mei clarament lo mens avís sus l’ahar aqueste.
— E’vs agrada Watson ?
— Tot parièr.
— Donc que’ns pòdetz esperar. E’vs devi aperar un fia-
cre ?
— Que m’estimi mei caminar pr’amor aqueste ahar m’a
un chic capvirat.
— Que v’acompanharèi dab gai, ce dixó lo son
companh.
— E bé, que’ns tornaram encontrar a duas òras. Au
revéder e dinc a totara !
Qu’entenom lo trepejar deus nòstes vesitaires dentz
l’escalèir e lo barrar de la pòrta d’entrada. En un virat
de oelhs, Holmes que passè deu saunejaire adromit a
l’òmi d’accion.
— Botatz-ve lo xapèu e las cauçaduras, Watson,
haut ! Pas un moment a pèrder !
Que’s percipitè dehentz la soa cramba e que’n salhí
quauquas segondas mei tard en tot aver escambiat la
rauba de cramba en-per ua levita. Que’ns esdeburèm
a devarar l’escalèir e’ns arronçar per carrèira. Lo doctor
Mortimer e Baskerville qu’èrann encoèra vistables a
dus cents mètres avant, de cap entà Oxford Street.
— E’us devi córrer après e’us estancar ?
— No pas briga, mon car Watson, que soi perfeita-ment
« ls that convenient to you, Watson ? »
« Perfectly. »
« Then you may expect us. Shall I have a cab called ? »
« I’d prefer to walk, for this affair has flurried me rather. »
« I’ll join you in a walk, with pleasure, » said his companion.
« Then we meet again at two o’clock. Au revoir, and good mor-
ning ! »
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.
« Your hat and boots, Watson, quick ! Not a moment to lose ! »
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.
« ShalI I run on and stop them ? »
« Not for the world, my dear Watson, l 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. »

content de la vòsta compania, s’accéptatz la mia. Los nòstes
amics qu’avèvann rason, la matiada qu’es beròi agra-
diva entà passejà’s.
Que n’anó mei aviat dinc a qu’avóssim redusit de
mitat la distància qui’ns aloenhava d’eths. Apuix, tot
goardant un espaçament d’un centenat de mètres, que
que’us seguim atau per Oxford Street e mei per Regent
Street. Los nòstes amics que hadonn estanc un còp
davant la veirina d’ua botiga e Holmes que’n hadó tot
parièr. Un momenton après, que larguè un cridòt de
satisfaccion e, en tot seguir la direccion deus sos oelhs
hissants, qu’aperceboi un fiacre qu’un òmi i èra dehentz.
Aqueth fiacre qui s’èra arrestat de l’aute estrem de la
carrèira se tornava har en davant.
— Aquí lo nòste òmi, Watson ! Vienetz ençà ! Qu’auram
au mentz lo gai de’u descarar se ne pòdem pas har mei.
Qu’avoi consciéncia d’ua barbassa negra e espeluhi-
da e d’un parelh de oelhs hissaires qui’s virènn de cap
a nosatis a travèrs la vitra laterau deu fiacre. En medix
temps lo frineston deu tèit s’aubrí ; se cridè quauquarré
au cochèr e lo fiacre s’escapè a hum de calhau capvath
Regent Street. Holmes que cerquè en balas après unhau-
te mès nat fiacre n’èra pas libre aus entorns. Alavetz
que’s botè a córrer au bèth miei de las veituras mès lo
fiacre qu’avèva bèra avança e lèu que desapareixó.
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 walking slowly onwards again.
There’s our man, Watson ! Come along ! We’ll have a good look
at him, if we can do no more. »
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 insight.
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.
« There now ! » said Hotoes, bitterly, as he emerged panting and
white with vexation from the tide of vehicles. « Was ever such bad luck
35
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— Ah, hilh de puta ! ce hadó Holmes dab amarumi,
qüand me tornè júnher, desalentat e panle, de la
horrèra de las veituras. E s’a dijà vist tau mauescaden-
ça e tau hrèita d’organisacion tabé ! Watson, Watson,
s’ètz un òmi aunèste, que contaratz tabé aquesta caga-
da qui harà lo contra aus mens succès !
— Quau èra aqueth òmi ?
— Ne n’èi pas nada idèia.
— Un espionaire ?
— E bé, solide que, d’après çò qui avèvam aprés, Bas-
kerville es estat seguit de prèp per quauqu’un desempuix
que vileja en Londras. Siquenó com seré podut estar
assabentat qu’èra lo Northumberland Hotel que Bas-
kerville avèva causit ? Se se l’ann seguit lo permèir jorn,
ne podèvann pas har autament lo segond. Qu’arremerquètz
belèu que, per dus còps, e’m hadoi pròixe de la frinèsta
deu temps qui lo doctor Mortimer èra a tornar léger la soa
legenda.
— Quiò. Que me’n brembi.
— Que volèvi saber se n’i avèva pas quauque badaire
per carrèira mès ne’n vedoi pas nat. Qu’am a har dab un
òmi rusat, Watson. Aquesta istòria qu’es d’im-porténcia
a maugrat que n’agi pas trencat s’èra per plan-volença o
mau-volença qu’aqueth gus agiva. Mès que senti en devath
la poténcia de las visadas. Qüand los nòstes amics e
and such bad management, too ? Watson, Watson, if you are an
honest man you will record this also and set it against my succes-
ses ! »
« Who was the man ? »
« l have not an idea. »
« A spy ? »
« 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 etse-ie~ld it be known so quickly that it 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 l twice strolled over to the window while Dr Mortimer
was reading his legend. »
« Yes, l remember. »
« 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, l am
conscious always of power and design. When our friends left I at once
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
partinn, que’us seguii còpsec en tot esperar poder desca-
retar aqueth nhau invesible. Qu’estó pro savi entà no pas
hidà’s a las soas camas mès s’escóner dehentz un fiacre de
mòdes que podèva esperar au darrèir d’eths o bé los
despassar xentz de qu’i hadóssinn cas. E mei lo son metòde
qu’avèva l’avantadge d’estar parat a’us seguir se per escadença
e prenèvann un fiacre. Que presentava sonque un
desavantadge majorau. Lo de’s botar a la mercès d’un
cochèr.
— Exactament.
— Qu’es pecat que n’àgim pas relhevat lo numerò !
— Mon car Watson, mauadret qu’estoi mès ne magínatz
pas seriosament qu’agi podut mancar lo numerò ? 2704
qu’es. Mes preu moment n’a pas hòrt d’utilitat.
— N’arribi pas a véder com auretz podut har mei !
— Qüand arremerquèi lo fiacre, qu’aurí divut de-tira
m’arrevirar e n’anar dentz l’auta direccion. Qu’aurí
alavetz avut léser de logar unhaut fiacre e seguir lo permèir
a distància respectuosa o, mielhe encoèra, me har miar
entau Northumberland Hotel e i aténder. Qüand lo
nòste desconeixut auré seguit Baskerville dinc a son, qu’aurem
avut l’escadença de har au son jòc aus sos despends e véder
entà ond la tirava. Pr’amor de la nòsta impaciéncia
pegòta, lo nòste contra que n’a pres avantadge dab ua ra-
piditat e ua energia estraordinària que ns’èm tradits nos-
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. lt has, however, one obvious disadvantage. »
« lt puts him in the power of the cabman. »
« Exactly. »
« What a pity we did not get the number ! »
« My dear Watson, clumsy as I have been, you surely do not
seriously imagine that I neglected to get the number ? 2704 is our
man. But that is no use to us for the moment. »
« l fail to see how you could have done more. »
« 0n 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
36
medixs e atau qu’am perdut lo nòste òmi.
Deu temps qui batalàvam, que balandràvam cap-
vath Regent Street, e lo doctor Mortimer e lo son
companh, bèra pausa que s’èrann estavanits aus nòstes
oelhs.
— N’i a pas nada rason de contunhar de’us seguir, ce
dixó Holmes. L’espionaire qu’es partit e ne tornarà pas.
Que’ns cau véder quaus atots am en man e los har vàler
dab decision. E puiretz tornar conéixer la cara de l’òmi
se’vs hadènn juramentar.
— Que poiri jurar sonque de la barba.
— E jo tot parier, çò qui’m hè créder qu’acò’s ua faussa
en tota probabilitat. Un òmi de capadge atau ne’s chauta
pas d’ua barba lhevat qüand vòu amagar la soa cara.
Hentram aquí, Watson !
Que penetrè dehentz un burèu de messadjarias que
i estó calorosament arcoelhut preu gabidaire.
— Ah, Wilson, que vei que n’atz pas oblidat aquesta
petita hèita ond se m’escadó de v’ajudar ?
— Que nani, Mossur, n’at èi pas oblidat. Que sauvètz
la mia renomada e belèu la mia vita.
— Qu’exageratz, amic men. Que’m sembla brembar
qu’avètz un dròle demiei los vòstes gojats, qui s’aperava
Cartwright e qui avèva muixat quauqua abinletat men-
tra l’enquista.
opponent, we have betrayed ourselves and lost our man. »
We had been sauntering slowly down Regent Street during this
conversatîon, and Dr Mortimer, with his companion, had long
vanished in front of us.
« There is no object in our following them, » said Holrnes. « 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 ? »
« I could swear only to the beard. »
« 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 ! »
He turned into one of the district messenger offices, where he was
warmly greeted by the manager.
« Ah, Wilson, I see you have not forgotten the little case in which
I had the good fortune to help you ? »
« No, sir, indeed I have not. You saved my good name, and perhaps
my Iife. »
« 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. »

— Quiò, Mossur. Qu’es totjamei dab nosatis.
— E’u pòdetz aperar ? Mercí hòrt. E que m’agradaré
d’aver la moneda d’aqueste bilhet de cinc liuras esterlins.
Un dròle de catòrze anns d’adge dab ua cara larga
e esberida que responó a la crida deu gabidaire. Que
s’estè aquí en tot oelhiquejar de cap au famós detectiu.
— Hètz-me passar l’anuari de las ostalarias, ce domandè
Holmes. Mercí plan ! Adara, Cartwright, aquí qu’atz los
noms de vint-e-tres ostalarias, totas dentz los entorns
pròixes de Charing Cross. Que va ?
— Ò-bé, Mossur.
— Que las vesitaratz totas a de-reng.
— Ò-bé, Mossur.
— Que començaratz en tot balhar un shilling au portièr
de dahòra. Aquí vint-e-tres shillings.
— Ò-bé, Mossur.
— Que’u diratz que vòletz véder lo contingut de gèir de
las caixas deu salopèr. Que diratz qu’un telegrama impor-
tent es estat esbarrit e que’u cèrcatz. Qu’atz comprés ?
— Ò-bé, Mossur.
« Yes, sir, he is still with us. »
« Could you ring him up? Thank you ! And I should be glad to have
change of this five-pound note. »
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.
« 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 ? »
« Yes, sir. »
« You will visit each of these in turn. »
« Yes, sir. »
« You will begin in each case by giving the outside porter one
shilling. Here are twenty-three shillings. »
« Yes, sir. »
« You will telI him that you want to see the waste paper of
yesterday. You wilI say that an important telegram has miscarried
37
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— Mes çò qui cercaratz vertadeirament, qu’es ua paja
interiora deu Times que traucs i estonn hèits dehentz dab
cisèus. Aquí qu’atz un exemplari d’aqueth Times. La paja
qu’es aquesta. Que la poiratz conéixer aisidament, ver-
tat ?
— Ò-bé, Mossur.
— A cada còp, lo portièr que’vs mandarà au portièr deu
hall au quau balharatz tabé un shilling. Aquí vint-e-tres
shillings de mei. Que v’assabentarà alavetz que, belèu
dentz vint cas sus vint-e-tres, las dèixas e sonn estadas
cramadas o lhevadas. Dentz los tres auts cas que’vs muixa-
rann un pialàs de paperalha e que v’i carrà sorguilhar
dehentz entà trobar la paja aquesta deu Times. L’escaden-
ça de’u trobar qu’es minima. Aquí dètz shillings de mei
en cas de besonh. Hètz-me un rapòrt per telegrafa a
Baker Street davant aqueste desser. Adara Watson que’ns
damòra a telegrafiar entà conéixer l’identitat deu nòste
cochèr, lo n° 2704. Apuix qu’aniram dentz ua de las
galerias de tablèus de Bond Street per fin de passar lo
temps dinc a l’òra de’ns rénder a l’ostalaria.
and that you are Iooking for it. You understand ? »
« Yes, sir. »
« 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 Times. It is
this page. You could easily recognize it, could you not ? »
« Yes, sir. »
« In each case the outside porter will send for the hall porter, whom
also you will give a shilling. Here are twenty-three shillings. You will
then learn in possibly twenty cases out of the twenty-thrée 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 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 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 fil in the time until we are due at the hotel.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Tres hius copats
Capítou Cincau
S
herlock Holmes qu’avèva, au mei haut grad, la
capacitat de’s liberar l’esperit a volentat. Mentra
duas oradas, l’estranh ahar que i èram mesclats,
que semblè de’u desbrembar e qu’estó completament
absorbat preus tablèus deus mèstes contemporanèus
de la pintura flamanda. Deu moment qui sortim de
la galeria e dinc a qu’arribèssim au Northumberland
Hotel, que devisè sonque dessús l’art entau quau avèva
teorias de las mei grossièras.
— En Henry Baskerville qu’es a l’en-sus e que v’espèra,
ce dixó lo recepcionista. Que’m domandè de’vs har pujar
suu pic.
— E veiretz trabuc a çò qui guèiti lo vòste registre ? ce
questionè Holmes.
— Pas nat.
Lo líber qu’amuixava dus noms enregistrats adarrond
lo de Baskerville. Un qu’èra Theophilus Johnson, dab
la soa familha de Newcastle, l’aut Mrs. Oldmore dab
la soa goja, de High Lodge, Alton. . E acò’s ua hèita hòrt significativa.
— Solide qu’es lo medix Johnson que coneixoi d’autes-
còps, ce dixó Holmes au recepcionista. Un avocat qu’es,
qui griseja deu cap e qui arranqueja de la cama ?
— Que nani, Mossur, qu’es Mossur Johnson, lo proprie-
tari de las minas de carbon ; un òmi hòrt aniu e pas
5 — Three Brocken Threads
Sherlock Holmes had, in a very remarkable degree, the power of
detaching his mind at will. For two hour the strange business in which
we had been involved appeared to be forgotten, and he was entirely
absorbed in the pictures of the modern Belgian masters. He would
talk of nothing but art, of which he had the crudest ideas, from our
leaving the gallery until we found ourselves at the Northumberland
Hotel.
« Sir Henry Baskerville is upstairs expecting you, » said the clerk.
« He asked me to show you up at once when you came. »
« Have you any objection to my looking at your register ? » said
Holmes.
« Not in least. »
The book showed that two names had been added after that of
Baskerville. One was Theophilus Johnson and family, of Newcas-
tle ; the other Mrs Oldmore and maid, of High Lodge, Alton.
« Surely that must be the same Johnson whom I used to know, »
said Holmes to the porter. « A lawyer, is he not, grey-headed, and
walks with a limp ? »
« No, sir, this is Mr Johnson the coal-owner, a very active
38
goaire mei adjat que vos-medix.
— Que v’engànatz solide rapòrt au son mestèir ?
— No pas, Mossur. Que frequenta aquesta ostalaria
desempuix ua tropa d’anadas e que’u conéixem hòrt plan.
— Acò que règla l’ahar. Dauna Oldmore, tabé : que’m
sembla lo nom que m’es coneixut. Desencusatz lo men
curiosèr, mes sovent qüand vam per encontrar un amic,
sovent se’n tròba unhaute.
— Qu’es ua dauna invalida, Mossur. Lo son marit
qu’estó cònsou de Gloucester. Era que devara totjamei a
nòste qüand vien en vila.
— Mercès plan, qu’èi pòur de la no pas conéixer. A votz
baixa Holmes que contunhè com pujàvann amassa entà
l’en-sus : Qu’am atau establit un hèit importent dab
aquesta corriòla de questions, Watson. Qu’es sabeder adara
que los gents qui tant s’interéssann au nòste amic ne sonn
pas aubergats en la medixa ostalaria. Acò que vòu díser,
a maugrat que síinn hòrt aucupats de’u susvelhar – com
at vedom –, sonn autaplan aucupats de no pas ha’s véder.
— Çò qui’vs suggereix ?
— Que muixa que... hòu, amic men, que lo diable donc
se passa ací.
Com arribàvam au som de l’escalèir que’ns tumèm
de cap a’N Henry Baskerville, eth-medix. Qu’avèva la
gentleman, not older than yourself. Surely you are mistaken aboüt
his trade ? »
« No, sir, he has used this hotel for many years, and he is very well
known to us. »
« Ah, that settles it. Mrs 0ldmore, too ; l seem to remember the
name. Excuse my curiosity, but often in calling upon one friend one
finds another. »
« She is aninvalid lady, sir. Her husband was once Mayor of
Gloucester. She always comes to us when she is in town. »
« Thank you ; I am afraid l cannot claim her acquaintance. We have
established a most important fact by these questions, Watson, » he
continued, in a low voice, as we went upstairs together. « We know
now that the people who are so interested in our friend have not
settled down in his own hotel. That means that they are, as we have
seen, very anxious to watch him, they are equally anxious that he
should not see them. Now, this is a most suggestive fact. »
« What does it suggest ? »
« It suggests – halloa, my dear fellow, what on earth is the mat-
ter ? »
As we came round the top of the stairs we had run up against Henry

cara enrogida de malícia e que tienè a la man ua botina
vielha e provassuda. Qu’èra tant enmaliciat que mo-
tejava tot escàs e qüand s’i escadó enfin a devisar, qu’èra
en un parlar mentz fin e mei americanisat que no pas
lo qui solèva emplegar lo matin dab nosatis.
— Qu’èi l’impression de que’m prénenn pr’un colhon
en ’quera ostalaria, ce cridava. Que s’aperceb’rann lèu que
cau pas jogar atau dab jo ! Au grand Diu Vivant, s’aqueth
gusard ne torna pas trobar la botina mancanta còpsec, qu’i
aurà destroble. La colhonada que m’agrada dinc a un cèrt
limit, Mossur Holmes mes que hè un temps adara qu’acò
passa mesura !
— Totjamei a’vs cercar la botina ?
— Quiò, Mossur, e trobar-la que voi.
— Mès que dixotz que s’agiva d’ua botina nava e cas-
tanh ?
— Que n’èra atau mes adara qu’es d’ua vielha de las
negas que s’ageix.
— De qué ! ne vòletz pas díser...?
— Qu’es justament çò qui voi díser. Qu’avèvi sonque tres
parelhs de cauçaduras sus tèrra : las navèras brunas, las
vielhas negas e las vernissadas qui pòrti adara. La noeit
passada que prenonn ua de las brunas e oei me pànann
ua de las negas. E bé l’atz arretrobada ? E bé qu’ètz mut
Baskerville himself. His face was flushed with anger, and he held an
old and dusty boot in one of his hands. So furious he was hardly
articulate, and when he did speak it was in a much broader and more
Western dialect than any which we had heard from him in the
morning.
« Seems to me they are playing me for a sucker in this hotel, » he
cried. « They’ll find they’ve started in to monkey with the wrong man
unless they are careful. By thunder, if that chap can’t find my missing
boot there will be trouble, l can take a joke with the best,Mr Holmes,
but they’ve got a bit over the mark this time. »
« Still lookingo for your boot ? »
« So it was,sir,and mean to find it. » . « Why, you look very serious over it. »
« But surely you said that it was a new brown boot ? »
« And now it’s an old black one. »
« What ! you don’t mean to say – ? »
« That’s just what I do mean to say. l oniy had three pairs in the
world – the new brown, the old black, and the patent leathers, which
I am wearing. Last night they took one of my brown ones, and today
they have sneaked one of the black. Well have you got it ? Speak out,
man, and don’t stand staring ! »
An agitated German waiter had appeared upon the scene.
39
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
o qué ! Hòu ! estancatz donc de’m badar pegassament !
Un crambèr alemand, esvariat, que pareixó en aque-
ras.
— Nani, Mossur. Ai cercat dins l’ostalariá tota mas ai
pas trapat cap de traça.
— E bé, o aquesta botina me serà tornada davant lo
desser o bé qu’anirèi véder lo director entà’u díser que quiti
de-tira aquera ostalaria.
— Serà trobada, Mossur. Vos prometi que se sètz un pauc
pacientós, la retrobarem.
— B’i compti plan ! Qu’es la darrèira causa mia que
pèrdi en aqueth panatòri. Mossur Holmes, me desencusa-
ratz de’vs destorbar dab pequenhadas d’aqueras.
— Que’m pensi que se’n vau la pena de se’n chautar.
— Perqué ? be vòletz préner acò au seriós ?
— Com esplícatz aquesta desapareixuda ?
— N’assagi pas quitament d’esplicar. Qu’es la causa mei
esquèrra e destariolanta qui jamei se m’escadó.
— La mei esquèrra, belèu, ce dixó Holmes empensat.
— Qué ne’n pénsatz vos-medix ?
— E bé, ne pretendi pas compréner aquesta hèita en-
coèra. L’ahar qui’vs pertòca qu’es deus peluts, En Henry.
Se’u restaqui a la mòrt deu vòste oncle, ne crei pas que
demiei los cinc cents ahars d’importéncia qu’avoi a trattar,
« No, sir ; I have made inquiry all over the hotel, but Ican hear no
word of it. »
« Welle, either, that boot comes back before sundown, or I’ll see
the manager and tell him that I go right straight out of this ho-
tel. »
« It shall be found, sir – I promise you that if you will have a litlle
patience it will be found. »
« Mind it is, for it’s the last thing of mine that I’ll lose in this den
of thieves. Well, well, Mr Holmes, you’ll excuse my troubling you
about such a trifle – »
« l think if’s well worth troubling about. »
« How do you explain it ? »
« l just don’t attempt to explain it. It seems the very maddest,
queerest thing that ever happened to me. »
« The queerest, perhaps, » said Holmes, thoughtfully. « What do
you make of it yourself ? »
« Well, l don’t profess to understand it yet. This case of yours is
very complex, Sir Henry. When taken in conjunction with your uncle’s
death l am not sure that of all the five hundred cases of capital
importance which I have handled there is one which cuts so deep.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
se’n tròbi un qui sii autan pregond. Mès que tiénem
mantuns hius en las nòstas mans e solide que’ns mia-
rann los uns o los auts – de cap entà la vertat. Que
desperdíciam temps en tot seguir los faus mès, de-d’òra o
de-tard, que ns’i escaderam a trobar lo bon.
Apuix que dinnèm dentz ua atmosfèra agradiva que
ne s’i parlè pas goaire de l’ahar qui’ns avèva amassat.
Qu’estó dentz lo salon còsta la cramba, que ns’i anom
pausar après dinnar, que Holmes questionè Baskerville
rapòrt a las soas intencions.
— Anar entà Baskerville Hall.
— E qüand ?
— Per la fin de la semmana.
— Tot compte hèit e rebatut, ce dixó Holmes, que crei
que lo vòste decís es savi. Qu’es pro clar qu’ètz seguit a
Londras e demiei los milions d’estadjants d’aquesta grand
ciutat qu’es de mau descobrir qui sonn aqueths gents e
quaus sonn las lors visadas. Se sonn de las malas, que seram
incapables de har empach a-d aquesta malahèita. Ne
sabèvatz pas, Doctor Mortimer, qu’ètz estats seguits deu
men ostau avant ?
Lo doctor Mortimer que n’avó ua estrèita viva.
— Seguits ? Per qui ?
— Qu’es çò qui malurosament ne’vs poix pas díser. E
But we hold several threads in our hands, and the odds are that one
or other of them guides us to the truth. We may waste time in following
the wrong one, but sooner or later, we must come upon the right. »
We had a pleasant luncheon in which little was said of the business
which had brought us together. It was in the private sitting-room
to which we afterwards repaired that Holmes asked Baskerville what
were his intentions.
« To go to Baskerville Hall. »
« And when ? »
« At the end of the week. »
« On the whole, » said Holmes, I think that your decision is a wise
one. l have ample evidence that you are being dogged in London,
and amid the millions of this great city it is difficult to discover who
these people are or what their object can be. If their intentions are
evil they might do you a mischief, and we should be powerless to
prevent it. You did not know, Dr Mortimer, that you were followed
this morning from my house ? »
Dr Mortimer started violently. « Followed ! By whom ? »
« That, unfortuiiately, is what l cannot tell you.Have you among
your neighbours or acquaintances on Dartmoor any man with a
40
védetz per demiei lo vesiar o los vòstes coneixuts en Dart-
moor un òmi dab ua barbassa negra ?
— Nani, o – esperatz – si-bé ! Barrymore, lo mèste
d’ahars de’N Charles qu’es un òmi néguer de barba. Bar-
ba de las bèras.
— Ha ! Ond damòra aqueth Barrymore ?
— Qu’es lo gardian de la Mansa.
— Que’ns carré saber se s’estè vertadeirament alahòra
o se s’escadó que vienossi entà Londras.
— E com pòdem har ?
— Balhatz-me un imprimit de telegrama. « Tot qu’es
parat pre’N Henry ? ». Qu’anirà atau. Adreçat a Mossur
Barrymore – Baskerville Hall. Quau es lo burèu de las
pòstas lo mei pròixe ? Grimpen. Va plan. Que’n vam
enviar unhaut a l’atencion deu recebedor deu burèu de las
pòstas. « Telegrama entà Mr. Barrymore, a li reméter
en mans pròpias. Se absent, tornar entà’N Henry
Baskerville – Northumberland Hotel ». Atau que sauram
davant aqueste desser se Barrymore es au son tribalh en
Devonshire o no.
— Bon, d’acòrdi, ce dixó Baskerville. Mès au fèit,
doctor Mortimer, quau es aqueth Barrymore ?
— Qu’es lo hilh deu vielh gardian qui s’es mòrt adara
lo praube d’eth. Gardians de la Mansa, que’n sonn
desempuix qüate generacions adara. E autant que’n sèi,
black, full beard ? »
« No – or, let me see – why, yes. Barrymore, Sir Charles’s butler,
is a man with a full, black beard. »
« Ha ! Where is Barrymore ? »
« He is in charge ot the Hall. »
« We had best ascertain if he is really there, or if by any possibility
he might be in London. »
« How can you do that ? »
« Give me a telegraph form. « Îs all ready for Sir Henry ? » That will
do. Address to Mr Barrymore. Baskerville Hall. Which is the nearest
telegraph office ? Grimpen. Very good, we will send a .second wire
to the postmaster, Grimpen : «Telegram to Mr Barrymore, to be
delivered into his own hand. If absent, please return wire to Sir Henry
Baskerville, Northumberland Hotel. » That should let us know before
evening whether Barrymore is at his post in Devonshire or not. »
« That’s so. » said Baskerville. « By the way, Dr Mortimer, who is
this Barrymore, anyhow ? »
« He is the son of the old caretaker, who is dead.They have looked
after the Hall for four generations now. So far as l know, he and his
wife are as respectable a couple as any in the county. »

eth e la soa hemna hènn un coble de-plan.
— En medix temps, ç’arremerquè Baskerville, qu’es pro
clar que, deu temps qui nat membre de la familha ne
damòra pas en la Mansa, que se la pàssann bèra, dehentz
un ostau meilèu agradiu.
— Vertat qu’es.
— E profieitè lo Barrymore deu testament de’N Char-
les ? ce questionè Holmes.
— Que recebó 500 liuras esterlinns e la hemna soa tot
parier.
— Ha ! Èrann assabentats que devèvann tocar acò ?
— E-ò. En Charles qu’aimava a parlar de las dispausi-
cions testamentàrias.
— Acò qu’es hòrt interessent.
— Qu’espèri, ce tornè lo doctor Mortimer, que ne
considéritz pas dab oelhs sospieitós tots los qui eretènn
de’N Charles pr’amor que’m deixè tabé mila liuras ester-
linns.
— Tabé ! E qui mei ?
— Qu’i avèva d’autas somas pechivas balhadas a
quauques gents e a ua tropa d’associacions de caritat. Lo
çò d’aute que revien a’N Henry.
— E quau èra lo montant deu çò d’aute ?
— Sèt cent quaranta mila liuras esterlinns.
Holmes que’n hadó oelhs d’estonament.
« At the same time, » said Baskerville, « it’s clear enough that so
long as there are none of the family at the Hall these people have a
mighty fine home and nothing to do. »
« That is true. »
« Did Barrymore profit at all by Sir Charles »s will ? » asked Holmes.
« He and his wife had five hundred pounds each. »
« Ha! Did they know that they would receive this ? »
« Yes ; Sir Charles was very fond of talking about the provisions
of his will. »
« That is very interesting. »
« I hope, » said Dr Mortimer, « that you do not look with suspicious
eyes upon everyone,who received a legacy from Sir Charles, for l also
had a thousand pounds left to me. »
« Indeed ! And Anyone else ? »
« There were many insignificant sums to individüals and a large
number of public charities. The residue all went to Sir Henry. »
« And how much was the residue ? »
« Seven hundred and forty thousand pounds. »
Holmes raised his eyebrows in surprise. « l had no idea that so
gigantic a sum was involved, » said he.
Sir Charles had the reputation of being rich, but we did not know
41
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— N’avèvi pas idèia que s’agiva d’ua soma tan giganta.
— Que disènn que’N Charles èra rixàs mès ne sabom
pas qu » èra tan rixe dinc a qu’avóssim podut examinar
los plaçaments financiaus. Lo vàler totau deus bens que
tocava au milion.
— Òh ! hilh de puta ! L’enjòc que se’n vau la pena entà
qu’un òmi e s’i hèci a un jòc desesperat. Unhauta question,
doctor Mortimer : Gadgèm que quauquarré mau arribi
au nòste amic aquí – que desencusaratz ua ipotèsi tan
desagradiva – quau es lo qui eretarà deu ben ?
— Com Rodger Baskerville, lo hrair capdèth de’N
Charles se morí celibatari, los bens que revienerann aus
Desmonds qui sonn de cosiadge esloenhat. James Desmond
qu’es un clergyman d’adge qui damòra en Westmorland.
— Mercí hòrt. Tots aqueths detalhs qu’ann ua importén-
cia de la grana. E rencontrètz Mr. James Desmond ?
— Ò-bé. Que vienó un còp entà vesitar En Charles.
Qu’es un òmi d’aspèct venerèr qui mia ua vita de sant.
Que’m brembi de qu’arrefusè tota ajuda de’N Charles a
maugrat qu’aqueste lo’n pregava hòrt.
— E aqueth òmi deus gosts simples que seré donc l’ere-
tèir de la fortuna de’N Charles ?
— Que seré eretèir deu títou e per fòrça deu maine e deu
ben. Que seré tabé l’eretèir deus dinèrs a mentz que lo
how very rich he was until we came to examine his securifies. The total
value of the estate was close on to a million. »
« Dear me ! lt is a stake for which a man might well play a despe-
rate game. And one more question, Dr Mortimer. Supposing that
anything happened to our young friend here – you will forgive the
unpleasant hypothesis ! – who would inherit the estate ? »
« Since Rodger Baskerville, Sir Charles’s younger brother, died
unmarried, the estate would descend to the Desmonds, who are
distant cousins. James Desmond is an elderly clergyman in
Westmorland. »
«Thank you. These details are all of great interest. Have you met
Mr James Desmond ? »
« Yes ; he once came down to visit Sir Charles.He is a man of
venerable appearance and of saintly life. l remember that he refused
to accept any settlement from Sir Charles, though he pressed it upon
him. »
« And this man of simple tastes would be the heir to Sir Charles’s
thousands ? »
« He would be the heir to the estate, because that is entailed. He
would also be the heir to the money unless it were willed otherwi-
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
present proprietari ne’n decidissi autament e hadossi çò qui
li agrada.
— Qu’atz hèit lo vòste testament, En Henry ?
— Que nani, Mr. Holmes. Ne’m vaguè pas pr’amor
qu’es sonque gèir qu’aprenoi com ne’n virava. Mès en tot
cap, me pensi que los dinèrs que vann de cotria dab lo títou
e lo ben. Acò qu’èra l’idèia deu men praube oncle. Com
haré l’eretèir entà-d arrevitar las glòrias passadas deus
Baskerville xentz de qu’avossi pro sòs enta mantiéner lo
ben ? Mansa, casalar e dolarrs, tot que va amassa.
— Tòt a fèit d’acòrdi. En Henry. Que me n’avieni dab
vos qüand desíratz devarar entau Devonshire xentz trigar.
N’i hornirèi pas sonque ua objeccion : qu’es segur que n’i
dévetz pas anar solet.
— Lo doctor Mortimer que se’n torna dab jo.
— Qu’a la soa pratica qui l’espèra, au doctor Mortimer,
e lo son ostau qu’es aloenhat d’ua tropa de quilomèstres.
Dab la milhora volentat deu monde, que seré incapable
de v’ajudar ; que nani, En Henry, que’vs cau har seguir
quauqu’un, un òmi ahidèc, qui serà totjamei au vòste
costat.
— E seré possible que vienóssitz vos-medix, mossur
Holmes ?
— Se lo debanar deus eveniments e vadèva trop seriós,
que m’i harèi entà viéner en persona, mès qu’at compre-
se by the present owner, who can, of course, do what he likes with
it. »
« And have you made your will, SirHenry ? »
« No, Mr Holmes, l have not. l’ve had no time, for it was only
yesterday that l learned how matters stood. But in any case Î feel
that the money should go with the title and estate.That was my poor
uncle’s idea. How is the owner going to restore of the glories of the
Baskervilles if he has not money enough to keep up the property ?
House, land, and dollars must go together. »
« Quite so. Well. Sir Henry, l am of one mind with you as to the
advisability of your going down to Devonshire without delay. There
is only one provision which I must make. You certainly must not go
alone. »
« Doctor Mortimer returns with me. »
« Dr Mortimer has his practice to attend to,and his house is miles
away from yours. With all the good will in the world, he may be unable
to help you. No, Sir Henry, you must take with you someone, a trusty
man, who will be always by your side. »
« Is it possible that you could come yourself, Mr Holmes ? »
« If matters came to a crisis l should endeavour to be present in
person ; but you can understand that, with my extensive consulting
42
neratz plan, dab la pratica importenta qui’m vien consul-
tar, dab tots los aperets qui se m’arríbann de tots caires,
ne m’es pas possible de m’absentar de Londras per ua
tempsada indefinida. A l’òra d’ara, un deus noms mei
respectats d’Anglatèrra qu’es miaçat pr’un maître-chanteur
e jo, solet, poix estancar un escandale hastiau. Que vé-
detz donc com i a empachas entà que’m rendi a Dartmoor.
— Qui m’arrecomàndatz alavetz ?
Holmes se’m pausè la man suu braç.
— Se lo men amic e vòu plan enterpréner aqueth prètz-
hèit, n’i a pas òmi qui se’n valhi mei entà’vs acompanhar
qüand dangèir i a. Digun mei n’at pòt assolidir sonque
jo.
La prepausicion que m’estamborní cap e tot. E per-
mèir que’m vaguè d’arrespóner, Baskerville me gahè la
man e la me sarrè coraument.
— Vertat, doctor Watson, qu’ètz plan brabe, ce dixó.
Qu’atz après qui èri e que’n sàbetz autant com jo sus aqueste
ahar. S’accéptatz de devarar entà Baskerville Hall e
m’ajúdatz en aquesta malestància, jamei n’at oblidarèi
pas.
La promessa de l’aventura que m’a totjamei enloba-
tit e qu’èri aconortat preu paraulís de Holmes e mei
preu gai qui muixava lo baronet a’m voler per companh.
— Que m’agradaré de viéner, ce responoi. No sèi com
practice and with the constant appeals which reach me from many
quarters, it is impossible for me to be absent from London for an
indefinite time. At the present instant one of themost revered names
in England is being besmirched by a black-mailer, and only l can
stop a disastrous scandal. You will see how impossible it is for me
to go to Dartmoor. »
« Whom would you recommend, then ? »
Holmes laid his hand upon my arm.
« If my friend would undertake it there is noman who is better worth
having at your side when you are in a tight place. No one can says
more confidently than l. »
The proposition took me completely by surprise, but before l had
time to answer Baskerville seized me by the hand and wrung it
heartily.
« Well, now, that is real kind of you, Dr Watson, » said he. « You
see how it is with me, and you know just as much about the matter
as l do. If you will come down to Baskerville Hall and see me through
I’ll never foget it. »
The promise ot adventure had always a fascination for me, and
l was complimented by the words of Holmes and by the eagerness
whith which the baronet hailed me as a companion.

poirí emplegar mielhe lo men temps.
— E que m’assabentaratz de-plan, ce horní Holmes,
qüand s’escadi ua crísia – e que’s harà acò – que v’ensenha-
rèi çò qui deuratz har. Gadgi que per dissabte tot que poiré
estar parat ?
— E’vs agrada doctor Watson ?
— Taplan.
— Donc dissabte, a mentz qu’i agi un cas de fòrça, que’ns
tornaram juntar au trin de 10ò30 a Paddington.
Que ns’èram lhevats entà partir qüand Baskerville
s’esclamè trionfaument en tot anar de cap a un coenh
de la cramba. Que tirè ua bòta bruna de color de devath
un armari.
— La bòta qui’m hadèva hrèita ! ce cridè.
— E pósquinn totas las dificultats nòstas s’estavanir tant
aisidament, ce hadó Holmes.
— Qu’es redde curiós egau, ç’arremerquè lo doctor
Mortimer : Que la cerquèi de pertot davant dinnar.
— E jo tabé, ce horní Baskerville, qu’espièi deu cap au
pèd de la cramba.
— Solide que la cauçadura ne s’i trobava pas alavetz.
— En aqueth cas lo crambèir l’aurà pausada aquí men-
tra qui dinnàvam.
Que hadonn viéner l’Alemand mès aqueth que
deneguè saber arré de la causa e ne se la podó pas mie-
« I will come with pleasure, » said I. « I do not know how I could
employ my time better. »
« And you will report very carefully to me, » said Holmes. «
When a crisis comes, as it will do, I will direct how you shall act. I
suppose that by Saturday all might be ready ? »
« Would that suit Dr Watson ? »
« Perfectly. »
« Then on Saturday, unless you hear to the contrary, we shall meet
at the 10.30 train from Paddington ».
We had risen to depart when Baskerville gave a cry of triumph,
and diving into one of the corners of the room he drew a brown boot
from under a cabinet.
« My missing boot ! » he cried.
« May all our difficulties vanish as easily ! » said Sherlock Holmes.
« But it is a very singular thing, » Dr Mortimer remarked, « l
searched this room carefully before lunch. »
« And so did I, » said Baskerville. Every inch of it. »
« There was certainly no boot in it then. »
« ln that case the waiter must have placed it there while we were
lunching. »
43
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
lhe esplicar. Ua hèita de mei a hornir a la tièra contunha
e aparentament xentz nada rason deus misteriòts qui
se seguívann tan viste adarrond. Se botàvam a despart
lo pro néguer ahar de la mòrt de’N Charles, qu’avèvam
en man ua seguida de heitòtas inesplicablas qui s’èrann
debanadas en dus jorns, çò qui includiva lo mandadís
de la letra anonima, l’espion de la barbassa nega dentz
lo cabriolet, la pèrda de la bòta nava, la de la bòta vielha
nega e adara lo tornar de la nava color castanh.
Holmes que s’estè silenciós dentz lo cabriolet qui’ns
miava entà Baker Street e que coneixoi aus sorcilhs
froncilhats e a l’espiar hissaire que las soas pensadas –
tot parièr com las mias – èrann enqueharidas d’un
cadre qui i podóssinn càber totas aqueras hèitas esquèrras
e que nat rapòrt de ligami ne s’i trobava. Tota la tan-
tossada e mei de tard en la serada que damorè empensat
e en.humat de tobac.
Tot dòi davant de dinnar que’ns portènn dus
telegramas. Lo permèir qu’èra atau compausat :
« Que vieni d’estar assabentat Barrymore qu’èra au
Hall » — signat Baskerville.
Lo segond que disèva :
« Visitèi vint-e-tres ostalarias segond endicas, mès me hè
dòu aver pas trobat nada rèsta Times descopat » —
signat Cartwright.
The German was sent for, but professed to know nothing of the
matter, nor could any inquiry clear it up. Another item had been
added to that constant and apparently purposeless series of small
mysteries which had succeeded each other so rapidly. Setting aside
the whole grim story of Sir Charles’s death, we had a line of inex-
plicable incidents all within the limits of two days, which included
the receipt of the printed letter, the black-bearded spy in the
hansom, the loss of the new brown boot, the loss of the old black
boot, and now the return of the new brown boot. Holmes sat in silence
in the cab as we drove back to Baker Street, arid I knew from his
drawn brows and keen face that his mind, like my own, was busy in
endeavouring to frame some scheme into which all these strange and
apparently disconnected episodes could be fitted. All afternoon
and late into the evening he sat lost in tobacco and thought.
Just before dinner two telegrams were handed in. The first ran :
HAVE JUST HEARD THAT BARRYMORE IS AT THE HALL — BASKERVILLE.
The second :
VISITED TWENTY-THREE HOTELS AS DIRECTED, BUT SORRY TO REPORT UNABLE TO TRACE
CUT SHEET OF TIMES — CARTWRIGHT.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— Dus deus mens hius que’s tréncann, Watson. Ne sèi
pas arré mei estrambordant qu’un ahar que tot e va contra
vos. Unhaute tralh que’ns cau descobrir.
— Que’ns sobra encoèra lo cochèr qui miava lo nòste
espionaire.
— E-ò. Que telegrafièi entà saber los sos nom e adreça
deu Registre Oficiau. Ne serí pas estonat s’aquesta sonada
èra ua responsa a la mia question.
Que’ns anonciè egau quauquarré de plan mei in-
teressent qu’ua responsa : La pòrta que s’aubrí e hentrè
un òmi de la cara rudassa. Qu’èra plan segur lo cochèr
eth-medix.
— Qu’èi avut un messadge de la direccion i avèva un
gent a ’questa adreça qui domandava après lo nò 2704,
ce dixó. Que mii lo men carriòt desempuix sèt anns xentz
nada arromerejada d’ua pratica. Tabé que’vs vieni de cap
còpsec per tant de’vs domandar cap e cap çò qui m’arcàstatz.
— Ne v’arcasti pas arré, mon-òme, ce hadó Holmes.
Au contra qu’èi un miei-sobiran entà vos s’arrespónetz
francament a las mias questions.
— E bé, la jornada qu’estó bona e xentz trabuc, ç’ar-
responó lo cochèr en bèth sorríder. Qu’es çò qui’m vòletz
domandar ?
— En tot permèir balhatz-me los vòstes nom e adreça
per cas que me hècinn besonh encoèra.
There go two of my threads, Watson. There is nothing more
stimulating than a case where everything goes against you. We must
cast round for another scent. »
« We have still the cabman who drove the spy. »
« Exactly. I have wired to get his name and address from the official
Registry. I should not be surprised if this were an answer to my
question. »
The ring at the bell proved to be something even more satisfactory
than an answer, however, for the door opened and a rough-looking
fellow entered who was evidently the man him-self.
« l got a message from the head office that a gent at this address
had been inquiring for 2704, » said he. I’ve driven my cab this seven
years and never a word of complaint. I came here straight from the
Yard to ask you to your face what you had against me. »
« l have nothing in the world against you, my good man, » said
Holmes. « On the contrary, I have half a sovereign for you if you will
give me a clear answer to my questions. »
« Well, l’ve had a good day and no mistake, » said the cabman,
with a grin. « What was it you wanted to ask, sir ?
« First of all your name and address, in case I want you again. »
« John Clayton, 3,Turpey Street, the Borough. My cab is out of
44
— John Clayton – 3, Turpey Street, dentz lo Borough.
Lo men cabriolet qu’es estacionat a Shipley’s Yard, pròixe
la gara de Waterloo.
Sherlock Holmes que’n prenó nòta.
— Adara Clayton, contatz-me tot suu client qui vienó
har lo nhau davant aqueste ostau a 10ò00 oei matin e qui
adarrond e seguí los dus gentlemen per Regent Street.
L’òmi que semblè estonat e un chic moquet.
— Va plan. N’es pas la pena de’vs har contaralhas
puixque’n sàbetz autan com jo, ce hadó l’òmi. La vertat
es qu’aqueth gentleman e’m dixó de qu’èra detectiu e que
ne caliva pas parlar d’eth en digun.
— Mon car amic, qu’es un ahar hòrt seriós e que’vs
trobaretz lèu en ua maixanta pausicion s’assàjatz de
m’amagar quauquarré. Que’vs contè qu’èra detectiu, lo
vòste client ?
— Ò-bé.
— E qüand ves dixó acò ?
— Qüand se n’anó.
— E que horní quauquarré mei ?
— Que mentavó lo son nom.
Holmes que’m larguè ua espiada sobta de trionfe.
— Òu, que mentavó lo son nom, vertat ? B’èra impru-
dent ! Quau èra lo nom qui balhè ?
Shipley’s Yard, near Waterloo Station. »
Sherlock Holmes made a note of it.
« Now, Clayton, tell me all about the fare who came and watch this
house at ten o’clock this morning and afterwards followed the two
gentlemen down Regent Street. »
The man looked surprised and a little embarrassed.
« Why, there’s no good my telling you things, for you seem to know
as much as I do already, » said he. « The truth is that the gentleman
told me that he was a detective, and that I was to say nothing about
him to anyone. »
« My good fellow, this is a very serious business, and you may find
yourself in apretty bad position if you try to hide anything from me.
You say that your fare told you that he was a detective ? »
« Yes, he did. »
« When did he say this ? »
« When he left me. »
« Did he say anything more ? »
« He mentioned his name. »
Holmes cast a swift glance of triumph at me.
« 0h, he mentioned his name, did he ? That was imprudent. What
was the name that he mentioned ? »

— Sherlock Holmes qu’èra lo son nom, ce dixó lo
cochèr.
Jamei ne vedoi pas lo men amic tant estambornit com
n’estó per la responsa deu cochèr. Ua pausa que s’estè
atau, esmudit. Apuix que s’escargalhè d’arríder :
— Tocat, Watson, tocat que soi, cap e camas ! c’esclamè.
Que senti un floret tan lèste e flingant com lo men. Que
me n’a jogat ua de las bèras, aqueste còp. Atau lo son nom
qu’èra Sherlock Holmes ?
— Ò-bé, Mossur. Qu’èra lo son nom.
— Excellent ! Contatz-me ond l’atz pres e tot com se
debanèt.
— Que m’ahupè a 9ò30 a Trafalgar Square. Que’m
dixó de qu’èra detectiu e m’auherí duas guineas entà har
exactament çò qui volèva tota la jornada e susquetot no
pas pausar questions. Qu’acceptèi dab pro de contentèr.
Permèir que’ns avièm de cap au Northumberland Hotel
e qu’esperèm aquí dinc a sortinn dus gentlemen qui
prenonn un fiacre a l’estacion. Que’us seguim dinc a
s’estanquinn pròixe d’aquí.
— Davant aquesta pòrta medixa, ce rectifiquè Holmes.
— E bé ne’n serí pas segur-segur mès lo men client que
v’at sauré díser xentz nat dotte. Que hadom estanc a mitat
carrèira e tornèm esperar ua orada e mieja. Puix los dus
gentlemen que’ns passènn en tot caminar e que’us seguim
« His name, » told the cabman, « was Mr Sherlock Holmes. »
Never have I seen my friend more completely taken aback than by
the cabman’s reply. For an instant he sat in silent amazement.Then
he burst into a hearty laugh :
« A touch, Watson – an undeniable touch ! » said he. « I feel a foil
as quick and supple as my own. He got home upon me very prettily
that time. So his name was Sherlock Holmes was it ? »
« Yes, sir, that was this name. »
« Excellent ! Tell me where you picked him up, and all that occur-
red. »
« He hailed me at half-past nine in Trafalgar Square. He said that
he was a detective, and he offered me two guineas if I would do exactly
what he wanted all day and ask no questions. I was glad enough
to agree. First we drove down to the Northumberland Hotel and
waited there until two gentlemen came out and took a cab from the
rank. We followed their cab until it pulled up somewhere near he-
re. »
« This very door, » said Holmes.
« Well, I couldn’t be sure ot that, but I dare say my fare knew all
about it. We pulled up half-way down the street and waited an hour
and a half. Then the two gentlemen passed us, walking, and we
45
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
cap-baix Baker Street e mei...
— Que sèi, ce hadó Holmes.
— ... dinc aus tres-quarts de Regent Street, que la mia
pratica aubrí tot sobte lo frineston e’m cridè de halar de
cap a Waterloo Station a hum de calhau. Que hoetèi la
cavala e qu’i arribèm en un detzenat de minutas. Aquí
se’m paguè las duas guineas prometudas e que’s hadó enlà
dehentz l’estacion. Com èra a partir que s’arrevirè de cap
a jo entà’m díser : « Que v’agradarà belèu de saber qu’es
Sherlock Holmes qui atz miat ». Qu’es atau qu’estoi
assabentat deu son nom.
— Que vei. E ne’u tornètz pas véder ?
— No, pas après qu’avossi entrat dehentz l’estacion.
— E com descriuretz Mr. Sherlock Holmes ?
Lo cochèr que se gratè lo cap.
— E bé, l’òmi qu’es de maixant descríver. Que li
balherenn de cap a 40 anns d’adge, mejan de talha, 5
o 7 centimètres de mentz que vos, Mossur. Qu’èra vestit
de-plan, qu’avèva ua barba nega, talhada au carrat, dab
ua cara panla. Ne ve’n poix pas díser mei qu’acò, fran-
cament.
— La color deus oelhs ?
— N’èi pas hèit cas.
— Arré mei que’vs pósquitz brembar ?
followed down Baker Street and along – »
« I know, » said Holmes.
« Until we got three-quarters down Regent Street. Then my
gentleman threw up the trap, and he cried that T should drive right
away to Waterloo Station as hard as l could. I whipped up the mare,
and we were there under the ten minutes. Then he paid up his two
guineas, like a good one, and away he went into the station. Only
just as he was leaving he turned round and said : “it might interest
you to know that you have been driving Mr SherlocK Holmes.” That’s
how I came to know the name. »
« I see. And you saw no more of him ? »
« Not after he went into the station. »
« And how would you describe Mr Sherlock Holmes ?
The cabman scratched his head. « Well, he wasn’t altogether such
an easy gentleman to describe. I’d put him at forty years of age, and
he was of a middle height, two or three inches shorter than you, sir.
He was dressed like a toff, and he had a black beard, cut square at
the end, and a pale face. I dont know as I could say more than that.
« Colour of his eyes ? »
« No, I can’t say that. »
« Nothing more that you can remember ? »
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— Arré, Mossur, arré mei.
— E bé, aquí qu’atz lo vòste miei-sobiran. Que n’i a
unhaute qui v’espèra se’m pòdetz portar d’autas endicas.
Bon ser !
— Bona serada, Mossur e mercí hòrt !
John Clayton que partí tot gaujós, e Holmes que’s
virè de cap a jo en tot hauçar las espallas e un sorríder
entristit.
— Trencat qu’es lo nòst tresau hiu e que’ns arretròbam
au punt de partença, ce dixó. Ah ! d’aqueth gus rusat !
Que sabèva l’adreça nòsta, qu’èra assabentat que’N Hen-
ry Baskerville m’èra vienut consultar, que’m coneixó per
Regent Street, qu’endobinè que notarí lo numerò deu
« No, sir ; nothing. »
« Well then, here is your half-sovereing. There’s another one waiting
for you if you can bring any more information. Good night ! »
« Good night, sir, and thank you ! »
John Clayton departed chuckling, and Holmes turned to me with
a shrug of the shoulders and a rueful smile.
« Snap goes our third thread and we end where we began, » said
he. « The cunning rascal ! He knew our number, knew that Sir Henry
Baskerville had consulted me, spotted who I was in Regent Street,
conjectured that I had got the number of the cab and would lay my
46
cabriolet entà botar la man suu cochèr e fin finala e’ns
manda aqueste messadge escarniau. Solide Watson, qu’am
aqueste còp un contra digne de crotzar lo hèrr nòste. Que
soi estat botat escac e mat en Londras. Ne’vs poix desirar
que mei d’escadença en Devonshire. Mès ne’m senti pas
ad aise.
— Rapòrt a qué ?
— Rapòrt a’vs enviar alahòra. Qu’es un ahar deus lèds,
Watson, un ahar deus lèds e deus perilhós. Tant mei ne’n
vei, tant mentz m’agrada. E-ò, amic men, que pòdetz
arríder mès que’vs balhi la mia paraula que serèi redde
content de’vs véder tornar xentz chepic ni pelat a Baker
Street un còp mei.
hands on the driver, and so sent back this audacious message. I tell
you,Watson, this time we have got a foeman who is worthy of our steel.
I’ve been checkmated in London. I can only wish you better luck in
Devonshire. But I’m not easy in my mind about it. »
« About what ? »
« About sending you. It’s an ugly business, Watson, an ugly,
dangerous business, and the more I see of it the less I like it. Yes,
my dear fellow, you may Iaugh, but I give you my word that I shall
be very glad to have you back safe and sound in Baker Street once
more. »

La mansa de Baskerville
Capítou xeisau
E
n Henry Baskerville e lo doctor Mortimer
qu’èrann prèsts au jorn adiat e nse n’anom entau
Devonshire com convienut. Mr Sherlock Holmes
que m’acompanhè a la gara e’m balhè los sos darrèirs
conselhs e instruccions.
— Ne’vs cau pas embrumar l’esperit en vos bèth suggerir
teorias o sospeitadas, Watson, ce dixó ; que vorrí simplament
que m’assabentèssitz deus hèits, de la manèira mei complèta
qui’s pòt e deixatz-me la coenta de bastir las teorias.
— Hèitas de quau mena ? ce domandèi.
— Tòt çò qui pareixerà aver rapòrt, quitament indirècte,
dab lo nòste ahar, e especiaument las relacions enter lo
joenn Baskerville e lo vesiar o quauqua noveletat pertocant
a la mort de’N Charles. Qu’èi hèit quauquas enquistas jo-
medix dentz los jorns passats mès xentz hòrt d’escadença,
se’m par. Ua sola causa qu’es assolidida : Mr James
Desmond, l’eretèir seguent, qu’es un òmi d’adge deu caractère
beròi amistós, de mòdes que la persecucion ne pòt pas
perviéner d’eth. Que soi solide que’u pòdem suprimir
completament de las nòstas sospieitadas. Que’ns sobra lo
vesiar de la lana a l’entorn de’N Henry Baskerville.
— E ne se’n varré pas la pena de’s desbarrassar per-
mèir d’aqueths Barrymore ?
— No pas briga. Ne poiretz pas har ua fauta mei gròssa.
6 — Baskerville Hall
Sir Henry Baskerville and Dr Mortimer were ready upon the
appointed day, and we started as arranged for Devonshire. Mr
Sherlock Holmes drove with me to the station, and gave me his last
parting injunction and advice.
« I will not bias your mind by suggesting theories or suspicions,
Watson, » said he ; « I wish you simply to report facts in the fullest
possible manner to me, and you can leave me to do the theori-
zing. »
« What sort of facts ? » I asked.
« Anything which may seem to have a bearing, however indirect,
upon the case, and especially the relations between young Baskerville
and his neighbours, or any fresh particulars concerning the death
of Sir Charles. I have made some inquiries myself in the last few days,
but the results have, I fear, been negative. One thing only appears
to be certain, and that is that Mr James Desmond, who is the next
heir, is an elderly gentleman of a very amiable disposition, so that
this persecution does not arise from him. I really think that we may
eliminate him entirely from our calculations. There remain the people
who will actually surround Sir Henry Baskerville upon the moor. »
« Would it not be well in the first place to get rid of this Barrymore
47
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
Se sonn innocents acò seré har ua injustícia grèva e se sonn
copables, qu’arressignarem totas las escadenças de’us gahar
suu hurt en tot los renviar a lor. Que nani ! goardam-los
sus la lista deus nòstes suspèctes. E mei, que i a un vailet
a la Mansa se’m brembi plan. E que damòrann dus
paisans per la lana. Que i a lo nòste amic, lo doctor
Mortimer, que’u crei aunèste cap e tot, e mei la soa molhèr
que ne’n sàbem pas arré. Que i a aqueth naturalista
Stapleton e mei la soa sòr que dísenn qu’es ua gojata
apapixoada. Que i a Mr Frankland de Lafter Hall qui
es tabé un element desconeixut de l’ahar e mei un o dus
autes vesins. Aquí qu’atz los poblants qui s’amerítann
d’estar estudiats de plan.
— Que harèi peu mielhe.
— Boti qu’ètz armat ?
— Ò-bé, que pensèi de que convienè.
— Plan segur. Goardatz-ve lo revolvèrr a man, de jorn
com de noeit e jamei ne cau pas que la vòsta prudéncia
e s’esloixi.
Los nòstes amics qu’avèvann retienut un compar-
timent de permèira classa e qu’èrann a’ns esperar suu
cai.
— No, n’am pas nada informacion de quau mena qui
sii, ce responó lo Doctor Mortimer a ua question deu
men amic. Que poix egau jurar d’ua causa : n’èm pas estats
couple ? »
« By no means. You could not make a greater mistake. If they are
innocent it would be a cruel injustice, and if they are guilty we should
be giving up all chance of bringing it home to them. No, no, we will
preserve them upon our Iist of suspects. Then there is a groom at
the Hall, if I remember right. There are two moorland farmers. There
is our friend Dr Mortimer, whom I believe to be entirely honest, and
there is his wife of whom we know nothing. There is this naturalist
Stapleton, and there is his sister, who is said to be a young lady of
attractions. There is Mr Frankland of Lafter Hall, who is also
anunknown factor, and there are one or two other neigbours. These
are the folk who must be your very special study. »
« l will do my best. »
« You have arms, l suppose ? »
« Yes, l thought it as well to fake them. »
« Most certainly. Keep your revolver near you night and d ay, and
never relax your precautions. »
Our friends had aleady secured a first-class carriage, and were
waiting for us upon the platform.
« No, we have no news of any kind, » said Dr Mortimer in answer
to my friend’s questions. « l can swear to one thing, and that is that
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
briga seguits mentra los dus darrèirs jorns. Ne sortim pas
jamei xentz de har córrer l’oelh tot a l’entorn e digun n’auré
pas podut escapar a las nòstas espiadas.
— Que damorètz totjamei amassa, me pensi ?
— Quiò, lhevat gèir vrèspe. Que sòli passar ua jornada
de complèta esvagada qüand vilegi, adonc que me la passèi
au Musèu de la Facultat de Medecina.
— E jo me n’anoi a gueitar lo monde au parc, ce dixó
Baskerville, mès ne s’escadó pas nat destroble quau qui es-
tossi.
— Qu’èra egau imprudent, ce declarè Holmes d’un
aire seriosàs en bèth capejar. Que’vs prèi, En Henry, de
no pas sortir solet. S’at hadèvatz, que’vs poiré viéner un
malurr deus bèths. E aquesta bòta, l’atz tornada tro-
bar ?
— No. Que s’es escapada per totjamei.
— Tè ! Qu’es hòrt interessent. E bé, adixatz donc, ce
horní mentra qui lo trin s’encaminava. E brembatz-ve,
En Henry, d’aquesta frasa de la legenda vielha que lo Dr
Mortimer e’ns legí : “Hètz-v’enlà de la lana en aquestas
òras d’escuranha que las poténcias deu mau e
s’enàirann”.
Que m’arrevirèi de cap au cai que pausa dijà nse
n’èram aloenhats e que vedoi lo haut còs de Holmes,
austère, qui s’estava xentz mudar a’ns guinhar de cap.
we have not been shadowed during the last two days. We have never
gone out without keeping a sharp watch, and no one could have
escaped our notice. »
« You have always kept together, I presume ? »
« Except yesterday afternoon. l usually give up one day to pure
amusement when l come to town, so l spent it at the Museum of the
College of Surgeons. »
« And I went to look at the folk in the park, » said Baskerville. But
we had no trouble of any kind. »
« It was imprudent, all the same, » said Holmes, shaking his head
and looking very grave. « l beg, Sir Henry, that you will not go about
alone. Some great misfortune will befall you if you do. Did you get
your other boot ? »
« No, sir, it is gone forever. »
« Indeed. That is very interesting. Well, good-bye, » he added as
the train began to glide down the platform. « Bear in mind, Sir Henry,
one of the phrases in that queer old legend which Dr Mortimer has
read to us, and avoid the moor in those hours of darkness when the
powers of evil are exalted. »
l looked back at the platform when we had Ieft it far behind, and
saw the tall, austere figure of Holmes standing motionless and
48
Lo viadge qu’estó brac e agradiu e que’u passèi a
conéixer mielhe los mens dus companhs e a jogar dab
l’espanhèu deu Dr Mortimer. En chic d’oradas la tèrra
nega que’s virè en tèrra rojassa, la brica que deixè la
plaça en-per lo granit e vacas rossetas peixèvann dehentz
los barralhs. L’èrba e la vegetacion que hadèvann
abonde, ensenhant un climat mei favorable sonque mei
aigassut. Lo joenn Baskerville que guinhava aganida-
ment a travèrs de la frinèsta e hadèva cridòris en bèth
arreconéixer los paisadges costumèirs deu Devon.
— Qu’èi vagamondejat capvath ua braba part deu
monde desempuix que quitèi aqueths lòcs, Doctor Watson,
ce dixó mès jamei n’encontrèi un parçan qui s’i posqui
acomparar.
— E jo ne saboi pas jamei un estadjant deu Devonshire
qui ne’u botèssi pas en-sus de tot, ç’arremerquèi.
— Acò que depend tant deu parçan com de la raça, ce
hadó lo Doctor Mortimer. Ua espiada entau nòste amic
que’ns amuixa lo cap arredond deu Cèlte qu’i càbenn las
soas qualitats d’estrambòrd e d’enrasigament. Lo cap deu
praube ’N Charles qu’èra d’ua mena beròi rala, mitat
gaelica mitat iverniana. Mès qu’èratz chicòi mainadge
qüand vedotz preu darrèir còp Baskerville Hall, vertat ?
— Qu’èri un gojat d’un detzenat d’anadas qüand se
morí lo men pair e n’avèvi pas jamei vist la mansa,
gazing after us.
The journey was a swift and pleasant one, and I spent it in making
the more intimate acquaintance of my two companions, and in
playing with Dr Mortimer’s spaniel. In a very few hours the brown
earth had become ruddy, the brick had changed to granite, and red
cows grazed in well-hedged fields where the lush grasses and more
luxuriant vegetation spoke of a richer, if a damper climate. Young
Baskerville stared eagerly out of the window and cried aloud with
delight as he recognized the familiar features of the Devon scenery.
« I’ve been over a good part of the world since l left it, Dr Wat-
son, » said he ; « but I have never seen a place to compare with
it. »
« I never saw a Devonshire man who did not swear by his coun-
ty, » I remarked.
« It depends upon the breed of men quite as much as on the coun-
ty, » said Dr Mortimer. « A glance at our friend here reveals the roun-
ded head of the Celt, which carries inside it the Celtic enthusiasm
and power of attachment. Poor Sir Charles’ head was of a very rare
type, half-gaelic, half lvernian in its characteristics. But you were very
young when you last saw BaskervilIe Hall, were you not ? »
« l was a boy in my teens at the time of my father’s death, and had

pr’amor que damoràvam dentz un petit cottage sus la
costèira deu lhevant. Apuix que partii directament en çò
d’un amic en America. Que v’assolidi que tot es tan navèth
entà jo com entau Doctor Watson e me triga hòrt de véder
la lana.
— Vertat qu’es ? La vòsta desirança que serà complida
lèu, aquí qu’atz la permèira vista de la lana, ce dixó lo
doctor Mortimer en tot puntejar lo dit a travèrs de la
vitra.
Capvath los qüadrilatèris verdejants deus camps e la
corba baixa d’ua sèuva, que salhiva enlà ua sèrra grisassa
e marranèra, que lo som n’èra esquerrament eixaquetat,
mormòca e qui, mercès a la distança, e semblava un
paisadge fantastic gessit d’un saunei. Baskerville que
s’estè bèra pausa a i guinhar de cap e que legèvi sus
la soa cara tot çò qui representava la permèira vista
d’aqueste indret estranh que los de la soa raça i avèvann
senhorejat tan longtemps e deixat tan prigondas las lors
mèrcas. Aquí que l’avèvam, seitat, en costume de tweed
e dab aqueth accent american, dentz lo coenh d’un
compartiment prosaïc de camin de hèrr, e egau qüand
espiavi la soa cara seriosassa e espressiva, sentivi, mei
que jamei, com n’èra plan lo descendent d’aqueth
linhadge long d’òmis de la sang viva, hagards e herodges.
Dentz los sorcilhs espés, dentz las nasics qui fremívann,
never seen the Hall, for he lived in a little cottage on the south coast.
Thence l went straight to a friend in America. l tell you it is as new
to me as it is to Dr Watson, and I’m as keen as possible to see the
moor. »
« Are you ? Then your wish is easily granted, for there is your first
sight of the moor, » said Dr Mortimer, pointing out of the carriage
window.
Over the green squares of the fields and the low curve of a wood
there rose in the distance a grey, melancholy hill, with a strange
jagged summit, dim and vague in the distance, like some fantastic
landscape in a dream. Baskerville sat for a long time, his eyes fixed
upon it, and l read upon his eage rface how much it meant to him,
this first sight of that strange spot where the men of his blood had
held sway so long and left their mark so deep. There he sat with his
tweed suit and his American accent, in the corner of a prosaic
railway-carriage, and yet as I looked at his dark and expressive face
I felt more than ever how true a descendant he was of that long line
of high-blooded, fiery, and masterful men. There were pride, valour
and strength in his thick brows, his sensitive nostrils, and his large
49
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
dentz los oelhs grands color d’amella, fierretat, coradge
e valentia racejàvann. Se, per aquesta lana maladita,
e’ns esperava ua enquista mauaisida e perilhosa, En
Henry qu’èra au mentz un companh preu quau tot
d’un acceptaré de partir trucs e patacs en bèth saber
que’n preneré eth la soa part.
Lo trin que s’estanquè en ua gara chicòia, de long de
la via e tots que devarèm. Dahòra, delà la barralha baixa
de las postinas blancas, qu’esperava ua veitura atelada
de dus xibalòts. La nòsta vinguda qu’estó xentz nat
dotte grand eveniment pr’amor lo cap de gara e los por-
taires se junhènn entà carrejar los nòstes bagadges.
Qu’èra ua campanha simpla e doça mes qu’estoi
estonat d’apercéber dus sordats deus unifòrmas néguers,
aparats suus lors fesilhs corts ; que’ns guinhàvann deu
cap au pèd qüand los-i passèm davant. Lo cochèr,
omiòt croixit de la cara ruda, que saludè En Henry
Baskerville e, quauquas minutas mei tard, que rollàvam
d’aviat capbaix lo caminau blancós. De cada estrem
que costejàvam pastencs en pujas e baixas e vielhs
ostaus dab penons. Se destriàvann demiei lo hoelhumi
verd e sarrat, mès, a l’endarrèir d’aqueste campèstre
patzós e ensorelhat, tostem se destacava, escura suu cèu
noeitau, la linha longassa e corba de la lana, copada
preus èrms montanhuts e eixaquetats.
hazel eyes. If on that forbidding moor a difficult and dangerous
quest should Iie before us, this was at least a comrade for whom one
might venture to take a risk with the certainty that he would bravely
share it.
The train pulled up at a small wayside station, and we all des-
cended. Outside, beyond the low, white fence, a wagonette with a
pair of cobs was waiting. Our coming was evidently a great event,
for station-master and porters clustered round us to arry out our
luggage. It was a sweet, simple country spot, but l was surprised
to observe that by the gate there stood two soldierly men in dark
uniforms, who leaned upon their short rifles and glanced keenly at
us as we passed. The coachman, a hard-faced, gnarled litlle fellow,
saluted Sir Henry Baskerville, and in a few minutes we were flying
swiftly down the broad white road. Rolling pasture lands curved
upwards on either side of us, and old gabled houses peeped out
from amid the thick green foliage, but behind the peaceful and sun-
lit countryside, there rose ever, dark against the evening sky, the
long, gloomy curve of the moor, broken by the jagged and sinister
hills.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
La veitura que la gahè per ua rota segondària e que
pugèrem alavetz per carretèras que los sègles i avèvann
cavat arroderats pregonds, dab hauts varats de cada
part, caperats de mossa e de hiuguèiras. Arromècs e
amòrers que lusívann a la lutz deu sou-coc. En tot
contunhar la pujada, que franquim un pondericòt
estret de granit e contornegèm un arriu bruitejant qui
chorrava demiei los rocàs gris en bèth bronir e graumejar.
Camin e arriu que serpejàvann tots dus a travèrs d’ua
vath ond hadènn abonde avets e cassis chichavius. A
cada virada Baskerville que cridava de gai, en tot har
córrer l’oelh e’ns pausar questions xentz paus ni cès ;
aus sos oelhs, tot qu’èra amirader mès au men enténer,
ua mena de malanconia que velava lo paisadge e
rebatèva tan plan la devarada de l’anada. Un palhat de
hoelhas jaunejantas qui volatejàvann au nòste passadge
caperava las carretèras. Lo trepejar de las arròdas que
s’enxordiva qüand rollàvam dessús pialòts de vegeta-
cion poiridissa. Estreas tristosas – ce’m pareixó – qui
la natura e gitava davant lo carri entau retorn de
l’eretèir deus Baskerville.
— Hòu ! ç’escridè lo doctor Mortimer, çò qu’es
acò ?
A un cuutorn de la tèrra cubèrta de branda, ua pena
que salhiva davant nosatis. Au som, neta e redda tan
The wagonette swung round into a side road, and we curved
upwards through deep lanes worn by centuries of wheels, high banks
on either side, heavy with dripping moss and flesby hart’s-tongue
ferns. Bronzing bracken and mottled bramble gleamed in the light
of the sinking sun. Still steadily rising, we passed over a narrow
granite bridge, and skirted a noisy stream, which gushed swiftly
down, foaming and roaring amid the grey boulders. Both road and
stream wound up through a valley dense with scrub oak and fir. At
every turning Baskerville gave an exclamation of delight, looking
eagerly about him and asking countless questions. To his eyes all
seemed beautiful, but to me a tinge of melancholy lay upon the
countryside, which bore so clearly the mark of the waning year.
Yellow leaves carpeted the lanes and fluttered down upon us as we
passed. The rattle of our wheels died away as we drove through drifts
of rotting vegetation – sad gifts, as it seemed to me, for Nature to
throw before the carriage of the returning heir of the Baskervilles.
« Halloa ! » cried Dr Mortimer, « what is this ? » »
A steep curve of heath-clad land, an outliyng spur of the moor,
lay in front of us. On the summit, hard and clear like an equestrian
statue upon its pedestal, was a mounted soldier, dark and stern,
his rifle poised ready over his forearm. He was watching the road
50
com ua estatua equèstra suu son seteder, èra quilhat
un sordat encavalat, néguer e tristós, dab lo fesilh parat
pausat sus l’avant-braç ; que susvelhava la rota qu’avè-
vam seguit.
— Çò qui vòu díser açò, Perkins ? ce domandè lo
Doctor Mortimer.
Lo nòste miaire que’s virè a miejas dentz lo sièti.
— Que i a un forçat qui s’es escapat de Princetown,
Mossur. Que hè tres jorns adara que s’es en.hugit. Los
goardas que susvélhann camins e garas mès nat tralh d’eth
encoèra n’ann pas trobat. Los païsans de per ’qui, ne los-
i agrada pas, Mossur, que no pas.
— Qu’es egau, que credoi compréner que balhàvann cinc
liuras esterlins a’u qui portaré endicas.
— Òc-bé, Mossur. Mes qué vàlenn cinc liuras ganha-
das contra la possibilitat de’s har escanar. N’es pas un
forçat ordinari, per Diu. Aqueth gus qu’es capable de tot.
— Quau es donc ?
— Lo Selden qu’es, lo murtrèir de Notting Hill.
Que’m brembavi plan de l’ahar pr’amor Holmes que
s’i èra interessat a causa de la ferocitat esquèrra deu
crimi e de la bestialetat hastiala qui avèva acompanhat
tots los agís de l’assassin. La soa condamnacion a mòrt
qu’èra estada cambiada en-per ua reclusion a perpetuitat
pr’amor l’atrocitat medixa de sos actes qu’avèva hèit
along which we travelled.
« What is this, Perkins ? » asked Dr Mortmer.
Our driver half turned in his seat.
« There’s a convict escaped from Princetown, sir. He’s been out
three days now, and the warders watch every road and every station,
but they’ve had no sight of him yet. The farmers about here don’t
like it, sir, and that’s a fact. »
« Well, l understand that they get five pounds if they can give
information. »
« Yes sir, but the chance of five pounds is but a poor thing
compared to the chance of having your throat cut. You see, it isn’t
like any ordinary convict. This is a man that would stick at no-
thing. »
«Who is he, then ? »
« It is Selden, the Notting Hill murderer. »
I remembered the case well, for it was one in which Holmes had
taken an interest on account of the peculiar ferocity of the crime and
the wanton brutality which had marked all the actions of the
assassin. The commutation of his death sentence had been due to
some doubts as to his complete sanity, so atrocious was his
conduct.

dottar de la soa santat mentau.
Lo nòste carriòt qu’èra arribat au som de la sèrra e
davant nosauts s’esplandiva lo hèrm de la lana, saupicat
de cairns e de serròts roganhats preu tempeiri. Un vent
hred qu’escobava lo planèr e’ns balhava la tre-molèira.
En quauque lòc, per aquera plana desolada, l’escapat
demoniac que s’esconèva com ua bèstia he-rodja, dab
lo hasti còr-hentz contra lo monde tot sancèr qui
l’avèva hòrabandit. Ne mancava pas qu’acò per entristir
cap e tot aqueth paisadge desnudat, lo vent tòrr e lo
cèu negrejant. Lo quiti Baskerville qu’èra vadut silenciós
e que crotzè mei estretament lo son màntou.
Qu’avèvam deixat a l’endarrèir las tèrras granivas en
devath de nosauts. Qu’i gitèm ua darrèira espiada,
mentra los arrais declinents deu sou-coc que viràvann
los arrius en gaves daurejants, en bèth enrogir la tèrra
laurada de nau e los bòscs hoelhuts. Lo camin, au nòste
enda-vant, se hadèva mei desolat e ensauvadgit, e
susplomava los penents escarps, rossejants e verdós,
ond salhívann rocàs deus gigants. De temps en qüand
que passàvam ua bòrda tipica de la lana, deu tèit e de
las parets de pèiras, e nada planta per las parets ne
vienèva amortosir lo tristèir deu son aspèct. Tot sobte
que’ns trobèm en dessús d’ua vath arredona, caperada
de cassis e d’avets malichuts, torçuts per lo furiosèr
Our wagonette had topped a rise and in front of us rose the huge
expanse of the moor, mottled with gnarled and craggy cairns and
tors. A cold wind swept down from it and set us shivering. Somewhere
there, on that desolate plain, was lurking this fiendish man, hiding
in a burrow like a wild beast, his heart full of malignancy against
the whole race which had cast him out. It needed but this to complete
the grim suggestiveness of the barren waste, the chilling wind, and
the darkling sky. Even Baskerville fell silent and pulled his overcoat
more closely around him.
We had left the fertile country behind and beneath us. We looked
back on it now, the slanting rays of a low sun turning the streams
to threads of gold and glowing on the red earth new turned by the
plough and the broad tangle of the woodlands. The road in front
of us grew bleaker and wilder over huge russet and olive slopes,
sprinkled with giant boulders. Now and then we passed a moorland
cottage, walled and roofed with stone, with no creeper to break its
harsh outline. Suddenly we looked down into a cup-like depression,
patched with stunted oaks and firs which had been twisted and bent
51
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
contunh deus tempeiris. Duas torrs, hautas e estretas
que passàvann los capcèirs deus aubres. Lo miaire que
puntegè lo son hoet.
— Baskerville Hall, ce dixó.
Lo cap-casau que s’èra quilhat e oelhiquejava dab las
gautas arroias e los oelhs lugranejants. Au cap de quau-
quas minutas qu’atenhèm lo portau deu pavelhon.
Qu’èra ua fantastica entorseligada de hèrr hargat dab
pialars a cada estrem, arroganhats preu tempeiri e
caperats de minjança, qui susmontàvann los caps d’orrs
de Baskerville. La damorança qu’èra ua mena d’aclapadís
de granit néguer e de piteraus desnudats, mès en fàcia
qu’i avèva un navèth bastiment, acabat a miejas, permèira
fruta de l’òrr sud-african de’N Charles.
Passat lo portau, que’ns hadom en davant per l’avin-
guda ond un còp mei lo bruit de las arròdas qu’èra
amortosit per las hoelhas.
Los aubres vielhs que junhàvann las lors balanças en
bèth har ua vòuta escura per dessús los nòstes caps.
Baskerville que tremolè en tot espiar la longa lèia
escuranhosa au cap de laquau lusiva la mansa tantvau
ua hantauma.
— Qu’es aquí que... ? ce domandè a votz baixa.
— No pas. La lèia deus taixs qu’es de l’auta part.
Lo joenn eretèir que hadó córrer l’oelh tot a l’entorn
by the fury of years of storm. Two high, narrow towers rose over the
trees. The driver pointed with his whip.
« Baskerville Hall, » said he.
Its master had rised, and was staring with flushed cheeks shining
eyes. A few minutes later we had reached the lodge gates, a maze
of fantastic tracery in wrought iron, with weather-bitten pillars on
either side, blotched with lichens, and surmounted by the bears’
heads of the Baskervilles. The lodge was a ruin of black granite and
bared ribs of rafters, but facing it was a new building, half
constructed, the first fruit of Charles’s South African gold.
Through the gate way we passed into the avenue, where the weels
were again hushed amid the leaves, and the old trees shot their
branches in a sombre tunnel over our heads. Baskerville shuddered
as he looked up the long, dark drive to where the house glimmered
like a ghost at the farther end.
« Was it here ? » he asked, in a low voice.
« No, no, the Yew AIIey is on the other side. »
The young heir glanced round with a gloomy face.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
dab un espiar entristit.
— Ne m’estona pas se li semblè, au men toton, que se
l’escaderé ua mauparada en un lòc atau, ce dixó. N’i a
pro per esvariar quau qui sii. D’aquí xeis mes, qu’i aurà
ua rengada de lampadaris electrics e ne tornaratz pas
conéixer los lòcs dab ua lampa Swan & Edison de mila
bogias de poténcia en fàcia de la pòrta de la Mansa.
L’avinguda que feniva sus un tascat deus largs, tòca-
tocant l’ostau. A la lutz de la sombrusta, que podoi
véder un bastissi centrau, dab un pòrge qui’n salhiva.
Tot lo davant qu’èra caperat de gèira, lhevat lo horat,
aquí o alà, d’ua frinèsta o d’un blason qui n’esquiçàvann
lo màntou negrejant. D’aqueth bastiment centrau
dardalhàvann las torrs bessonas. Qu’èrann vielhas-
vielhas, dentelhadas e horadadas de murtrièras. De
cada part de las torrs, qu’i avèva duas alas mei recentas
bastidas de granit néguer.
Un lutzèir trebós que pareixè a travèrs de las frinèstas
dab menauts e ua soleta colona de hum pujava de las
chaminèias hautas quilhadas suu tèit escarp.
— Planvingut, En Henry ! Planvigut en Baskerville
Hall !
Un òmi haut de talha qu’èra salhit de l’ombra deu
pòrge per aubrir la portièra deu carriòt. Lo tastuc d’ua
hemna que’s destaquè sus la lutz jauna deu hall. Que
« It’s no wonder my uncle felt as if trouble were coming on him in
such a place as this, » said he. « lt’s enough to scare any man. I’ll
have a row of electric lamps up here inside six months, and you won’t
know it again with a thousand-candIe-power Swan and Edison right
here in front of the hall door. »
The avenue opened into a broad expanse of turf, and the house
lay before us. In the fading light .l could see that the centre was a
heavy block of building from which a porch projected. The whole
front was draped in ivy, with a patch clipped bare here and there
where a window or a coat-of-arms broke through the dark veil. From
this central block rose the twin towers, ancient, crenellated, and
pierced with many loopholes. To right and left of the turrets were
more modern wings of black granite. A dull light shone through
heavy mullioned windows, and from the high chimneys which rose
from the steep, high-angled roof there sprang a single black column
of smoke.
« Welcome, Sir Henry ! Welcome to Baskerville Hall ! »
A tall man had stepped from the shadow of the porch to open the
door of the wagonette. The figure of a woman was silhouetted against
52
sortí tabé entà-d ajudar l’òmi a devarar los bagadges.
— Ne’vs desagradarà pas se me’n torni còpsèc a casa,
En Henry, ce domandè lo doctor Mortimer. Que m’espèra
la mia molhèr.
— Que damoraratz solide entà minjar quauquarré per
sopar ?
— No. Que’m cau partir. Qu’èi solide tibalhs qui se
m’espèrann. Que serí damorat enta’vs har vesitar l’ostau
mès Barrymore serà un milhor guide que no pas jo. Adixatz
e n’esítitz pas a’m har viéner cercar se’vs poix estar
ajudable.
Lo trepejar de las arròdas s’atupí de long de l’avinguda
mentra que’N Henry e jo hentràvann dehentz lo hall
e la pòrta se tornè barrar pesugament darrèir nosatis.
Que’ns trobèm dehentz un ostau deus bèths, espaciós,
haut de plafond, dab piteraus de cassi negrit preus
anns. Dehentz la grand chaminèia de la mòda vielha,
darrèir los hauts chaminaus de hèrr, cramava un hoec
batalhau. Jo e En Henry qu’i tenom las mans de cap
pr’amor aquesta longa passejada que’ns avèva en.hre-
dolits. Apuix qu’espièm a l’entorn de nos : la frinèsta
hauta e estreta deus vitraus encolorits, los lambrís de
cassi, los caps de cèrvis, los blasons per las parets, tot
que pareixè trebós e escur a la lutz amortosida de la
lampa centrau.
the yellow light of the hall. She came out and helped the man to hand
down our bags.
« You don’t mind my driving straight home, Sir Henry ? » said Dr
Mortimer. « My wife is expecting me. »
« Surely you will stay and have some dinner ? »
« No,l must go. l shall probably find some work awaiting me. I
would stay to show you over the house, but Barrymore will be a better
guide than I. Good-bye, and never hesitate night or day to send for
me if I can be of service. »
The weels died away down the drive while Sir Henry and I turned
into the hall, and the door clarged heavily behind us. lt was a fine
apartment in which we found ourselves, large, lofty, and heavily
raftered with huge balks of age-bIackened oak. In the great old-
fashioned fireplace behind the high iron dogs a log-fire crackled and
snapped. Sir Henry and I held out our hands to it, for we were numb
from our long drive. Then we gazed round us at the high, thin window
of old stained glass, the oak panelling, the stags’ heads, the coats-
of-arms upon the walls, all dim and sombre in the subdued light of
the central lamp.

— Qu’es tot cagat com me l’avèvi esmaginat, ce dixó
En Henry. B’es l’imadge d’un ostau de vielha familha,
vertat, no ? Qüand se pensa que los mens aujòus ann viscut
aquí desempuix cinc cents anns. Acò me rend tot estrementit
sonque d’i pensar.
De tant qui hadèva córrer l’oelh au son entorn, que
vedoi la soa cara nega s’esclarir d’un estrambòrd mai-
nadèc. Que s’estava en plea lutz mès ombras longassas
que s’estirassàvann per las murralhas e hadèvann ua
mena de cobricap en dessús d’eth. Barrymore qu’èra
tornat de pausar los bagadges dentz las nòstas crambas.
Que s’estè davant nosatis dab l’anar aisit d’un serviciau
d’elei. Qu’èra òmi beròi, grand e alegant, dab ua barba
nega talhada en carrat qui hadèva ressortir la panlor
distinguida deus sos trèits.
— E desíratz lo sopar que sii servit de tira ?
— Qu’es prèst ?
— Que’n serà dentz quauquas minutas, Mossur. Que
trobaratz aiga cauta dentz las vòstas crambas. Jo e la mia
molhèr que serem urós, En Henry, de damorar au vòste
servici dinc’a qu’avóssitz hèit las vòstas arranjas. Que
compreneratz de-segur que, en aqueras navèras condi-
cions, be harà besonh a la Mansa un personau plan mei
numerós.
— Quaus condicions navèras ?
« It’s just as l imagined it, » said Sir Henry. «ls it not the very picture
of an old family home ? To think that this should be the same hall
in which for five hundred years my people have lived ! It strikes me
solemn to think of it. »
I saw his dark face lit up with a boyish enthusiasm as he gazed
about him. lhe light beat upon him where he stood, but long
shadows trailed down the walls and hung like a black canopy above
him. Barrymore had returned from taking ourluggage to our rooms.
He stood in front of us now with subdued manner of a well-trained
servant. He was a remarkable-looking man, tall, handsome, with a
square black beard and pale distinguished features.
« Would you wish dinner to be served at once, sir ? »
« Is it ready ? »
« ln a very few minutes, sir. You will find hot water in your rooms.
My wife and l will be happy, Sir Henry, to stay with you until you have
have made your fresh arrangements, but you will understand that
under the new conditions this house will require a considerable
staff. »
« What new conditions ? »
« l only meant, sir, that Sir Charles led a very retired life, and we
were able to look after his wants. You would, naturally, wish to have
53
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— Que volèvi sonque díser En Charles que miava ua
vita retirada e qu’abastàvam preu son servici. Que v’agra-
darà de-segur d’aver compania mei numerosa e donc que’vs
carrà cambiar lo trin de casa.
— E’m vòletz díser que vos e la vòsta hemna e’m desíratz
quitar ?
— Sonque qüand ne’vs harà pas nat destorb, Mossur.
— Mes la vòsta familha qu’es au nòste servici desempuix
mantuas generacions, vertat ? Que serí desolat d’entamiar
la mia vita aquí en tot trencar un ligami tant ancian.
Que’m semblè discernir signes d’esmavuda sus la
cara panlinosa deu mèste d’ostalaria.
— Que m’at pensi tabé, e la mia molhèr tot parièr. Mès
entà’vs díser la vertat, qu’èram tots dus hòrt estacats a’N
Charles e la soa mòrt que’ns a redde estrementit e l’ostala-
da que nse’n hè hasti. Que’m hè pòur que jamei no
podóssim pas mei sentí’ns ad aise en Baskerville Hall.
— E çò qui atz l’intencion de har ?
— Que’m pensi, Mossur, que ns’i escairam d’aver un
petit comèrci au nòst compte. La generositat de’N Charles
que’ns permet d’at har. E adara, Mossur, çò de mielhe que
seré belèu de’vs muixar las crambas vòstas.
Ua galeria carrada qu’encintava l’en-sus deu Hall
vielh e s’i accediva pr’un escalèir doble. D’aquí estant,
dus longs corredors que’n partívann e que travessàvann
more company, and so you will need changes in your household. »
« Do you mean that your wife and you wish to leave ? »
« Only when it is quite convenient to you, sir. »
« But your famiIy have been with us for several generations, have
they not ? l should be sorry to begin my life here by breaking an old
family connection. » l
I seemed to discern some signs of emotion upon the butler’s white
face.
« l feel that also, sir, and so does my wife. But to tell the truth, sir,,
we were both very much attached to Sir Charles, and his death gave
us a shock and made these surroundings very painful to us. l fear
that we shall never again be easy in our minds at Baskerville
Hall. »
« But what do you intend to do ? »
« l have no doubt, sir, that we shall suceeed in establishing
ourselves in some business. Sir Charles generosity has given us the
means to do so. And now, sir, perhaps I had best show you to your
rooms. »
A square balustraded gallery ran round the top of the old hall,
approached by a double stair. From this central point two long
corridors extended the whole length of the building, from which all
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
la Mansa tota sancèra. Las crambas qu’i dàvann totas.
La mia que’s trobava dentz la medixa ala com la de Bas-
kerville e casi còsta la soa. Aqueras crambas que
semblàvann plan mei modèrnas que la part centrau de
l’ostau ; lo papèir clar qui las tapissàvann e las bogias
numerosas qu’i hadonn hòrt enta’ns tirar de dessús
l’impression nega qu’avèm avut talèu la nòsta arribada.
Mes la sala de minjar qui dava suu hall qu’èra lòc
d’ombra e d’escurada. Qu’èra ua pèça longassa dab un
gradèr qui desseparava l’estrada ond se seitava la fami-
lha, de la part baixa reservada aus serviciaus. A l’un deus
estrems, un balcon de trobadors, que’u susplomava.
Piteraus negrits silhoàvann lo plafond ahumat en
dessús deus nòstes caps. Ua tropa de halhars eslamejants
entà-d esclairar, la calor e lo gai brusc d’ua taulejada
de d’autescòps que n’aurenn docejat l’atmosfèra. Mès
a l’òra d’ara, dab dus gentlemen de néguer apelhats,
seitats dentz lo petit aròu de lutz balhat pr’ua lampa
a abat-jorn, las votz se hadèvann baixas e los esperits
endolentits. Tot un seguissi d’aujòus, en pelhas des-
parièras, deu xivalièr elizabethan au dandy de la Regen-
ça que’ns espiàvann de haut e’ns espaurugàvann per
la lor preséncia silenciosa. Ne parlèm pas goaire e
qu’estoi urós qüand lo repaix estó acabat e que’ns
the bedrooms opened. My own was in the same wing as Baskerville’s
and almost next door to it. These rooms appeared to be much more
modern than the central part of the house, and the bright paper and
numerous candles did something to remove the sombre impression
which our arrival had left upon my mind.
But the dining-room which opened out of the hall was a place of
shadow and gloom. ltw was a long chamber with a step separating
the dais where the famiIy sat from the lower portion reserved for their
dependents. At one end a minstrels’ gallery overlooked it. Black
beams shot across above our heads, with a smoke-darkened ceiling
beyond them. With rows of flaring torches to light it up, and the
colour and rude hilarity of an old-time banquet, it might have
softened ; but now, when two black-clothed gentlemen sat in the little
circle of light thrown by a shaded lamp, one’s voice became hushed
and one’s spirit subdued. A dIm line of ancestors, in every variety
of dress, from the Elizabethan knight to the buck of the Regency,
stared down upon us and daunted us by their silent company. We
talked little and l for one was glad when themeal was over and we
54
podom retirar en la modèrna sala de bilhard entà
humar ua cigarreta.
— Acò’s pas un lòc agradiu, hilh de puta, ce dixó En
Henry. Que gadgi que s’i pòt acostumar mès au jorn de
oei ne’m senti pas hòrt ad aise. Ne m’estona pas que lo toton
e sii vadut nerviós a víver solet dentz un ostau com aqueth.
Tabé, se v’agrada, que’ns aniram cochar de-d’òra anoeit.
Belèu las causas que’ns pareixerann mei agradivas doman
matin.
Qu’escartèi los ridèus, davant de me n’anar au lheit,
e qu’espièi per la frinèsta entà dahòra.
Que s’aubriva de cap au tascat qui s’estenè davant
la pòrta deu hall. A l’enlàhòra dus bosquets d’aubres
gemicàvann e balancejàvann au vent creixeder. Ua
mieja-lua que trauquè los crums corredís. A la lutz
hreda que vedoi per delà los aubres ua bordura de ròcas
e la longa corba baixa de la lana malanconica. Que
tornèi barrar los ridèus, en bèth empensar que la mia
darrèira impression qu’èra a-d ua dab lo çò d’aute.
N’estó egau pas la darrèira. A maugrat d’estar gorpit,
n’arribavi pas a gahar la dromidèira, e m’arrevirèi de
costat e d’aut xentz paus, xentz de m’i escàder a
m’endromir. Un arrelòdge que picava los quarts d’òra,
a l’enlàhòra, mès un silenci mortau que regnava sus
were able to retire into the modern billiard-room and smoke a
cigarette.
« My word, it isn’t a very cheerful place, » said Sir Henry. « l suppose
one can tone down to it, but l feel a bit out of the picture at present.
l don’t wonder that my uncle got a little jumpy if he lived all aIone
in such a house as this. However, if it suits you, we wiII retire early
tonight, and perhaps things may seem more cheerful in the mor-
ning. »
I drew aside my curtains before l went to bed and looked out from
my window. lt opened upon the grassy space which lay in front of
the hall door. Beyond, two copses of trees moaned and swung in a
rising wind. A half moon broke through the rifts of racing clouds.
In its cold light l saw beyond the trees a broken fringe of rocks and
the long, low curve of the melancholy moor. l closed the curtain,
feeling that my last impression was in keeping with the rest.
And yet it was not quite the last. l found myself weary and yet
wakeful, tossing restlessly from side to side, seeking for the sleep
which would not come. Far away a chiming clock struck out the
quarters of the hours, but otherwise a deathly silence lay upon the

l’ostau vielh. E alavetz, tot sobte, de la noeit hensa, me
pervienó a las aurelhas un bruit clar, tindant, que no
s’i podèva pas enganar. Qu’èra lo plorar d’ua hemna,
sangluts enxordits, de quauqu’un engahinat pr’un
treixaguèr qui ne podèva pas contarollar. Que’m seitèi
old house. And then suddenly, in the very dead of the night, there
came a sound to my ears, clear, resonant, and unmistakable. lt was
the sob of a woman, the muffled, strangling gasp of one who is torn
by an uncontrollable sorrow. l sat up in bed and listened intently.
55
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
dentz lo lheit e’m botèi a l’escota. Lo bruit ne podèva
pas viéner de loenh e de segur qu’èra de l’ostau. Ua
mieja-orada que damorèi deixudat, tots los senns en
alèrta mès n’entenoi pas sonque los picars de l’arrelòdge
e los fremits de la gèira contra la paret.
The noise could not have been far away, and was certainly in the
house. For half an hour l waited with every nerve on the alert, but there
came no other sound save the chiming clock and the rustle of the
ivy on the wall.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Los Stapleton de Merripit House
Capítou setau
L
a beutat fresca deu lendonan matin que’ns ajudè
a desfaçar de las nòstas memòrias l’impression
grisosa e tristosa hèita preu permèir contact dab
Baskerville Hall. Mentra qui jo e’N Henry èram entau-
lats entà l’esdejuar, lo sou que dardalhava abondo-
sament los sos arrais a travèrs de las hautas frinèstas dab
menauts e que mirgalhava las parets deus plaps coloriats
deus blasons qui las cobrívann. Los panèus de hust
qu’avèvann lo lutzèir de l’aram devath los arrais daurats
e qu’èra de mau créder qu’èra la medixa pèça qui, asser,
e’ns avèva botat malaganha au cap.
— Be gadgi que n’es pas l’ostau mès nosatis qui èm a
polhar, ce dixó lo baronet. Qu’èram gorpits preu viadge
e gotaherits per la trèita en veitura e atau considerim la
mansa dab oelhs deus néguers. Qu’èm adara pausats e har-
dits e tot que torna paréixer mei gaujós.
— Qu’es egau, n’èra pas sonque ua question d’esma-
ginacion, ç’arresponoi. N’atz pas entenut, per exemple,
quauqu’un a plorassejar – ua henma bahida, la noeit
passada ?
— Curiós qu’es, pr’amor que’m semblè d’enténer
quauquarré atau mès qu’èri adromit a miejas. Qu’esperèi
ua pausòta mès com ne tornè pas mei, me pensèi alavetz
de qu’èra un saunei men.
7 — The Stapletons of Merripit House
The fresh beauty of the following morning did something to efface
from our minds the grim and grey impression which had been left
upon both of us by our first experience at Baskerville Hall. As Sir
Henry and l sat at breakfast the sunlight flooded in through the high
mullioned windows, throwing watery patches of colour from the
coats-of-arms which covered them. The dark panelling glowed like
bronze in the golden rays, and it was hard to realize that this was
indeed the chamber which had struck such a gloom into our souls
upon the evening before.
« l guess it is ourselves and not the house that we have to bla-
me ! » said the baronet. « We were tired with our journey and chilled
by our drive, so we took a grey view of the place. Now we are fresh
and well, so it is all cheerful once more. »
« And yet it was not entirely a question of imagination, » l answered.
« Did you, for example, happen to hear someone, a woman l think,
sobbing in the night ? »
« That is curious, for l did when l was half asleep fancy that l heard
something of the sort. l waited quite a time, but there was no more
of it, so l concluded that it was ail a dream. » I heard it distinctly,
and l am sure that it was really the sob of a woman. »
— Qu’at entenoi clarament e que soi solide de qu’èra
vertadeirament lo plorar d’ua hemna.
— Que’ns vam assabentar còpsec.
Que sonè e domandè a Barrymore se’ns podè balhar
endicas aquí dessús. Qu’avoi l’impression que los trèits
panlinós deu mèste d’ostalaria s’emblanquívann un
chic mei mentra qu’escotava la question deu son mèste.
— N’i a pas sonque duas hemnas hentz la mansa, En
Henry, ce responó. Ua qu’es la lavaira de vaixèira qui
dròm en l’auta ala. L’auta qu’es la mia hemna e que’vs
poix goarantir que n’es pas l’encausa d’aqueth bruit.
E que’n mentiva egau en tot díser acò pr’amor que
s’escadó qu’encontrèssi, après l’esdejuar, Mrs Barrymore
dentz lo corredor long qüand avèva lo sou en plea cara.
Qu’èra ua hemna gròssa, impassibla, comuna de trèits
e pòt-sarrat. Mès qu’avèva era los oelhs en.hlats e
enrogits qüand m’espiè de cap. Qu’èra donc era qui
avèva plorat la noeit passada e se n’èra atau, lo son marit
qu’at divèva saber. E qu’avèva pres egau lo risc d’estar
desmentit en bèth denegar que la soa molhèr ne n’èra
pas l’encausa. Perquè aver agit atau ? E perquè era avèva
tant plorassejat ? Dijà a l’entorn d’aqueth òmi alegant,
panlinós de cara e néguer de barba sordèva ua atmosfèra
misteriosa e estranha. Qu’èra eth qui avèva descubèrt
en permèir lo cadabre de’N Charles e n’avèvam pas
« We must ask about this right away. »
He rang the bell and asked Barrymore whether he could account
for our experience. It seemed to me fhat the pallid features of the
butler turned a shade paler still as he listened to his master's
question.
« There are only two women in the house. Sir Henry, » he answered.
« One is the scullery-maid, who sleeps in the other wing. The other
is my wife, and I can answer for it that the sound could not have come
from her. »
And yet he lied as he said it, for it chanced that after breakfast
l met Mrs Barrymore in the long corridor with the sun full upon her
tace. She was a large, impassive, heavy-featured woman with a stern,
set expression of mouth. But her tell-tale eyes were red and glanced
at me from between swollen lids.lt was she, then, who wept in the
night, and if she did so her husband must know it. Yet he had taken
the obvious risk of discovery in declaring that it was not so. Why had
he done this ? And why did she weep so bitterly ? AIready round this
pale-faced, handsome, black-bearded man there was gathering an
atmosphere of mystery and of gloom. lt was he who had been the
first to discover the body of Sir Charles, and we had only his word
.
56

sonque lo son testimoniadge rapòrt aus eveniments qui
avèvann miat a la mòrt deu vielh òmi. E seré possible
egau qu’estossi Barrymore qui avèvann vist dehentz lo
cabriolet per Regent Street ? La barba que seré podut
estar beròi la medixa. Lo cochèr qu’avèva descriut un
òmi mei petiton mès mantuns s’i aurenn autaplan
podut enganar. Com tirar a lutz aqueth punt un còp
per tots ? La permèira causa hasedera consistiva a anar
visitar lo cap de pòsta de Grimpen e saber se lo tele-
grama-tèst èra estat balhat en mans pròpias a Barrymo-
re. Quau que ne’n sii la responsa, qu’aurèi au mentz
quauquarré a raportar au Sherlock Holmes.
En Henry qu’èra encoentat dab numerós papèirs a
examinar après l’esdejuar de mòdes qu’avèvi vagar entà
la mia passejada. Qu’estó ua camada agradiva de viron
set quilomèstres suu bòrn de la lana qui’m miè en-
tà-d un viladjòt grisós ond salhívann dus ostaus mei
bèths, qui coneixoi com estant l’aubèrga e la damoran-
ça deu Dr Mortimer. Lo recebedor de las pòstas qui
tabé èra l’especèir deu borg, que’s brembava plan deu
telegrama.
— Plan segur, Mossur, ce dixó. Que balhèi lo telegrama
a Mr Barrymore exactament com èra comandat.
— Qui lo remetó ?
— Lo men hilh, aquí. James, e remetós aqueth telegrama
for all the circumstances which led up to the old man’s death. Was
it possible that it was Barrymore, after all, whom we had seen in the
cab in Regent Street ? The beard might well have been the same. The
cabman had described a somewhat shorter man, but such an
impression might easily have been erroneous.How could l settle the
point for ever ? 0bviously the first thing to do was to see the Grimpen
postmaster, and find wether the test telegram had really been
placed in Barrymore’s own hands. Be the answer what it might,l
should at least have something to report to Sherlock Holmes.
Sir Henry had numerous papers to examine after breakfast, so
that the time was propitious for my excursion. lt was a pleasant walk
of four miles along the edge of the moor, leading me at last to a small
grey hamlet, in which two larger buildings, which proved to be the
inn and the house of Dr Mortimer, stood high above the rest. The
postmaster, who was also the village grocer,had a clear recollection
of the telegram.
« CertainIy, sir, » said he, « Thad the telegram delivered to Mr
Barrymore exactly as directed. »
« Who delivered it ? »
« My boy here. James, you delivered that telegram to Mr Barrymore
57
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
a Mr Barrymore a la Mansa, la semmana passada, vertat
no ?
— Ò-bé, Pair. Que’u balhèi.
— E bé, qu’èra dehentz lo solèir en aqueth moment de
mòdas que ne’u podoi pas reméter en mans pròpias mès
que’u balhèi a Mrs Barrymore e que prometó era de’u portar
de-tira.
— E vedotz Mr Barrymore ?
— Nani, Mossur. Que’vs disi de qu’èra au solèir.
— Se ne l’atz pas vist, com pòdetz saber de qu’èra hentz
lo solèir ?
— E bé, me pensi que la soa hemna divè saber ond èra,
ce hadó lo recebedor d’un aire esmalit. E n’auré pas
recebut lo telegrama ? Se i a quauqua error, qu’es Mr
Barrymore eth-medix qui’s deu plànher.
Que’m semblè inutile de perseguir en aquera via mès
qu’èra clar que, a maugrat de la rusa de’N Holmes,
n’avèvam pas nada pròba que Barrymore n’èra pas estat
en Londras aqueth jorn. Gadjam de qu’èra eth lo medix
òmi qui èra estat lo darrèir a véder En Charles viu e
lo permèir a seguir lo navèth eretèir au son tornar en
Inglatèrra. E alavetz ? Eth b’agiré preu compte d’auts
gents o bé seré eth-medix animat per malas visadas ?
Quau interés e podèva aver a turmentar la familha deus
Baskerville ? Que tornèi pensar a l’estranh avertiment
at the Hall last week, did you not ? »
« Yes, Father, I delivered it. »
« Into his own hands ? » l asked.
« Well, he was up in the loft at the time, so that l could not put it
his own hands, but l gave it into Mrs Barrymore's hands, and she
promised to deliver it at once. »
« Did you see Mr Barrymore ? »
« No, sir ; l tell you he was in the loft. »
« lf you didn »t see him, how do you know he was in the loft ? »
« Well, surely his own wife ought to know where he is, » said the
postmaster testily. « Didn't he get the telegram ? If there is any
mistake it is for Mr Barrymore himself to complain. »
It seemed hopeless, to pursue the inquiry any further, but it was
clear that inspite of Holmes's ruse we had no proof that Barrymore
had not been in London all the time. Suppose that it were so –
suppose that the same man had been the last who had seen Sir
Charles alive, and the first to dog the new heir when he returned to
England. What then ? Was he the agent of others, or had he some
sinister design of his own ? What interest could he have in persecuting
the Baskerville family ? l thought of the strange warning clipped out
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
descopat en l’editoriau deu Times. Qu’èra belèu la soa
òbra ? O bé au contra l’agís de quauqu’un qui s’i hadè
a contracarrar los soas visadas. La sola rason valedera
qu’èra la suggerida pre’N Henry : se la familha deus
Baskerville èra esvariada e en.hastiada de la Mansa, los
Barrymore que profieiterenn en permanéncia d’ua
damorança confortabla. Mès tau esplica n’èra pas a la
pagèra de tots los manipòlis subtius qui teixèvann com
un hilat desvededer a l’entorn deu joenn baronet. Lo
quite Holmes qu’avèva declarat de qu’èra lo cas mei
pelut qu’avossi jamei encontrat dentz la longa tièra de
las soas enquistas estraordinàrias. En tot tornar suu
caminau gris e desèrt, que preguèvi entà que Holmes
estossi lèu aliberat de las soas coentas londonianas e’m
podossi viéner descargar deu heix pesuc d’aqueras
responsabilitats.
Tot sobte lo briu de las mias pensadas qu’estó copat
preu trepejar de quauqu’un darrèir jo qui m’aperava
preu men nom. Que’m virèi en tot créder véder lo
doctor Mortimer mès au men estonament qu’èra un
estrangèir qui’m corrèva après. Petit qu’èra, prim, rasat
de-plan, dab lo peu blondàs e la maixèra baixa. Que
trentenejava, vestit d’un costume gris e cohat d’un
capèth de palha. Que portava en bandolièra ua boita
de metau que s’i sòu botar dehentz especimènns de
of the leading article of The Times. Was that his work or was it
possibly the doing of someone who was bent upon counteracting
his schemes ? The only conceivable motive was that which had been
suggested by Sir Henry, that if the family could be scared away a
comfortable and permanent home would be secured for the
Barrymores. But surely such an explanation as that would be quite
inadequate to account for the deep and subtle scheming which
seemed to be weaving an invisible net round the young baronet.
Holmes himself had said that no more complex case had come to
him in all the long series of his sensational investigations, I prayed,
as l walked back along the grey, lonely road, that my friend might
soon be freed from his preoccupations and able to come down to
take this heavy burden of responsibility from my shoulders.
Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted by the soünd of running
feet behind me and by a voice which called me by name. l turned,
expecting to see Dr Mortimer but to my surprise it was a stranger
who was pursuing me. He was a small, slim, clean-shaven, prim-faced
man, flaxen-haired and lean-jawed, between thirty and forty years
of age, dressed in a grey suit and wearing a straw hat. A tin box for
botanical specimens hung over his shoulder, and he carried a green
58
botanica, e que tienèva en man un hilat verd de gahar
los parpalhòus.
— Que’m vorratz plan desencusar d’estar endavant-
hèit, Doctor Watson, ce dixó, e que bohava brac en tot
arribar au lòc que m’i èri estancat. Aquí per la lana,
qu’èm gents simples cap e tot e n’espéram pas après
presentacions formaus. Qu’atz bahida entenut a parlar
de jo preu nòste amic comun, Mortimer. Que m’apèri
Stapleton de Merripit House.
— Lo hilat e mei la boita me l’aurenn hèit endobinar
taplan, ce responoi pr’amor que sabèvi Mr Stapleton
qu’èra naturalista. B’es egau ? Quinn me pòdetz conéi-
xer ?
— Qu’èri ençò de Mortimer qüand passètz davant soa-
casi e eth que m’ensenhè quau èratz. Com los nòstes camins
èrann parièrs, me pensèi de’vs rejónher e de’m presentar.
En Henry n’estó pas trop estadit preu viadge ?
— Qu’es hardit, mercès plan.
— Qu’èram tots un chic chepicós après la mala mòrt
de’N Charles a pensar que lo navèth baronet e poiré
arrefusar de víver aquí. Qu’es hòrt domandar a un òmi
rixe de’s viéner enterrar en un indret d’aquesta mena mès
n’es pas de besonh de’vs díser l’mporténcia qu’acò pòt estar
per lo parçan. Qu’espèri que’N Henry n’a pas nada
cranhença supersticiosa ?
butterfly-net in one of his hands.
« You will, I am sure, excuse my presumption, Dr Watson, » said
he, as he came panting up to where l stood. «Here on the moor we
are homely folk, and do not wait for formal introductions. You may
possibly have heard my name from our mutual friend, Mortimer.l am
Stapleton, of Merripit House. »
« Your net and box would have told me as much, » said I, « for l
knew that Mr Stapleton was a naturalist. But how did you know
me ? »
« l have been calling on Mortimer, and he pointed you out to me
from the window of his surgery as you passed. As our road lay the
same way, l thought that l would overtake you and introduce myself.
l trust that Sir Henry is none the worse for his journey ? » -
« He is very well,thank you. »
« We were all rather afraid that after the sad death of Sir Charles
the new baronet might refuse to live here. lt is asking much of a
wealthy man to come down and bury himseIf in a place of this kind,
but l need not tell you that it means a very great deal to the
countryside. Sir Henry has, l suppose, no superstitious fears in the
matter ? »

— Ne’m sembla pas de que n’agi.
— Que sàbetz solide la legenda d’aqueth canhàs qui
pertòca la familha ?
— Que n’entenoi a parlar.
— Ne pòdetz pas maginar com los paisans e sonn
credolents per ’qui ! Numerós sonn los qui serenn prèstes
a jurar d’aver vist un tau mostre per la lana. Que parlava
egau en bèth sorríder mès me semblè legir hentz los sos oelhs
de que prenèva l’ahar mei au seriós. Aquera istoèra
qu’avèva engahat l’esperit de’N Charles e xentz nat dobte
qu’estó l’encausa de la soa acabada tragica.
— E quinn donc ?
— Qu’avèva los nèrvis tan tenuts que la vienuda de quau
can qui estossi auré podut jogar un ròlle fatau suu son còr
malautejant. Qu’esmagini qu’a vertadeirament vist un
mormòc d’aquestes dentz la lèia deus taixs, aquera noeit
darrèira. Que cranhèvi un malurr que s’escadossi pr’amor
que l’estimavi hòrt. A mei que sabèvi qu’avèva lo còr
malaut.
— E com at sabèvatz ?
— Lo men amic Mortimer que m’at dixó.
— Que pénsatz donc un can qu’acossè En Charles e
qu’eth e se’n morí d’espanta ?
— Qu’auratz belèu ua milhora esplica ?
— Ne soi pas arribat a nada conclusion encoèra.
« I do not think that it is likely. »
« Of course you know the legend of the fiend dog which haunts the
family ? »
« I have heard it. »
«lt is extraordinary how credulous the peasants are abou here !
Any number of them are ready to swear that tIhey have seen such
a creature upon themoor. » He spoke wïth a smile, but I seemed to
read in his eyes that he took the matter more seriously. « The story
took a great hold upon the imagination of Sir Charles, and l have
no doubt that it led to his tragic end. »
But how ? »
His nerves were so worked up that the appearance of any dog
might have had a fatal effect upon his diseaded heart. I fancy that
he really did see something of the kind upon that last night in the
Yew Alley. I feared that some disaster might occur, for I was very fond
of the old man, and knew that his heart was weak. »
« How did you know that ? »
« My friend Mortimer told me. »
« You think then, that some dog pursued Sir Charles, and that he
died of fright in consequence ? »
« Have you any better explanation ? »
59
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— E Mossur Sherlock Holmes ?
Que damorèi boca-badanta ua pausòta mès la cara
xoau e l’espiar tranquille deu men interlocutor que
m’amuixènn que n’i avèva pas botat nada mauvoléncia.
— Ne se’n vau pas la pena de denegar que’vs conéixem
Doctor Watson, ce dixó. Los espleits deu vòste detectiu que
sonn coneixeders aquí tabé e ne’u pòdetz pas laudar xentz
ves har conéixer vos-medix. Qüand Mortimer e’m dixó lo
vòste nom, ne podó pas denegar la vòsta identitat. S’ètz
aquí, acò vòu díser Mr Sherlock Holmes que s’interessa eth-
medix a l’ahar e tot naturau-ment que soi curiós de saber
quau es lo son punt de vista aquí-dessús.
— Qu’èi pòur de no pas poder arrespóner a-d aquera
question.
— E’vs poix domandar se’ns vòu aunorar d’ua vesita ?
— Ne pòt pas deixar Londras preu moment. D’autes
ahars que’u retiénenn en vila.
— Qu’es pecat ! Plan segur, que tiraré a lutz daubuas
causas qui’ns sémblann tant escuras. Mes pertocant las
vòstas pròpias recèrcas, se de quauqua manèira e’vs poix
ajudar, qu’espèri que n’esitaratz pas a m’at har assaber.
S’avèvi quauquas endicas rapòrt a las vòstas sospieitadas
o bé de la manèira qu’enténetz enquistar, que’vs poirí belèu
ajudar o conselhar ?
« I have not come to any conclusion. »
« Has Mr Sherlock Holmes ? »
The words took away my breath for an instant, but a glance at the
placid face and steadfast eyes of my companion showed no surprise
was intended.
« It is useless for us to pretend that we do not know you, Dr Wat-
son, » said he. « The records of your detective have reached us here,
and you could not celebrate him without being known yourself. When
Mortimer told me your name he could not deny your identity. If you
are here, then it follwos that Mr Sherlock Holmes is interesting
himself in the matter, and I am naturally, curious to know what view
he may take. »
« I am afraid that I cannot answer that question.
« May l ask if he is going to honour us with a visit himself ? »
« He cannot leave town at present. He has other cases which engage
his attention. »
« What a pity ! He might throw some light on that which is so dark
to us. But as to your own researches, if there is any possible way in
which l can be of service to you, l trust that you will command me.
If I had any indication of the nature of your suspicions, or how you
propose to investigate the case, l might perhaps even now give you
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— Que v’asseguri que soi aquí sonque per vesitar lo men
amic En Henry e nada ajuda ne’m hè pas besonh.
— D’acòrdi, ce hadó Stapleton. Qu’atz perfeitament
rason d’estar prudent e discret. Que’m soi hèit mocar hòrt
justament deu men curiosèr e que’vs prometi que ne ve’n
tornarèi pas parlar.
Qu’avèm caminat dinc a un indret que i desbocava
sus la rota un sendeiròt erbut qui serpejava enlà capvath
la lana. A man dreta se quilhava ua sèrra escarpa sau-
picada de rocàs que d’autescòps s’i cavava granit. Lo
penent qui’ns èra virat de cap hadèva ua paret néguer
que i creixèvann hiuguèiras e arromècs hentz los cròts.
A l’enlàhòra un plumaix de hum néguer que pujava
entau cèu.
— Ua passejadòta long d’aqueth sendèir que’ns miaré
enta Merripit House, ce prepausè Stapleton. Qu’atz
belèu ua orada a desperdiciar, atau que’vs poirèi presentar
la mia sòr.
La mia pensada permèira qu’estó que’m divèvi trobar
auprèp de’N Henry. Apuix que’m brembèi deu pialòt
de facturas e de letras qui encombràvann la soa taula
de tribalhar. Qu’èri segur que ne’u poirí pas ajudar.
E Holmes qu’avèva insistit per qu’estudièssi lo vesiadge
per la lana. Qu’acceptèi lo convit de Stapleton e que
virèm amassa suu sendèir.
some aid or advice. »
« I assure you that I am simply here upon a visit to my friend Sir
Henry, and that I need no help of any kind ! »
« Excellent ! » said Stapleton. « You are perfectly right to be wary
and discreet. I am justly reproved for what l feel was an unjustifiable
intrusion, and I promise you that l will not mention the matter
again. »
We had come to a point where a narrow grassy path struck off from
the road and wound away across the moor. A steep, boulder-
sprinkled hill lay upon the right which had in bygone days been cut
into a granite quarry.The face which was turned towards us formed
a dark cliff, with ferns and brambles growing in its niches. From over
a distant rise there floated a grey plume of smoke.
« A moderate walk along this moor-path brings us to Merripit
House, » said he. Perhaps you will spare an hour that I may have the
pleasure of introducing you to my sister. »
My first thought was that l should be by Sir Henry’s side. But then
I remembered the pile of papers and bills with which his study table
was littered. lt was certain that l could not help him with those. And
Holmes had expressly said that l should study the neighbours upon
the moor. l accepted Stapleton’s invitation, and we turned together
60
— La lana qu’es un parçan meravilhós, ce dixó en bèth
har córrer l’oelh suus tucs, sus las serradas verdejantas,
dab puntejaments de granit, qui graumejàvann tantvau
andadas de mar. Ne’s pòt pas jamèi aver hartèira de la
lana. Ne sauretz pas endobinar los secrets meravilhós que
i càbenn. Qu’es tan grana, tan desnudada, tan misterio-
sa !
— Be la conéixetz plan, be !
— Dus anns-a que damòri per » qui. Los gents d’aquí
m’aperarenn meilèu un estrangèir. Qu’arribèm chic de
temps après l’estallacion de’N Charles a la Mansa. Mès
los mens gosts me miènn a esplorar cada part deu parçan
e’m pensi que chic de gents e’u conéixenn mielhe que no
pas jo.
— Es de tant mau conéixer ?
— De hòrt mau conéixer. Que védetz, pr’exemple,
aquesta grand plana de cap au nòrd, dab las sèrras
estranhas qui’n sàlhenn ? Arremércatz quauquarré espe-
ciau ?
— Que deu estar un indret agradiu per har xibau.
— Quiò. Ua idèia qui vien de tira a l’esperit e qui a
costat la vita a ua tropa de gents dinc au jorn de oei. E
déstriatz aqueths plaps bèths d’un verd lusent qui la
mirgàlhann ?
— Ò-bé. Que sémblann mei frutècs que lo çò d’aute.
down the path.
« lt is a wonderful place, the moor, » said he, looking round over
the undulating downs, long green rollers, with crests of jagged
granite foaming up into fantastic surges. « You never tire of the moor.
You cannot think the wonderful secrets which it contains. lt is so vast,
and so barren, and so mysterious. »
« You know it well, then ? »
« l have only been here two years. The residents would call me a
new-comer. We came shortIy after Sir Charles settled. But my tastes
led me to explore every part of the country round, and I should think
that there are few men who know it better than l do. »
« ls it so hard to know ? »
« Very hard. You see, for example, this great plain to the north here,
with the queer hills breaking out of it. Do you observe anything
remarkable about that ? »
« lt would be a rare place for a galop. »
« You would naturally think so, and the thought has cost folk their
lives before now. You notice those bright green spots scattered
thickly over it ? »
« Yes, they seem more fertile than the rest. »
Stapleton laughed. « That is the great Grimpen Mire, » said he.

Stapleton qu’arridó.
— Aquí qu’atz lo Hanhèir grand de Grimpen, ce dixó.
Un faus pas e aquí la mòrt per l’òmi o per la bèstia. Gèir
encoèra que vedoi un xibalòt de la lana a s’i descaminar.
Ne n’es pas jamei sortit. Pausa que vedoi lo son cap a salhir
d’uas bedosas mès a la fin lo hanhèir se l’avalè. Per la quita
sason de sequèir, que i a dangèir a’u travessar, e mei, ar-
rond de las plojas d’agòrr, acò qu’es un lòc d’espanta.
Qu’es egau mès jo que’m poix ahonir cap-hentz aqueth
hanhèir e ne’n tornar sauv. Diu vivant, unhaut d’aqueths
praubes xibalòts que s’i torna !
Quauquarré de moret que s’espernabatèva per delà
los juncs verds. Puix un còth long arpategent d’ua
bèstia aus arpunts que salhí ensús, e un esberròc
hastiau que retrení per la lana tota. Que’n fremii
d’eixante mès los nèrvis deu men companh que’m
semblàvann mei solides que no pas los mens.
— Acabat qu’es ! ce dixó. Lo hanhèir que se l’a engolit.
Dus en dus jorns e mei encoèra belèu pr’amor que sòlenn
anà’i per temps de sequèir e ne sàbenn pas har la diferéncia
sonque qüand lo hanhèir se’us a engahat dehentz las arpas
soas. Lo hanhèir grand de Grimpen, un indret deus
maixants qu’es.
— E que dísetz poder travessà’u ?
— Quiò. Que s’i tròbann un o dus sendèirs estrets qu’un
« A false step yonder means death to man or beast. Only yesterday
I saw one of the moor ponies wander into it. He never came out. I saw
his head for quite a long time craning out of the bog-hole, but it
sucked him down at last. Even in dry seasons it is a danger to cross
it, but after these autumn rains it is an awful place. And yet I can
find my way to the very heart of it and return alive. By George, there
is another of those miserable ponies ! »
Something brown was rolling and tossing among the green
sedges. Then a long, agonized, writhing neck shot upwards and a
dreadful cry echoed over the moor. lt turned me cold with horror,
but my companion »s nerves seemed to be stronger than mine.
« lt’s gone ! » said he. « The Mire has him. Two in two days, and many
more, perhaps, for they get in the way of going there in the dry
weather, and never know the difference until the Mire has them in its
clutch. lt »s a bad place, the great Grimpen Mire. »
« And you say you can penetrate it ? »
« Yes, there are one or two paths which a very active man can take.
l have found them out. »
« But why should you wish to go into so horrible a place ? »
61
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
òmi lèste e pòt gahar. Que’us èi trobats.
— Mès perqué desíratz donc passejà’vs en un lòc tan
hastiau ?
— E védetz las sèrras alahòra ? Que sonn islas vertadèi-
ras enrodadas e isoladas preu hanhèir, qui, au briu deus
anns, serpadeja enter eras. En aquestes lòcs que s’i tròba
èrbas e parpalhòus deus riales s’ètz pro esberit pre’us i
aténher.
— Un d’aqueths jorns que carrà que tenti lo còp.
Que’m guinhè dab un aire estambornit.
— Per l’amor de Diu quítatz ua tau idèia deu vòste
cap ! s’esclamèt. Qu’aurí la vòsta mòrt sus la consciéncia.
Que v’assolidi que n’i a pas nada probabilitat que’n
pósquitz tornar viu. Qu’es sonque en bèth brembà’m cèrtas
mèrcas complicadas que me’n poix virar.
— Òu ! ce cridèi. Qu’es acò ?
Ua longa gemicada enxordida, tristassa que no’s pòt
descríver, que trení capvath la lana. Que plenhava l’aire
tot xentz de poder saber d’a-ond vienèva. De marmús
amortosit que s’en.hlè en-per un rugiment pregond
per tornar a la fin de la fin un chebit malanconic e
perpitós. Stapleton que se m’espiè dab un aire deus
esquèrrs.
— Lòc estranh b’es la lana ! ce mormorèt.
— Çò qu’èra açò ?
« Well, you see the hills beyond ? They are really islands cut off on
all sides by the impassable Mire, which has crawled round them in
the course of years. That is where the rare plants and the butterflies
are, if you have the wit to reach them. »
« l shall try my luck some day. »
He looked at me with a surprised face. « For God’s sake put such
an idea out of your mind, » said he. « Your blood would be upon my
head. l assure you that there would not be the least chance of your
coming back alive. lt is only by remembering certain complex
landmarks that l am able to do it. »
« Halloa, » l cried. « What is that ? »
A long, low moan, indescribably sad, swept over the moor. It filled
the whole air, and yet it was impossible to say whence it came. From
a dull murmur it swelled into a deep roar and then sank back into
a melancholy, throbbing murmur once again. Stapleton looked at
me with a curious expression on his face.
« Queer place, the moor ! » said he.
« But what is it ? »
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— Que dísenn los paisans acò qu’es lo Canhàs deus
Baskerville qui crida après la soa preda. Qu’at audii dijà
un o dus còps mès jamei autan hòrt.
Sangglaçat que hadoi córrer l’oelh per dessús aqueth
planèir saupicat preus verdós plaps de juncs. Arré ne
s’i mudava sonque dus cròcs, ajucats sus un rocàs,
darrèir nosatis.
— Òmi ensenhat qu’ètz, ce dixoi, ne pòdetz pas créder
a taus peguessas ? Quau seré l’encausa d’un tant estranh
uglet.
— Los braus – de còps – que míann bruits deus esquèrrs.
Aquí la hanha qui’s prem o l’aiga qui puja, o encoèra...
— Que no pas ! Acò qu’èra ua votz de creat.
— E bé, belèu que n’èra. L’atz dijà audit au crit deu
butòrr ?
— No, pas jamei.
— Qu’es un ausèth deus riales, praticament desapa-
reixut en Anglatèrra au jorn de oei, mès tot que’s pòt escà-
der per la lana. E-ò, ne serí pas estonat d’apréner que
viénem d’enténer lo crit deu darrèir deus butòrrs.
— Qu’es un cridòri deus mei esquèrrs e estranhs qu’agi
jamei audit de tota la mia vita.
— Ò-bé, l’indret qu’es meilèu estranh ! Éspiatz entau
penent de la sèrra alahòra. Çò qu’es acò, au vòste enté-
ner ?
« The peasants say it is the Hound of the Baskervilles calling for
its prey. I’ve heard it once or twice before, but never quite so
loud. »
I look round, with a chill of fear in my heart, at the huge swelling
plain, mottled with the green patches of rushes. Nothing stirred over
the vast expanse save a pair of ravens, which croaked loudly from
a tor behind us.
« You are an educated man. You don’t believe such nonsense
as that ? » said I. « What do you think is the case of so strange a
sound ? »
« Bogs make queer noises sometimes. lt’s the mud setting, or the
water rising, or something. »
« No, no, that was a living voice. »
« Well, perhaps it was. Did you ever hear a bittern booming ? »
« No, I never did. »
« It’s a very rare bird – practically extinct – in England now but
all things are possible upon the moor. Yes, l should not be surprised
to learn that we have heard is the cry of the last of the bitterns. » .
« It’s the weirdest, strangest thing that ever I heard in my life. »
« Yes, it’s rather an uncanny place altogether. Look at the hillside
yonder. What do you make of those ? »
62
Lo penent escarp de la sèrra qu’èra caperat d’un vin-
tenat de cercles gris e peiruts.
— Ne sèi pas. Parcs per las aulhas que sonn ?
— No pas. Que sonn los ostaus deus nòstes dignes ajòus.
L’òmi preistoric que vivèva en colonias per la lana e com
digun mei d’aravant n’i damorè, que tròbann los soas
petitas estallacions tau com las deixè d’autescòps. Wigwams
xentz lo tèit que sonn. Que i poiratz véder las jaças e lo
larèir se l’enveja ves i prend de’us anar vesitar.
— Mès acò sembla ua vertadèira ciutat ! A quau epòca
estó poblada ?
— Tempsada neolitica, xentz datada exacta.
— E çò qui hadèvann ?
— Que’s hadèvann pèixer lo bestiar sus aqueras sèrras
e qu’aprenonn a cavar la pèira en cèrca d’estam qüand
l’espada de bronze e remplacè la hapcha de pèira. Éspiatz
la grand trencada sus la sèrra de l’auta part. Que n’es la
mèrca. Causas estranhas que’n trobaratz a fanègas per la
lana, Dr Watson. Oh, desencúsatz-me ua pausa. Qu’es un
“ciclopidèia”, solide.
Un parpalhòu o ua mosca que volejava suu nòste ca-
min. Stapleton que s’arronsè a la seguida de la mar-
maucha dab un arsèc e ua velocitat estraodinaris. Que
m’aperceboi dab esmavuda que la bestiòta n’anava de
cap au Hanhèir grand, mès lo men companh, xentz
The whole steep sIope was covered with grey circular rings of stone,
a score of them at least.
« Who are they ? Sheep-pens ? »
« No, they are the homes of our worthy ancestors. Prehistoric man
lived thickly on the moor, and as no one in particular has lived here
There since, we find all his little arrangements exactly as he left them.
These are his wigwams with the roofs off. You can even see his hearth
and his couch if you have the curiosity to go inside. »
« But it is quite a town. When was it inhabited ? »
« Neolithic man – no date. »
« What did he do ? »
« He grazed his cattle on these slopes, and hr learned to dig for
tin when the bronze sword began to supersede the stone axe. Look
at the great trench in the opposite hill. That is his mark. Yes, you
will find some very singular points about the moor, Dr Watson. Oh,
excuse me an instant. lt is surely Cyclopides. »
A small fly or moth had fluttered acroos our path, and in an instant
Stapleton was rushing with extraordinary energy and speed in
pursuit of it. To my dismay the creature flew straigh for the great Mi-
re, but my acquaintance never paused for an instant, bounding

paus ni cès, pinnant de broixòc en broixòc, l’acossèva
en bèth segutir lo hilat verd en l’aire. Dab lo son vestit
gris e lo son caminar zigazaguejant, que semblava eth-
medix a ua mena de parpalhòu gigant. Que m’estavi
aquí a guinhar la perseguida qui miava eth, mieipartit
enter l’amiracion per la soa estraordinària activitat e la
pòur de’u vèder a trabucar caphentz ua bedosa deu
Hanhèir grand, qüand entenoi ua caminada. M’arrevirèi
e m’arretrobèi cap e cap dab ua hemna qui s’apressava.
Qu’arribava de la direccion que s’i ensenhava per un
plumaix de hum, la pausicion de Merripit House, mès
ua declivitat de la lana me l’avèva esconuda dinc a que
sii tota pròixa.
Xentz nat dotte qu’èra Miss Stapleton que n’avèvi
entenut a parlar, pr’amor las hemnas de quau mena
qu’estossi ne devèvann pas estar numerosas a’s passejar
per ’qui, e mei me brembavi de quauqu’un vantant la
soa beutat. La hemna qui’m vienèva de cap que n’èra
e d’ua traca qui n’èra pas comuna. N’i auré pas podut
aver un contraste mei grand enter lo hrair e la sòr,
pr’amor Stapleton qu’èra clar de pèth dab lo peu blond
e los oelhs gris mentra la sòr qu’èra un bèth tròç de
bruna com jamei ne n’avèvi pas vist en Anglatèrra.
Prima, aleganta e hauta de talha.
Qu’avèva ua cara deus trèits fins, tan regularis qu’auré
from tuft to tuft behind it, his green net waving in the air. His grey
clothes and jerky, zigzag, irregular progress made him not unlike
some huge moth himself. l was standing watching his pursuit with
a mixture of admiration for his extraordinary activity and fear lest
he should lose his footing in the treacherous Mire, when l heard the
sound of steps, and turning round, found a woman near me upon
the path. She had come from the direction in which the plume of
smoke indicated the position of Merripit House, but the dip of the
moor had hid her until she was quite close.
I could not doubt that this was the Miss Stapleton of whom I had
been told, since ladies of any sort must be few upon the moor, and
l remembered that l had heard someone describe her as being a
beauty. The woman who approached me was certainly that, and of
a most uncommon type. There could not have been a-gteatèrcontrast
between brother and sister, for Stapleton was neütral-tinted, with
light hair and grey eyes, while she was darker than any brunette
whom I have seen in England – slim, elegant, and tall. She had a
proud, finely cut face, so regular that it might have seemed
impassive were it not for the sensitive mouth and the beautiful dark,
eager eyes. With her perfect and elegant dress she was, indeed, a
strange apparition upon a lonely moorIand path. Her eyes were on
63
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
podut passar per inespressiva se n’i avèva pas avut la
boca beròi sensuau e oelhs néguers deus gences. Dab
la soa pelha aleganta, perhèita qu’èra de-segur, ua
apareixuda esquèrra au bèth mitan d’un sendèir
arrecoenhat de la lana. Que gueitava de cap au son hrair
qüand me virèi e que’s hadó en darrèir d’un pas abrivat.
Que’m tirèi lo capèth e qu’anavi entamiar la convèrsa
qüand las soas paraulas e’m hadonnn cambiar d’idèia.
— Tornatz-ve’n ! ce dixó. Tornatz-ve’n de-tira entà
Londras !
Que damorèi estambornit en tot l’espiar pegament.
Qu’avèva era los oelhs qui lugranejàvann e que’n tre-
pejava d’impaciéncia.
— E perqué me’n deurí tornar ? ce domandèi.
— Ne v’at poix pas esplicar. Que parlava d’ua votz
baixa e tenuda, en tot liugeirament bedossejar. Mès Diu
Vivant ! Hètz donc çò qui’vs dic. Escapatz-ves e jamei no
tórnitz botar lo pèd hentz la lana.
— Mès que vieni d’arribar.
— Mai de Diu ! ce cridè. Ne pòdetz donc pas compréner
un avertiment qüand es hèit peu vòste ben. Tornatz-ve’n
entà Londras ! Partitz anoeit ! Hètz-v’enlà d’aquest lòc a
tot hòrt ! Cho ! aquí lo men hrair. Pas nat mot de çò qui
v’èi dit. E’m vorretz coélher aquesta orquidèia qui creix au
bèth miei d’aqueras escuretas. Las orquidèias que hènn
her brother as I turned, and then she quickened her pace towards
me. I had raised my hat, and was about to make some ex- planatory
remark, when her own words turned all my thoughts into a new
channel.
« Go back ! » she said. « Go straight back to London, instantly. »
I could only stare at her in stupid surprise. Her eyes blazed at me,
and she tapped the ground impatiently with her foot.
« Why should I go back ? » l asked.
« I cannot explain. » She spoke in a low, eager voice, with .a curious
lisp in her utterance. « But for God’s sake do what I ask you. Go back,
and never set foot upon the moor again. »
« But I have only just come. »
« Man, man ! » she cried. « Can you not tell when a warning is for
your own good ? Go back to London ! Start tonight ! Get away from
this place at all costs ! Hush, my brother is coming ! Not a word of
what I have said. Would you mind getting that orchid for me among
the mare’s-tails yonder ? We are very rich in orchids on the moor,
though, of course, you are rather late to see the beauties of the pla-
ce. »
Stapleton had abandoned the chase, and came back to us
breathing hard and flushed with his exertions.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
abon-de sus la lana, mès, qu’arríbatz un chic tard per ne’n
presar tota la beutat.
Stapleton qu’avèva renonciat a l’acossada e tornava
de cap a nosauts, gauta-arroi e en bèth bohar com ua
sipa.
— Adiu, Beryl ! ce dixó e lo son parlar ne’m semblè
pas deus mei amistós.
— E bé, Jack, qu’atz calor !
— Ò-bé, qu’èri a caçar un ciclopidat deus riales. Ne’n
tròbam pas goaire a la fin de l’agòrr. B’es pecat que me
l’agi mancat !
Que devisava com qui n’es pas pertocat, mès los sos
petits oelhs clars que n’anàvann de jo de cap a la gojata
xentz paus.
— Que v’ètz apresentats vos-medixs, ce’m par.
— Ò-bé, qu’èri a díser a’N Henry de qu’èra arribat tròp
tard per presar tota la beror de la lana.
— Mès... Dab qui maginas de parlar ?
— Aubiri que parli dab En Henry Baskerville.
— Que no pas, ce dixoi. Sonque dab un praube roturèir,
mès un amic son. Que soi lo doctor Watson.
La soa cara espressiva que s’envergonhí còpsec.
— Qu’i avó un mauentenut en la nòsta convèrsa, ce di-
xó era.
— Ne v’a pas vagat de devisar pausa, ç’arremerquè lo
« Halloa, Beryl ! » said he, and it seemed to me that the tone of his
greeting was not altogether a cordial one.
« Well, Jack, you are very hot. »
« Yes, l was chasing a Cyclopides. He is very rare, and seldom found
in the late autumn. What a pity that l should have missed him ! »
He spoke unconcernedly, but his small light eyes glanced
incessantly from the girl to me.
« You have introduced yourselves, l can see. »
« Yes, I was telling Sir Henry that it was rather lafe for him to see
the true beauties of the moor. »
« Why, who do you imagine this is ? »
« I imagine that it must be Sir Henry Baskerville. »
« No, no, » said I.« 0nly a humble commoner, but his friend. My
name is Dr Watson. »
A flush of vexation passed over her expressive face.
« We have been talking at cross purposes, » said she.
« Why, you had not very much time for talk, » her brother remarked,
with the same questioning eyes.
64
son hrair, dab los medixs oelhs interrogaires.
— Que parlèi com se lo doctor Watson èra un estadjant
e no pas un vesitaire, ce tornè era. Ne se’n chauta pas
goaire de saber s’es tròp de-dòra o de tard per las orquidèias.
Mes que viénetz vesitar Merripit House ? xentz de’vs
comandar ?
Que hadom la camada en chic de temps. Un ostau
de la lana qu’èra, trist, solide ua bòrda vielha d’ua
tempsada mei rixejanta. Qu’èra estada renavida e
virada en ua damorança modèrna. Un vergèir que
l’enrodava, mès los aubres, com de costuma per la lana,
qu’èrann chichavius e croixits. Tot acò que sentiva au
praubèir e au tristèir. Qu’estom arcoelhut pr’un vielh
serviciau, estranh, croixit, dab pelhas color de rodilha.
Que’n pareixèva estar lo gardian. Dehentz, qu’i avèva
egau peças largas e mubladas dab ua alegança qu’i
credoi reconéixer la man de dauna Stapleton. Com
espiavi per la frinèsta de cap a la lana plapada de granit
qui s’esplandiva dinc’au pèd deu cèu, me domandèi
çò qui avèva miat un òmi tan plan ensenhat e ua tan
bèra hemna a víver en un tau lòc.
— Un indret esquèrr qu’am causit, vertat ? ce dixó eth,
tantvau responèva a las mias pensadas. E maugrat tot,
que ns’i escàdem a ns’i agradar pro plan, vertat qu’es,
Beryl ?
« l talked as if Dr Watson were a resident instead of being merely
a visitor, » said she. « lt cannot much matter to him wether it is early
or late for the orchids. But you will come on, will you not, and see
Merripit House ? »
A short walk brought us to it, a bleak moorlandd home, once the
farm of some grazier in the old prosperous days, but now put into
repair and turned into a modern dwelling. An orchard surrounded
it but the trees, as is usual upon the moor, were stunted and nipped,
and the effect of the whole place was mean and melancholy. We were
admitted by a strange, wizened, rusty-coated old manservant who
seemed in keeping with the house. Inside, however, there were large
rooms furnished with an elegance in I seemed to recognize the taste
of the lady. As I looked from their windows at the interminable
granite-flecked moor rolling unbroken to the farthest horizon I
could not but marvel at what could have brought this highly
educated man and this beautiful woman to live in such a place. _
« Queer spot to choose, is it not ? » said he, as if in answer to my
thought. And yet we manage to make ourselves fairly happy, do we
not, Beryl ? »

— Que ns’i agràdam plan, ce responó era, xentz nada
aparéncia de conviccion.
— Qu’avèvi ua escòla, ce contunhè Stapleton. Dentz
lo Nòrd. Pr’un òmi deu men temperament, lo tribalh que
n’èra macanic e xentz interés, mès que presèi lo privilèdge
de víver dab joenessa, de’us ajudar a formar los lors esperits
e de’us imprimir ua cèrta part deu caractère men e de las
idèias mias. Lo hat, egau, que m’estó contra. Ua epidèmia
grèva que s’acomanè a l’escòla e tres gojats que se’n morinn.
Ne’s podó pas jamei arrequilhar e ua bèra part deu men
cabau qu’i damorè irremediablament engolit. E, se n’èra
la hrèita de la compania xarmanta deus mainadges, que’m
poirí regaudir de la mia maufortuna pr’amor, dab lo men
gost entà la botanica e la zoologia, qu’èi ací a man un
camp d’accion xentz limit, e la mia sòr qu’es tant amorosa
de la natura com jo. Tot acò, Dr Watson, que v’at cohessi
pr’amor qu’èi vist la vòsta espiada a travèrs de la frinèsta,
de cap a la lana.
— Que’m travessèt l’esperit de-segur que l’indret triste-
java un chic, mentz belèu per vos que no pas per la vòsta
sòr.
— Que nani, ne m’anugi pas jamei, ce dixó era bru-
sament.
— Qu’am líbers, qu’am los nòstes estudis e lo nòste
vesiadge qu’es deus interessents. Lo Doctor Mortimer qu’es
« Quite happy, » said she, but there was no ring of conviction in
her words.
« I had a school, » said Stapleton. « It was in the North Country.
The work to a man of my temperament was mechanical and
unintersting, but the privilege of living with youth, of helping to
mould those young minds and of impressing them with one’s own
character and ideals, was verv dear to me. However, the fates were
against us. A serious epidemie broke out in the school, and three
of the boys died. lt never recovered from the blow, and much of my
capital was irretrievably swallowed up. And yet, if it were not for the
loss of the charming companionship of the boys, I could rejoice over
my own misfortune, for with my strong tastes for botany and zology,
I find an unlimited field of work here, and my sister is as devoted
to Nature as I am. All this, Dr Watson, has been brought upon your
head by your expression as you surveyed the moor out of our win-
dow. »
« It certainly did cross my mind that it might be a little dull – less
for you, perhaps, than for your sister. »
« No, no, I am never dull, » said she quickly.
« We have books, we have our studies, and we have interesting
neighbours. Dr Mortimer is a most learned man in his own line. Poor
65
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
un òmi hòrt saberut tocant a la matèria qui es soa. Lo
praube’N Charles qu’èra tabé un vesin hòrt agradiu. Que’u
coneixèvann plan e lo tròbam de manca mei qu’at poix
díser. E pénsatz que serí endavant-hèit s’anavi oei vrèspe
entà la Mansa per vesitar En Henry ?
— Que soi segur de que’n seré hòrt content.
— Alavetz que’u poiretz belèu assabentar de la mia
intencion. Dab los nòstes praubes mejans, que poiram har
mei aisidas las causas de mòdes que s’acostumi En Henry
au son navèth vesiadge. E vòletz pujar entà que’vs presenti
la mia colleccion de lepidoptèris ? Me pensi qu’es la mei
complèta capvath tot lo Sud-oèst d’Anglatèrra. Deu temps
qui dècitz ua espiada dessús, lo disnar que serà casi prèst.
Mès que’m trigava de tornar au men prètz-hèit. Lo
tristèir de la lana, la mòrt deu praube xibalòt, lo néguer
cridòri qui s’èra associat a la legenda hastiala deus
Baskervilles – tot aquerò qu’ennegriva las mias pensadas.
E, en-sus de totas aqueras impressions mei o mentz
precisas, s’i escadèva l’avertiment net e clar de Mrs Sta-
pleton, largat dab un tau seriosèr que’s podèva cutar
que quauquas rasons de las imperiosas n’èrann l’encausa.
Que dixoi de no a totas las convidacions per disnar e
me’n tornèi còpsec en bèth seguir lo sendèir erbassut
dijà gahat a l’anar. Que semblava egau qu’ua travessèi-
ra e devèva estar coneixuda preus abituats ; pr’amor
Sir Charles was also an admirable companion. We knew him well,
and miss him more than I can tell. Do you think that I should intrude
if I were to call this afternoon and make the acquaintance of Sir Hen-
ry ? »
« I am sure that he would be delighted. »
« Then perhaps you would mention that I propose to do so. We
may in our humble way do something to make things more easy for
him until he becomes accustomed to his new surroundings. Will you
come upstairs, Dr Watson, and inspect my collection of Lepidopte-
ra ? I think it is the most complete one in the south-west of England.
By the time that you have looked through them lunch will be almost
ready. »
But I was eager to get back to my charge. The melancholy of the
moor, the death of the unfortunate pony, the weird sound which had
been associated with the grim legend of the Baskervilles – all these
things tinged my thoughts with sadness. Then on the top of these
more or less vague impressions there had come the definite and
distinct warning of Miss Stapleton, delivered with such intense
earnestness that I could not doubt that some grave and deep reason
lay behind it. I resisted all pressure to stay for lunch, and I set off
at once upon my return journey, taking the grass-grown path by
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
qu’estoi beròi estonat, permèir d’aver juntat la rota,
d’encontrar a Na Stapleton, seitada sus un ròcas pròixe
lo camin. Qu’avèva la cara beròi encolorada rapòrt a
l’escorruda e qu’èra tota desalentada.
— Qu’èi corrut tot de long per fin de’vs arrejúnher, Dr
Watson, ce dixó era. Ne’m vaguè pas de’m botar un quite
capèth. Ne cau pas que tardi siquenó lo men hrair que vei-
ré de que soi sortida. Que’vs volèvi díser de qu’èri franca-
ment desolada de m’estar enganada en tot créder de
qu’èratz En Henry. Que’vs prèi de desbrembar aqueras
paraulas qui dixoi e qui ne’vs pertòcann pas briga, a vos.
— Mès ne las poix pas oblidar, Miss Stapleton, ce dixoi.
Que soi l’amic de’N Henry e qu’èi grand chepic de com
ne’n vira lo son plan-estar. Ditz-me perqué èratz tan
pressada de que’N Henry se’n tornèssi entà Londras.
— Reuma de hemna, Dr Watson. Qüand me conéixitz
mielhe, que compreneratz que ne poix pas tostem balhar
rasons rapòrt a çò qui dic o hèi.
— Nani, nani, que’m brembi deu tremolament de la
votz vòsta. Que’m brembi de l’espiar deus oelhs vòstes. Que
ve’n prèi, síitz franca dab jo, Miss Stapleton, pr’amor,
desempuix qui soi aquí, qu’èi l’impression d’estar amiroat
d’ombras. La vita que’n va com d’aqueth Hanhèir grand
de Grimpen, mirgalhat de plaps verdejants de pertot, ond
s’i pòt beròi en.hanhar, e digun entà muixar lo bon sendèir.
which we had come.
It seems, however, that there must have been some short cut for
those who knew it, for before I had reached the road I was astounded
to see Miss Stapleton sitting upon a rock by the side of the track.
Her face was beautifully flushed with her exertions, and she held her
hand to her side.
« I have run all the way in order to cut you off, Dr Watson, » said
she. « I had not even time to put on my hat. I must not stop, or my
brother may miss me. I wanted to say to you how sorry I am about
the stupid mistake I made in thinking that you were Sir Henry. Please
forget the words I said, which have no application whatever to
you. »
« But I can’t forget them. Miss Stapleton, » said I. « I am Sir Henry’s
friend, and his welfare is a very close concern of mine. Tell me why
it was that you were so eager that Sir Henry should return to Lon-
don. »
« A woman’s whim, Dr Watson. When you know me better you will
understand that I cannot always give reasons for what I say or
do. »
« No, no. I remember the thrill in your voice. I remember the look
in your eyes. Please, please, be frank with me. Miss Stapleton, for
66
Alavetz, cóndatz-me çò qui volèvatz díser, e’vs asseguri
que’N Henry e serà assabentat deu vòste avertiment.
Un peixic d’esitacion que li envelèt la cara ua estona
mès lo son espiar qu’èra tornat dur com audavant
qüand se m’arresponó.
— Que’vs chepícatz de tròp, Dr Watson, ce hadó era.
Jo e lo men hrair, qu’èm estat hòrt segotits per la mòrt de’N
Charles. Que’ns coneixèvam hòrt intimament, pr’amor la
passejada qui li agradava mei qu’èra de travessar la lana
entà nòste. Qu’èra impressionat cap e tot d’aquera mala-
diccion qui perseguiva la soa familha, e, qüand s’escadó
aquera malahèita, me pensèi tot naturaument que i avèva
belèu quauquas rasons a las soas espauridas. Tabé qu’estoi
hòrt pertorbada en bèth apréner unhaute membre de la
familha que vienèva entà damorar per ací. Que cutèi que
divèvi avertir aqueth deu dangèir qui’u miaçava. Atau tot
çò qui avèvi l’intencion de li cohessar.
— E quau es donc aqueth perilh ?
— Be sàbetz l’istòria deu Canhàs ?
— Ne crei pas en taus peguessas.
— Jo, si-bé. S’atz quauqua influéncia auprès de’N Hen-
ry, hètz-lo enlà d’un lòc qui estó totjamei fatau per la soa
familha. Grand qu’es lo monde. Perqué desiraré damorar
en un indret tan perilhós com n’es aqueth ?
ever since I have been here I have been conscious of shadows all
round me. Life has become like that great Grimpen Mire, with little
green patches everywhere into which one may sink and with no gui-
de to point the track. Tell me, then, what it was that you meant, and
I will promise to convey your warning to Sir Henry. »
An expression of irresolution passed for an instant over her face,
but her eyes had hardened again when she answered me.
« You make too much of it, Dr Watson, » said she. « My brother
and I were very much shocked by the death of Sir Charles. We knew
him very intimately, for his favourite walk was over the moor to our
house. He was deeply impressed with the curse which hung over his
family, and when this tragedy came I naturally felt that there must
be some grounds for the fears he had expressed. I was distressed,
therefore, when another member of the family came down to live here,
and I felt that he should be warned of the danger which he will run.
That was all which I intended to convey. »
« But what is the danger ? »
« You know the story of the hound ? »
« I do not believe in such nonsense. »
« But I do. If you have any influence with Sir Henry, take him away

— Pr’amor justament que n’es perilhós l’indret. En
Henry qu’es atau. Qu’èi pòur que, a mentz que’m bàlhitz
mei endicas rapòrt aquera maladida, e sii impossible de’u
convéncer de se n’anar.
— Ne’u poirí pas díser causas mei definitivas pr’amor
ne sèi pas nada causa precisa.
— Que m’agradaré de’vs pausar ua question mei, Miss
Stapleton. Se ne’n volèvatz pas díser mei qüand me parlètz
tot permèir, perqué ne vòletz pas que lo vòste hrair enteni
çò qui dixotz ? N’i a pas arré qu’eth o quauqu’un mei i
posqui har objeccions quaus qu’estóssinn.
— Au men hrair que li agradaré hòrt que la Mansa
from a place which has always been fatal to his family. The world is
wide. Why should he wish to live at the place of danger ? »
« Because it is the place of danger. That is Sir Henry’s nature. I fear
that unless you can give me some more definite information than
this it would be impossible to get him to move. »
« I cannot say anything definite, for I do not know anything
definite. »
« I would ask you one more question. Miss Stapleton. If you meant
no more than this when you first spoke to me, why should you not
wish your brother to overhear what you said ? There is nothing to
67
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
estossi abitada, pr’amor que pensa de que seré en favor de
la gent praubejanta de la lana. Que seré hòrt maucontent
se sabèva qu’èi dit que que sii qui podossi miar En Henry
au despartir. Qu’èi hèit egau çò qui’m caliva har, e n’i
hornirèi pas mei arré. Que me’n torni adara siquenó lo
hrair que s’aperceurà de que soi sortida e que sospieitarà
de que v’èi vist. Adixatz !
Que’s virè de cuu e que desapareixó en quauquas
minutas cavpath los rocàs esbarrisclats ; d’aqueth
temps que contunhèi suu camin entà Baskerville Hall,
en tot aver l’esperit en.hastiat de cranhtas de totas
menas.
which he, or anyone else, could object. »
« My brother is very anxious to have the Hall inhabited, for he
thinks that it is for the good of the poor folk upon the moor. He would
be very angry if he knew that I had said anything which might induce
Sir Henry to go away. But I have done my duty now, and I will say
no more. I must get back, or he will miss me and suspect that I have
seen you. Good-bye ! »
She turned and had disappeared in a few minutes among the
scattered boulders, while I, with my soul full of vague fears, pursued
my way to Baskerville Hall.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Permèir Rapòrt deu DrWatson
Capítou oeitau
D
’aravant, que vau contunhar lo men raconte
en bèth trascríver las letras que mandèi a’N
Sherlock Holmes, e qui sonn ajacadas ací
davant jo sus la taula. Qu’i hè hrèita ua paja mès
siquenó que sonn totas menadas com estonn escriu-
tas ; que múixann mos sentiments e mos sospieits
d’aqueth temps passat mei segurament que no pas la
mia memòria, tan clarvedenta com podossi estar rapòrt
ad aqueths eveniments tragics.
Mansa de Baskerville
Lo 13 d’ortobre.
Car Holmes,
Las mias letras precedentas e mei los telegramas que
v’ann tingut assabentat de tot çò qui’s debanè en
aqueth parçan, deus mei desbrembats de Diu. Tant
mei e damòratz per ’qui, tant mei e s’embeu la vòsta
amna de l’ambient de la lana, de la soa immensetat,
deu son xarmatòri néguer. Qüand ves i hètz endavant,
que dèixatz d’estrem tot çò de l’Anglatèrra modèrna,
e d’unhauta part que prénetz consciéncia de qu’ètz
enrodat de pertot de las damoranças e deus obradges
deus temps preïstorics. De quina part qui’vs passégitz
qu’encóntratz los ostaladges d’aqueth pòble desbrem-
8 — First Report of Dr Watson
From this point onwards 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, Oct. 13th
My Dear Holmes,
My previous letters and telegrams have kept you pretty well upto-
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 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
68
bat, e mei las tombas e aqueras pèiras-lhevadas qui
serenn estats lo quite lòc deus lors temples. E qüand
éspiatz de cap aus cabans de pèira grisosa, quilhats suus
penents de las sèrras, que dèixatz la vòste edat de oei
e, se per cas, vedèvatz un òmi pelut, vestit de pèth de
bèstia a sortir clinat per la pòrta baixa, ajustar ua sagèra
de la punta de pèira-huc a la cordeta deu son arc, que
pensaretz de que la soa preséncia aquí es mei naturau
que no pas la vòsta. Çò d’estonant es que bèra tropa
d’aqueth poblants avòssinn podut víver per aquesta
tèrra qui divó totjamei estar de las magrejantas. Ne soi
pas saberut rapòrt a l’Antiquitat mès se pòt maginar
qu’estó ua raça chic guerrejaire, forçada per mei hòrta
que no pas era, a s’acontentar de çò qui digun mei no
volèva pas poblar.
Tot aquerò que’ns aloenha, egau, de la mission qui
me n’encarguètz e mei que serà probable xentz nat
interés per un esperit rigorosament pratic tau com n’es
lo vòste. Que’m brembi encoèra la vòste indiferéncia
totau qüand s’ageix de saber s’es lo sou qui vira a
l’entorn de la tèrra o la tèrra l’entorn deu sou. Tornam-
nse’n, totun, a las hèitas tocant a’N Henry Baskerville.
Se n’atz pas avut nat rendut-compte aqueths darrèirs
jorns, qu’es pr’amor dinc’a oei n’avèvi pas arré
d’importent a’vs reportar. En aqueras, un eveniment
supposed to have marked their temples. As you look at their grey
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 till 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

hòrt estonant que s’escadó que me’n vau condà’vs lèu.
Mès, permèir, que cau que v’assabenti deus autes hèits
tocant a l’ahar.
L’un d’aqueths, que ne’n parlèi pas goaire, qu’es la
preséncia deu forçat escapat capvath la lana. Que i a
rasons de las bonas de créder que s’a hèit enlà çò qui
hè grand solaç entà tots los qui, dentz lo parçan, e
damòrann en ostaus isolats. Adara que hè un quinzenat
de jorns que s’a gahat l’escap e mentretant digun ne’u
vedó pas, ni mei entenó a parlar d’eth. Qu’es de mau
concéber qu’agi podut tiéner sus la lana tot aqueth
temps. Plan segur, n’i a pas nat trabuc per s’i poder
escóner. Quau caban de pèira qui estossi li pòt balhar
un jaç entà escone-s’i. Mès n’i a pas arré a minjar a
mentz de’s gahar un mauton de la lana e de’u se ma-
tar. Que pénsann pr’amor d’acò que se n’es anat, e los
bordèirs deu parçan que’n dròmenn mielhe.
Qu’èm qüate òmis goalhards e brinchuts en aqueste
ostau, tabé que’ns pòdem aparar deu dangèir mès que
cohessi de que viscoi quauques moments deus maixants
qüand pensavi aus Stapleton. Que damòrann a lègas
de tot secors. Qu’i vívenn ua goja, un serviciau vielh,
la sòr e lo hrair, lo quau n’es pas un òmi hòrt goalhard.
Que serenn despoderats de cap a un gusàs mauvolent
tau com aqueth bandolièr de Notting Hill, se, per cas,
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
69
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
e podèva forçar l’entrada a lor. Jo e’N Henry, tots dus
qu’èram hòrt chepicat de çò qui’us podèva arribar e que
suggerim Parkins, lo vailet, qu’anó dromir alahòra, mès
Stapleton ne’n voló pas enténer a parlar.
Que’s vededer adara que lo nòste òmi lo baronet e
comença de muixar un brabe interés entà la nòste
beròia vesia. Acò n’es pas estonant briga, pr’amor lo
temps ne passa pas plan viste en aqueth parçan estremèr
per un òmi aniu com eth, e mei era qu’es ua hemna
de la beutat qui v’enlobateix hòrt. Que i a en era un
peixic de tropicau e d’exotic çò qui da un contraste hòrt
dab lo hrair, cap e tot hredolic e xentz emocion nada.
Mès qu’am tabé l’impression de que hoecs esconuts e
brúslann au dehentz d’eth. Qu’a de-segur ua influéncia
granassa sus la soa sòr, pr’amor, qüand parla era, que
me l’èi vista a’u guinhar de contunh com qui cèrca ua
aprobacion per çò qui ditz. Qu’èi hidança de qu’es
brabe dab era. Eth qu’a un espiar agut e los pòt eixucs
qui ensénhann un òmi de la natura positiva e mei pos-
siblament, dura. Que’u trobaratz bahida estudiader.
Qu’es donc vingut a Baskerville au permèir jorn entà
presentà’s e talèu lo lendoman matin, que n’anom dab
eth qui’ns miava au lòc qui’s ditz que vadó la legenda
de’N Hugo lo maladit. Qu’estó ua camada de mantuas
lègas capvath la lana, dinc a un indret qui lo tristèir
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 manlike 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 go 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
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
n’es tan grand qu’a plan podut suggerir l’istòria aquera.
Que trobèm ua leta bordurada de ròcas eixaquetadas
qui’ns mia de cap entà un plèir, erbut, saupicat de
capits blancós d’èrbas deus braus. Au bèth mitan que
sonn quilhadas duas pèiras granas usadas e agusadas
au som, de mòdes que sémblann aus caixaus gigants
d’ua bestiassa mostrosa. En tot cap acò que corresponèva
dab la scèna de la tragedia de d’autescòps. En Henry
qu’estó hòrt interessat e domandè a Stapleton mantuns
còps se credèva vertadeirament que lo subernaturau e
podèva interferir dentz los ahars deus òmis. Que
parlava d’ua votz liugèira mès se sentiva de qu’èra seriós
dinc a l’estremèra.
Stapleton que damorè pro retrèit qüand arresponèva
e qu’èra de bon compréner que ne’n disèva mentz que
ne’n sabèva e que ne volèva pas esprimir la soa opinion
completament per tant d’arrespectar los sentiments
deu baronet. Que’ns parlè d’autes cas similaris que
familhas atau avèvann patit de quauqua influéncia
malaheitosa e que’ns deixè a créder de que partadjava
la credença populària sus aqueth ahar.
Suu camin deu tornar, que ns’estanquèm a Merripit
House per disnar e qu’es aquí que’N Henry e hadó
coneixença de Miss Stapleton. Talèu qui la vedó, que
pareixó hòrt atirat per era e ne crei pas de m’enganar
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 Hen-
ry 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
70
en díser de qu’èra tot parièr de la soa part. E qüand
nse’n tornèm, n’arrestè pas de parlar d’era e d’aravant
ne s’es pas goaire passat un jorn xentz de qu’àgim vist
lo hrair e la sòr de quauqua mòda. Que sópann aquí
anoeit e qu’es previst de qu’ànim la semmana qui vien
en çò d’eths. Se poiré maginar qu’ua tau relacion
agradaré hòrt a Stapleton e totun, mei d’un còp, que
se m’es escadut de’u véder a har lèda cara pr’amor En
Henry hadèva un chic tròp l’amor a la soa sòr. Que
li es hòrt estacat, xentz nat dobte, e mei que miaré ua
vita solitària xentz era, mès be seré vertadeirament
muixar un egoïsme descre-deder se, per cas, pensava
de l’empachar de har un maridadge tan brilhant.
Qu’es egau, que soi segur de que ne vorré pas véder
aquera intimitat virà’s en amor e, que’m soi apercebut
de que s’i èra hèit, mantuns còps, pre’us empachar de
s’arretrobar solets, en tête-à-tête. A-d aqueth prepaus
las vòstas instruccions entà que hèci de mòdes de no
pas jamei deixar En Henry a sortir solet, ríscann d’estar
beròi complicadas se, en mei de las autas dificultats,
e s’i horniva un ahar d’amorosèr. La mia popularitat
que’n patiré solide se’m trobavi obligat de seguir los
vòste òrdis au pèd de la letra.
L’aute jorn – dijaus, entà-d estar mei precís – lo doc-
tor Mortimer que disnè dab nosatis. Qu’avèva cavat
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
tête-a-tête. 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

hentz un tumulús a Long Down e qu’avèva hèit la tròba
d’un cran preïstoric çò qui li hadèva un gai deus grands.
N’èi pas jamei vist tau estrambòrd com lo son en-
tà-d ua rèuma d’aqueras. Los Stapleton qu’arribènn en
seguida, e lo bon doctor que’us miè, a tots, entà la lèia
deus taixs, a la domanda de’N Henry, per tant de’us
muixar exactament com tot s’escadó mentra aquera
noeit fatau. Aquera lèia deus taixs qu’es ua mena de
viòt longàs e mornejant, enter duas sègas talhadas
tantvau duas parets hautas, tòca-tocant dab ua banda
d’erbeta de cada estrem. A l’aute cap que s’i tròba un
vielh pavilhon d’estiu tot aclapat. A miei-camin qüand
devàratz qu’i a lo cledon qui dà entà la lana, ond lo
vielh gentleman e deixè càder la cendra deu cigarro.
Qu’es un portau de husta, pintrat de blanc, dab un
flisquet. D’aquí enlà s’esplandeix la lana. Que’m
brembavi de las vòstas teorias sus aqueth ahar e qu’èi
assajat de maginar com tot acò e’s debanè. Mentra qui
lo vielh baronet s’estava aquí, que vedó quauquarré
capvath la lana qui’u vienèva de cap, quauquarré qui
l’eixantè de tant que n’estó destimborlat e córrer, e
córrer dinc a’n morir d’espavent e d’aganiment. Aquí
qu’èra aqueth tunèu longassut e escur, preu quau e’s
voló escapar. E pr’amor de qué ? Un can d’aulhèir de
la lana ? O alavetz ua hantauma de canhàs, néguer com
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. Half-way
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 sheepdog 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
71
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
l’ihèrn, granàs, silenciós e mostrós. E seré la man d’un
òmi qui at avossi adobat tot ? E ne’n sauré mei que ne’n
disèva lo Barrymore, panle e atentiu ? Arré de segur
ne’s destriava pas, mès totjamei se perhilava a l’endarrèir
l’ombra néguer deu crimi.
Qu’èi encontrat unhaute vesin desempuix la mia
darrèira letra. Qu’es Mr Frankland qui damòra a Lafter
Hall, a qüate miles viron de cap entau sud. Qu’es un
òmi d’adge, de la cara enrogida, deu peu blanc e
colerós. Qu’a ua passion : la lei britanica, e pr’amor
de ’cò que despend ua fortuna de las bèras en procès
de totas menas. Que pleiteja per lo simple plaser de
pleitejar, e qu’es capable de deféner l’ua o l’auta part
de l’ahar e n’es pas estonant de que tròbi qu’aqueth
divertiment li còsta bèra tropa de sòs. De-còps que va
barrar un dret de passadge e que va desfidar tot d’un
de li har tornar aliberar. A d’autes que’us-i va desapitar
la barradissa en bèth declarar qu’un camin existiva aquí
desempuix temps immemoriaus, e que va desfidar lo
proprietari de’u perseguir per forçament de proprietat.
Qu’es letraherit en dret senhoriau ancian e dret comu-
nau. De-còps que s’escad de que boti sas coneixenças
en favor deus estadjants de Fernworthy e d’autes còps
contra eths de mòdes que pòt autaplan estar portat en
trionfe per la grand carrèra deu viladge o alavetz cramat
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 downsome 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
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
en efigia, rapòrt au son darrèir esplèit. Se ditz qu’a, a
l’òra-d’ara uns sèt procès en corrs, çò qui probable
engolirà çò qui sobra deu son ben ; atau desprovedit
deu son agulhon, que vairà inofensiu per l’avenider. A
despart deus ahars de lei, que sembla un òmi gaimant
e d’ua natura agradiva e ne’u mentavi pas que pr’amor
insístitz entà que’vs descrivossi los gents qui sonn aus
nòstes entorns. D’aqueste temps qu’es curiosament
encoentat, pr’amor, estant un astronòme amator, qu’a
un telescòpi deus bons dab loquau, ajacat sun teulat
de l’ostau, que hè córrer l’oelh capvath la lana, tot lo
long deu jorn, en bèth esperar gahar un traç deu forçat
escapat. Se s’acontentava d’aquera rèuma, tot qu’aniré
plan, mès que’s ditz de qu’a l’intencion de perseguir
lo Dr Mortimer en justícia pr’amor d’aver ubèrt ua
tomba xentz l’autorisacion deus parents mei pròixes,
qüand descobrí aqueth cran neolitic dehentz lo tumulús
de Long Down. Aqueth Frankland que’ns empacha
atau de miar ua vita-vitanta qui mornejaré e que’ns
balha un peixic de comedia qu’acò hè maixantament
besonh.
E adara, assabentat qui ètz deu forçat escapat, deus
Stapleton, deu Doctor Mortimer e de’N Frankland de
Lafter Hall, dèixatz-me acabar per çò de mei impor-
tent : valent a díser los Barrymore e, mei que mei,
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
72
ràport a las hèitas esquèrras de la noeit passada.
En tot permèir tocant lo telegrama que mandètz de
Londras avant entà-d assolidar de que Barrymore èra
vertadeirament ací. Que v’èi dijà esplicat lo testimo-
niadge deu recebedor de las pòstas qui muixava lo tèst
qu’èra xentz valor nada e que n’avèvann pas nada pròba
dentz un senns o dentz unhaute. Qu’assabentèi En
Henry de que ne’n virava e eth, tau dit tau hèit, que
hè viéner ençà lo Barrymore e li domanda s’a plan
recebut lo telegrama eth-medix. E Barrymore que dixó
que quiò.
— E’vse lo balhè en mans pròpias ? ce tornè En Henry.
Barrymore que pareixó estonat e que perpensè ua
estona.
— No, ç’arresponó. Qu’èri a-d aqueth moment dehentz
lo debarràs e qu’es la hemna qui me’u portè.
— E i arresponotz vos-medix ?
— No ; que dixoi a la hemna d’i arrespóner e que devarè
per tant de l’escríver.
Lo desser que s’i tornè d’eth medix suu subjècte.
— N’èi pas plan comprés, que crei, l’encausa de las vòstas
questions de oei matin, En Henry, ce dixó. Aqueras ne
signifícann pas, qu’espèri, qu’agi hèit quauquarré qui’vs
pusqui desahidar rapòrt a jo ?
En Henry que l’assegurè que ne n’èra pas e que
Barrymores, and especially about the surprising developments of
last night.
First of all about the test telegram, which you sent from London
in order to make sure that Barryttore 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 returned 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

l’apasimè en tot lo balhar ua bèra part deus sons
vestissis vielhs, los comandats a Londras estent, adara,
tots arribats.
Mrs Barrymore que m’interessa. Qu’es ua hemna
pesuga, goalharda, inocenta d’esperit, hòrt respectable,
e qui seré meilèu de las puritanas. Ne poiretz pas
maginar ua persona mei desprovedida d’emocions.
Que’vs contèi egau com, la permèira noeit qui passèm
aquí, e l’entenoi a plorejar amarament, e desempuix
aquera hèita qu’observèi uns traç de larmas qui li
sobràvann per la cara. Un xegrin deus peluts que se li
arroganha tostem lo còr. De-còps que’m domandi se
ne’s torna pas brembar d’ua malihèita qui la persèc e
de-còps que sospieiti lo Barrymore de maixantèr entà-
d era. Que sentii de-tira qu’i avèva quauquarré d’esquèrr
e de desacostumèir dentz lo caractère d’aqueth òmi,
mès l’ahar de la noeit passada qu’a en.hortit totas las
mias sospieitadas.
Qu’es egau en si-medix un aharòt d’arré qui valhi.
Que sàbetz que soi de’us qui n’ann pas lo dromir
pesant, e mei encoèra desempuix qui hèi lo nhau en
aqueth ostau, mei que jamei qu’èi lo sòm liugèir. La
noeit passada, de cap a duas òras deu matin, qu’estoi
deixudat pr’amor d’un trepejar furtiu au davant de la
mia cramba. Que’m lhevèi suu pic, aubrii la pòrta e
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 won-
der 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
73
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
tirèi lo nas dehentz lo corredor. Ua ombrejda longa
que’s hadèva en davant preu corredor, hèita per un òmi
qui n’anava tot-toixau, dab ua candela a la man. Que
marxava pèd-descauç, dab sonque ua camiseta e un
pantalon. Ne’n podoi pas véder sonque los cutorns,
mès, pr’amor de la talha, qu’aubirèi de qu’èra Bar-
rymore. Que n’anava a plaserina, prudentament, e que
salhiva, de tot son anament, quauquarré de furtiu e de
copable qui èra de mau descríver. Que’vs dixoi que lo
corredor qu’es copat per la balconada qui hè lo torn
deu hall, mès que s’esperlonga de l’auta part. Qu’esperèi
dinc a qu’estossi eth hòra de vista e que’m botèi a’u
seguir alavetz. Qüand arribèi sus la balconada, eth
qu’avèva atenhut l’aute estrem deu corredor, e que
podoi conéixer, pr’amor de la lutzor qui salhiva pr’ua
pòrta ubèrta, de qu’èra hentrat dentz ua de las crambas.
Deu temps qui èm, totas aqueras crambas que sonn
voeitas e desmobladas, tabé aquera passejada que’m
semblava mei misteriosa que no pas jamei. La lutz que
lusiva ficsadament, com se Barrymore s’estava alà xentz
mudar. Que’m hadoi en davant dentz lo corredor
autan silenciosament com ac podoi, e que larguèi ua
espiada au coenh de la pòrta.
Barrymore qu’èra acholat pròixe la frinèsta e que
tienèva la candela contra la vitra. Qu’èra caravirat de
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 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
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
mitat entà jo e ua espression de rigidetat que pareixèva
sus la soa cara, com qui atend, mentra qui oelhiquejava
de cap a las tenèbras de la lana. Que damorè atau
quauqua minutas a har córrer l’oelh. Apuix que ronhè
e d’un gèste despacientat qu’estupè la candela. Autalèu
que me’n tornèi entà la mia cramba e, chic de temps
adarrond, lo trepejar furtiu que tornè passar suu camin
deu tornar. Plan mei tard, qüand estoi cadut dentz un
sòm liugèir, qu’entenoi a virar ua clau dentz ua sarralha,
en quauque lòc, mès ne podoi pas conéixer d’ond lo
son pervienèva. Çò qui tot acò significava, n’ac poix pas
face seemed to be rigid with expectation as he stared out into the
blackness of the moor. For some minutes he stood watching inten-
tly. 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
74
aubirar, mès segur que s’i aprèsta dentz aqueth castèth
entristit un ahar secret qui, de dòra o de tard, lo tiraram
a lutz. Ne’vs destorbarèi pas dab las mias teorias
pr’amor que m’atz domandat de v’assabentar de hèitas
e arré sonque hèitas. Qu’avoi, oei matin, ua convèrsa
longa dab En Henry e qu’am apitat un plan de cam-
panha, fondat sus las mias observacions de la noeit
passada. Ne ve’n parlarèi pas de-tira, mès segur que
balharà quauque interés mei au men rapòrt prosman
qüand lo légitz.
the sound came. What it all means I cannot guess, but there is so-
me 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.

La lutz per la lana
Capítou navau
Segond rapòrt deu Dr Watson
Baskerville Hall, lo 15 d’octobe
C
ar Holmes,
Se, per fòrça, que’vs deixèi xentz hòrt de novèlas
pendent los permèirs jorns de la mia mission
que dívetz arreconéixer qu’arreganhi lo temps perdut
e mei los eveniments que sonn adara a hóner dessús
nosatis, lèu-lèu e a-de reng. Dentz lo men darrèir
rapòrt qu’acabavi dab Barrymore hadent lo nhau a la
frinèsta. E aqueste còp qu’èi dijà lo dequé, a mentz que
m’engani cap e tot, entà v’estonar hèra. Las causas
que’n vírann d’ua manèira qui ne podèvi pas prevéder.
D’ua part que’s sonn esclaridas dentz las 48 òras
passadas e d’unhauta part que’s sonn complicadas.
Mès que’vs vau díser tot e que judjaratz vos-medix.
Davant l’esdejuar deu matin qui seguiva la mia
aventura noeitiva, que gahèi lo corredor e qu’anoi exa-
minar la cramba ond Barrymore i èra estat la noeit
passada. La frinèsta de l’oèst per laquau avèva de tant
hèit córrer l’oelh qu’a ua particularitat rapòrt a tot lo
frinestadge de l’ostau : d’aquí avant qu’es lo milhor
bèthvéder, de cap entà la lana. Pr’amor d’ua passada
9 — The light upon the Moor
lSecond report of Dr Watson]
Baskerville Hall, Oct. I5th
My Dear Holmes,
If I was compelled to leave you without much news during the early
days of my mission you must acknowledge that I am making up for
lost time, and that events are now crowding thick and fast upon us.
In my last report I ended upon my top note with Barrymore at the
window, and now I have quite a budget already which will, unless
I am much mistaken, considerably surprise you. Things have taken
a turn which I could not have anticipated. In some ways they have
within the last forty-eight hours become much clearer and in some
ways they have become more complicated. But I will tell you all, and
you shall judge for yourself.
Before breakfast on the morning following my adventure I went
down the corridor and examined the room in which Barrymore had
been on the night before. The western window through which he had
stared so intently has, I noticed, one peculiarity above all other
windows in the house - it commands the nearest outlook on to the
moor. There is an opening between two trees which enables one from
75
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
enter dus aubres, que s’i pòt, d’aquí estant, espiar
loenh enlà de cap a la lana, qu’au contra s’i hè poixiu
a totas las autas frinèstas d’ond ann ua vista pro
maixanta. Solide donc que Barrymore, puixqu’aquera
frinèsta soleta e podèva servir sas visadas qu’a devut cer-
car entà quauqu’un o quauquaurré capvath la lana. La
noeit qu’èra egau tant escura que magini mau com
podèva esperar de véder que qui estossi. Qu’avoi idèia
de qu’èra possible qu’un ahar d’amorosèr estossi en
causa. Çò qui auré dat esplicas en-d aqueths moviments
a l’estujat, e mei au malaise de la soa molhèr. L’òmi
qu’es deus bèths, plan hèit entà har amorejà’s ua gojata
deu parçan, de mòdes qui la mia teoria e se n’assolidiva
d’autant mei. La pòrta qui entenoi a tornar s’aubrir
qüand rentravi hentz la mia cramba qu’auré podut
significar de qu’èra sortit en-per un rendetz-vos clan-
destin. Atau qu’estonn las mias perpensadas au matin
e que’vs disi donc de cap a quau e vann las mias sos-
peitadas quitament se lo resultat qu’a muixat de qu’èrann
mau fondadas.
Mès, qu’estossi çò qui estossi, l’esplica deus anar-e-
viéner deu Barrymore, me pareixèva passar las mias
capacitats e ne’m sentivi pas de m’at goardar tot per
jo tot solet dinc a que’s podossi har lutz sus tot aquerò.
Arrond d’esdejuar qu’avoi ua entrevista dab lo baronet
this point of view to look right down upon it, while from all the other
windows it is only a distant glimpse which can be obtained. It
follows, therefore, that Barrymore, since only this window would
serve his purpose, must have been looking out for something or
somebody upon the moor. The night was very dark, so that I can
hardly imagine how he could have hoped to see anyone. It had struck
me that it was possible that some love intrigue was on foot. That
would have accounted for his stealthy movements and also for the
uneasiness of his wife. The man is a striking-looking fellow, very well
equipped to steal the heart of a country girl, so that this theory
seemed to have something to support it. That opening of the door
which I had heard after I had returned to my room might mean that
he had gone out to keep some clandestine appointment. So I
reasoned with myself in the morning, and I tell you the direction of
my suspicions, however much the result may have shown that they
were unfounded.
But whatever the true explanation of Barrymore’s movements
might be, I felt that the responsibility of keeping them to myself until
I could explain them was more than I could bear. I had an interview
with the baronet in his study after breakfast, and I told him all that
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
dentz lo son burèu e que li at contèi tot çò qui avèvi
vist. N’estó pas tant estonat com at aurí aubirat.
— Que sabèvi Barrymore que’s passejava de noeit, e
qu’avèvi idèia de ne’n parlar dab eth, ce’m dixó. Dus o
tres còps qu’entenoi lo son trepejar preu corredor, anar e
tornar, a las medixas òras qui m’ensénhatz.
— Belèu que’s rend alavetz cada noeit entà-d aquera
frinèsta medixa ? ce suggerivi.
— Belèu que quiò. Se n’es atau, que’u dévem poder
seguir e’ns rénder compte de çò qui es a cercar. Que’m
domandi çò qui haré lo vòste amic En Holmes s’èra
aquí ?
— Que crei que haré exactament çò qui suggéritz adara,
ce dixoi. Que seguiré lo Barrymore per tant de véder çò
qui hè aqueth.
— E bé, qu’at haram amassa.
— Mès solide que’ns audirà.
— L’òmi qu’es xord meilèu, e qué qué’n sii que’ns cau
profieitar de l’escadença. Que s’estallaram dehentz la mia
cramba anoeit e qu’ateneram dinc a que passi eth.
En Henry que’s fretè las mans de contentèr, e qu’èra
vededer l’ahar que li agradava, divertiment de cap a la
vita-vitanta de tròp tranquillòta qui miava sus la lana.
Lo baronet s’es botat en contacte dab l’arquitècte qui
aprestè los plans entà’N Charles e dab un enterprenedor
I had seen. He was less surprised than I had expected.
« I knew that Barrymore walked about nights, and I had a mind
to speak to him about it, » said he. « Two or three times I have heard
his steps in the passage, coming and going, just about the hour you
name. »
« Perhaps, then, he pays a visit every night to that particular
window, » I suggested.
« Perhaps he does. If so, we should be able to shadow him, and
see what it is that he is after. I wonder what your friend Holmes would
do if he were here ? »
« I believe that he would do exactly what you now suggest, » said
I. « He would follow Barrymore and see what he did. »
«Then we shall do it together. »
« But surely he would hear us. »
« The man is rather deaf, and in any case we must take our chance
of that. We’ll sit up in my room tonight, and wait until he pas-
ses. »
Sir Henry rubbed his hands with pleasure, and it was evident that
he hailed the adventure as a relief to his somewhat « quiet life upon
the moor.
The baronet has been in communication with the architect who
76
de Londra, de mòdes qui pòdem esperar cambiaments
deus bèths, lèu-lèu. Que’n sonn vinguts de Plymouth
uns decorators e hornidors e qu’es clar lo nòste amic
qu’a granas visadas e acò vòu díser que n’esparanharà
pas la pena o lo despéner entà-d arrevitar la grandor
de la soa familha. Qüand arrenavit e arremoblat e serà
l’ostau, n’i harà hrèita pas qu’ua molhèr entà que sii
complit. Enter nosatis, que i a d’aubuns signes meilèu
compreneders qui múixann que ne serà pas de durada
se la dauna es consenta, pr’amor qu’èi rialament vist
un òmi tant enamorat d’ua hemna tau com n’es eth
de la nòsta berogina vesia, Mrs Stapleton. E totun lo
briu d’aquera amorosia vertadèira n’es pas autan tran-
quille que s’at aubiraré, en aqueras hèitas. Oei, per
exemple, qui avó arremolins dehentz, çò qui estó l’en-
causa preu nòste amic de perplexitat e de tesic deus
bèths.
Après la convèrsa rapòrt a Barrymore qui ve’n hadoi
lo raconte, En Heny que’s botè lo capèth e s’aprestè
per sortir. Plan-segur que hadoi tot parièr.
— De qué, Watson, e’m vòletz acompanhar, vos ? ce
domandè en tot me guinhar d’ua manèira desacos-
tumada.
— Acò depend se ve’n vatz entà la lana, ce responoi.
— E-ò, qu’i vau.
prepared the plans for Sir Charles, and with a contractor from
London, so that we may expect great changes to begin here soon.
There have been decorators and furnishers up from Plymouth, and
it is evident that our friend has large ideas, and means to spare no
pains or expense to restore the grandeur of his family. When the
house is renovated and refurnished, all that he will need will be a
wife to make it complete. Between ourselves, there are pretty clear
signs that this will not be wanting if the lady is willing, for I have
seldom seen a man more infatuated with a woman than he is with
our beautiful neighbour, Miss Stapleton. And yet the course of true
love does not run quite as smoothly as one would under the
circumstances expect. Today, for example, its surface was broken
by a very unexpected ripple, which has caused our friend considera-
ble perplexity and annoyance.
After the conversation which I have quoted about Barrymore, Sir
Henry put on his hat and prepared to go out. As a matter of course,
I did the same.
« What, are you coming, Watson ? » he asked, looking at me in a
curious way.
«That depends on whether you are going on the moor, » said I.
« Yes, I am. »

— E bé, que sàbetz quaus sonn las mias instruccions.
Que me’n desencusaratz mès qu’atz entenut com Holmes
insistiva pesugament per no pas deixà’vs solet e, mei que
mei, per no pas deixà’vs anar solet capvath la lana.
En Henry que’m pausè la man sus l’espalla en bèth
sorríder gaiament.
— Amic men, ce dixó, Holmes, per tan savi qui sii ne
podèva pas prevéder d’aubuas causas qui’s sonn escadudas
desempuix qui soi aquí hentz la lana. E’m comprénetz ?
Que soi segur de qu’ètz lo darrèir òmi sus tèrra qui volhi
ha’m poixiu. Que devi sortir solet.
Que’m botava dentz ua situacion embarrassanta.
Qu’èri cap-voeit, xentz saber de qué díser o de qué har,
e permèir qu’avossi pres un decís, eth que’s gahè la cana
e que sortí.
Mès talèu qui’m vaguè d’i perpensar, la mia consciéncia
que m’arcastè amarament d’aver, pr’amor de quau
pretèste qui estossi, permetut que s’escapèssi atau hòra
de la mia vista. Maginavi quaus serenn los mens sen-
timents se’vs devèvi viéner cohessar de que s’èra escadut
un malurr en causa qu’avèvi negligit las vòstas instruc-
cions. Que v’at assolidi de que’n prenoi la vergonha
en-d aquera quita pensada. N’èra belèu pas tròp tard
encoèra enta’u juntar e, suu pic, que la gahèi entà Mer-
ripit House.
« Well, you know what my instructions are. I am sorry to intrude,
but you heard how earnestly Holmes insisted that I should not leave
you, and especially that you should not go alone upon the moor. »
Sir Henry put his hand upon my shoulder, with a pleasant smile.
« My dear fellow, » said he, « Holmes, with all his wisdom, did not
foresee some things which have happened since I have been on the
moor. You understand me ? I am sure that you are the last man in
the world who would wish to be a spoilsport. I must go out alo-
ne. »
It put me in a most awkward position. I was at a loss what to say
or what to do, and before I had made up my mind he picked up his
cane and was gone.
But when I came to think the matter over my conscience reproached
me bitterly for having on any pretext allowed him to go out of my
sight. I imagined what my feelings would be if I had to return to you
and to confess that some misfortune had occurred through my
disregard for your instructions. I assure you my cheeks flushed at
the very thought. It might not even now be too late to overtake him,
so I set off at once in the direction of Merripit House.
77
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
Qu’abrivèi lo men caminar au mei que podèvi tot de
long de la rota, dinc a l’indret d’ond part lo sendèir
entà la lana, xentz de véder briga a’N Henry. Fin finau,
com avoi pòur de no pas aver belèu pres la bona direc-
cion, que pugèi sus un serròt d’ond, d’aquí avant, poirí
aver un bèthvéder – la medixa sèrra que s’i esplèita ua
peirèira. Que’u vedoi alavetz de-tira. Qu’èra suu sendèir,
a un quart de mile viron, de cotria dab ua hemna qui
ne podèva pas estar quauqu’un d’aute sonque Miss
Stapleton. Qu’èra clar que se n’èrann avienuts audavant
amassa entà s’encontrar per ’qui. Que marxàvann tot
de long en bèth devisar dab seriosèr, e la vedoi, a-d era,
a har petits moviments rapides dab las mans com qui
vòu en.hortir çò de dit, e eth, de l’escotar dab hòrt
d’atencion, e un o dus còps de capejar com qui amuixa
lo son desacòrd. Que m’estèi au bèth miei deus rocàs
a’us espiar, e’m domandavi de qué donc, anavi har
adara. Los seguir e interviéner dentz la lor convèrsa
que’m semblava hastiau, e egau ne’m caliva pas jamei,
e de nada manèira, pèrder de vista lo baronet. Har de
l’espionaire dab un amic que’m hadèva hasti. Ne podoi
egau pas trobar auta causa sonque de har lo nhau deu
som deu serròt, e puix d’anar adarrond solaciar la mia
consciéncia en tot li cohessar çò qui avèvi hèit. Qu’es
vertat tabé, se s’escadèva sobtament, quau dangèir qui
I hurried along the road at the top of my speed without seeing
anything of Sir Henry, until I came to the point where the moor path
branches off. There, fearing that perhaps I had come in the wrong
direction, after all, I mounted a hill from which I could command
a view – the same hill which is cut into the dark quarry. Then 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 them and
that they had met by appointment. They were walking slowly along
in deep conversation, and I saw her making quick 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 among the rocks watching them, very much puzzled
as to what I should do next. To follow them and break into their
intimate conversation seemed to be an outrage, and yet my clear
duty was never for an instant to let him out of my sight. To act the
spy upon a friend was a hateful task. Still, I could see no better course
than to observe him from the hill, and to clear my conscience by
confessing 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,
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
estossi, qu’èri beròi tròp aloenhat per estar d’ajuda.
Mès que soi segur que ve n’avieneratz dab jo que la mia
pausicion n’èra pas aisida e que ne podèvi pas har arré
mei que çò qui hadoi.
Lo nòste amic, En Henry, e la dauna s’èrann estancats
suu sendèir e s’i hadèvann a devisar xentz de har cas
a çò qui’us enrodava qüand m’aperceboi tot d’un còp
que n’èri pas lo solet temoenh deu lor rendetz-vos. Un
plap verd flotejant dentz l’aire que’m tirè l’oelh e
unhauta espiada que’m hadó conéixer qu’acò èra demiat
au cap d’un pau per un òmi qui caminava capvath lo
terrenh escarp. Stapleton qu’èra, e lo son hilat de gahar
los parpalhòus. Que n’èra plan mei pròixe deu parelh
d’amorós que no pas jo e’m semblava de que los-i anava
de cap. En aqueras, En Henry que tirè ençà Miss Sta-
pleton. Que s’avèva botat los braç com qui vòu embraçar
mès era, que’m semblè de que’s hadèva enlà en tot
desvirar lo soa cara. Eth que’s clinè entà-d era e era que
lhevè la man com qui’s vòu arreganhar. Ua pausòta
après, que’us vedoi a’s har enlà tots dus, en un virat
d’oelh desseparats. Stapleton qu’èra l’encausa deu
destorb. Que’us-i corrè de cap, tantvau un esmeussat,
pegament lo son hilat verd que’u gingolava sus l’esquia.
Que hadè gèstes de tant que semblava que dançava
davant los (dus) amorós. Çò qui’s debanava n’at podèvi
and yet I am sure that you will agree 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 interview. A
wisp of green floating in the air caught my eye, and another glance
showed me that it was carried on a stick by a man who was moving
among the broken ground. It was Stapleton with his butterfly net.
He was very much closer to the pair than I was, and he appeared to
be moving in their direction. At this instant Sir Henry suddenly drew
Miss Stapleton to his side. His arm was round her, but it seemed to
me that she was straining away from him with her face averted. He
stooped his head to hers, and she raised one hand as if in protest.
Next moment I saw them spring apart and turn hurriedly round.
Stapleton was the cause of the interruption. He was running wildly
towards them, his absurd net dangling behind him. He gesticulated
and almost danced with excitement in front of the lovers. What the
scene meant I could not imagine, but it seemed to me that Stapleton
78
pas saber, nès que’m semblè de que Stapleton polhava
En Henry ; aqueste voló balhar esplicas qui vadonn mei
esmalidas pr’amor l’aute arrefusava de las acceptar. La
damisèla, qui s’èra botada a despart, goardava un
silenci altiu. Fin finau, Stapleton que’s virè de cuu e
ensenhè a la soa sòr d’un gèste peremptòri lo camin
de gahar tà casa ; era, arrond d’un espiar irresolut
entà’N Henry, que s’encaminè còsta lo hrair. Los gèstes
esmalits deu naturalista que muixàvann pro de que la
gojata èra includida dentz lo son desplaser. Lo baronet
que s’estè ua pausa a’us espiar de tant qui s’aloenhàvann,
puix que se’n tornè preu camin d’ond èra vingut, cap-
baish, l’imadge tot menat deu desespèrr.
Que m’èra de mau compréner tot çò qui acò podèva
significar, mès qu’èri tot envergonhit d’aver assistit
en-d ua tau hèita xentz qu’at avossi sabut lo men amic.
Que devarèi au mei córrer de mòdes qu’encontrèi lo
baronet au pèd deu serròt. La cara ahoegada de malícia,
sorcilhs froncilhats, tantvau un qui no sap pas mei en
qui vodà’s :
— Hòu, Watson ! D’a-ond lo diable arríbatz ? Ne
m’ànitz pas díser de que m’atz seguit per darrèir a maugrat
de tot !
Que li at cohessèi tot de qu’avèvi trobat impossible
de damorar a l’endarrèir, de que l’avèvi seguit e mei
was abusing Sir Henry, who offered explanations, which became
more angry as the other refused to accept them. The lady stood by
in haughty silence. Finally Stapleton turned upon his heel and
beckoned in a peremptory way to his sister, who, after an irresolute
glance 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 a minute looking after them, and
then he walked slowly back the way that he had come, his head
hanging, the very picture of dejection.
What all this meant I could not imagine, but I was deeply ashamed
to have witnessed so intimate a scene without my friend’s knowledge.
I ran down the hill, therefore, and met the baronet at the bottom.
His face was flushed with anger and his brows were wrinkled, like one
who is at his wits » ends what to do.
« Halloa, Watson ! Where have you dropped from ? » said he. « You
don’t mean to say that you came after me in spite of all ? »
I explained everything to him : how I had found it impossible to
remain behind, how I had followed him, and how I had witnessed

qu’avèvi assistit a tot çò qui s’èra debanat. Ua pausòta
que’m oelhiquegè malament mès la mia franquessa
desarmè la soa colèra e que’s botè a-d arríder dab
tristèir.
— Se seré podut pensar qu’au bèth miei d’aqueth pradau,
èra lo lòc entà un rendetz-vos, ce dixó, mès Diu Vivant
tota la contrada sembla d’aver volut s’amassar per ’qui
pr’amor deu men anoviadge – e mei anoviadge de’us qui
mau vann ! E ond avèvatz logat un sièti ?
— Qu’èri au som de la sèrra aquí.
— Tot au honds, alavetz ? Mes lo frair, eth, qu’èra au
bèth endavant e lo vedotz a s’arronçar de cap entà nosa-
tis ?
— Ò-bé, que’u vedoi.
— E no’vs pareixó pas estar deus hòus – aqueste hrair
deus sons ?
— Ne poix pas díser de que’n pareixossi.
— E jo tapauc. Que pensèi totjamei de qu’èra meilèu
san d’esperit dinc au jorn de oei, mès que’m pòdetz créder,
l’un de nosatis, jo o eth, qu’es bon tà la camisòla de fòrça.
Qu’es çò qui no va pas dab jo, totun ? Qu’atz viscut còsta
jo desempuix quauques semmanas, Watson. Ditz-me tot
franc, adara ! E i auré un quauquarré qui haré empach
per qu’estossi un bon marit per ua hemna qui aimarí
jo ?
all that had occurred. For an instant his eyes blazed at me, but my
frankness disarmed his anger, 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 seems to have been out to see me do my wooing – and
a mighty poor wooing at that ! Where had you engaged a seat ? »
« I was on that hill. »
« Quite in the back row, eh ? But her brother was well 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 him sane enough until today,
but you can take it from me that either he or I ought to be in a strait-
jacket. What’s the matter with me, anyhow ? You’ve lived near me
for some weeks, Watson. Tell me straight, now ! Is there anything that
would prevent me from making a good husband to a woman that
I loved ? »
79
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— Solide que no.
— N’i a pas arré a arcastar rapòrt a la mia pausicion
sociau sonque jo medix qui no seré pas au son agrat ? E
de qu’auré donc contra jo ? N’èi pas jamei, de la mia vita
sancèra, hèit nat mau en qui qui sii, òmi o hemna. E totun
sonque de li tocar, a-d era, lo cap deus dits, acò ne m’es
pas permetut.
— Que’vs parlè atau ?
— Atau e mei encoèra. Que v’at assolidi, Watson, la
coneixi desempuix quauquas semmanas tot dòi e que sentii
de-tira qu’èra hèita entà jo e jo entà-d era. Qüand èram
amassa, qu’èra urosa, at poix assegurar. Que i a ua lutzèira
dentz los oelhs d’ua hemna qui’n ditz beròi mei que no
pas nat paraulís. Mès ne’ns a pas jamei deixats solets tots
dus e qu’es sonque oei, preu permèir còp que s’es escadut
que podossi devisar un chic dab era soleta. Qu’èra urosa
de m’encontrar atau mès qüand acò e’s hadó, n’èra pas
question de parlar de quau amor qui estossi e s’at avèva
podut har, m’auré tabé empachat de’n parlar. Ne bacsava
pas de díser de que lo parçan èra dangeirós e de que era
ne seré pas urosa dinc a qu’estossi partit, jo. Que’u dixoi
que, desempuix qui l’avèvi vista, n’èri pas pressat briga de
me n’anar e que, se volèva per a de-bon que me n’anossi,
la sola manèira d’at har que seré de que se’n vienossi era
dab jo. En aqueras que li prepausèi de l’esposar mès
« I should say not. »
« He can’t object to my worldly position, so it must be myself that
he has this down on. What has he against me ? I never hurt man or
woman in my life that I know of. And yet he would not so much as
let me touch the tips of her fingers. »
« Did he say so ? »
« That, and a deal more. I tell you, Watson, I’ve only known her
these few weeks, but from the first I just fell that she was made for
me, and she, too – she was happy when she was with me, and that
I’ll swear. There’s a light 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 time that I saw a chance of having a few words 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 let me talk about it
either if she could have stopped it. She kept coming back to it that
this was a place of danger, 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 me to go, the only way to work
it was for her to arrange to go with me. With that I offered in as many
words to marry her, but before she could answer down came this
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
permèir que podossi era arrespóner, que’ns sautè dessús
aqueth hrair deus sons, dab ua mala cara tantvau un
hòu. Que blanquejava d’arrauja e los sos oelhs clars
que’ns periclàvann. De qu’èri a har dab la soa sòr ? Com
gausèvi aufrir en-d era aumenadges qui li hadèvann
hasti ? E pensavi, pr’amor qu’èri baronet, que podèvi
har çò qui m’agradava ? Se n’èra pas estat lo son hair,
que crei de qu’aurí trobat a li arrespóner mielhe. Mès
tau com n’èra, li dixoi que los mens sentiments de cap
a la soa sòr qu’èrann de’us qui n’avèvi pas a m’en-
vergonhir e qu’esperavi de que’m haré l’aunor de vàder
la mia molhèr. Çò qui ne pareixó pas melhorar l’ahar,
la malícia se’m gahè a jo tabé, de mòdes que li
arresponoi mei vivament que çò qui la preséncia de la
soa sòr m’auré divut perméter. Et tot acò s’acabè dab
lo son despartir dab era, com at vedotz, e aquí que soi
au segur l’òmi de tot aqueth comtat lo mei destimborlat
qui sii. Digatz-me donc Watson çò qui tot acò e vòu
díser ? e que’vs deurèi plan mei que’vs podossi jamei
esperar rembossar.
Qu’assagèi ua o duas esplicas, mes vertat qu’èri jo
tabé destimborlat cap e tot. Lo títou deu nòste amic,
la fortuna soa, la soa edat, lo son caractère e la soa
aparéncia fisica, tot acò qu’èra en la soa favor e ne
coneixi pas arré contra eth sonque aqueth hat néguer
brother of hers, running at us with a face on him like a madman. He
was just white with rage, and those light 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 him. As it was I told him
that my feelings towards his sister were such as I was not ashamed
of, and that I hoped that she might honour me by becoming my wife.
That seemed to make the matter no better, so then I lost my temper
too, and I answered him rather more hotly than I should, perhaps,
considering 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 myself. Our friend’s title, his fortune, his age, 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
80
qui s’estacava a la soa familha. Que las soas avanças e
podóssinn estar hòragitadas tan brusament xentz de
que las desiranças de la quita dauna estóssinn presas
en compte, qu’aquera acceptèssi la hèita atau xentz de
s’arrenganhar, tot acò qu’es de las de calhau rosat !
Egau las nòstas perpensadas qu’estonn tiradas a lutz
fin finau qüand Stapleton eth-medix e’ns hadó vesita
lo quite vrèspe. Que’ns vienèva har las soas desencusas
pr’amor de l’esmaliciada deu matin, e arrond d’aver
pleitejat ua longa pausa dab En Henry en lo son burèu,
que’n resultè d’aquera convèrsa de que la brega que
n’èra passada tant e mei que, per hestejar acò, nes
n’aniram a Merripit House entà sopar, lo divés seguent.
— N’ahortirèi pas adara de qu’es un òmi completa-
ment equilibrat, ce dixó En Henry ; ne poix pas desbrem-
bar lo son espiar mau qüand se ’n vienó de cap, oei matin,
mès egau, que divi cohessar que digun ne’s desencusa pas
d’ua manèira tant plan ensenhada que no pas eth.
— E balhè quauquas esplicas suus sos agís ?
— La soa sòr, ce dixó, qu’es en-sus de tot per eth.
Qu’es pro naturau e que’m hè gai de saber que la presa
a la soa valor. Qu’ann totjamei viscut amassa, e d’après
çò qui’m contè, que s’auré miat ua vita d’un òmi soli-
tari xentz era com conpanha. Tabé de pensar que se
la poiré pèrder, acò que li hadèva hasti mei que mei.
the lady’s own wishes, and that the lady should accept the situation
without protest, is very amazing. However, our conjectures were set
at rest by a visit from Stapleton himself that very afternoon. He had
come to offer apologies for his rudeness of the morning, and after
a long private interview with 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.
« I don’t say now that he isn’t a crazy man, » said Sir Henry ; « I
can’t forget the look in his eyes when he ran at me this morning, but
I must allow that no man could make a more handsome apology
than he has done. »
« Did he give any explanation of his conduct ? »
« His sister is everything in his life, he says. That is natural enough,
and I am glad that he should understand her value. They have always
been together, and according to his account he has been a very lonely
man with only her as a companion, so that the thought of losing her
was really terrible to him. He had not understood, he said, that I was
becoming attached to her, but when be saw with his own eyes that
it was really so, and that she might be taken away from him, it gave

N’avèva pas sabut véder, ce contunhè, de qu’èri a
m’enamorar d’era, mès qüand vedó a oelhs vedents que
n’èra atau e donc s’escaderé belèu era que partissi, acò
que’u capvirè de tant que, ua pausa, ne sabó pas mei
çò qui disèva o hadèva. Qu’èra absoludament desolat
de çò qui s’èra debanat e que reconeixó qüant hòu e
egoïsta e seré de maginar que’s poiré goardar entà-d
eth solet ua tan beròia gojata, com n’èra la soa sòr, per
la vita sancèra. Se era e diu anar-se’n, que s’estima mei
de que sii dab un vesin com jo que no pas quauqu’un
mei. Mès en tot cap aqueth ahar l’avèva estambornit
e que li carré quauque temps permèir que podossi har
cap en-d aquerò. Que bacsaré – de la soa part – tot
mena d’opausicion se – de la mia part – prometèvi per
tres mes de deixar las causas en l’estat, valent-a-díser
de m’acontentar d’amistosejar, dab la soa sòr e de no
pas – mentretant aquera tempsada – de cercar a li har
l’amor. Qu’at prometèi e atau que n’es l’ahar adara.
Atau qu’es tirat a lutz un deus chicòis mistèris de per
nòste. Qu’es quauquarré totun d’aver gahat pèd en
quauque lòc d’aqueth maresc que i èm a champolhar
pausa-a. Adara que conéixem perqué Stapleton espiava
de mau-oelh lo galant de la soa sòr – quitament se lo
dit galant avèva totas las qualitats de’N Henry. En
aquera, que’n passi a unhaut hiu tirat deu gusmèth
him such a shock that for a time he was not responsible for what he
said or did. He was very sorry for all that had passed, and he
recognized how foolish and how selfish it was that he should imagine
that he could bold a beautiful woman like his sister to himself for
her whole life. If she had to leave him he had rather it was to a
neighbour like myself than to anyone else. But in any case it was a
blow to him, and it would take him some time before he could
prepare himself to meet it. He would withdraw all opposition upon
his part if I would promise for three months to let the matter rest,
and to be content with cultivating the lady’s friendship during that
time without claiming her love. This I promised, and so the matter
rests. »
So there is one of our small mysteries cleared up. It is something
to have touched bottom anywhere in this bog in which we are
floundering. We know now why Stapleton looked with disfavour
upon his sister’s suitor – even when that suitor was so eligible a one
as Sir Henry. And now I pass on to another thread which I have
extricated out of the tangled skein, the mystery of the sobs in the
81
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
enmesclat, çò es aqueth mistèri deus plors de la noeit,
de la cara esplorassada de Mrs Barrymore, de la passejada
secreta deu mèste d’ostalaria entà la frinèsta de la paret
de l’oèst. Felicitatz-me, car Holmes, e disetz-me que
n’ètz pas decebut deu vòste agent que ne’vs hè pas dòu
l’ahida qui muixètz de cap a jo qüand m’enviètz ací-
tau. Totas aqueras hèitas que’n sonn estadas tiradas a
lutz en ua soleta noeit de tribalh.
Qu’èi dit en “ua soleta noeit de tribalh”, mès vertat
qu’es que’ns caló “duas soletas noeits de tribalh”,
pr’amor la permèira que trobèm pèth de castanha.
Que’ns estèm dab En Henry en la soa cramba dinc a
las tres òras de la noeit, mès nat bruit, qui estossi çò
qui estossi, ne’s hadó audir sonque lo picar de l’arrelòdge
suu palièr. Qu’estó ua velha tan tristosa que s’acabè
a la fin de la fin que’ns adromim tots dus en los
fautulhs. Urosament ne’ns descoradgèm pas e que
decidim de s’i tornar. La noeit seguenta, que baixèm
lo carelh e que’ns estèm a fumar cigarretas xentz de
miar lo mendre bruit. N’èra pas de créder quinn las
òras e’s passàvann longueirament, mès qu’èram ajudats
egau per ua mena de paciéncia tau com lo palomaire
n’a qüand hè lo nhau davant lo semelèir en tot esperar
que s’i escadi la paloma que s’i gahi. Que piquè l’ua
òra e mei las duas e qu’èram, preu segond còp, parats
night, of the tear-stained face of Mrs Barrymore, of the secret journey
of the butler to the western lattice-window. Congratulate me, my
dear Holmes and tell me that I have not disappointed you as an
agent – that you do not regret the confidence which you showed in
me when you sent me down. All these things have by one night’s work
been thoroughly cleared.
I have said “by one night’s work”, but, in truth, it was by two nights
» work, for on the first we drew entirely blank. I sat up with Sir Henry
in his room until nearly three o’clock in the morning, but no sound
of any sort did we hear except the chiming clock upon the stairs. It
was a most melancholy vigil, and ended by each of us falling asleep
in our chairs. Fortunately we were not discouraged, and we determined
to try again. The next night we lowered the lamp and sat smoking
cigarettes, without making the least sound. It was incredible how
slowly the hours crawled by, and yet we were helped through it by
the same sort of patient interest, which the hunter must feel as he
watches the trap into which he hopes the game may wander. One
struck, and two, and we had almost for the second time given it up
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
a arresignar qüand tot sobte que’ns lhevèm tots dus
deus fautulhs. Tots los nòstes senns qu’èrann en alèrta
un còp mei : Qu’avèvam audit lo cracat d’un escalon
dehentz lo corredor.
Tot-toixau qu’at entenom a passar tot de long dinc
a que s’ahonissi chic a chic enlà-hòra. Alavetz lo baro-
net qu’aubrí la pòrta a plaserinas e que s’encaminènn
còpsèc a l’endarrèir. Dijà qu’avèva virat per la galeria
lo nòste òmi e lo corredor qu’èra tot escur. A puntetas
que n’anom dinc a que gahèssim entà l’auta ala deu
bastissi. Que’ns vaguè a penas d’apercéber lo tastuc
haut e barbassut, espallas cruixidas qüand passè lo solh.
Apuix que passè la pòrta, la medixa qu’au davant – e
la lutz de la candela qu’esclairè l’òmi ua pausa hentz
l’escurada davant de gitar un darrèir arrai de lutz
capvath lo corredor ennegrit.
Que’ns hadom en davant pre’u seguir precauciono-
sament ; que tastàvam, dab lo pèd, cada pòst deu
planxat permèir que d’i botar tot lo nòste pes dessús.
Que ns’èram avisats de’ns descauçar mès egau, lo hust
vielh deu planxat gemicava e carrincava devath los nòs-
tes pas. De-còps que’ns semblava impossible de que
ne’ns audissi pas briga a’ns har pròixe. Per escadença
l’òmi qu’èra xord un chicòi e mei qu’èra enqueharit cap
e tot dab çò qui èra a har. Qüand enfin atenhom la
in despair, when in an instant we both sat bolt upright in our chairs,
with all our weary senses keenly on the alert once more. We had heard
the creak of a step in the passage.
Very stealthily we heard it pass along until it died away in the
distance. Then the baronet gently opened his door, and we set out
in pursuit. Already our man had gone round the gallery, and the
corridor was all in darkness. Softly we stole along until we had come
into the other wing. We were just in time to catch a glimpse of the
tall, black-bearded figure, his shoulders rounded, as he tiptoed
down the passage. Then he passed through the same door as before,
and the light of the candle framed it in the darkness and shot one
single yellow beam across the gloom of the corridor. We shuffled
cautiously towards it, trying every plank before we dared to put our
whole weight upon it. We had taken the precaution of leaving our
boots behind us, but, even so, the old boards snapped and creaked
beneath our tread. Sometimes it seemed impossible that he should
fail to hear our approach. However, the man is fortunately rather
deaf, and he was entirely preoccupied in that which he was doing.
When at last we reached the door and peeped through we found him
82
pòrta e que guinhèm entà dehentz, aquí, que se’u
trobèm acholat de cara a la frinèsta, dab la candela a
la man, cara blanquejanta, tantvau pegada contra la
vitra, tot parièr com l’avèvi vist duas noeits audavant.
N’avèvam pas aprestat nat plan de batalha mès lo
baronet qu’es òmi preu quau lo camin lo mei dret es
lo mei naturau. Que hentrè hentz la cramba e autalèu
Barrymore que hadó un pinnet e s’aloenhè de la
frinèsta en tot largar un xiulet de la peitrina e que s’estè
panlejant e tremolant davant nosatis. Los sons oelhs
néguers qui pareixèvann lugranejar per la careta
blanquejanta deu son visadge, qu’èrann harts d’aixante
e d’estambornida qüand nes espiàvann a’N Henry e
a jo.
— Qu’es çò qui hètz ací Barrymore ?
— Arré, senhe. Qu’èra tant agitat que ne podèva
parlar pas qu’a malaise e las ombras que tressautàvann
de haut a baix pr’amor de la candela qui s’avèva gahat
la tremblèira.
— Qu’èra pr’amor de la frinèsta, senhe. Que’n hèi lo
torn entà véder se sonn barradas.
— Au segond plan ?
— Ò-bé, senhe, totas las frinèstas.
— Anem, Barrymore, ce dixó En Henry dab hòrt de
seriosèr, qu’èm decidits a’vs har díser la vertat, tabé que
crouching at the window, candle in hand, his white, intent face
pressed against the pane, exactly as I had seen him two nights
before.
We had arranged no plan of campaign, but the baronet is a man
to whom the most direct way is always the most natural. He walked
into the room, and as he did so Barrymore sprang up from the
window with a sharp hiss of his breath, and stood, livid and
trembling, before us. His dark eyes, glaring out of the white mask
of his face, were full of horror and astonishment as he gazed from
Sir Henry to me.
« What are you doing here, Barrymore ? »
« Nothing, sir. » His agitation was so great that he could hardly
speak, and the shadows sprang up and down from the shaking of
his candle. « It was the window, sir. I go round at night to see that
they are fastened. »
« On the second floor ? »
« Yes, sir, all the windows. »
« Look here, Barrymore, » said Sir Henry, sternly, « we have made
up our minds to have the truth out of you, so it will save you trouble

v’estaubiarà bregas de’ns díser-la lèu-lèu xentz trigar.
Haut ! Adara nat mensonge ! Çò qui èratz a har a-d aque-
ra frinèsta ?
Lo gent que’ns espiè de cap com desesperat, que
s’estorcèva las mans com qui n’es a las estremèras deu
dotte e de la misèria.
— Ne hadèvi pas arré de mau, senhe. Que tienèvi ua
candela pròixe la frinèsta.
— E perqué èratz a tiéner ua candela pròixe la frinès-
ta ?
— Ne m’at domànditz pas, senhe, ne m’at domànditz
pas ! Que’vs juri, senhe, qu’acò n’es pas lo men secret e
pr’amor de ’cò ne’n poix pas parlar. Se pertocava jo-medix
solet que ves n’aurí assabentat de-tira xentz arromerar.
Que’m vienó tot sobte ua idèia : que prenoi la candela
ond lo mèste d’ostalaria e l’avèva pausada, pròixe la
frinèsta.
— Qu’at a divut tiéner en mena de senhau, ce dixoi.
Vedem se i a quauqua arresponsa.
Que la tienoi tau com eth at avèva hèit e que gueitèi
cap-hentz l’escurada de la noeit. Que podèvi tot dòi
discernir la linha negrejanta deus aubres e la de la lana
qui èra mei clara, pr’amor la lua que s’estujava darrèir
los crums. Apuix que larguèi un crit de gai pr’amor ua
lutzòta chicòia qu’avèva tot d’un còp traucat lo vel
to tell it sooner rather than later. Come, now ! No lies ! What were
you doing at that window ? »
The fellow looked at us in a helpless way, and he wrung his hands
together like one who is in the last extremity of doubt and misery.
« I was doing no harm, sir. I was holding a candle to the win-
dow. »
« And why were you holding a candle to the window ? »
« Don’t ask me, Sir Henry – don’t ask me ! I give you my word, sir,
that it is not my secret, and that I cannot tell it. If it concerned no
one but myself I would not try to keep it from you. »
A sudden idea occurred to me, and I took the candle from the
window-sill, where the butler had placed it.
« He must have been holding it as a signal, » said I. « Let us see
if there is any answer. »
I held it as he had done, and stared out into the darkness of the
night. Vaguely I could discern the black bank of the trees and the
lighter expanse of the moor, for the moon was behind the clouds.
And then I gave a cry of exultation, for a tiny pinpoint of yellow light
had suddenly transfixed the dark veil, and glowed steadily in the
83
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
néguer e que lusiva ficsadament au bèth miei deu
carrèu escur qui hadèva la frinèsta.
— Aquí que l’am, ce cridèi.
— Nani, nani, senhe, n’es pas arré, pas briga arré, ce
mequegè lo mèste d’ostalaria. Que v’at asseguri, mossur.
— Mavetz la candela tot de long de la frinèsta, Wat-
son ! ce cridè lo baronet. Espiatz, l’auta que’s mau ta-
bé ! E bé adara, bandolièr, e denégatz qu’acò sii un se-
nhau ? Haut, parlar que cau ! Quau es lo vòste complici
alahòra, e quau manipòli míatz donc !
La cara de l’òmi que prenó un aire de desfidada.
— Que sonn ahars deus mens, e no pas deus vòstes. Ne’n
dirèi pas nat mot.
— Alavetz que quítatz còpsèc lo men servici.
— Hòrt plan, senhe. S’at cau que me n’anirèi.
— E que’vs caci ! Mair de Diu ! Be diuretz préner la
vergonha ! La vòsta familha qu’es au servici de la mia
desempuix un centenat d’anadas devath aqueste teit, e que
v’i tròbi, encoentat, a miar manipòlis contra jo !
— Nani, nani, senhe, pas contra vos ! ce hadó ua votz
de hemna, qui èra pitada suu solhar de la pòrta, Mrs
Barrymore mei panla e mei espaventada que no pas lo
son òmi. Vestida qu’èra d’un cotilhon e d’un xal e que
seré podut semblar un escarni de véder a-d aquera
hemnassa atau apelhada se no’s legiva pas per la soa
centre of the black square framed by the window.
«There it is ! » I cried.
« No, no, sir, it is nothing – nothing at all, » the butler broke in ;
I assure you, sir – »
« Moye your light across the window, Watson ! » cried the baronet.
« See, the other moves also ! Now, you rascal, do you deny that it is
a signal ? Come, speak up ! Who is your confederate out yonder, and
what is this conspiracy that is going on ? » The man’s face became
openly defiant. « It is my business, and not yours. I will not tell. »
«Then you leave my employment right away. »
« Very good,sir. lf l must, l must. »
« And you go in disgrace. By thunder, you may well be ashamed
of yourself. Your family has lived with mine for over a hundred years
under this roof, and here I find you deep in some dark plot against
me. »
« No, no, sir ; no, not against you ! »
It was a woman’s voice, and Mrs Barrymore, paler and more
horror-struck than her husband, was standing at the door. Her bulky
figure in a shawl and skirt might have been comic were it not for the
intensity of feeling upon her face.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
cara l’intensitat deus sentiments.
— Que’ns cau partir, Eliza. Qu’es la fin de la fin.
Que’ns pòts aprestar los nòste ahars, ce dixó lo mèste
d’ostalaria.
— Òh, John, John, e perqué t’èi demiat dinc a-d aque-
rò ? Aquera hèita qu’es mia, En Henry, sonque mia. Eth
n’a pas hèit arré sonque pr’amor de jo e pr’amor que li
at avèvi domandat.
— Parlatz donc ! Qué vòu díser tot acò ?
— Lo men praube hrair que hameja sus la lana. Ne’u
pòdem pas deixar perir de hami pròixe la nòsta pòrta. La
lutz qu’es un senhau enta-d eth qui l’assabenta que viures
e sonn prèstes per eth e l’auta lutz, la soa, dahòra que’ns
ensenha l’indret que i dévem pausar la minjalha.
— Alavetz lo vòste hrair qu’es...
— Lo forçat escapat, senhe – Selden lo tuaire.
— Acò qu’es la vertat, senhe, ce horní Barrymore. Que
dixoi de que n’èra pas un secret men e pr’amor de ’cò
ne ve’n podèvi parlar briga. Mès adara qu’at atz audit
e que’vs rendetz compte que, s’i avèva manipòli, n’èra
pas contra vos.
Acò donc qu’èra l’esplica de las espedicions amagadas
de-noeit e de la lutz a la frinèsta. Jo e En Henry gui-
nhàvann de cap a la hemna beròi estambornits. E’s
podèva har qu’ua persona tan respectabla estossi de la
« We have to go, Eliza. This is the end of it. You can pack our
things, » said the butler.
« Oh, John, John, have I brought you to this ? It is my doing, Sir
Henry – all mine. He has done nothing except for my sake, and
because I asked him. »
« Speak out, then! What does it mean ? »
« My unhappy brother is starving on the moor. We cannot let him
perish at our very gates. The light is a signal to him that food is ready
for him, and his light out yonder is to show the spot to which to bring
it. »
« Then your brother is – »
« The escaped convict, sir – Selden, the criminal. »
« That’s the truth, sir, » said Barrymore. « I said that it was not my
secret, and that I could not tell it to you. But now you have heard
it, and you will see that if there was a plot it was not against
you. »
This, then, was the explanation of the stealthy expeditions at night
and the light at the window. Sir Henry and I both stared at the woman
in amazement. Was it possible that this stolidly respectable person
84
medixa sang com l’un deus criminaus deus mei coneixuts
deu país.
— E-ò, senhe, lo men nom de gojata qu’es Selden e qu’es
lo men hrair, l’escarret. Que’u vesièm de tròp qüand èra
chicòi, que’u passàvam tot çò qui desirava de mòdes que
fení per pensar de que lo monde sancèr qu’èra aquí preu
son plasèr e qu’i podèva har çò qui l’agradava. Tabé,
qüand vadó gojat qu’encontrè maixants companhs e lo
diable que’u se carregè dinc a còr-macar la mair e lordejar
lo nòste nom. De crimi en crimi que devarè de mei en mei
baix, e fin finau qu’es la misericòrdia de Diu qui li
esparanhé d’estar judjat a escapitar ; mès per jo, senhe,
qu’es totjamei lo còixe deu peu anerat qu’avèvi eslhevat e
qu’avèvi jogat dab, tau com at diu har ua sòr ainada. Qu’es
pr’amor de ’cò que s’escapè de preson, senhe. Que sabé de
qu’èri jo aquí, e que ne podèvam pas arrefusar de l’ajudar.
Qüand s’arrosseguè eth-medix de cap aquí ua noeit, gorpit
e hamolent, acossat de pròixe preus gardians, de qué
podèvam har egau ? Que’u hadom hentrar, que’u hadom
minjar, que’u soenhèm. Apuix qu’arribètz, senhe, e lo hrair
que pensè de que seré mei en seguretat per la lana que no
pas endacòm mei dinc a que bacsèssinn crits e brams. Que
s’i es damorat a l’estujat. Mès totas duas noeits que ns’asse-
guràvam de qu’i èra totjamei en tot plaçar ua lutz a la
frinèsta e se recebèvam ua responsa, lo men marit que
was of the same blood as one of the most notorious criminals in the
country ?
« Yes, sir, my name was Selden, and he is my younger brother. We
humoured him too much when he was a lad, and gave him his own
way in everything, until he came to think that the world was made
for his pleasure, and that he could do what he liked in it. Then, as
he grew older, he met wicked companions, and the devil entered into
him, until he broke my mother’s heart and dragged our name in the
dirt. From crime to crime he sank lower and lower, until it is only the
mercy of God which has snatched him from the scaffold ; bat to me,
sir, he was always the little curly-headed boy that I had nursed and
played with, as an elder sister would. That was why he broke prison,
sir. He knew that I was here, and that we could not refuse to help him.
When he dragged himself here one night, weary and starving, with
the warders hard at his heels, what could we do ? We took him in and
fed him and cared for him. Then you returned, sir, and my brother
thought he would be safer on the moor than anywhere else until the
hue and cry was over, so he lay in hiding there. But every second night
we made sure if he was still there by putting a light in the window,
and if there was an answer my husband took out some bread and

sortiva entà portà’u pan e viures. Cada jorn qu’esperàvam
de que se n’èra anat, mès tant que s’estava aquí, ne’u
podèvam pas abandonar. Aquí qu’atz tota la vertat –
autant que sii ua aunèsta crestiana – e que’vs cau véder
de que, se quauqu’un es a polhar, n’es pas lo men marit
mès jo, pr’amor çò qui hadó eth, qu’at hadó pr’amor de
jo.
Las paraulas de la hemna que carrejàvann un tau
seriosèr que no se’n podèva pas dottar briga de la lor
veracitat.
— Es vertat, Barrymore ?
— Ò-bé, En Henry. Cada mot que n’es.
— E bé, ne’vs poix pas blasmar d’aver ajudat a la vòsta
molhèr. Oblidatz donc çò qui’vs dixoi totara. Tornatz-
ve’n, tots dus, a la vòsta cramba que ne’n tornaram parlar
de tot aquerò doman de matin.
Qüand estonn sortits, que tornèm espiar entà dahòra
per la frinèsta. En Henry que l’avèva tornada alandar
e lo vent hred de la noeit que’ns hoetejava la cara. A
l’enlà-hòra per l’escurada lo punt chicòi de lutz jauna
que contunhava de lusir.
— Que m’estona de que gausi..., ce dixó En Henry.
— Que l’a hicat de tau mòde qu’es vededer sonque d’aquí
estant.
— Solide. E pénsatz de qu’es hòrt aloenhat ?
meat to him. Every day we hoped that he was gone, but as long as
he was there we could not desert him. That is the whole truth, as I
am an honest Christian woman, and you will see that if there is blame
in the matter it does not lie with my husband, but with me, for whose
sake he has done all that he has. »
The woman’s words came with an intense earnestness which
carried conviction with them.
« Is this true, Barrymore ? »
« Yes, Sir Henry. Every word of it. »
« Well, I cannot blame you for standing by your own wife. Forget
what I have said. Go to your room, you two, and we shall talk further
about this matter in the morning. »
When they were gone we looked out of the window again. Sir Henry
had flung it open, and the cold night wind beat in upon our faces.
Far away in the black distance there still glowed that one tiny point
of yellow light.
« I wonder he dares, » said Sir Henry.
« It may be so placed as to be only visible from here. »
« Very likely. How far do you think it is ? »
85
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— De la part de la Pèira Horadada que’s situeix, ce’m
par.
— Pas mei d’un o dus miles d’aquí.
— Tot dòi.
— Ne cau pas que sii hòrt aloenhat se Barrymore e li
deu portar los viures. E aquí que l’am, aqueth gusàs, a
esperar pròixe la soa candela. Diu Vivant ? Watson que
me’n vau gahà’u, ad aqueth creat !
La medixa pensada que se m’èra vinguda. N’èra pas
la medixa causa com se los Barrymore e’ns avèvann
hidar lo lor secret. Que’us se l’avèvam darrigat. Aqueth
òmi qu’èra un dangèir per la societat, un criminau
hastiau preu quau ne se’n valèva pas ni pieitat ni
perdon. Que hadèvam lo nòste dever, arré qu’acò, se
ns’i escadèvam de li botar la man dessús e’u tornar en
lo solet lòc ond n’i podèva pas har deu mau. Pr’amor
de la soa natura brutau e violenta, d’autes que poirenn
aver a’n pagar las consequéncias se nosatis n’intervie-
nèvann pas. Ua noeit o l’auta que poiré aver idèia
d’atacar los Stapleton e que n’èra belèu la pensada qu’i
avèva hèit que’N Henry èra tant arsecós rapòrt a-d
aquera hèita.
— Que vieni jo tabé, ce dixoi.
— Alavetz prenetz-ve lo revolvèrr e cauçatz-ve las bòtas.
Tan mei viste e partiram, tan mielhe que’n serà, pr’amor
« Out by the Cleft Tor, I think. »
« Not more than a mile or two off. »
« Hardly that. »
« Well, it cannot be far if Barrymore had to carry out the food to
it. And he is waiting this villain, beside that candle. By thunder,
Watson, I am going out to take that man ! »
The same thought bad crossed my own mind. It was not as if the
Barrymores had taken us into their confidence. Their secret had been
forced from them. The man was a danger to the community, an
unmitigated scoundrel for whom there was neither pity nor excuse.
We were only doing our duty in taking this chance of putting him
back where he could do no harm. With his brutal and violent nature,
others would have to pay the price if we held our hands. Any night,
for exampte, our neighbours the Stapletons might be attacked by
him, and it may have been the thought of this which made Sir Henry
so keen upon the adventure.
« I will come, » said I.
« Then get your revolver and put on your boots. The sooner we start
the better, as the fellow may put out his light and be off. »
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
l’òmi que pòt autaplan estupar la lutz e se n’anar.
En cinc minutas entà dahòra, encaminats qu’èram
dentz la nòsta espedicion. Que’ns hadèvam en davant
capvath l’escurada ; lo vent d’agòrr que gemicava e las
hoelhas mòrtas que cadèvann en har un bruit amatigat.
L’aire noeitau qu’èra tot empleat d’aulors d’umidetat
e de poiridís. De temps en qüand la lua que pareixèva
ua paussòta, mès los crums que silhàvann capvath lo
cèu e talèu com arribèvann sus la lana que comencè de
plavinejar. La lutz que contunhava de lugranejar au
dret de nosauts.
— V’atz hèit seguir ua arma ? ce domandèi.
— Qu’èi pres ua flinga.
— Que carrà que’ns apodérim d’eth viste hèit pr’amor
dísenn de qu’es un òmi qui n’a pas pòur a la bruma. Que’u
cau gahar per suspresa e l’aver a la nòsta mercés permèir
que posqui har cap.
— Me domandi, Watson, ce hadó lo baronet, çò qui
diré Holmes de la nòsta benalèia ? Tocant ad aquestas òras
d’escurada ond s’enàirann las poténcias deu mau ?
E com se n’èra lo reclam, en aqueras paraulas, que
trení, de la nega esplandida de la lana, aqueth bramit
estranh qui avèvi dijà audit suus bòrns deu Hanhèir
grand de Grimpen. Que’ns vienó de cap portat preu
vent au bèth miei deu silenci de la noeit, esmarròc
In five minutes we were outside the door, starting upon our
expedition. We hurried through the dark shrubbery, amid the dull
moaning of the autumn wind and the rustle of the falling leaves. The
night-air was heavy with the smell of damp and decay. Now and
again the moon peeped out for an instant, but clouds were driving
over the face of the sky, and just as we came out on the moor a thin
rain began to fall. The light still burned steadily in front.
« Are you armed ? » I asked.
« I have a hunting-crop. »
« We must close in on him rapidly, for he is said to be a desperate
fellow. We shall take him by surprise and have him at our mercy
before he can resist. »
« I say, Watson, » said the baronet, « what would Holmes say to
this ? How about that hour of darkness in which the power of evil is
exalted ? »
As if in answer to his words there rose suddenly out of the vast
gloom of the moor that strange cry which I had already heard upon
the borders of the great Grimpen Mire. If came with the wind through
the silence of the night, a long, deep mutter, then a rising howl, and
86
longàs e pregond qui’s virava puix en un bramadera qui
s’ahortiva davant de s’acabar en ua gemicada tristassa.
Mantuns còps que s’i tornè en bèth har retrenir tot
l’aire, cridatòri sauvadge tantvau ua miaça. Lo baronet
que’m gahè preu braç, qu’avèva la cara qui panlejava
dentz l’escurada.
— Mair de Diu ! De qu’es acò, Watson ?
— N’at sèi pas. Qu’es un bruit qui s’audeix hentz la
lana. Que l’avèvi audit dijà un còp.
Lo cridòri que s’estupè e un silenci absolut que’ns
enrodè. Que’ns estèm a téner l’aurelha mès n’audim
pas mei arré.
— Watson, ce dixó la baronet, qu’èra lo lairar d’un
canhàs ?
Qu’estoi sangtradit pr’amor qu’arrauquejava la soa
votz de l’eixante qui l’avèva sobtament gahat.
— E com apèrann aqueth bruit ? ce questionè.
— Qui donc ?
— Los gents deu parçan.
— Bò, que sonn gents ensauvadgits. Que ve’n chàu-
tatz, de quinn l’apèrann ?
— Digatz, Watson, com noméntann açò ?
Qu’esitavi mès ne podèvi pas virar la frasa.
— Que dísenn de qu’es lo lairar deu Canhàs deus
Baskerville.
then the sad moan in which it died away. Again and again it
sounded, the whole air throbbing with it, strident, wild, and mena-
cing. The baronet caught my sleeve, and his face glimmered white
through the darkness.
« Good heavens, what’s that, Watson ? »
« I don’t know. It’s a sound they have on the moor. I heard it once
before. »
It died away, and an absolute silence closed in upon us. We stood
straining our ears, but nothing came.
« Watson, » said the baronet, « it was the cry of a hound. »
My blood ran cold in my veins, for there was a break in his voice
which told of the sudden horror which had seized him.
« What do they call this sound ? » he asked.
« Who ? »
« The folk on the countryside. »
« Oh, they are ignorant people. Why should you mind what they
call it ? »
« Tell me, Watson. What do they say of it ? »
l hesitated, but could not escape the question.
« They say it is the cry of the Hound of the Baskervilles. »

Que marronè e que hadó chit ua pausa.
— Un canhàs qu’èra donc, ce dixó fin finau, mès que
semblava de que vienèva de lègas enlà, ce’m pensi.
— Qu’es de mau saber d’ond vienèva acò.
— Qu’en.hlava e baixava pr’amor deu vent. E no seré
pas en aquera direccion que’s tròba lo Hanhèir Grand de
Grimpen ?
— Ò-bé, que n’es.
—E bé, que vienèva de per ’qui avant. Haut ! Watson,
n’atz pas credut vos tabé de qu’èra un canhàs qui laira-
va ? Ne soi pas un mainadge. Ne’vs cau pas aver pòur de’m
díser la vertat.
— Stapleton qu’èra dab jo qüand l’entenoi lo permèir
còp. Que’m dixó de qu’èra belèu lo crit d’un ausèth estranh.
— Nani, qu’èra un canhàs. Mon Diu, e’s poiré de qu’i
avossi quauqua vertat en totas aqueras istòrias ? E seré
possible de qu’estossi per a-de bon en dangèir pr’amor d’ua
causa tan hastiau ? N’at crédetz pas, Watson, hòu, n’at
crédetz pas ?
— Que no pas.
— Qu’es egau : qu’es ua causa de se’n arríder qüand èm
en Londras e que n’es beròi unhauta d’estar aquí hentz
l’escurada de la lana e d’audir un cridòri tau com aqueth.
E lo men oncle ! Que i avèva ua piada deu canhàs còsta
eth qüand s’espatarrè. Tot que’s tienn. Ne crei pas que sii
He groaned, and was silent for a few moments.
« A hound it was, » he said at last, « but it seemed to come from
miles away over yonder, I think. »
« It was hard to say whence it came. »
« It rose and fell with the wind. Isn’t that the direction of the great
Grimpen Mire ? »
« Yes, it is. »
« Well, it was up there. Come now, Watson, didn’t you think
yourself that it was theory of a hound ? I am not a child. You need
not fear to speak the truth. »
« Stapleton was with me when I heard it last. He said that it might
be the calling of a strange bird. »
« No, no, it was a hound. My God, can there besome truth in all
these stories ? Is it possible that I am really in danger from so dark
a cause ? You don’t believe it, do you, Watson ? »
« No, no. »
« And yet it was one thing to laugh about it in London, and it is
another to stand out here in the darkness of the moor and to hear
such a cry as that. And my uncle !There was the footprint of the hound
beside him as he lay. It all fits together. I don’t think that I am a
87
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
pauruc, Watson, mès aqueth lairar que m’a sangglaçat.
Tocatz-me la man !
Qu’èra hreda tantvau ua pèira de marme.
— Tot qu’anirà plan doman.
— M’estonaré de que’m tirèssi aquera bramadera deu
cap. Qu’es çò qui perpàusatz de har adara ?
— E vòletz que nse’n tórnim ?
— Que no pas, Vivant ! Qu’èm sortits per tant de gahar
lo nòste òmi e gahà’u que haram. Qu’acóssam un forçat,
e un canhàs de l’ihèrn, solide, que’ns acossa tabé. Anem,
que veiram quitament se tots los demònis e sonn descade-
nats capvath la lana.
Que’ns hadèvam en davant tot-toixau en bèth trabucar
hentz l’escurada, enrodats qui èram preus tastucs
negejants de las sèrras eixaquetadas, e la lutzor jaunejanta
de la candela qu’èra totjamei a cramar a l’enlà-hòra.
N’i a pas arré qui sii mei enganaire que no pas la dis-
tància qui’vs pòt desseparar d’ua lutz qüand la noeit
negreja. Un còp la lutzèira que’ns semblava estar com
au pèd deu cèu e l’aute còp que seré poduda estar a
quauques mètres de nosatis avant. Mès a la fin de la
fin, que podom destriar d’a-ond vienèva e que coneixom
alavetz de que n’èram hòrt pròixes. Ua candela, riule-
janta, qu’èra en.hicada en un cròt dehentz la ròca, de
mòdes qui hadè empach au vent de cada part, de la
coward, Watson, but that sound seemed to freeze my very blood.
Feel my hand ! »
It was as cold as a block of marble.
« You’ll be all right tomorrow. »
« l don’t think I’ll get that cry out of my head. What do you advise
that we do now ? »
« Shall we turn back ? »
« No, by thunder; we have come out to get our man, and we will
do it. We are after the convict, and a hell-hound, as likely as not, after
us. Come on. We’ll see it through if all the fiends of the pit were loose
upon the moor. »
We stumbled slowly along in the darkness, with the black loom
of the craggy hills around us, and the yellow speck of light burning
steadily in front. There is nothing so deceptive as the distance of a
light upon a pitch-dark night, and sometimes the glimmer seemed
to be far away upon the horizon and sometimes it might have been
within a few yards of as. But at last we could see whence it came, and
then we knew that we were indeed very close. A guttering candle was
stuck in a crevice of the rocks which flanked it on each side so as to
keep the wind from it, and also to prevent it from being visible, save
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
poder estupar e mei d’esvitar que la lutz e sii vededera
sonque de Baskerville Hall avant. Un rocàs de granite
qu’amagava la nòsta avançada e que’ns esconèm a
l’endarrèir e que larguèm ua espiada de cap entau
senhau luminós. Beròi estranh qu’èra de véder aquera
candela soleta a lugranejar au bèth miei de la lana –
xentz nat signe de vita a l’entorn – sonque l’eslamejada
jaunejanta e dreta e lo rebat dessús las ròcas de cada
part, a l’entorn.
— E çò qui vam har adara ? ce marmusè En Henry.
— Esperar aquí. Que deu estar pròixe la lutz. Vegem
se’u pòdem apercéber. Los mots a penas se m’èrann
sortits de la boca que tots dus que’u vedom.
Au dessús de las ròcas, dentz lo cròt ond cramava la
candela qu’èra apareixut ua cara jaunissosa de diable,
un cara òrra de bèstia, minjada qu’èra de las mei
hastialas passions. Tot mascarós de hanha, espeluhit
de la barba, e mei deu peu qu’auré autaplan podut estar
l’un deus ensauvatgits qui d’autescòps e poblàvann las
tutas per las serradas. La lutz en dessús d’eth que’s
rebatèva dehentz los sos oelhs pechius e rusats e qui
hadèva córrer de cap a dreta e de cap a esquèrra capvath
l’escurada, tantvau un herumi qui auré audit los
caçaires a’s har pròixe.
Quauquarré que l’avèva au segur rendut sospieitós.
in the direction of Baskerville Hall. A boulder of granite concealed
our approach, and crouching behind it we gazed over it at the signal
light. It was strange to see this single candle burning there in the
middle of the moor, with no sign of life near it – just the one straight
yellow flame and the gleam of the rock on each side of it. » .
« What shall we do now ? » whispered Sir Henry.
« Wait here. He must be near his light. Let us see if we can get a
glimpse of him. »
The words were hardly out of my mouth when we both saw him.
Over the rocks, in the crevice of which the candle burned, there was
thrust out an evil yellow face, a terrible animal face, all seamed and
scored with vile passions. Foul with mire, with a bristling beard, and
hung with matted hair, it might well have belonged to one of those
old savages who dwelt in the burrows on the hillsides. The light
beneath him was reflected in his small, cunning eyes, which peered
fiercely to right and left through the darkness, like a crafty and
savage animal who has heard the steps of the hunters.
Something had evidently aroused his suspicions. It may have
Belèu Barrymore que se n’èra avienut dab eth, d’un
senhau especiau qui nosatis e avèvann negligit de dà’u,
o lo gus qu’avèva solide d’autas rasons entà pensar que
tot ne virava pas de-plan pr’amor que’s legiva la pòur
per la soa cara negada de maixantèr. A quau moment
qui estossi que podèva estupar la candela e s’ahonir per
l’escurada. Que hadoi un pinnet entà davant e ’N Hen-
ry que’n hadó tot parièr. En medix temps lo forçat
que’ns larguè ua insurta e’ns soguè de cap ua peirassa
qui s’esglachè dessús lo rocàs que i èram estats estujats
darrèir. Que’m vaguè ua estona d’apercéber lo tastuc
d’un omiàs cama-brac mès trapolet e brinchut qüand
se quilhè e s’arrevirè entà s’escapar. Au medix moment,
que s’i escadó la lua que’s desencrumissi. Que pugèm
cap en-sus deu som de la sèrra e aquí qu’avèvam lo nòste
òmi qui devarava a hutas l’aute penent, en bèth sauticar
de malh en malh tantvau un vertadèir crabit mon-
tanhòu. S’avèvi de-plan ajustat lo tirr deu men revolvèrr
que me l’aurí podut beròi descanilhar mès que me
l’avèvi hèit seguir sonque entà’m defénder s’èri atacat
e no pas entà tirar sus un òmi desarmat qui s’escapava.
Tots dus qu’èram corrurrs deus bons e en bona
condicion fisica mès lèu que ns’apercebom de que ne
s’i escaderem pas a’u tornar gahar. Que’u destrièm ua
longa pausa au clar de lua ; dinc a que n’estó pas mei
been that Barrymore had some private signal which we had
neglected to give, or the fellow may have had some other reason for
thinking that all was not well, but I could read his fears upon his
wicked face. Any instant he might dash out the light and vanish in
. the darkness. I sprang forward, therefore, and Sir Henry did the
same. At the same moment the convict screamed out a curse at us
and buried a rock which splintered up against the boulder which
had sheltered us. I caught one glimpse of his short, squat, strongly-
built figure as he sprang to his feet and turned to run. At the same
moment by a lucky chance the moon broke through the clouds. We
rushed over the brow of the hill, and there was our man running with
great speed down the other side, springing over the stones in his way
with the activity of a mountain goat. A lucky long shot of my revolver
might have crippled him, but I had brought it only to defend myself
if attacked, and not to shoot an unarmed man who was running
away.
We were both fair, runners and in good condition, but we soon
found that we had no chance of overtaking him. We saw him for a
88

qu’un mormòc mavedís per demiei los rocàs suu
penent d’ua sèrra aloenhada.
E qu’estó a-d aqueth moment precís que’s debanè
ua hèita hòrt estranha e mei insolita. Que ns’èram
estancats per demiei los rocàs e qu’èram per s’entornar
entà casa, en bèth arresignar aquera caça xentz espèrr.
La lua qu’èra adara sus man dreta, hòrt baixa e lo pic
eixaquetat d’un pujòu de granite que’s destacava per
davant lo bòrn baix deu son disc argentiu. Alahòra,
que’s descopava, tantvau ua estatua d’ebena, sus aqueth
honds lusent, – at vedoi a bèths oelhs vedents – lo
tastuc d’un òmi au som deu pujòu. Ne pénsitz pas de
qu’èra un miradge, Holmes.
Que v’asseguri de que jamei en la mia vita, ne vedoi
quauquarré autan plan clarament. Autant que’n podoi
judjar, l’òmi qu’èra deus grands e deus prims. Que’s
tienèva camalarg, braç crotzats, capclin com qui es a
perpensar, sus aqueth èrm gigantàs de torba e de
granite qui s’esplandiva au darrèir d’eth. Que seré
podut estar lo quite esperit d’aqueth lòc tarrible. Lo
forçat ne n’èra pas briga. Aqueste òmi qu’èra hòrt
aloenhat de l’indret ond l’aute lèd creat avèva desa-
pareixut. E mei qu’èra beròi mei grand. Dab un crit
d’estonament que’u puntèi deu dit de cap au baronet
mès deu temps qui m’èri virat entà’u gahar lo braç,
long time in the moonlight, until he was only a small speck moving
swiftly among the boulders upon the side of a distant hill. We ran
and ran until we were completely blown, but the space between us
grew ever wider. Finally we stopped and sat panting on two rocks,
while we watched him disappearing in the distance.
And it was at this moment that there occurred a most strange and
unexpected thing. We had risen from our rocks and were turning to
go home, having abandoned the hopeless chase. The moon was low
upon the right, and the jagged pinnacle of a granite tor stood up
against the lower curve of its silver disc. There, outlined as black as
an ebony statue on that shining background, I saw the figure of a
man upon the tor. Do not think that it was a delusion, Holmes. I
assure you that I have never in my life seen anything more clearly.
As far as I could judge, the figure was that of a tall, thin man. He stood
with his legs a little separated, his arms folded, his head bowed, as
if he were brooding over that enormous wilderness of peat and
granite which lay behind him. He might have been the very spirit of
that terrible place. It was not the convict. This man was far from the
place where the latter had disappeared. Besides, he was a much
taller man. With a cry of surprise I pointed him out to the baronet,
89
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
l’òmi que s’èra estavanit. Lo som ponchut deu “tor”
granitós que talhava totjamei lo bòrn baix de la lua mès
n’i sobrava pas nat tralh d’aqueth mormòc silenciós e
immobile.
Que desiravi anà’i de cap e cercar aqueste “tor” mès
qu’èra pampró a l’enlà-hòra. Los nèrvis deu baronet
qu’èrann estat abranlits pr’amor d’aqueth cridòri qui
se li brembava l’istòria nega de la soa familha, e donc
n’èra pas parat entà benalèias navèras. Eth n’avèva pas
vist l’òmi solitari suu pujòu e ne podèva pas espravar
qüant m’avèva ahiscat aquera preséncia estranha e
hagardejanta.
— Un garda, bahida, ce dixó eth, la lana que’n cap
bèra tropa desempuix que l’aute gusàs e s’es escapat.
La soa esplica qu’èra solide la bona mès que n’aurí
volut aver quauqua pròva mei. Oei que vam préner
contacte dab las autoritats de Princetown per tant de
las assabentar a-ond los-i cau cercar après lo lor escapat,
mès que’ns hadèva hòrt dòu de no pas aver podut ha’ns
la glòria de’us i tornar com presonèir. Taus que sonn
estadas las aventuras de la noeit passada e que dévetz
arreconéixer, car Holmes, que m’i soi hèit per tant de’vs
hornir un rapòrt qui sii digne de vos. Plan segur ua bèra
part de çò de reportat ne pertòca pas l’ahar, mès que
contunhi de créder que çò de mielhe qu’es de s’assaben-
but in the instant during which I had turned to grasp his arm the
man was gone. There was the sharp pinnacle of granite still cutting
the lower edge of the moon, but its peak bore no trace of that silent
and motionless figure.
I wished to go in that direction and to search the tor, but it was
some distance away. The baronet’s nerves were still quivering from
that cry, which recalled the dark story of his family, and he was not
in the mood for fresh adventures. He had not seen this lonely man
upon the tor, and could not feel the thrill which his strange presence
and his commanding attitude had given to me.
« A warder, no doubt, » said he. « The moor has been thick with
them since this fellow escaped. »
Well, perhaps his explanation may be the right one, but I should
like to have some further proof of it. Today we mean to communicate
to the Princetown people where they should look for their missing
man, but it is hard lines that we have not actually had the triumph
of bringing him back as our own prisoner. Such are the adventures
of last night, and you must acknowledge, my dear Holmes, that I
have done you very well in the matter of a report. Much of what I tell
you is no doubt quite irrelevant, but still I feel that it is best that
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
tar de tot e’vs deixar solucionar vos-medix çò qui pòt
estar lo mei d’ajuda entà tirar las vòstas conclusions.
Progrès que’n hèm de segur. Per çò qui tòca aus
Barrymore, qu’am trobat quau èra la rason deus lors
agís, e atau la situacion que n’es estada esclarida beròi.
I should let you have all the facts and leave you to select for yourself
those which will be of most service to you in helping you to your
conclusions. We are certainly making some progress. So far as the
Barrymores go, we have found the motive of their actions, and that
90
Mès la lana que’s goarda sos mistèris e sos estadjants
esquèrrs qui damòrann de hòrt mau compréner com
audavant. Belèu que, dentz lo men rapòrt seguent,
poirèi har quauqua lutz sus aquerò tabé. Çò de mielhe
que seré que podóssitz viéner entà nòste.
has cleared up the situation very much. But the moor with its
mysteries and its strange inhabitants remains as inscrutable as
ever. Perhaps in my next I may be able to throw some light upon this
also. Best of all would it be if you could come down to us.

Tròç deu jornau deu DrWatson
Capítou Dètzau
D
inc ací qu’èi podut citar tròç deus rapòrts
qu’avèvi avut mandat a Sherlock Holmes
pendent aqueths permèirs jorns. Mès, adara
que’n soi arribat a un punt dentz lo raconte que’m cau
deixar aqueth metòde e’m hidar sonque, un còp mei,
aus mens soviéners, dab lo jornau qui escrivèvi d’aqueth
temps com ajuda. Quauques tròç d’aqueth jornau
que’m vann miar a-d aqueras hèitas qui cada detalh n’es
indelebilament enmemoriats.
Que contunharèi donc lo raconte per lo matiau qui
seguí la caça mancada qui mièm au darrèir deu forçat
e uas autas esperiéncias esquèrras miadas hentz la lana.
16 d’octobe : Jornada tristassa, de brumassèra e de
ploja miuda. La mansa qu’es amiroada de crums baixs
qui, de temps en qüand, e desamàgann las corbas mor-
nejantas de la lana, plapadas de veas primas qui ludéixenn
qüand la lutz corr dessús las loas parets trempas. La
malanconia que dauneja autaplan au dehentz com au
dahòra. Arrond de las ahiscadas de la noeit passada, lo
baronet qu’a reagit e qu’a los nèrvis qui flaquéjann. Jo
tabé qu’ei l’impression d’aver un pes suu còr e ua
sentida de perilh tostem pròixe e, çò de mei hastiau,
que soi incapable d’at definir.
10 — Extract from the Diary of Dr Watson
So far I have been able to quote from the reports which I have
forwarded during these early days to Sherlock Holmes. Now,
however, I have arrived at a point in my narrative where lam
compelled to abandon this method and to trust once more to my
recollections, aided by the diary which I kept at the time. A few
extracts from the latter will carry me on to those scenes which are
indelibly fixed in every detail upon my memory. I proceed, then, from
the morning which followed our abortive chase of the convict and
our other strange experiences upon the moor.
October 16th - A dull and foggy day, with a drizzle of rain. The
house is banked in with rolling clouds, which rise now and then to
show the dreary curves of the moor, with thin, silver veins upon the
sides of the hills, and the distant boulders gleaming where the light
strikes upon their wet faces. It is melancholy outside and in. The
baronet is in a black reaction after the excitements of the night. I
am conscious myself of a weight at my heart and a feeling of
impending danger - ever - present, which is the more terrible becau-
se I am unable to define it.
And have I not cause for such a feeling ? Consider the long
91
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
E n’aurí pas nada rason d’aver un tau sentiment ?
En bèth considerar la corriòla d’aubaris qui tots amúi-
xann l’influéncia hastiala qui es au tribalh a l’entorn
de nosatis. Que i a la mòrt deu darrèir proprietari deu
Hall, qui corresponèva tant exactement a çò de la legen-
da familiau, e puix los testimoniadges frequents deus
paisans rapòrt a la pareixuda d’ua criatura esquèrra cap-
vath la lana. Dus còps qu’ei jo-medix audit de las mias
aurelhas lo son aqueste qui’s sembla lo lairar aloenhat
d’un canhàs. N’es pas de créder, n’es pas possible que
tot aquerò ne sègui pas las lei ordinàrias de la Natura.
Un canhàs hautauma qui dèixa los tralhs materiaus
deus sos pèds e hè retrenir l’aire deus sos brams n’es
pas causa qui’s pòt concéber. Stapleton que pòt adméter
ua tau supersticion e Mortimer tabé, mès a jo – s’èi
ua qualitat acò qu’es lo bon senns – arré ne’m harà pas
créder en ua tau causa. Har atau que seré s’abaixar au
nivèu d’aqueths praubes paisans qui ne s’aconténtann
pas d’un canhàs demoniac e que’us hè daun de’u
descríver dab lo hoec de l’ihèrn qui salh deus oelhs e
de la boca. Holmes ne vorré pas enténer mainadissas
d’aqueras e jo, que soi lo son representent. Mès los hèits
que sonn çò qui sonn e, per dus còps, qu’entenoi aquera
bramadera per la lana. Gadjam qu’i agi vertadeirament
un canhàs perdut per aquí ; acò que’ns tiraré l’ahar a
sequence of incidents which have all pointed to some sinister
influence which is at work around us. There is the death of the last
occupant of the Hall, fulfilling so exactly the conditions of the family
legend, and there are the repeated reports from peasants of the
appearance of a strange creature upon the moor. Twice I have with
my own ears heard the sound which resembled the distant baying
of a hound. It is incredible, impossible, that it should really be
outside the ordinary laws of Nature. A spectral hound which leaves
material footmarks and fills the air with its howling is surely not to
be thought of Stapleton may fall in with such a superstition, and
Mortimer also ; but if I have one quality upon earth it is common
sense, and nothing will persuade me to believe in such a thing. To
do so would be to descend to the level of these poor peasants who
are not content with a mere fiend-dog, but must needs describe him
with hell-fire shooting from his mouth and eyes. Holmes would not
listen to such fancies, and I am his agent. But facts are facts, and
I have twice heard this crying upon the moor. Suppose that there
were really some huge hound loose upon it ; that would go far to
explain everything. But where could such a hound lie concealed,
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
lutz. Mès alavetz ond lo diable un tau canhàs e
damoraré estujat, ond se trobaré lo minjar, d’ond
arribaré e com se haré que digun ne l’avossi pas jamei
vist lo jorn ?
Que cau cohessar l’esplica naturau qu’auhereix tant
de dificultats que no pas la subernaturau. E puix, a
despart deu canhàs, que i a lo hèit de l’intervencion
umana a Londras : l’òmi dentz lo cab e la letra qui
avertiva En Henry de’s mauhidar de la lana. Aquerò
que tanhèva plan lo nòste monde reau mès que seré
podut estar autaplan l’agís d’un amic protector com
d’un enemic. Ond èra donc aqueth amic o enemic
adara ? E seré damorat en Londras o bé e’ns auré seguit
dinc ací ? E poiré estar... òc, e seré podut estar
l’estrangèir qu’avèvi vist au som deu tor ?
Qu’es vertat que ne l’èi pas podut espiar hòrt pausa
e totun que sonn d’aubuns detalhs que soi prèst a’n
jurar. N’es pas quauqu’un qui n’agi pas encoèra vist
pr’ací e qu’èi adara encontrat a tots los vesins. Lo tastuc
qu’èra plan mei grand que Stapleton, plan mei prim
que Frankland. Barrymore qu’at seré podut estar mès
que l’avèvam deixat a l’endarrèir e qu’èri mei que segur
que n’avèva pas podut seguí’ns. Adonc un estrangèir
que hè lo nhau cap a nosatis per ’qui, com unhaut e
hadó lo nhau cap a nosatis en Londras. Jamei donc ne
where did it get its food, where did it come from, how was it that no
one saw it by day?
It must be confessed that the natural explanation offers almost
as many difficulties as the other. And always, apart from the hound,
there was the fact of the human agency in London, the man in the
cab, and the letter which warned Sir Henry against the moor. This
at least was real, but it might have been the work of a protec-
ting friend as easily as an enemy. Where was that friend or enemy
now ? Had he remained in London, or had he followed us down
here ? Could he - could he be the stranger whom I had seen upon the
Tor ?
It is true that I have had only the one glance at him, and yet there
are some things to which I am ready to swear. He is no one whom
I have seen down here, and I have now met all the neighbours. The
figure was far taller than that of Stapleton, far thinner than that of
Frankland. Barrymore it might possibly have been, but we had left
him behind us, and I am certain that he could not have followed us.
A stranger then is still dogging us, just as a stranger had dogged
us in London. We have never shaken him off. If I could lay my hands
92
l’avèvam pas podut descaminar. Se m’i escadèvi a li
botar la man dessús, que veirem a la fin de la fin
l’acabada de tots los trabucs nòstes. Entà d’aquesta
tòca que cau que m’arregahi totas las mias hòrças.
La mia permèira impulsion qu’estó d’assabentar En
Henry. La segonda e la mei sàvia que consistí a jogar
solet la mia partida e de’n parlar lo mentz qui’s pusqui
a quau qui sii. Qu’es boca-barrada e distrèit. Qu’a los
nèrvis estrementits pr’amor d’aqueth lairar audit per
la lana. Ne dirèi pas arré qui pusqui hornir mestior a
la soa ància, mès que m’i harèi solet entà-d aténher la
visada qui’m soi balhada.
Qu’avom ua bregòta oei matin arrond d’esdejuar.
Barrymore que domandè a’N Henry ua entervista e que
s’embarrènn dehentz lo son burèu per ua pausa. Jo
qu’èri seitat dentz la sala deu bilhard, mei d’un còp,
qu’entenoi a pujar lo son de la votz e qu’avèvi ua pro
bona idèia de çò qui èrann a pleitejar dessús. Au cap
d’ua pausa lo baronet qu’aubrí la pòrta e que m’aperè.
— Barrymore que’s pensa de que li am mancat, ce dixó
eth. Que ditz de que n’èra pas leiau de la nòsta part de’ns
botar en caça après lo son bèu-frair qüand eth, plan-
volent, e’ns avèva ensenhat lo secret.
Lo mèste d’ostalaria qu’èra quilhat davant nosatis,
hòrt panle mès que s’estava sangflac.
upon that man, then at last we might find ourselves at the end of
all our diffiedities. To this one purpose I must now devote all my
energies.
My first impulse was to tell Sir Henry all my plans. My second and
wisest one is to play my own game and speak as little as possible
to anyone. He is silent and distrait. His nerves have been strangely
shaken by that sound upon the moor. I will say nothing to add to
his anxieties, but I will take my own steps to attain my own end.
We had a small scene this morning after breakfast. Barrymore
asked leave to speak with Sir Henry, and they were closeted in his
study some little time. Sitting in the billiardroom, I more than once
heard the sound of voices raised, and I had a pretty good idea what
the point was which was under discussion. After a time the baronet
opened his door and called for me.
« Barrymore considers that he has a grievance, » he said. « He thinks
that it was unfair on our part to hunt his brother-in-law down when
he, of his own free will, had told us the secret ». The butler was
standing, very pale but very collected, before us.

— Que’m soi belèu un chic escauhat, ce dixó. E se n’es
lo cas que’vs domandi de me’n voler desencusar. D’unhauta
part qu’estoi hòrt estonat qüand vos entenoi, a tornar oei
de matin e qüand aprenoi qu’èratz estat per acossar lo
Selden. Lo praube d’eth qu’a pro de coentas entà se’n virar
per que jo ne li’n cargui pas mei sus l’esquia.
— Se’ns avèvatz parlat de la vòste pròpia volentat, que
seré estat unhaut ahar, ce hadó lo baronet. Que’ns parlètz
o meilèu la vòsta molhèr que’ns parlè pr’amor que n’èratz
forçats e xentz possibilitat de’vs ajudar vos-medix.
— N’aurí pas jamei credut de que ne’n profieitèssitz
atau, En Henry, vertat, no n’at auré pas jamei credut.
— L’òmi qu’es un dangèir public. Que sonn ostaus isolats
escampilhats capvath la lana e Selden qu’es un lèd bagadge
qui seré prèst a tot. N’i a pas qu’a dar ua espiada sus la
soa cara per se’n convéncer. L’ostau deus Stapleton per
exemple, que n’i a pas digun per lo defénder sonque Mr
Stapleton eth-medix. N’i aurà pas nada seguritat dinc a
que’u tórninn encarcerar.
— Ne hentrarà pas en quau ostau qui sii, senhe. Que
v’atz juri solemnament. E ne destorbarà pas jamei digun
mei dentz lo parçan aqueste. Que v’at asseguri, En Henry,
que d’ací quauques jorns, los adobaments necessaris e
serann estats pres e que serà en camin entà l’America deu
Sud. Per l’amor de Diu, Senhe, que’vs prèi de no pas
I may have spoken too warmly, sir, » said he, « and if I have I am
sure that I beg your pardon. At the same time, I was very much
surprised when I heard you two gentlemen come back this morning
and learned that you had been chasing Selden. The poor fellow has
enough to fight against without my putting more upon his track ».
« If you had told us of your own free will it would have been a
different thing, » said the baronet. « You only told us, or rather your
wife only told us, when it was forced from you and you could not help
yourself ».
« I didn’t think you would have taken advantage of it. Sir Henry
- indeed I didn’t ».
« The man is a public danger. There are lonely houses scattered
over the moor, and he is a fellow who would stick at nothing. You
only want to get a glimpse of his face to see that. Look at Mr
Stapleton’s house, for example, with no one but himself to defend
it. There’s no safety for anyone until, he is under lock and key ».
« He’ll break into no house, sir. I give you my solemn word upon
that. And he will never trouble anyone in this country again. I assure
you. Sir Henry, that in a very few days the necessary arrangements
will have been made and he will be on his way to South America. For
God’s sake, sir, I beg of you not to let the police know that he is still
93
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
assabentar la polícia de que Selden es encoèra hentz la
lana.
— De qué ne’n dísetz, Watson ?
Que haucèi las espallas.
— Se quita vertadeirament lo país, acò qu’estauviarà
sòus sus las talhas de’us qui las pàgann.
— Mès se s’i escadèva que s’ataquèssi a quauqu’un
davant que se n’anossi !
— Ne haré pas quauquarré de tan hòu, senhe. Que l’am
aprovedit dab tot çò qui li podèva har besonh. Cométer
un crimi que seré muixar lo lòc ond s’escond.
— Acò qu’es vertat, ce dixó En Henry. E bé, Barry-
more...
— Diu vos benedissi, Senhe, e que’vs mercegi deu honds
deu còr ! Acò qu’auré tuat la mia hemna se se l’avèvann
tornat gahar.
— Se’m par, qu’èm a ajudar un criminau, Watson ?
Mès, après çò qui am entenut, n’aubiri pas que nse
n’aniram denonciar l’òmi. Donc que n’acabaram atau.
Hòrt plan, Barrymore qu’i pòdetz anar...
L’òmi que mequegè quauques mots mei de gratitud
davant de partir mès que tastuquejava e fin finau que
s’arrevirè.
— Qu’ètz estat tan bon dab nosatis, senhe, que m’agra-
daré de’vs poder har las tornas. Que sèi quauquarré, En
on the moor. They have given up the chase there, and he can lie quiet
until the ship is ready for him. You can’t tell on him, without getting
my wife and me into trouble. I beg you, sir, to say nothing to the poli-
ce ».
« What do you say, Watson ? »
I shrugged my shoulders. « If he were safely out of the country it
would relieve the taxpayer of a burden ».
« But how about the chance of his holding someone up before he
goes ? »
« He would not do anything, so mad, sir. We have provided him
with all that he can want. To commit a crime would be to show where
he was hiding ».
« That is true, » said Sir Henry. « Well, Barrymore - »
« God bless you, sir, and thank you from my heart ! It would have
killed my poor wife had he been taken again ».
« I guess we are aiding and abetting a felony, Watson ? But, after
what we have heard, I don’t feel as if I could give the man up, so there
is an end of it. All right, Barrymore, you can go ».
With a few broken words of gratitude the man turned, but he
hesitated and then came back.
« You’ve been so kind to us, sir, that I should like to do the best
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Henry, e belèu qu’at aurí divut diser audavant, mès qu’estó
pausa après l’enquista qui trobèi acò. Ne’n parlèi pas jamei
en digun qu’estossi qui estossi. Que pertòca a la mòrt deu
praube En Charles.
Lo baronet e jo que’ns quilhèm d’un medix balanç.
— E sàbetz com s’es mòrt ?
— Nani, senhe, acò n’at sèi pas.
— E qué donc ?
— Que sèi perqué èra au portau ad aquesta òra : qu’èra
per encontrar ua hemna.
— Tà-d encontrar ua hemna ? Eth ?
— Ò-bé, senhe.
— E lo nom de la hemna ?
— Ne’vs poix pas balhar lo son nom, senhe, mès las soas
iniciaus que’vs las poix balhar. Que son L.L.
— Quinn sàbetz acò, Barrymore ?
— E bé, En Henry, lo vòste oncle que recebó ua letra
aqueth matin. Qu’avèva de costuma ua tropa de letras,
pr’amor qu’èra un òmi public e lo son bon còr qu’èra plan
coneixut, de mòdes que tots los qui avèvann un problèma
e’s viràvann entà-d eth. Mès aqueth matin s’escadó de que
n’i avèva pas qu’aquera letra soleta, e qu’i hadoi cas
pr’amor de ’cò. Qu’èra estada postada de Coombe Tracey
e l’adreça qu’èra de la man d’ua hemna.
I can for you in return. I know something. Sir Henry, and perhaps
I should have said it before, but it was long after the inquest that
I found it out. I’ve never breathed a word about it yet to a mortal
man. It’s about poor Sir Charles’s death ».
The baronet and I were both upon our feet.
« Do you know how he died ? »
« No, sir, I don’t know that ».
« What, then ? »
« I know why he was at the gate at that hour. It was to meet a wo-
man ».
« To meet a woman! He ? »
« Yes, sir ».
« And the woman’s name ? »
« I can’t give you the name, sir, but I can give you the initials. Her
initials were L.L ».
« How do you know this, Barrymore ? »
« Well, Sir Henry, your uncle had a letter that morning. He had
usually a great many letters, for he was a public man and well known
for his kind heart, so that everyone who was in trouble was glad to
turn to him. But that morning, as it chanced, there was only this one
letter, so I took the more notice of it. It was from Coombe Tracey,
94
— E alavetz ?
— E donc, senhe, n’i pensèi pas mei e jamei n’i aurí
pas mei pensat xentz la mia hemna. Quauquas semma-
nas-a, qu’èra a netejar lo burèu de’N Charles – n’i
avèvann pas tocat desempuix qui s’èra mòrt – e que trobè
las cendras d’ua letra cramada, darrèir la grasilha. La
mage part que n’èra esbrigalhada mès un tròç petit, la fin
d’ua paja, que sobrava e çò d’escriut qu’èra encoèra legider
a maugrat d’estar en gris sus honds néguer. Que’ns semblè
de qu’èra un post-scriptum, a la fin de la letra e que disè-
va : « Xentz de’vs comandar, s’ètz un gentilòmi,
cramatz aquera letra e síitz au portau de cap a dètz òras
deu desser. », e a costat qu’èra signat de las iniciaus L.L.
— E l’atz conservat, aqueth tròç de papèir ?
— Nani, senhe, que’s virè tà proba qüand lo mudèm.
— E n’auré recebut d’autas d’aquesta medixa escritura,
En Charles ?
— E bé, senhe, n’èi pas jamei hèit cas a las soas letras.
N’aurí pas arremarcat aquera se ne s’èra pas escadut qu’ar-
ribèssi soleta.
— E n’atz pas nada idèia de quau pòt estar L.L. ?
— Nani senhe. Pas mei que vos. Mès se’m par que, se
podèvam botar la man sus aquera dauna, ne’n saurem mei
a prepaus de la mòrt de’N Charles.
and it was addressed in a woman’s hand ».
« Well ? »
« Well, sir, I thought no more of the matter, and never would have
done had it not been for my wife. Only a few weeks ago she was
cleaning out Sir Charles’s study - it had never been touched since
his death - and she found the ashes of a burned letter in the back
of the grate. The greater part of it was charred to pieces, but one little
slip, the end of a page, hung together, and the writing could still be
read, though it was grey on a black ground. It seemed to us to be
a postscript at the end of the letter, and it said : « Please, please,
as you are a gentleman, burn this letter, and be at the gate by ten
o’clock.» Beneath it were signed the initials L.L ».
« Have you got that slip ? »
« No, sir, it crumbled all to bits after we moved it ».
« Had Sir Charles received any other letters in the same wri-
ting ? »
« Well, sir, I took no particular notice of his letters. I should not
have-noticed this one only it happened to come alone ».
« And you have no idea who L.L. is ? »
« No, sir. No more than you have. But I expect if we could lay our

— Ne poix pas compréner, Barrymore, com n’ètz vingut
a escóner ua informacion tant importenta.
— E bé senhe, qu’èra de-tira après que comencènn los
nòstes pròpis trabucs. E puix qu’i torni, mès qu’èram tots
dus hòrt estacats a’N Charles qüand consideram tot çò qui
hadó entà nosatIs. Tirar a lutz aquerò ne seré pas de nada
ajuda au nòste mèste lo praube, e mei, que cau prudentejar
qüand ua dauna es en causa. Lo quite milhor de nosatis...
— Be pensètz acò que podèva negrejar la soa reputa-
cion ?
— E bé, senhe, que’m pensèi arré de bon ne podèva pas
viéner d’aquerò. Mès com ètz estat bon entà nosatis, que’m
pensèi de que ne seré pas leiau de la mia part de no pas
dise’vs tot çò qui sèi sus aqueth ahar.
— Hòrt plan, Barrymore, qu’i pòdetz anar.
Qüand lo mèste d’ostalaria e’ns avó deixats, En Hen-
ry s’arrevirè de cap a jo.
— E bé, Watson, de qué pénsatz d’aquera lutz navè-
ra ?
— Que’m sembla de que’ns hè mei nega l’escuranha que
no pas davant.
— At crei tabé. Mès s’arribàvam a tornar gahar lo tralh
de L.L., l’ahar tot sancèr que seré tirat a lutz. Qu’am au
mentz ganhat acò. Que sàbem adara que i a ua hemna
qui coneix las hèitas, se per cas ns’i escàdem a la tornat
hands upon that lady we should know more about Sir Charles’s
death ».
« I cannot understand, Barrymore, how you came to conceal this
important information ».
« Well, sir, it was immediately after that our own trouble came to
us. And then again, sir, we were both of us very fond of Sir Charles,
as we well might be considering all that he has done for us. To rake
this up couldn’t help our poor master, and it’s well to go carefully
when there’s a lady in the case. Even the best of us - »
« You thought it might injure his reputation ? »
« Well, sir, I thought no good could come of it. But now you have
been kind to. us, and I feel as if it would be treating you unfairly not
to tell you all that I know about the matter ».
« Very good, Barrymore; you can go ».
When the butler had left us, Sir Henry turned to me.
« Well Watson, what do you think of this new light ? »
« It seems to leave the darkness rather blacker than before ».
« So I think. But if we can only trace L.L. it should clear up the whole
business. We have gained that much. We know that there is someone
95
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
trobar. De qué crédetz que dévem har ?
— Hètz-at assàber a Holmes de-tira. Acò que li balharà
l’indici après loquau e cèrca. Que serí beròi mocat s’acò
nes l’avia pas per ’qui.
Que pugèi còp-sec entà la mia cramba e que redigii
lo rapòrt de la convèrsa deu matiau entà Holmes.
Qu’èra clar que Holmes èra estat hòrt encoentat aqueths
darrèirs temps, pr’amor las nòtas que recebèvi de
Basker Street qu’èran de las rialas e de las bracas xentz
nat comentari rapòrt a las informacions qu’avèvi horni-
das e ni mei nada referéncia rapòrt a la mission que
miavi. Xentz nat dotte, l’ahar de letras anonimas que
li absorbava totas las soas facultats. Mès solide qu’aqueth
hèit navèth engaharà la soa atencion e arrevitarà lo son
interés. Que m’agradaré hòrt de qu’estossi aquí.
17 d’octobe — Tot lo long deu jorn ne bacsè pas
de plàver, e riulejar sus la gèira, e chotejar suus taixs.
Que cutèi au forçat qui èra dahòra capvath la lana,
nega, hreda e arrebohièca. Praube d’eth ! Qu’estóssinn
çò qui estóssinn los sos crimis, que n’a patit de tant
qu’acò los amenudeix. E alavetz que pensèi en-d aqueth
aute gus : la careta de dehentz lo cab, lo tastuc deu clar
de lua. Èra eth tabé dahòra, devath aqueth deluvi : lo
nhau invesible, l’òmi de l’escurada ? Au desser, que’m
vestii l’impermeable e que m’anoi passejar capvath la
who has the facts if we can only find her. What do you think we should
do ? »
« Let Holmes know all about it at once. It will give him the clue for
which he has been seeking. I am much mistaken if it does not bring
him down ».
I went at once to my room and drew up my report of the morning’s
conversation for Holmes. It was evident to me that he had been very
busy of late, for the notes which I had from Baker Street were few and
short, with no comments upon the information which I had supplied,
and hardly any reference to my mission. No doubt his blackmailing
case is absorbing all his faculties. And yet this new factor must surely
arrest his attention and renew his interest. I wish that he were here.
October 17th - All day today the rain poured down, rustling on the
ivy and dripping from the eaves. I thought of the convict out upon
the bleak, cold, shelterless moor. Poor fellow ! Whatever his crimes,
he has suffered something to atone for them. And then I thought of
that other one - the face in the cab, the figure against the moon. Was
he also out in that deluge - the unseen watcher, the man of dark-
ness ? In the evening I put on my waterproof and I walked far upon
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
lana trempa, loenh en davant, en bèth arromerar de
negas perpensadas mentra la pluja que’m riulejava per
la cara e que lo vent e’m xiulava a las aurelhas. E podossi
Diu ajudar los qui’s serenn descaminats per lo Hanhèir
Grand adara que las quítias tèrras fremas e’s vírann en
marescs. Que trobèi lo “Tor” Néguer suu quau avèvi
apercebut lo nhau solitari e, deu som d’aqueste serròt
avant, que hadoi córrer l’oelh, jo tabé, de cap a las ser-
radas mornejantas. La ploja que’n batèva oblicament
los penents rossèus, e crums deus pesucs, de’us qui per-
digàlhann, que s’estorceligàvann baix capsús los relheus,
en tot arrosegar ua mena d’eixarpas longassas au flanc
de sèrras fantasticas. Dentz ua leta a l’enlà-hòra, a man
esquèrra, estujadas a mitat per la bruma, las duas
torretas de Baskerville Hall que salhívann en dessús
deus aubres. Qu’èrann los tralhs solets de l’existéncia
umana qui podèvi destriar, lhevat los cabans preistorics
qui’s sarràvann suus penents de las sèrras. En nat lòc
n’i avèva pas tralh d’aqueth gent solitari qui avèvi vist
en aqueth medix indret, duas noeits-a.
Com me’n tornavi, qu’estoi ratrapat preu Doctor
Mortimer qui miava lo son carriòt suu camin enclotat
qui partiva de la bòrda estremada de Foulmire. Que
s’èra hòrt aucupat de nosatis e ne’s passava pas un jorn
the sodden moor, full of dark imaginings, the rain beating upon my
face and the wind whistling about my ears. God help those who
wander into the Great Mire now, for even the firm uplands are
becoming a morass. I found the Black Tor upon which I had seen
the solitary watcher, and from its craggy summit I looked out myself
across the melancholy downs. Rain squalls drifted across their
russet face, and the heavy, slate-coloured clouds hung low over the
landscape, trailing in grey wreaths down the sides of the fantastic
hills. In the distant hollow on the left, half hidden by the mist, the
two thin towers of Baskerville Hall rose above the trees. They were
the only signs of human life which I could see, save only those
prehistoric huts which lay thickly upon the slopes of the hills.
Nowhere was there any trace of that lonely man whom I had seen on
the same spot two nights before.
As I walked back I was overtaken by Dr Mortimer driving in his
dog-cart over a rough moorland track, which led from the outlying
farmhouse of Foulmire. He has been very attentive to us, and hardly
a day has passed that he has not called at the Hall to see how we
were getting on. He insisted upon my climbing into his dog-cart and
he gave me a lift homewards. I found him much troubled over the
96
xentz que vienossi au Hall per tant de véder se’ns
portàvann plan. Qu’insistí entà que montèssi dehentz
lo son carriòt çò qui m’abrivaré la caminada entà nòste.
Que’u trobèi hòrt destorbat de la desapareixuda deu
son chicòi espanhèu petit. Que s’èra anat passejar
hentz la lana e n’èra pas jamei tornat. Qu’assagèi de
l’aconortar tant com podoi e, egau, que’m brembavi
lo xibalòt au Hanhèir de Grimpen e m’auré estonat que
tornèssi véder lo son canhòt.
— Tè, Mortimer, ce dixoi mentra que sauticàvam suu
caminàs, gadgi que i a chic de gents d’aqueth país a
l’entorn qui ne conéixetz pas.
— Gadgi que n’i a pas nat.
— E’m pòdetz díser alavetz lo nom de las hemnas que
las loas iniciaus e serenn L.L. ?
Que perpensè ua pausa.
— No, ce dixó. Que i a quauques bohèmis e jornadèirs
suus quaus ne poix pas arrespóner, mès per demiei los
paisans o los proprietaris ne n’i a pas nat que las loas
iniciaus e síinn L.L. Esperatz un chic, totun, ce horní au
cap d’ua pausa. Que i a Laura Lyons — las soas iniciaus
que son L.L. — mès que damòra a Coombe Tracey.
— Quau es aquera ? ce domandèi.
— Qu’es la sòr de Frankland.
— De qui ? Lo vielh Frankland, lo pèc ?
disappearance of his little spaniel. It had wandered on to the moor
and had never come back. I gave him such consolation as I might,
but I thought of the pony on the Grimpen Mire, and I do not fancy
that he will see his little dog again.
« By the way, Mortimer, » said I, as we jolted along the rough road,
« I suppose there are few people living within driving distance of this
whom you do not know ? »
« Hardly any, I think ».
« Can you, then, tell me the name of any woman whose initials
areL.L. ? »
He thought for a few minutes.
« No, » said he. « There are a few gipsies and labouring folk for whom
I can’t answer, but among the farmers or gentry there is no one whose
initials are those. Wait a bit, though, » he added, after a pause.
« There is Laura Lyons - her initials are L.L. - but she lives in Coombe
Tracey ».
« Who is she ? » I asked.
« She is Frankland’s daughter ».
« What ? Old Frankland the crank ? »

— Exactament. Qu’es maridè dab un artista qui s’apera-
va Lyons qui èra vingut per ’quí tà har esquissas. Que’s
muixè un lèd creat e que l’abandonè, a-d era. Mès la fauta,
a çò qui’s ditz, ne seré pas estada sancerament de la soa
part, a-d eth. Lo pair d’era qu’arrefusè d’aver a har qué
que sii dab era pr’amor que s’èra maridada xentz lo son
consentament e mei per duas o tres autas rasons autaplan.
Tabé, enter dus pecaires, lo vielh e lo joenn, la gojata ne
se l’a pas passada bèra.
— E com viu, era ?
— Gadgi que lo vielh Frankland li da egau ua renda,
de las chicòias pr’amor los sos ahars que vann pro mau.
Qué que meritè era, ne la podèvann pas deixar virar mau,
xentz nat espèrr. Lo son ahar que’s sabó e mantuas personas
deu parçan que hadonn çò qui calèva entà li perméter de’s
poder ganhar aunestament la vita. Stapleton que participè,
En Charles tabé, e jo tabé qu’èi balhat la cotisa. Qu’èra
pr’amor de l’ajudar a har la dactilografa.
Que voló saber la rason de las mias questions mès m’i
escadoi a assadorar lo son curiosèr xentz de li’n díser
de tròp, pr’amor n’i a pas nada necessitat de botar qui
qui sii hentz la confidéncia. Doman matin que m’aviarèi
entà Coombe Tracey e se poix encontrar Mrs Laura
Lyons, la damisèla de la reputacion dottosa, un pas
deus bèths que serà estat hèit per tant d’esclarir un deus
« Exactly. She married an artist named Lyons, who came sket-
ching on the moor. He proved to be a blackguard and deserted her.
The fault, from what I hear, may not have been entirely on one side.
Her father refused to have anything to do with her, because she had
married without his consent, and perhaps for one or two other
reasons as well. So, between the old sinner and the young one the
girl has had a pretty bad time ».
« How does she live ? »
« I fancy old Frankland allows her a pittance, but it cannot be
more, for his own affairs are considerably involved. Whatever she
may have deserved, one could not allow her to go hopelessly to the
bad. Her story got about, and several of the people here did
something to enable her to earn an honest living. Stapleton did for
one, and Sir Charles for another. I gave a trifle myself. It was to set
her up in a typewriting business ».
He wanted to know the object of my inquiries, but I managed to
satisfy his curiosity without telling him too much, for there is no
reason why we should take anyone into olir confidence. Tomorrow
morning I shall find my way to Coombe Tracey, and if I can see this
Mrs Laura Lyons, of equivocal reputation, a long step will have been
97
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
aubaris d’aquera longa corriòla de mistèris. Solide, que
soi a desvolopar la saviessa de la sèrp, pr’amor, qüand
Mortimer e’m preixè tròp dab las soas questions, que
li domandèi a quau mena de cran apartienèva lo de
Frankland e atau n’entenoi pas a parlar d’auta causa
sonque de craniologia per lo çò d’aute deu viadge.
N’avèvi pas viscut desempuix anadas dab Sherlock
Holmes, per arré.
Que’m cau mentàver unhauta hèita rapòrt a-d aquera
jornada de tristèir e de ventenha. Qu’estó la convèrsa
qui èi avuda dab Barrymore adara, e qui’m balha un
atots suplementari qui jogarèi qüand sii temps.
Mortimer qu’èra damorat entau disnar e adarrond,
que hadonn a l’escartat tots dus dab lo baronet. Lo
mèste d’otalaria que’m portè lo cafè dentz la bibliotèca
e que’n profieitèi entà li pausar quauquas questions.
— E bé, ce dixoi, se n’es anat lo vòste tanhent tan ca-
rit ? O alavetz que rodeja encoèra capvath la lana ?
— Ne sèi pas, mossur. Que prèi lo cèu de que se n’es anat
p’amor ne’ns a portat pas que destroble per ’qui ! N’èi pas
avut novèras d’eth desempuix que li deixèi los viures lo
darrèir còp, que hè tres jorns adara.
— E lo tornètz véder desempuix ?
— Nani, mossur, mes los viures n’i èrann pas mei qüand
i tornèi lo jorn d’après.
made towards clearing one incident in this chain of mysteries. I am
certainly developing the wisdom of the serpent, for when Mortimer
pressed his questions to an inconvenient extent I asked him casually
to what type Frankland’s skull belonged, and so heard nothing but
craniology for the rest of our drive. I have not lived for years with
Sherlock Holmes for nothing.
I have only one other incident to record upon this tempestuous
and melancholy day. This was my conversation with Barrymore just
now, which gives me one more strong card which I can play in due
time.
Mortimer had stayed to dinner, and he and the baronet played
ecarte afterwards. The butler brought me my coffee into the library,
and I took the chance to ask him a few questions.
« Well, » said I, « has this precious relation of yours departed, or
is he still lurking out yonder ? »
« I don’t know, sir. I hope to Heaven that he has gone, for he has
brought nothing but trouble here ! I’ve not heard of him since I left
out food for him last, and that was three days ago ».
« Did you see him then ? »
« No, sir ; but the food was gone when next I went that way ».
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— Donc qu’i èra de-segur ?
— At pòdetz pensar atau, mossur, a mentz qu’estossi
l’aute gent qui se’us arrecaptè.
Qu’estanquèi la taça a miei-camin deus mens pòts
e que guinhèi Barrymore.
— Alavetz que sàbetz de que i a unhaute gent ?
— Ò-bé, mossur, que i a unhaute òmi hentz la lana.
— E l’atz vist ?
— Nani, mossur.
— E com n’ètz donc assabentat ?
— Qu’es Selden qui me’n parlè, ua semmana-a o mei
belèu. Que s’estuja tabé mès n’es pas un forçat autant que’n
posqui conéixer. Ne m’agrada pas tot acò, Dr Watson, qu’a
dic tot net, mossur, ne m’agrada pas briga.
Que parlava tot d’un còp dab un seriosèr deus bèths.
— Adara escotatz-me, Barrymore ! N’èi pas nat interés
en aqueth ahar sonque lo deu vòste mèste. Que soi vingut
ací dab ua visada unenca qui es la de l’ajudar. Alavetz
disetz-me francament çò qui es qui no’vs agrada !
Que tastuquegè ua pausa lo Barrymore com qui auré
arregretat d’aver parlat de tròp o com qui’s cercaré los
mots entà descríver de-plan las soas sentidas.
— Tots aqueths passejadís, mossur, c’esclamè a la fin,
en tot har anar las mans de cap a la frinèsta pèirabatuda
de ploja qui dava entà la lana. Manipòlis que n’i a per
« Then he was certainly there ? »
« So you would think, sir, unless it was the other man who took
it ».
I sat with my coffee-cup half-way to my lips, and stared at
Barrymore.
« You know that there is another man, then ? »
« Yes, sir ; there is another man upon the moor ».
« Have you seen him ? »
« No, sir ».
« How do you know of him, then ? »
« Selden told me of him, sir, a week ago or more. He’s in hiding,
too, but he’s not a convict, so far as I can make out. I don’t like it,
Dr Watson - I tell you straight, sir, that I don’t like it ».
He spoke with a sudden passion of earnestness.
« Now, listen to me, Barrymore ! I have no interest in this matter
but that of your master. I have come here with no object except to
help him. Tell me, frankly, what it is that you don’t like ».
Barrymore hesitated for a moment, as if he regretted his outburst,
or found it difficult to express his own feelings in words.
« It’s all these goings-on, sir, » he cried, at last, waving his hand
towards the rain-lashed window which faced the moor.
98
’qui e maixantèr tabé qui rodeja ; acò qu’at jurarèi ! Hòrt
urós que serèi, mossur, qüand En Henry e se’n torni entà
Londras !
— Mès qu’es çò qui’vs dà chepic atau ?
— Espiatz la mòrt de’N Charles ! Qu’èra pro esquèrr
a maugrat de çò que’n dixó lo coroner. Espiatz aqueths
bruits hentz la lana qüand noeiteja. Ne i a pas digun que
la volhi travessar après sombrusta quitament se’u pagàvann
per at har. Espiatz aqueth estrangèir qui s’estuja alahòra
e qui espèra e qui hè córrer l’oelh ! Qu’es çò qui espèra
aquí ? Qu’es çò qui vòu díser ? Ne vòu pas díser arré de
bon entà’u qui pòrta lo nom de Baskerville, e hòrt de gai
que’m harà de desquitar tot acò lo jorn qui los navèths
serviciaus de’N Henry e síinn parats entà s’encargar de la
Mansa.
— Mès rapòrt ad aqueth estrangèir, ce dixoi. E’m pò-
detz assabentar mei ? Çò que’n dixó Selden ? E sabó, fin
finau, quau èra aqueth o quau ahar l’enquehariva
aquí ?
— Que l’encontrè un o dus còps, mès n’es pas un lengut,
ne’s cohessa pas briga. Permèir, que credó de qu’èra de la
polícia mès lèu que s’apercebó de qu’aqueth gent avèva
d’autas coentas. Ua mena de gentilòmi qu’èra, autant com
ne’n podó judjar, mès çò qui hadèva n’at podó pas saber.
« There’s foul play somewhere, and there’s black villainy brewing,
to that I’ll swear ! Very glad I should be, sir, to see Sir Henry on his
way back to London again ! »
« But what is it that alarms you ? »
« Look at Sir Charles’s death ! That was bad enough, for all that
the coroner said. Look at the noises on the moor at night. There’s
not a man would cross it after sundown if he was paid for it. Look
at this stranger hiding out yonder, and watching and waiting !
What’s he waiting for ? What does it mean ? It means no good to
anyone of the name of Baskerville, and very glad I shall be to be quit
of it all on the day that Sir Henry’s new servants are ready to take
over the Hall ».
« But about this stranger, » said I. « Can you tell me anything about
him ? What did Selden say ? Did he find out where he hid or what
he was doing ? »
« He saw him once or twice, but he is a deep one and nothing away.
At first he thought that he was the police, but soon he found that
he had some lay of his own. A kind of gentleman he was, as fir as he
could see, but what he was doing he could not make out ».
« And where did he say that he lived ? »

— E ond a dit que vivèva ?
— Dehentz los ostaus vielhs per la sèrra, los cabans
de pèira que las poblacions vielhas i damoràvann
d’autescòps.
— E çò qui pertòca au minjar ?
— Selden que trobè qu’avèva au son servici un còixe qui
li pòrta tot çò qui li hè besonh. Que crei que va a Coombe
Tracy per tant de s’i har las crompas.
— Qu’es hòrt plan, Barrymore. Que tornaram parlar
de tot acò unhaute còp.
Qüand estó partit lo mèste d’ostalaria, que’m hadoi
pròixe la frinèsta negrejanta e qu’espièi, a travèrs de la
« Among the old houses on the hillside - the stone huts where the
old folk used to live ».
« But how about his food ? »
« Selden found out that he has got a lad who works for him and
brings him all he needs. I dare say he goes to Coombe Tracey for what
he wants ».
« Very good, Barrymore. We may talk further of this some other
time ».
When the butler had gone I walked over to the black window, and
99
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
vitra embrumada, de cap aus crums corrents e aus tas-
tucs deus aubres hombejant au vent. Qu’èra ua noeit
maixanta au dehentz, e çò que’n divèva estar hentz un
caban de pèira sus la lana ?
Quau mena d’òdi e pòt demiar un òmi a s’escóner
en un lòc atau en un moment atau ? E quaus èrann
las rasons pregondas e imperiosas qui’u hadèva patir
espravas d’aquiras ? Alahòra, en aqueth caban sus la
lana, que semblava estar lo còr de l’ahar qui n’èri de
tant turmentat. Que juri de que no’s passarà pas un
jorn mei que n’agi pas hèit lo diu e lo diable entà
perviéner còr-hentz aqueth mistèri.
I looked through a blurred pane at the driving clouds and at the
tossing outline of the windswept trees. It is a wild night indoors, and
what must it be in a stone hut upon the moor ? What passion of hatred
can it be which leads a man to lurk in such a place at such a ti-
me ? And what deep and earnest purpose can he have which calls
for such a trial ? There, in that hut upon the moor, seems to lie the
very centre of that problem which has vexed me so sorely. I swear
that another day shall not have passed before I have done all that
man can do to reach the heart of the mystery.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
L’òmi dessús la tucòla
Capítou Onzau
L
os tròç tirats deu men jornau personau qui hènn
lo capítou precedent qu’ann miat lo raconte
dinc’au 18 d’octobe, tempsada qui aquiths
eveniments esquèrrs e comencènn toixau a’s virar de
cap a la tarribla conclusion. Los auvaris deus jorns
seguents que sonn indelebilament engravats hentz la
mia memòria e que’us poix condar xentz de’m refererir
a las nòtas qui prenoi d’aqueth temps. Que comenci
donc de l’endoman deu jorn qui m’i escadoi a assolodir
duas hèitas d’importéncia : la permèira que Mrs Laura
Lyons de Coombe Tracy qu’avèva escriut a’N Charles
Baskerville, entà l’encontrar au quiti lòc e a la quítia
òra qüand la mòrt se l’emportè ; la segonda que l’òmi
qui s’esconèva sus la lana qu’èra a cercar per demiei los
cabans de pèira de la sèrra. Dab aquera duas hèitas
sabudas, cutii que se n’arribavi pas a botar un chic de
lutz sus aqueths dus plaps escuranhós, acò qu’amuixaré
ua hrèita d’intelligéncia o de coradge de la mia part.
N’avoi pas nada escadença d’assabentar lo baronet
de çò qui avèvi aprés sus Mrs Lyons asser ; pr’amor lo
Dr Mortimer qu’èra damorat dab eth a har a las cartas
dinc a tard hentz la noeit. Mès qüand estom a esdejuar,
que l’informèi egau rapòrt a çò qui avèvi descobèrt e
li domandèi se’m volèva acompanhar entà Coombe
11 — The Man on the Tor
The extract from my private diary which forms the last chapter has
brought my narrative up to the 18th of October, a time when these
strange events began to move swiftly towards their terrible conclusion.
The incidents of the next few days are indelibly graven upon my
recollection, and I can tell them without reference to the notes made
at the time. I start, then, from the day which succeeded that upon
which I had established two facts of great importance, the one that
Mrs Laura Lyons of Coombe Tracey had written to Sir Charles
Baskerville and made an appointment with him at the very place and
hour that he met his death, the other that the lurking man upon the
moor was to be found among the stone huts upon the hillside. With
these two facts in my possession I felt that either my intelligence or
my courage must be deficient if I could not throw some further light
upon these dark places.
I had no opportunity to tell the baronet what I had learned about
Mrs Lyons upon the evening before, for Dr Mortimer remained with
him at cards until it was very late. At breakfast, however, I informed
him about my discovery, and asked him whether he would care to
100
Tracey. Permèir, que dixó de que quiò entà-d anà’i
puix, en un segond temps, que’ns pareixó a tots dus
de que, se i anavi solet, los resultats e’n serenn belèu
milhors. Tant mei oficiau e seré la nòsta vesita, tant
mentz d’infor-macions qu’obtienerem. Que deixèi
donc En Henry, a maugrat de quauque chepic de
consciéncia e que m’avièi de cap a la mia navèra
enquista.
Qüand arribèi a Coombe Tracey que domandèi a
Perkins de miar los xibaus a’s pausar e me m’anoi en
cèrca de la qui èri vinguda a vesitar. N’avoi pas nat
trabuc entà trobar lo son alòdge qui èra beròi adobat
e situït dentz lo centre deu borg. Ua goja que’m hadó
hentrar xentz ceremonia e, com penetravi dehentz lo
salon, ua dauna qui èra seitada davant ua maquina
d’escríver Remington que’s lhevé tot sobte dab un
sorríder amistós de planvinguda. Mès la soa cara,
totun, que virè seriosa qüand s’apercebó de qu’èri un
estrangèir, e que’s tornè seitar e’m domandè quau èra
l’encausa de la mia vesita.
La permèira impression deixada per Mrs Lyons qu’èra
la d’ua beutat de las gences. Los sos oelhs e los sos peus
qu’èrann de la medixa estiglanta color castanh, las soas
gautas, per estar tot pigassudas, qu’avèvann la carnacion
requista de las brunas, un rosat delicat tau com n’es
accompany me to Coombe Tracey. At first he was very eager to come,
but on second thoughts it seemed to both of us that if I went alone
the results might be better. The more formal we made the visit the
less information we might obtain. I left Sir Henry behind, therefore,
not without some prickings of conscience, and drove off upon my
new quest.
When I reached Coombe Tracey I told Perkins to put up the horses,
and I made inquiries for the lady whom I had come to interrogate.
I had no difficulty in finding her rooms, which were central and well
appointed. A maid showed me in without ceremony, and as I entered
the sitting-room a lady who was sitting before a Remington typewriter
sprang up with a pleasant smile of welcome. Her face fell, however,
when she saw that I was a stranger, and she sat down again and
asked me the object of my visit.
The first impression left by Mrs Lyons was one of extreme beauty.
Her eyes and hair were of the same rich hazel colour, and her cheeks,
though considerably freckled, were flushed with the exquisite bloom
of the brunette, the dainty pink which lurks at the heart of the sulphur

lo còr de las arròsas sofras. At torni díser : la permèira
impression qu’èra de beutat sancèra. Mès la segonda
qu’èra meilèu de critica. Que i avèva quauquarré qui
subtivament ne s’avienèva pas per la cara, ua cèrta
vulgaritat dentz l’espression, ua mena de duretat dentz
l’espiada belèu, ua esloixada deus pòts, tot acò qu’ache-
quiva lo perfèit de la soa beror. Mès qu’èrann, de-segur,
percepcions de las perpensadas. A-d aqueth moment
qu’èri tot simplament conscient d’estar en preséncia
d’ua hemna hòrt beròia e laquau èra a domandà’m
l’encausa de la mia vesita. N’avèvi pas complètement
comprés dinc a-d aqueth moment qüant delicatèu e
serè l’ahar aqueste.
— Qu’èi avut lo plaser, ce dixoi, de conéixer lo vòste
pair.
Qu’èra entamiar la convèrsa de la manèira mei pegòta
qui estossi e la dauna m’at hadó conéixer.
— N’i a pas mei nat ligami enter lo pair e jo, ç’arrebe-
què. Ne li devi pas arré e los sos amics ne sonn pas deus
mens. Se n’èra pas estat lo praube En Charles Baskerville
e mei, quauques autes còrs compatissents qu’aurí podut
crebar xentz de que lo pair se’n chautèssi.
— Qu’èra pr’amor deu praube En Charles Baskerville
que v’èri vinguda véder.
Las pigassas que s’en.halhènn per la soa cara.
rose. Admiration was, I repeat, the first impression. But the second
was criticism. There was something subtly wrong with the face, some
coarseness of expression, some hardness, perhaps, of eye, some
looseness of lip which marred its perfect beauty. But these, of course,
are afterthoughts. At the moment I was simply conscious that I was
in the presence of a very handsome woman, and that she was asking
me the reasons for my visit. I had not quite understood until that
instant how delicate my mission was.
« I have the pleasure, » said I, « of knowing your father ».
It was a clumsy introduction, and the lady made me feel it.
« There is nothing in common between my father and me, » she said.
« I owe him nothing, and his friends are not mine. If it were not for
the late Sir Charies Baskerville and some other kind hearts I
nughthave starved for all that my father cared ».
« It was about the late Sir Charles Baskerville that I have come here
to see you ».
The freckles started out on the lady’s face.
« What can I tell you about him ? » she asked, and her fingers played
101
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— Çò que’vs poix díser sus eth ? ce domandè en tot
toquilhar nerviosament las tocas de la maquina d’es-
críver.
— E’u coneixèvatz, vertat ?
— Que vieni de’vs díser de qu’avèvi ua grand reconeixen-
ça de cap a-d eth pr’amor, se’m poix ganhar la vita a l’òra
d’ara, qu’es per ua grand part mercés a l’interés qui prenó
eth dentz la mala situacion qui èra la mia alavetz.
— E corresponèvatz dab eth ?
La dauna qu’arrequilhè lo cap, e ua lutzor de malícia
que lugranegè dehentz los sos oelhs castanh.
— Quau es la tòca d’aqueras questions ? ce domandè
secament.
— La tòca que n’es d’esvitar un escandale public. Qu’es
mielhe que’vs pausi aquiras aquí que no pas l’ahar e passi
en dahòra deu nòste contaròlle.
Era que hadèva chit, e panla que vadó la soa cara. Fin
finau que lhevè lo cap dab un peixic de hargardèr e de
desfidada.
— E bé, que’vs responerèi, ce dixó. Quaus sonn las vòstas
questions ?
— Atz avut ua correspondéncia dab En Charles ?
— Que li escrivoi de-segur un o dus còps entà’u mercejar
de la soa generositat e de la soa delicatessa.
— Las datas d’aqueras letras, las sàbetz ?
nervously over the stops of her typewriter.
« You knew him, did you not ? »
I have already said that I owe a great deal to his kindness. If I am
able to support myself it is largely due to the interest which he took
in my unhappy situation ».
« Did you correspond with him ? »
The lady looked quickly up, with an angry gleam in her hazel eyes.
« What is the object of these questions ? » she asked sharply.
« The object is to avoid a public scandal. It is better that I should
ask them here than that the matter should pass outside our con-
trol ».
She was silent and her face was very pale. At last she looked up
with something reckless and defiant in her manner.
« Well, I’ll answer, » she said. « What are your questions ? »
« Did you correspond with Sir Charles ? »
« I certainly wrote to him once or twice to acknowledge his delicacy
and his generosity ».
« Have you the dates of those letters ? »
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— No.
— E s’escadó que l’encontrèssitz ?
— Ò-bé. Un còp o dus, qüand vienèva a Coombe
Tracey. Qu’èra un òmi hòrt retrèit e qu’estimava mei har
lo ben a l’estujat.
— Mès se lo vedèvatz e se li escrivèvatz tan rialament,
com ne’n podèva eth saber pro suus vòstes ahars entà’vs
poder ajudar, com dísetz qu’at avèva hèit ?
Qu’estremè lo trabuc de la mia question dab aisidèr.
— Que i avèva mantuns gentilòmis qui èrann assa-
bentats de la mia trista istòria e que s’amassènn entà’m
har ajuda. Un qu’èra Mr Stapleton, un vesin e amic de’N
Charles. Qu’èra d’ua bontat de las granas e qu’estó pr’amor
d’eth que’N Charles estó avertit deus mens ahars.
Que sabèvi dijà que’N Charles Baskerville avèva
encargat Stapleton per mantuas escadencas de har lo
dinerèir, tabé çò qui condava la dauna que’m semblè
estar la vertat vertadèira.
— Qu’avèvatz escriut a’N Charles entà’u domandar un
rendetz-vos ? ce contunhèi.
Mrs Lyons que’s tornè esmalir.
— Vertat, mossur, acò qu’es ua question bèroi estra-
ordinària !
— Que me’n desencusaratz, mès que la vos torni pausar.
— Alavetz que’vs arresponi que no pas.
« No ».
« Have you ever met him ? »
« Yes, once or twice, when he came into Coombe Tracey. He was
a very retiring man, and he preferred to do good by stealth ».
« But if you saw him so seldom and wrote so seldom, how did he
know enough about your affairs to be able to help you, as you say
that he has done? »
She met my difficulty with the utmost readiness.
« There were several gentlemen who knew my sad history and
united to help me. One was Mr Stapleton, a neighbour and intimate
friend of Sir Charles. He was exceedingly kind, and it was through
him that Sir Charles learned about my affairs ».
I knew already that Sir Charles Baskerville had made Stapleton
his almoner upon several occasions, so the lady’s statement bore
the impress of truth upon it.
« Did you ever write to Sir Charles asking him to meet you? » I
continued.
Mrs Lyons flushed with anger again.
« Really, sir, this is a very extraordinary question ».
102
— E lo quiti jorn qui’s morí En Charles ?
Lo roi de la malícia que’s virè de la cara qui èra davant
jo en-per ua panlor mortau. Los sos pòts eixucs ne
pervienonn pas a prononciar lo “nani” qui vedoi mei
que l’entenoi.
— La vòsta memòria que va mau, ce dixoi. Que’vs poix
quitament citar un tròç de la vòsta letra, atau que
n’èra : « Que ve’n prèi, s’ètz un gentilòmi, cramatz
aquera letra e siitz pròixe lo cledon a 10 òra deu des-
ser ».
Que credoi de que s’anava estavanir mès que s’arrega-
hè dentz un esfòrç deus bèths.
— Ne i a pas donc digun qui sii un gentilòmi ? ce
marmusè.
— Qu’ètz injusta entà’N Charles. Que cramè efeitiva-
ment la letra. Mès de-còps ua letra que pòt damorar
legedera tot medix s’es estada cramada. Que cohessatz donc
que l’atz escriuta ?
— Ò-bé que l’escrivoi, s’escridè en bèth solaciar
l’amna per un borrolh de paraulas. Ò-bé, que l’escrivoi.
Perqué at denegarèi ? N’èi pas nada rason de n’estar
envergonhida. Que desiravi eth que m’ajudèssi. Que credèvi
que, s’avèvi un entretienn dab eth, poirí comptar sus la
soa ajuda e donc que’u domandèi de l’encontrar.
— Mès perqué a un tau orari ?
« I am sorry, madam, but I must repeat it ».
« Then I answer - certainly not ».
« Not on the very day of Sir Charles’s death ? »
The flush had faded in an instant, and a deathly face was before
me. Her dry lips could not speak the « No » which I saw rather than
heard.
« Surely your memory deceives you, » said I. I could even quote a
passage of your letter. It ran "Please, please, as you are a gentleman
burn this letter, and be at the gate by ten o’clock." »
I thought that she had fainted, but she recovered herself by a
supreme effort. Is there no such thifig as a gentleman ? » she gasped.
« You do Sir Charles an injustice. He did burn the letter. But
sometimes a letter may be legible even when burned. You
acknowledge now that you wrote it ? »
« Yes, I did write it, » she cried, pouring out her soul in a torrent
of words. I did write it. Why should I deny it ? I have no reason to
be ashamed of it. I wished him to help me. I believed that if I had
an interview I could gain his help, so I asked him to meet me ».
« But why at such an hour ? »

— Pr’amor que vienèvi d’apréner que divèva partir entà
Londras lo lendoman e que seré de viadge per mesadas.
E que i avèva d’autas rasons qui’m hadèvann empach d’i
anar mei de-d’òra.
— Mès perqué un rendetz-vos dehentz lo jardin enlòc
d’ua vesita a la Mansa.
— E crédetz de qu’ua hemna e poiré anar soleta a-d
aquera òra dentz l’ostau d’un celibatari ?
— D’acòrdi ; e çò qui’s passè qüand anotz alahòra ?
— N’i anoi pas jamei.
— Mrs Lyons !
— Nani, que’vs juri sus tot çò qui m’es mei sacrat. N’i
anoi pas jamei. Quauquarré se passè qui hadó empach en-
tà qu’i anossi.
— E çò qui èra ?
— Rasons privadas. Ne ve’n poix pas parlar.
— Qu’arreconéixetz totun qu’avèvatz un rendetz-vos
dab En Charles a la quita òra e au quite lòc qui eth e s’i
encontrè la mòrt, mès que denégatz de qu’ètz anada en
aqueth rendetz-vos ?
— Qu’es vertat.
Que m’i hadoi entà li pausar questions adarrond,
jamei ne s’enganè pas demiei las responsas e se’n tingó
a çò qui m’avèva jurat.
— Mrs Lyons, ce dixoi en bèth lhevà’m de mòdes qui
« Because I had only just learned that he was going to London next
day and might be away for months. There were reasons why I could
not get there earlier ».
« But why a rendezvous in the garden instead of a visit to the
house ? »
« Do you think a woman could go alone at that hour to a bachelor’s
house ? »
« Well, what happened when you did get there ? »
« I never went ».
« Mrs Lyons ! »
« No, I swear it to you on all I hold sacred. I never went. Something
intervened to prevent my going ».
« What was that ? »
« That is a private matter. I cannot tell it ».
« You acknowledge then, that you made an appointment with Sir
Charles at the very hour and place at which he met his death, but
you deny that you kept the appointment ? »
« That is the truth ».
Again and again I cross-questioned her, but I could never get past
that point.
« Mrs Lyons, » said I, as I rose from this long and inconclusive
103
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
s’estanquèssi aquera prosejada longuèira e mauescaduda,
be prénetz atau ua grand responsabilitat e que’vs bótatz
vos-medixa en ua pausicion hòrt faussa en tot no pas voler
tirar a lutz tot çò qui sàbetz. Se’m cau aperar ajuda a la
polícia que sauratz qüant ètz seriosament comprometuda.
S’ètz vertadèirament inocenta, perqué aver tot permèir de-
negat de qu’avèvatz escriut a’N Charles a-d aquera da-
ta ?
— Pr’amor qu’avèvi pòur de que de faussas conclusions
n’estóssinn tiradas. E que jo-medixa e’m trobèssi mesclada
a un escandale.
— E perqué èratz tan pressada de que’N Charles e
hadossi perir aquera letra ?
— S’atz legit la letra, qu’at sàbetz.
— N’èi pas dit de qu’avèvi legit la letra sancèra.
— N’atz citat un tròç.
— Que citèi lo post-criptum. La letra qu’èra, com at
dixoi, estada brullada e tot n’i èra pas legeder. Que’m
domandi un còp mei perqué èratz tan pressada de véder
a’N Charles a har perir aquera letra qui recebó lo quite
jorn de la soa mòrt.
— L’ahar qu’es deus hòrt personaus.
— A mei hòrta rason entà-d esvitar ua enquista publica.
— Que v’at vau díser donc. S’ètz estat assabentat de la
interview, « you are taking avery great responsibility and putting
yourself in a very false position by not making an absolutely clean
breast of all that you know. If I have to call in the aid of the police
you will find how seriously you are compromised. If your position
is innocent, why did you in the first instance deny having written to
Sir Charles upon that date ? »
« Because I feared that some false conclusion might be drawn from
it, and that I might find myself involved in a scandal ».
« And why were you so pressing that Sir Charles should destroy
your letter ? »
« If you have read the letter you will know ».
« I did not say that I had read all the letter ».
« You quoted some of it ».
« I quoted the postscript. The letter had, as I said, been burned,
and it was not all legible. I ask you once again why it was that you
were so pressing that Sir Charles should destroy this letter which he
received on the day of his death ».
« The matter is a very private one ».
« The more reason why you should avoid a public investigation ».
« I will tell you, then. If you have heard anything of my unhappy
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
mia prauba istòria, que sàbetz de que’m maridèi en un
virat d’oelh e qu’avoi quauqua rason d’at arregretar.
— Ò-bé, que n’èi entenut a parlar.
— La mia vita qu’es estada ua turmentina incessanta
de la part d’un marit qui’m hè hasti. La lei qu’es deu son
costat e cada jorn que’s pòt escàder de que sii forçada de
tornar víver dab eth. Au moment qui escrivoi a ’N Charles,
qu’avèvi aprés de que poirí arregahar la mia libertat se’s
podèvann engadjar d’aubuns despenns. Acò que volèva tot
díser entà jo – tranquillitat d’esperit, bonurr, dignitat –
tot. Que coneixèvi la generositat de’N Charles e’m pensèi
que, s’entenèva l’istòria deus mens pròpis pòts, m’ajudaré
de-segur.
— Adonc com se hadó que n’i anóssitz pas ?
— Pr’amor que receboi ajuda d’unhauta hont.
— E perqué no pas escríver a’N Charles entà li dar
esplicas aquí dessús ?
— Que l’aurí hèit se n’avèvi pas vist de que s’èra mòrt
dentz lo jornau deu lendoman.
L’istòria de la hemna qu’èra pro cöerenta e totas la
mias questions ne l’avèvann pas destorbada. Que’m
caleré sonque contarollar que, deu temps d’aquera tra-
gedia, avèva vertadèirament lançat ua procedura de
desmaridadge contra lo son marit.
Qu’èra chic probable qu’avossi gausat díser de que
history you will know that I made a rash marriage and had reason
to regret it ».
« I have heard so much ».
« My life has been one incessant persecution from a husband whom
I abhor. The law is upon his side, and every day I am faced by the
possibility that he may force me to live with him. At the time that
I wrote this letter to Sir Charles I had learned that there was a
prospect of my regaining my freedom if certain expenses could be
met. It meant everything to me - peace of mind, happiness, self-
respect - everything. I knew Sir Charles’s generosity, and I thought
that if he heard the story from my own lips he would help me ».
« Then how is it that you did not go ? »
« Because I received help in the interval from another source ».
« Why. then, did you not write to Sir Charles and explain this ? »
« So I should have done had I not seen his death in the paper next
morning ».
The woman’s story hung coherently together and all my questions
were unable to shake it. I could only check it by finding if she had,
indeed, instituted divorce proceedings against her husband at or
about the time of the tragedy.
104
n’èra pas anada entà Baskerville Hall se i èra anada
efeitivament, pr’amor que li auré besonh ua veitura
entà la portar alahòra e ne seré podut tornar pas qu’a
las permèiras òras deu matin. Ua tau passejada ne seré
pas damorada esconuda. La probabilitat qu’èra que,
solide, disèva la vertat, o au mentz, ua part de la vertat.
Que tornèi d’aquí decebut e descorat. Un còp mei que
m’èri tumat tà-d aquesta paret qui semblava d’estar
apitada sus tots los camins qu’assagavi de gahar entà
plenhar la mission qui èra mia. Qu’èra egau : tant mei
e perpensavi a la cara de Mrs Lyons e a las soas manèiras,
tant mei e sentivi de que quauquarré e se m’èra estat
esconut. Perqué èra estada vaduda tan panla ? Perqué
s’èra arreganhada de tant permèir d’estar forçada d’at
cohessar tot ? Perqué èra estada tan retrèita au moment
que’s debanè la tragedia ? De-segur las esplicas de tot
aquerò ne podèvann pas estar tant inocentassas com
m’at auré volut har créder. Peu moment ne podèvi pas
hà’m en davant sus aquera via, pr’amor que la devèvi
gahar de cap tà l’aute tralh, lo qui’m caliva cercar per
demiei los cabans peiruts de la lana.
E acò qu’èra ua direccion pas hòrt plan assolidada.
Qu’at realisèi qüand me’n tornèi entà nòste, en bèth
desnombrar qüantas serradas e portàvann rèstas de
l’anciana poblacion. L’indica soleta de Barrymore qu’èra
It was unlikely that she would dare to say that she had not been
to Baskerville Hall if she really had been, for a trap would be neces-
sary to take her, there, and could not have returned to Coombe
Tracey until the early hours of the morning. Such an excursion could
not be kept secret. The probability was, therefore, that she was
telling the truth, or, at least, a part of the truth. I came away baffled
and disheartened. Once again I had reached that dead wall which
seemed to be built across every path by which I tried to get at the
object of my mission. And yet the more I thought of the lady’s face
and of her manner the more I felt that something was being held back
from me. Why should she turn so pale ? Why should she fight against
every admission until it was forced from her ? Why should she have
been so reticent at the time of the tragedy ? Surely the explanation
of all this could not be as innocent as she would have me believe.
For the moment I could proceed no farther in that direction, but must
turn back to that other clue which was to be sought for among the
stone huts upon the moor.
And that was a most vague direction. I realized it as I drove back
and noted how hill after hill showed traces of the ancient people.
Barrymore’s only indication had been that the stranger lived in one

estada que l’estrangèir e damorava dehentz l’ua d’aque-
ras cabanas abandonadas, e centenats d’aqueras qu’èrann
esbarriscladas capvath la lana. Mès qu’avèvi la mia
pròpia esperiéncia entà’m gabidar, desempuix qu’avèvi
vist a l’òmi au som de la tucòla nega. Aqueth som, donc
que seré lo còr de las mias recèrcas. D’aquí avant,
qu’esplorarí cada caban de la lana dinc a m’i escadossi
a trobar lo bon. E estossi aqueth òmi en dehentz, que
carré que’m dixossi deus sons pròpis pòts, a la punta
deu meu revolvèrr s’èra necessari, quau èra eth e perqué
e’ns seguiva desempuix tan grand pausa. Se podèva
belèu escapà’ns per demiei la horrèra de Regent Street,
mès ne seré pas de tan bon har sus la lana èrma.
D’unhauta part, se trobavi la cabana e que l’aucupant
n’i èra pas dehentz, que carré que damorèssi suu lòc,
per tan longuèira qui sii l’espèra, dinc’a eth que
tornèssi. Holmes que se l’avèva mancat en Londras.
Que seré, vertat, un trionfe deus mens se’u podèvi
gahar ja que lo mèste, eth, ne s’i èra pas escadut.
En aquera enquista que ns’i èram mauescadut a tot
pip-pap mès adara lo hat que volèva enfin estar dab
nosatis. E lo messadgèir de la bona fortuna qu’èra
digun mei que Mr Frankland, qui èra pitat, gautas
arroias e favorits grisejants, davant lo portau deu son
of these abandoned huts, and many hundreds of them are scattered
throughout the length and breadth of the moor. But I had my own
experience for a guide, since it had shown me the man himself
standing upon the summit of the Black Tor. That, then, should be
the centre of my search. From there I should explore every hut upon
the moor until I lighted upon the right one. If this man were inside
it I should find out from his own lips, at the point of my revolver if
necessary, who he was and why he had dogged us so long. He might
slip away from us in the crowd of Regent Street, but it would puzzle
him to do so upon the lonely moor. On the other hand, if I should
find the hut, and its tenant should not be within it, I must remain
there, however long the vigil, until he returned. Holmes had missed
him in London. It would indeed be a triumph for me if I could run
him to earth where my master had failed.
Luck had been against us again and again in this inquiry, but now
at last it came to my aid. And the messenger of good fortune was
none other than Mr Frankland, who was standing, grey-whiskered
and red-faced, outside the gate of his garden, which opened on to
the high-road along which I travelled.
105
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
casau qui dava entau caminau que i èri encaminat
dessús.
— Adixatz, Dr. Watson, ce cridè, dab ua bona umor
desacostumèira. Be diuretz deixar los xibaus s’estancar e
préner un pinton de vin dab jo entà’m felicitar.
Los sentiments qu’avèvi enta-d eth qu’èrann loenh
d’estar deus amistós après çò qui avèvi entenut sus la
manèira qui avèva trattat la soa hilha, mès que’m
trigava de mandar Perkins e lo carriòt entà casa e qu’èra
ua escadença de las bonas. Que devarèi donc e envièi
un messadjòt entà’N Henry disent de qu’èri de
passejada dinc au sopar. Apuix que seguii Frankland
dehentz la sala de minjar.
— Un grand jorn qu’es entà jo, senhe – un de’us qui’s
marca d’ua crotz roja dentz la vita vitanta – ç’esclamè
com qui glosseja. Qu’èi emportat duas victòrias a l’encòp.
Que voi díser de’us ensenhar a’us de per ’qui que la lei es
la lei e que i a aquí un òmi qui n’a pas pòur de l’invocar.
Qu’èi establit un dret de passadge au bèth miei deu parc
deu vielh Middleton, ò-bé au bèth miei, senhe, a un
centenat de yards de la soa pòrta d’entrada. Qué ne’n pén-
satz ? Que vam ensenhar aquera mossuralha que ne pò-
denn pas pèd-horrar los drets deu pòble, Diu me dau ! E
mei, qu’avèvi embarralhat lo bòsc ond los de Fernworthy
solèvann viéner har pan-tauleta. Aqueths gents hastiaus
« Good-day, Dr Watson, » cried he, with unwonted good humour,
« you must really give your horses a rest, and come in to have a glass
of wine and to congratulate me ».
My feelings towards him were far from being friendly after what
I had heard of his treatment of his daughter, but I was anxious to
send Perkins and the wagonette home, and the opportunity was a
good one. I alighted and sent a message to Sir Henry that I should
walk over in time for dinner. Then I followed Frankland into his
dining-room.
« It is a great day for me, sir - one of the red-letter days of my li-
fe, » he cried, with many chuckles. « I have brought off a double event.
I mean to teach them in these parts that law is law, and that there
is a man here who does not fear to invoke it. I have established a
right of way through the centre of old Middleton’s park, slap across
it, sir, within a hundred yards of his own front door. What do you
think of that ? We’ll teach these magnates that they cannot ride
rough-shod over the rights of the commoners, confound them ! And
I’ve closed the wood where the Fernworthy folk used to picnic. These
infernal people seem to think that there are no rights of property,
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
semblàvann créder que los drets de proprietat n’existívann
pas e que podèvann hentrar ond los i agrada dab jornaus
e pintons. Dus decís de justícia, Dr Watson, e los dus en
la mia favor. N’avèvi pas espravat ua tau jornada desem-
puix qu’avèvi hèit har un verbau a’N John Morland
pr’amor que caçava hentz la soa pròpia garena.
— Quinn lo diable e podotz har açò ?
— En bèth horrucar dentz los libis, senhe. Acò que paga
de legir – Frankland c. Morland. Cort deu Tribunau
Reiau. Me costè 200 esterlins mes que’u colhonèi.
— E acò vos raportè quauques dinèrs ?
— Arré, senhe, arré. Que soi fièrr de díser que n’avèvi
pas nat interés en aqueth ahar. N’agissi pas que pr’amor
deu ben public. N’èi pas nat dotte per exemple, que los de
Ferworthy e’m cràminn anoeit en efigia. Qu’èi avertit la
polícia dijà qüand at avèvann hèit e que volóssinn har
bacsar taus manifestacions vergonhosas. La polícia deu
comtat qu’es dentz un estat qui hè pieitat, senhe, e ne m’a
pas autrejat la proteccion qu’èri en dret d’obtiéner. L’ahar
Frankland c. la Reina que portarà la causa a l’atencion
deu public. Que’us dixoi de qu’aurenn l’escadença
d’arregretar la manèira qui ann de’m trattar, e dijà se
verifícann las mias paraulas.
— Com acò ? ce domandèi.
Lo vielh que prenó un aire finós.
and that they can swarm where they like with their papers and their
bottles. Both cases decided, Dr Watson, and both in my favour. I
haven’t had such a day since I had Sir John Morland for trespass,
because he shot in his own warren. »
« How on earth did you do that ?’
« Look it up in the books, sir. It will repay reading - Frankland v.
Morland, Court of Queen’s Bench. It cost me £ 200, but I got my
verdict ».
« Did it do you any good? »
« None, sir, none. I am proud to sav that I had no interest in the
matter. I act entirely from a sense of public duty. I have no doubt,
for example, that the Fernworthy people will burn me in effigy
tonight. I told the police last time they did it that they should stop
these disgraceful exhibitions. The county constabulary is in a
scandalous state, sir, and it tfb not afforded me the protection to
which I am entitled. The case of Frankland v. Regina will bring the
matter before the attention of the public. I told them that they would
have occasion to regret their treatment of me, and already my words
have come true ».
« How so ? » I asked.
The old man put on a very knowing expression.
106
— Pr’amor que’us poirí díser çò qui mòrenn de saber,
mès arré ne’m miarà pas a ajudar a-d aquera canalha,
qu’estossi çò qui estossi.
Qu’èri a cercar quauqua desencusa entà escapar a-d
aquiths comairadges, mès adara que començavi a ne’n
voler saber mei. Que’n sabèvi pro de la natura
contrariaira deu vielh arromeraire entà compréner que
tot signe tròp hòrt de curiosèr èra la manèira milhora
d’estupar suu pic las soas confidéncias.
— Quauque ahar de braconadge, ce hadoi d’un aire
indiferent.
— Ha, ha, gojat, un ahar beròi mei importent que no
pas acò ! De qué pensaretz deu forçat sus la lana ?
Qu’estoi estabosit.
— E vòletz díser de que sàbetz a-ond es ? ç’interroguèi.
— Ne sèi pas exactement a-ond s’està, mès que soi casi
segur que poirí ajudar la polícia a hicar la man dessús.
N’atz pas jamei avut en l’irèia que lo mejan de gahar l’òmi
qu’èra de cercar a trobar com s’aprovediva en viures e de’n
seguir lo tralh ?
Que’m pareixó de qu’èra desagradivament pròixe de
la vertat.
— Xentz nat dotte, ce dixoi, mès com sàbetz qu’es en
quauque indret capvath la lana ?
— At sèi pr’amor qu’èi vist a bèths oelhs vedents, lo
« Because I could tell them what they are dying to know ; but
nothing would induce me to help the rascals in any way ».
I had been casting round for some excuse by which I could get
away from his gossip, but now I began to wish to hear more of it.
I had seen enough of the contrary nature of the old sinner to
understand that any strong sign of interest would be the surest way
to stop his confidences.
« Some poaching case, no doubt ? » said I, with an indifferent
manner.
« Ha, ha, my boy, a very much more important matter than that
! What about the convict on the moor ? » I started.
« You don’t mean that you know where he is ? » said I.
I may not know exactly where he is, but I am quite sure that I could
help the police to lay their hands on him. Has it never struck you that
the way to catch that man was to find out where he got his food, and
so trace it to him ?’
He certainly seemed to be getting uncomfortably near the truth.
« No doubt, » said I ; « but how do you know that he is anywhere
upon the moor ?’
I know it because I have seen with my own eyes the messenger who
takes him his food ».

messadgèir qui’u pòrta lo minjar.
Lo men còr que’s maquè pr’amor de Barrymore.
Qu’èra causa grèva de càder en lo poder d’aqueth vielh,
originau enqueharit. Mès la frasa seguenta que’m
solaciè.
— Que seretz estonat d’apréner qu’es un mainadge qui
se’u carreja lo minjar. Que’u vei cada jorn dab lo telescòpi
qui èi dessús lo teit. Que passa preu medix sendèir, a la
medixa òra, e qui aniré vesitar atau sonque lo forçat ?
Acò que s’i escadèva, hòu ! adara que calèva suprimir
tota aparéncia d’interés. Un mainadge ! Barrymore
qu’avèva dit que lo nòste desconeixut qu’èra aprovedit
pr’un gojat. Qu’èra donc sus aquera tralha e no pas sus
la deu forçat que Frankland e s’èra engulhat. Se podèvi
conéixer çò qui sabèva eth, acò que m’estaubiaré ua caça
longuèira e hartanta. Mès incredulitat e indiferéncia
qu’èrann los mens atots mages.
— Que dirèi meilèu de que s’ageix mei que probable deu
hilh d’un aulhèir de la lana qui’s hè seguir lo disnar deu
son pair.
La contradiccion la mei chicòia que hadèva esmalí’s
lo vielhaco. Que’m larguè ua espiada verinosa e las soas
mostaixas grisejantas que s’ahricènn com las d’un gat
endemoniat.
— Atau tè, mossur ! ce dixó e que puntejava lo dit
My heart sank for Barrymore. It was a serious thing to be in the
power of this spiteful old busybody. But his next remark took a
weight from my mind.
« You’ll be surprised to hear that his food is taken to him by a child.
I see him every day through my telescope upon the roof. He passes
along the same path at the same hour, and to whom should he be
going except to the convict ? »
Here was luck indeed ! And yet I suppressed all appearance of
interest. A child ! Barrymore had said that our unknown was
supplied by a boy. It was on his track, and not upon the convict’s,
that Frankland had stumbled. If I could get his knowledge it might
save me a long and weary hunt. But incredulity and indifference were
evidently my strongest cards.
« I should say that it was much more likely that it was the son of
one of the moorland shepherds taking out his father’s dinner ».
The least appearance of opposition struck fire out of the old
autocrat. His eyes looked malignantly at me, and his grey whiskers
bristled like those of an angry cat.
« Indeed, sir ! » said he, pointing out over the wide-stretching
107
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
merdèir entà l’estenuda grand de la lana. E védetz lo
“Tor” Néguer, alahòra ? Plan, e védetz la sèrra baixa que
i a un broixòc d’arromècs au som ? Qu’es la part la mei
peirosa de tota la lana. E seré l’indret que causiré un aulhèir
entà har pèixer lo son bestiar ? La vòsta suggestion qu’es
de las mei pègas, senhe.
Que li arresponoi praubament qu’avèvi parlat xentz
de conéixer tots los hèits. La mia somission que li
agradè e l’aviè entà mei de confidéncias.
— Siitz segur, senhe, qu’es sus de plan bonas basas que
fondi las mias opinions. Qu’èi vist lo gojat mantuns còps
dab la soa biaça. Cada jorn e de-còps dus còps per jorn,
qu’èi podut... mès esperatz ua estona, Dr Watson. E se
m’engànann los oelhs o ben que i a quauquarré qui’s mau
suu costalat ?
Qu’èra aloenhat de bèra tropa de miles mès que podoi
distinguir un punt néguer tot chicòi qui’s destacava
en contra deu gris e deu verd.
— Çà-vietz ? senhe, çà-vietz, ce cridè Frankland en
tot s’arronçar cap-hentz l’escalèir. Que veiratz a bèths
oelhs vedents e que judjaratz per vos-medix !
Lo telescòpi, un instrument deus bèths, montat sus
un trespèds qu’èra quilhat en dessús deu teulat planèir
de l’ostau. Frankland que i hiquè un oelh e que larguè
un crit de contentèir.
moor. « Do you see that Black Tor over yonder ? Well, do you see the
low hill beyond with the thorn-bush upon it ? It is the stoniest part
of the whole moor. Is that a place where a shepherd would be likely
to take his station ? Your suggestion, sir, is a most absurd one ».
I meekly answered that I had spoken without knowing all the facts.
My submission pleased him and led him to further confidences.
« You may be sure, sir, that I have very good grounds before I come
to an opinion. I have seen the boy again and again with his bundle.
Every day, and sometimes twice a day, I have been able - but wait
a moment, Dr Watson. Do my eyes deceive me, or is there at the
present moment something moving upon that hillside ? »
It was several miles off, but I could distinctly see a small dark dot
against the dull green and grey.
« Come, sir, come ! » cried Frankland, rushing upstairs. « You will
see with your own eyes and judge for yourself ».
The telescope, a formidable instrument mounted upon a tripod,
stood upon the flat leads of the house. Frankland clapped his eye
to it and gave a cry of satisfaction.
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— Viste, Dr Watson, viste, davant que passi de l’auta
part de la sèrra !
Aquí qu’èra, solide, un còixe, dab un sacotet sus
l’espalla, qui hadèva a plaserinas la pujada de la sèrra.
Qüand pervienó au som, que n’aperceboi, ua estona,
lo tastuc esquèrr e espelhandrat, qui’s destriava contra
lo blu en.hredit deu cèu. Que hadó córrer l’oelh tot
a l’entorn, furtivament com qui cranh d’estar seguit.
E puix que desapareixó sus l’aute penent.
— E bé ! N’avèvi pas rason ?
— Vertat qu’es un gojat qui sembla de miar quauque
ahar a l’estujat.
— E çò qui pòt estar lo secret, un quite policièir deu com-
tat at poiré endobinar. Mès ne n’aurann pas nada infor-
macion qui sii, venguent de jo, e que’vs mandi lo secrèt
tabé, Dr Watson, pas nat mot ! Be comprenetz !
— Com at vólhitz.
— Que se m’ann trattat d’ua manèira envergonhida,
ò-bé, envergonhida. Qüand las hèitas e síinn coneixe-
deras dentz lo procès Frankland c. la Reina, qu’aubiri
ua ventenha d’indignacion que segotirà lo comtat cap
e tot. Arré ne m’aviarà a ajudar la polícia en quau cas
qui estossi. Per lo cas qui hadonn de jo, que seré podut
estar jo, en-per la mia efigia, qui estossi cramat per
aquiths vau-arré. No, ne ves n’ànitz pas ! Que’m vatz
« Quick, Dr Watson, quick, before he passes over the hill ! »
There he was, sure enough, a small urchin with a little bundle upon
his shoulder, toiling slowly up the hill. When he reached the crest I
saw the ragggd, uncouth figure outlined for an instant against the
cold blue sky. He looked round him, with a furtive and stealthy air,
as one who dreads pursuit. Then he vanished over the hill.
« Well ! Am I right ? »
« Certainly, there is a boy who seems to have some secret
errand ».
« And what the errand is even a county constable could guess. But
not one word shall they have from me, and I bind you to secrecy also,
Dr Watson. Not a word ! You understand ? »
« Just as you wish ».
« They have treated me shamefully - shamefully. When the facts
come out in Frankland v. Regina I venture to think that a thrill of
indignation will run through the country. Nothing would induce me
to help the police in any way. For all they cared it might have been
me, instead of my effigy, which these rascals burned at the stake.
Surely you are not going ! You will help me to empty the decanter
108
ajudar a voeitar la botelha en l’aunor d’aquera escaden-
ça !
Mès que resistii a totas sas sollicitacions e m’i escadoi
a’u dissuadir de l’intencion qui avèva anonciada de
m’acompanhar entà nòste. Que damorèi sus la rota tot
lo temps qui goardè los sos oelhs sus jo puix que la gahèi
capvath la lana entà la sèrra peirosa darrèir laquau lo
gojat avèva desapareixut. Tot que jogava en la mia favor
e que’m juravi que no seré pas per hrèita d’energia e
de perseveréncia se mancavi l’escadença que la Fortuna
avèva gitat suu men camin.
Lo sou que baixava dijà qüand atenhoi lo som de la
sèrra e los longs penents en devath de jo qu’èrann verds
e daurats d’un costat e grisós de l’aute. Ua bruma que
caperava lo pèd deu cèu d’ond salhívann los contorns
fantastics de la tuca Belliver e de la deu Visen Tor. Ni
bruit ni movement ne’n destorbàvann pas l’esplandida
bèra. Un grand ausèth gris, un cravan o un cotorliu,
que planava a l’enlà-haut dentz lo cèu blu. Jo e eth,
que semblava de qu’èram los solets creats vius enter la
vòuta celestiau e l’èrm en devath. Aqueth paisadge
desnudat, ua sentida de soledat, lo mistèri e l’urgéncia
deu men prètz-hèit, tot acò que’m sangglacè. Lo gojat
n’èra pas de véder. Mès en devath de jo, dentz ua lèta
enter las sèrras qu’i avèva un aròu de vielhs cabans de
in honour of this great occasion ! »
But I resisted all his solicitations and succeeded in dissuading
him from his announced intention of walking home with me. I kept
the road as long as his eye was on me, and then I struck off across
the moor and made for the stony hill over which the boy had
disappeared. Everything was working in my favour, and I swore that
it should not be through lack of energy or perseverance that I should
miss the chance which Fortune had thrown in my way.
The sun was already sinking when I reached the summit of the hill,
and the long slopes beneath me were all golden-green on one side
and grey shadow on the other. A haze lay low upon the farthest sky-
line, out of which jutted the fantastic shapes of Belliver and Vixen
Tor. Over the wide expanse there was no sound and no movement.
One great grey bird, a gull or curlew, soared aloft in the blue heaven.
He and I seemed to be the only living things between the huge arch
of the sky and the desert beneath it. The barren scene, the sense of
loneliness, and the mystery and urgency of my task all struck a chill
into my heart. The boy was nowhere to be seen. But down beneath
me in a cleft of the hills there was a circle of the old stone huts, and

pèira e au bèth mitan l’un qu’avèva pro de teulada
encoèra per estar un bon apric. Que n’estoi tot còr-
virat qüand at vedoi. Qu’èra aquí solide que l’estrangèir
avèva lo jaç. Enfin qu’avèvi botat lo pèd en la plaça –
lo son secret qu’èra a portada de man.
A mesura que’m hadèvi pròixe de la cabana, marxant
precaucionosament que no pas Stapleton qüand va
abàter lo son hilat sus un parpalhòu, que m’aconortèi
dentz l’idèia de que l’indret èra utilisat com damorança.
Ua mena de viòt demiei los rocàs dinc a l’obertura
roeinada que serviva d’entrada. Tot qu’i èra solenciós
au dehentz. Lo desconeixut que s’i podèva autaplan
estujar com rodejar capvath la lana.
Qu’avoi los nèrvis qui’s tenèvann au sentir de l’aven-
tura. En tot sogar de costat la mia cigarreta, que sarrèi
de la man la cròssa deu revolvèrr e qu’avancèi tot toixau
entà l’entrada, qu’espièi entà dehentz. Lo jaç qu’èra
voeit.
Mès qu’i avèva pampró de signes qui muixàvann de
qu’èri suu bon camin. Qu’èra de-segur lo lòc que l’òmi
i damovara. Quauquas aprigas rolladas dentz un
impermeable qu’èrann ajacadas sus la medixa pèira-
lada ond d’autescòps e dromiva l’òmi neolitic. Brasas
que s’apielàvann hentz ua chaminèia rudimentària. A
costat, que’s trobàvann quauques utís de codinar e ua
in the middle of them there was one which retained sufficient roof
to act as a screen against the weather. My heart leaped within me
as I saw it. This must be the burrow where the stranger lurked. At
last my foot was on the threshold of his hiding-place - his secret was
within my grasp.
As I approached the hut, walking as warily as Stapleton would
do when with poised net he drew near the settled butterfly, I satisfied
myself that the place had indeed been used as a habitation. A vague
pathway among the boulders led to the dilapidated opening which
served as a door. All was silent within. The unknown might be lurking
there, or he might be prowling on the moor. My nerves tingled with
the sense of adventure. Throwing aside my cigarette, I closed my
hand upon the butt of my revolver, and, walking swiftly up to the
door, I looked in. The place was empty.
But there were ample signs that I had not come upon a false scent.
This was certainly where the man lived. Some blankets rolled in a
waterproof lay upon that very stone slab upon which neolithic man
had once slumbered. The ashes of a fire were heaped in a rude grate.
Beside it lay some cooking utensils and a bucket half-full of water.
109
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
selha d’aiga a mitat plea. Un pialòt de boitas de
consèrva voeitas que muixava que l’indret èra aucupat
desempuix pausa e, qüand los mens oelhs estonn acos-
tumats a la lutz baixa, que vedoi, arrecoenhats, un
tistèth e ua botelha d’aiga-de-vita a mitat voeita. Au
mitan de la cabana ua pèira lada que serviva de taula
e dessús qu’i avèva ua biaça pechiva de tela – la medixa,
solide qui avèvi apercebuda dab lo telescòpi, sus l’espalla
deu gojat. Que i cabèvann ua mica de pan, ua boita
de lenga cofida e duas de persècs. Com lo tornavi pausar
après de l’aver examinat, qu’estoi sangtradit de descobrir
en devath ua hoelha de papèir dab quauquarré d’escriut
dessús. Que la gahèi e aquí çò qu’i legii, grafonhat dab
un gredon :
“Lo doctor Watson qu’es anat a Combe Tracey.”
Lo temps d’ua minuta que m’estèi aquí, lo papèir
enter las mans tot empensat de çò qui significava
aqueth messadjòt. Qu’èri jo donc, – e no pas En Henry
– qui èra pistat per aqueth gent misteriós. Ne m’avèva
pas seguit eth-medix mès que n’avèva encargat un
complici – lo gojat, belèu – de s’estacar a las mias
piadas, e aquí qu’avèvi lo son rapòrt. Qu’èra possible
que, talèu com avèvi pausat lo pèd hentz la lana, tot
agís men qu’èra estat observat e senhalat. Totjamei que
planava la sentida d’ua poténcia desvededera, ua mena
A litter of empty tins showed that the place had been occupied for
some time, and I saw, as my eyes became accustomed to the
chequered light, a pannikin and a half-full bottle of spirits standing
in the corner. In the middle of the hut a flat stone served the purpose
of a table, and upon this stood a small cloth bundle - the same, no
doubt, which I had seen through the telescope upon the shoulder
of the boy. It contained a loaf of bread, a tinned tongue, and two
tins of preserved peaches. As I set it down again, after having
examinedit, my heart leaped to see that beneath it there lay a sheet
of paper with writing upon it. I raised it, and this was what I read,
roughly scrawled in pencil :
« Dr Watson has gone to Coombe Tracey ».
For a minute I stood there with the paper in my hands thinking
out the meaning of this curt message. It was I, then, and not Sir Henry,
who was being dogged by this secret man. He had not followed me
himself, but he had set an agent - the boy, perhaps - upon my track,
and this was his report. Possibly I had taken no step since I had
been upon the door which had not been observed and repeated.
Always there was this feeling of an unseen force, a fine net drawn
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
de hilat finós qui’ns amiroava dab abinlessa e delicatessa
de tant que’ns arrecaptava tan liugèirament qu’èra son-
que au darrèir deus moments que’s realisava de qu’èram
engahats dehentz las malhas.
S’i avèva un rapòrt aquí, que’s podèva que n’i avossi
d’autes e que’m botei a sorguilhar per la cabana entà’us
cercar. Mès n’i trobèi pas arré d’aquera traca ni mei
nat signe qui’m podó ensenhar quau èra lo caractère
o las visadas de l’òmi qui damorava en un indret tant
esquèrr siquenó que devèva víver dentz ua cèrta magrèira
e que negligiva l’aisidèir dentz la vita-vitanta. Qüand
cutavi a las plujas diluvianas e qu’espiavi las teuladas
horadadas, que comprenoi que la tòca qui’u hadèva
damorar en un lòc tant inospitalèir, e devèva estar hòrta
e assolidada. E se s’escadèva de qu’estossi un enemic
mauhadent o mei, lo nòste ànjou gardian ? Que’m jurèi
de no pas quitar la cabana xentz d’at saber.
Dahòra qu’èra la sombrusta e lo sou de cap au
cochant qu’en.halhava lo cèu d’escarlata e de daurats.
Que’s miralhava dessús los estanhòts qui saupicàvann
lo Hanhèir Grand de Grimpen. Alahòra que’s quilhà-
vann las duas torrs de Baskerville Hall e, a l’enlà-hòra
un brum de humadas qu’ensenhava lo borg de Grim-
round us with infinite skill and delicacy, holding us so lightly that
it was only at some supreme moment that one realized that one was
indeed entangled in its meshes.
If there was one report there might be others, so I looked round
the hut in search of them. There was no trace, however, of anything
of the kind, nor could I discover any sign which might indicate the
character or intentions of the man who lived in this singular place,
save that he must be of Spartan habits, and cared little for the
comforts of life. When I thought of the heavy rains and looked at the
gaping roof I understood how strong and immutable must be the
purpose which had kept him in that inhospitable abode. Was he our
malignant enemy, or was he by chance our guardian angel ? I swore
that I would not leave the hut until I knew.
Outside the sun was sinking low and the west was blazing with
scarlet and gold. Its reflection was shot back in ruddy patches by
the distant pools which lay amid the Great Grimpen Mire. There were
the two towers of Baskerville Hall, and there a distant blur of smoke
which marked the village of Grimpen. Between the two, behind the
110
pen. Enter los dus, darrèir la sèrra, que’s trobava l’ostau
deus Stapleton. Tot que pareixèva tranquille e doç a
l’arrai daurejant de la sombrusta, e mentra qu’espiavi
aqueth paisadge, la mia amna ne partadjava pas aquera
patz de la Natura mès que fremiva de pòur e d’engoeix
rapòrt a l’entrevista qui’s hadèva mei pròixe, a cada
instant. Dab los nèrvis ahiscats, mès decidit a anar dinc
au cap, que’m seitèi dentz un arrecoenh escur de la
cabana e qu’atendoi dab ua despaciéncia nega qu’arri-
bèssi lo son aucupant.
E enfin que l’entenoi a arribar. De loenh avant que
retrení lo bruit sec d’ua cauçadura tumant de cap a un
pèira. E puix unhaute e unhaute mei, e qui’s hadèva
pròixe de mei en mei. Que m’arrecoenhèi preu mielhe
dentz l’escurada, qu’armèi lo pistolet qui avèvi empo-
chicat ; qu’èri destermiat de no pas muixà’m jo-medix
permèir qui avossi podut vede’n mei d’aqueth estrangèir.
Que’s passè ua longa pausa, çò qui volèva díser de que
s’èra estancat. E puix que tornè trenir lo trepei e ua
ombra que barrè l’entrada deu caban.
— Acò qu’es ua desseirada meravilhosa, car Watson, ce
dixó ua votz plan coneixuda. Que’m pensi, vertat, que
síitz mei adaise dahòra que no pas dehentz.
hill, was the house of the Stapletons. All was sweet and mellow and
peaceful in the golden evening light, and yet as I looked at them my
soul shared none of the peace of Nature, but quivered at the
vagueness and the terror of that interview which every instant was
bringing nearer. With tingling nerves, but a fixed purpose, I sat in
the dark recess of the hut and waited with sombre patience for the
coming of its tenant.
And then at last I heard him. Far away came the sharp clink of a
boot striking upon a stone. Then another and yet another, coming
nearer and nearer. I shrank back into the darkest corner, and cocked
the pistol in my pocket, determined not to discover myself until I
had an opportunity of seeing something of the stranger. There was
a long pause, which showed that he had stopped. Then once more
the footsteps approached and a shadow fell across the opening of
the hut.
It is a lovely evening, my dear Watson, » said a well-known voice.
I really think that you will be more comfortable outside than
in ».

La mòrt qu’es sus la lana
Capítou dodzau
L
o temps d’ua estona o duas que m’estèi boca
badanta, tot dòi capable de’n créder las mias
aurelhas. E puix se’m tornènn los senns e la pa-
raula deu temps qui, en un virat d’oelh, e’m sentivi
l’amna solaciada d’ua responsabilitat hastialament pe-
suga. Aquera votz hreda, nhacanta, trufandèca ne
podèva pas estar sonque la d’un sol òmi capvath lo
monde.
— Holmes, ce cridèi, Holmes !
— Sòrtitz de ’qui, ce ’m hadó, e xentz de’vs comandar
hètz cas dab lo revolvèrr.
Que’m clinèi devath lo lindau grossièr e aquí qu’èra,
seitat sus un rocàs dahòra, qu’i avèva ua lutzor
d’amusament qui dançava dentz los sons oelhs grisós
qüand espiè la mia cara estonada. Que magrejava e
qu’èra estadit, totun qu’avèva l’esperit clar e esberit,
la cara prima qu’èra usclada preu sou e preu vent. Dab
lo son costume de tweed e la casqueta de tescut que
semblava a un torista, quau qui estossi, per la lana. Que
s’èra egau escadut, dab aquesta mena de propetat cor-
porau qui sembla la deus gats – çò qui èra de las soas
caracteristicas d’aver lo menton tan plan rasat e las
pelhas tan netas com qui seré damorat a Basker Street.
— De tota la mia vita ne soi pas jamei estat tan content
12 — Death on the Moor
For a moment or two I sat breathless, hardly able to believe my
ears. Then my senses and my voice came back to me, while a crushing
weight of responsibility seemed in an instant to be lifted from my
soul. That cold, incisive, ironical voice could belong to but one man
in all the world.
« Holmes ! » I cried – « Holmes ! »
« Come out, » said he, « and please be careful with the revolver ».
I stooped under the rude lintel, and there he sat upon a stone
outside, his grey eyes dancing with amusement as they fell upon my
astonished features. He was thin and worn, but clear and alert, his
keen face bronzed by the sun and roughened by the wind. In his
tweed suit and cloth cap he looked like any other tourist upon the
moor, and he had contrived, with that cat-like love of personal
cleanliness which was one of his characteristics, that his chin should
be as smooth and his linen as perfect as if he were in Baker Street.
« I never was more glad to see anyone in my life, » said I, as I wrung
him by the hand.
« Or more astonished, eh ? »
« Well, I must confess to it ».
111
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
de véder quauqu’un, ce dixoi en bèth li sarrar la man.
— O tant estonat, vertat ?
— E bé, qu’at devi cohessar.
— L’estonament n’èra pas sonque deu vòste costat, que
v’at asseguri. N’avèvi pas idèia de qu’avóssitz hèit la tròba
deu men jaç d’escadença, ni mei qu’i èratz entutat, dinc
a qu’arribèssi a vint pas de l’entrada.
— Las mias piadas, gadgi ?
— No pas, Watson ; qu’èi pòur de no pas estar capable
d’arreconéixer las vòstas piadas per demiei las deu monde
entièr. Se’m vòletz vertadèirament abusar, que cau que
càmbiitz de tobaquista, pr’amor qüand me vei ua fuma
de cigarreta dab la mèrca BRADLEY, OXFORD STREET, que
sèi lo men amic Watson qu’es dentz lo vesiadge. Que’u tro-
baratz pròixe lo sendèir. Que’u gitètz per tèrra, xentz nat
dotte, deu temps qui prenotz lo decís de hentrar cap-hentz
lo caban.
— Quiò, plan encontrat.
— Qu’èra plan çò qui avèvi esmaginat... E com sèi la
vòsta tenacitat, qu’èri convençut de qu’èratz en embuscada,
ua arma a man, en l’espèra de’u qui lodjava ací. Be
pensàvatz donc de qu’èri jo lo criminau ?
— Ne sabèvi pas quau èratz mès qu’èri destermiat de
me n’assabentar.
— Hòrt plan ! Watson ! E com v’i ètz escadut entà’m
« The surprise was not all on one side, I assure you. I had no idea
that you found my occasional retreat, still less that you were inside
it, until I was within twenty paces of the door ».
« My footprint, I presume ? »
« No, Watson ; I fear that I could not undertake to recognize your
footprint amid all the footprints of the world. If you seriously desire
to deceive me you must change your tobacconist; for when I see the
stub of acigarette marked Bradley, Oxford Street, I know that my
friend Watson is in the neighbourhood. You will see it there beside
the path. You threw it down, no doubt, at that supreme moment
when you charged into the empty hut ».
« Exactly ».
« I thought as much - and knowing your admirable tenacity, I was
convinced that you were sitting in ambush, a weapon within reach,
waiting for the tenant to return. So you actually thought that I was
the criminal ? »
« I did not know who you were, but I was determined to find
out ».
« Excellent, Watson ! And how did you localize me ? You saw me,
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
localisar. Que m’apercebotz, belèu, la noeit de la caça au
forçat qüand estoi beròi imprudent de deixar la lua a’s
lhevar au darrèir de jo.
— E-ò, que v’i vedoi alavetz.
— E qu’atz sorguilhat capvath tota la cabanèra dinc
a que trobèssitz la que i èm.
— Nani, lo vòste gojat qu’es estat reperat e acò que
m’ajudè ent’ond cercar.
— Solide qu’èra lo vielhaco dab lo telescòpi. Lo permèir
còp qui vedoi lutzejar la lentilha, ne pervienoi pa a saber
çò qui n’èra.
Que’s tornè quilhar e que hentrè dehentz la cabana.
— Ha, que vei Cartwight que m’a portat viures.
— Çò qu’es aqueth papèir ? Atau qu’ètz anat a Coombe
Tracey, vertat ?
— E-ò.
— Véder a Mrs Lyons.
— Quiò.
— Hòrt plan ! Qu’es clar las nòstes recèrcas que’s sonn
escorrudas sus vias de las parallèlas e en bèth juntar las
nòstas tròbas, que gadgi qu’auram un coneixement pampró
complet de l’ahar aqueste.
— De tot còr be’m hè gai que síitz aquí pr’amor
començavi de n’aver hartèira, rapòrt aus nèrvis, de tota
aquera responsabilitat e de tot aqueth mistèri. Mès quinn
perhaps, on the night of the convict hunt, when I was so imprudent
as to allow the moon to rise behind me ? »
« Yes, I saw you then ».
« And have, no doubt, searched all the huts until you came to this
one ? »
« No, your boy had been observed, and that gave me a guide where
to look ».
« The old gentleman with the telescope, no doubt. I could not make
it out when first I saw the light flashing upon the lens ». He rose and
peeped into the hut. « Ha, I see that Cartwright has brought up some
supplies. What’s this paper ? So you have been to Coombe Tracey,
have you ? »
« Yes ».
« To see Mrs Laura Lyons ? »
« Exactly ».
« Well done ! Our researches have evidently been running on
parallel lines, and when we unite our results I expect we shall have
a fairly full knowledge of the case ».
« Well, I am glad from my heart that you are here, for indeed the
responsibility and the mystery were both becoming too much for my
nerves. But how in the name of wonder did you come here, and what
112
lo diable i ètz vingut e entà i har qué ? Me pensavi de
qu’èratz a Basker Street a tribalhar sus aqueth ahar de
letras anonimas.
— Qu’èra çò qui desiravi que credóssitz.
— Be m’utilísatz alavetz ! E mei ne’m hètz pas ahi-
da ? ce cridèi dab quauque amarumi. Be’m pensavi de
qu’ameritavi mielhe de vos, Holmes !
— Amic men, que n’ètz estat d’ua ajuda de grand valor
en aqueste ahar com dentz ua tropa d’autes, e que’vs prèi
de desencusà’m se v’a semblat de que’vs n’avèvi jogat ua.
En fèit, qu’èra per parts pr’amor de la vòsta pròpia segu-
retat qu’at hadoi atau. E qu’estó pr’amor de l’apreciacion
qu’avoi deu perilh qui podèvatz patir que soi vingut ací
entà-d examinar com ne’n virava. Estossi estat dab En
Henry e dab vos qu’es evident que lo men punt de vista
e seré estat tot parièr au vòste e la mia preséncia que seré
estada ua mena d’avertiment entaus nòstes formidables
contras. Atau com n’es, qu’èi podut agir com jamei n’at
serí estat capable s’avèvi damorat a la Mansa, e que soi
un factor desconeixut dentz l’ahar, parat a interviéner de
tot lo men pes au moment critic.
— Mes perquè’m deixar dentz l’ignorància ?
— D’estar assabentat ne’vs seré pas estat de nada ajuda
e qu’auré podut miar eventuaument a’m descobrir. Que
m’auretz podut desirar díser quauquarré, o dentz la vòsta
have you been doing ? I thought that you were in Baker Street wor-
king out that case of blackmailing ».
« That was what I wished you to think ».
« Then you use me, and yet do not trust me ! » I cried, with some
bitterness. « I think that I have deserved better at your hands,
Holmes ».
« My dear fellow, you have been invaluable to me in this as in many
other cases, and I beg that you will forgive me if I have seemed to
play a trick upon you. In truth, it was partly for your own sake that
I did it, and it was my appreciation of the danger which you ran which
led me to come down and examine the matter for myself. Had I been
with Sir Henry and you it is evident that my point of view would have
been the same as yours, and my presence would have warned our
very formidable opponents to be on their guard. As it is, I have been
able to get about as I could not possibly have done had I been living
at the Hall, and I remain an unknown factor in the business, ready
to throw in all my weight at a critical moment ».
« But why keep me in the dark ? »
« For you to know could not have helped us, and might possibly
have led to my discovery. You would have wished to tell me some-
thing, or in your kindness you would have brought me out some

bontat, me portar quauque melhorament de confòrt o
quauquarré mei, e atau de préner risques qui ne hadèvann
pas besonh. Que m’èi hèit seguir lo Cartwright – que’vs
brémbatz deu joenn comissionari de l’aufici de las mes-
sadjarias, que s’es aucupat deus mens besonhs chicòis : ua
mica de pan e un còl de camisa net. Çò qui hè besonh mei
a un òmi ? De mei que m’a hornit un par d’oelhs suple-
mentaris aliats a un par de camas beròi anivas e dab acò
qu’am miat un brabe tribalh.
— Alavetz los mens rapòrts qu’èrann en de-balles ! La
mia votz que’n tremolava en tot tornar pensar a las
penas e a la fierretat qui m’avèvann calut entà’us
redigir.
Holmes qu’espochiquè ua corriòla de papèirs.
— Aquí que sonn los vòste rapòrts, amic, e de-plan legits
e arrelegits, v’at asseguri. Que m’èri pedaçat excellenta-
ment e que se m’arribènn sonque dab ua jornada de retard.
que cau que’vs complimenti hòrt entà l’arsec e l’intelligéncia
qui muixètz dentz un ahar tant estraordinàriament mau-
aisit.
Qu’èri encoèra tot mocat de la qui se m’èra estat
jogada mès la calor de las laudadas de Holmes qu’apa-
simènn la malícia qui avèvi còr-hentz. Que cutèi fin
finau qu’avèva rason dentz çò qui disèva e que, entau
nòste prètz-hèit tant mei valèva que n’estossi pas co-
comfort or other, and so an unnecessary risk would be run. I brought
Cartwright down with me - you remember the little chap at the
Express office - and he has seen after my simple wants : a loaf of bread
and a clean collar. What does .a man want more? He has given me
an extra pair of eyes upon a very active pair of feet, and both have
been invaluable ».
« Then my reports have all been wasted ! » My voice trembled as
I recalled the pains and the pride with which I had composed them.
Holmes took a bundle of papers from his pocket.
« Here are your reports, my dear fellow, and very well thumbed,
I assure you. I made excellent arrangements, and they are only
delayed one day upon their way, I must compliment you exceedingly
upon the zeal and the intelligence which you have shown over an
extraordinarily difficult case ».
I was still rather raw over the deception which had been practised
upon me, but the warmth of Holmes’s praise drove my anger from
my mind. I felt also in my heart that he was right in what he said,
and that it was really best for our purpose that I should not have
known that he was upon the moor.
« That’s better, » said he, seeing the shadow rise from my face. «
And now tell me the result of your visit to Mrs Laura Lyons - it was
113
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
neixeder de que Holmes i èra sus la lana.
— Atau qu’es mielhe, ce’m dixó en tot véder que’m
desesmalivi. Adara contatz-me lo resultat de la vòste vesita
a Mrs Laura Lyons – N’èra pas de mau cutar entà jo que
n’i avèva pas qu’ua soleta persona qui’vs calèva vesitar e
qui, en Coombe Tracey, e pertocava au nòste ahar. En fèit
qu’atz hèit çò qui probable aurí hèit doman, jo.
Lo sou qu’avèva cabuixat e la sombrusta que s’es-
plandiva capvath la lana. L’aire que fresquejava e’ns
botèm a l’acès dehentz la cabana per aver mei calor.
Aquí, seitats amassa dentz l’escurada, que contèi a
Holmes las parladissas qui avèvi tienudas dab aquera
dauna. De tant qu’estó interessat, que’m hadó tornar
díser d’aubuns tròç permèir qui estossi satishèit.
— Hòrt importent qu’es, ce’m dixó qüand avoi acabat.
Acò que plenha ua manca qui m’avèva hèit trabuc en
aqueth ahar tan complèxa. Que sàbetz belèu, de que i a
ua grand intimitat enter aquera dauna e Mr Stapleton ?
— Qu’ignoravi de qu’èra ua grand intimitat.
— N’i a pas nat dotte en-d aqueth cas. Que s’encón-
trann, que’s escrívenn, que s’aviénenn amassa totaument.
E donc acò que’ns hica ua arma hòrt poderosa enter las
mans. S’at poix utilisar entà’u destacar de la soa hemna.
— La soa hemna ?
— A jo de’vs balhar quauquas informacions adara, en
not difficult for me to guess that it was to see her that you had gone,
for I am already aware that she is the one person in Coombe Tracey
who might be of service to us in the matter. In fact, if you had not
gone today it is exceedingly probable that I should have gone
tomorrow ».
The sun had set and dusk was settling over the moor. The air had
turned chill, and we withdrew into the hut for warmth. There, sitting
together in the twilight, I told Holmes of my conversation with the
lady. So interested was he that I had to repeat some of it twice before
be was satisfied.
« This is most important, » said he, when I had concluded. « It fills
up a gap which I had been unable to bridge in this most complex
affair. You are aware, perhaps, that a close intimacy exists between
this lady and the man Stapleton ? »
« I did not know of a close intimacy ».
« There can be no doubt about the matter. They meet, they write,
there is a complete understanding between them. Now, this puts a
very powerful weapon into our hands. If I could use it to detach his
wife - »
« His wife ? »
« I am giving you some information now, in return for all that you
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
tornas de tot çò qui m’atz assabentat. La dauna qui passa
aquí per Madamisèla Stapleton qu’es la soa hemna per
a-de bon.
— Diu Vivant, Holmes ! Qu’ètz segur de çò qui dí-
setz ? Com auré podut perméter que’N Henry e’s podossi
enamorar d’era ?
— L’enamorada de’N Henry ne podèva pas har poixiu
en digun sonque a’N Henry eth-medix. Qu’a hèit par-
ticulàriament cas que’N Henry n’amoregis pas de tròp
pròixe, com at avèvatz podut gueitar. Qu’at torni díser,
era qu’es la soa molhèr e no pas la soa sòr.
— Mes perqué aqueth manipòli ?
— Pr’amor qu’avèva previst de que li seré, era, mei utila
dab l’aparéncia d’ua hemna qui sembla de n’estar mari-
dadera.
Tots los instinctes estujats, totas las sospieitadas
vagas, tot sobte, que prenèvann còs e’s centràvann suu
naturalista. Aqueth òmi sangflac, xentz nada color, deu
capèth de palha e deu hilat de gahar los parpa-
lhòus ! Qu’avèvi l’impression d’entervéder quauquarré
de hastiau : un creat d’ua paciéncia e d’ua rusa, infe-
nida qui muixava cara d’òste e còr murtrèir.
— Adonc que seré eth, lo nòste enemic ? E seré eth qui’ns
auré seguit en Londras ?
— Qu’es çò qui crei d’endobinar.
have given me. The lady who has passed here as Miss Stapleton is
in reality his wife ».
« Good heavens, Holmes ! Are you sure of what you say ? How could
he have permitted Sir Henry to fall in love with her ? »
« Sir Henry’s falling in love could do no harm to anyone except Sir
Henry. He took particular care that Sir Henry did not make love to
her, as you have yourself observed. I repeat that the lady is his wife
and not his sister ».
« But why this elaborate deception ? »
« Because he foresaw that she would be very much more useful to
him in the character of a free woman ».
All my unspoken instincts, my vague suspicions, suddenly took
shape and centred upon the naturalist. In that impassive, colourless
man, with his straw hat and his butterfly-net, I seemed to see
something terrible - a creature of infinite patience and craft, with a
smiling face and a murderous heart.
« It is he, then, who is our enemy -it is he who dogged us in Lon-
don ? »
« So I read the riddle ».
114
— E l’avertiment que seré vingut de la soa part, a-d
era !
— Ò-bé.
De l’escuranha ond avèvi champolhat tan bèra pausa,
que salhiva la hantauma d’un maixantèir mostrós, a
mitat entervista, a mitat cutada.
— Mès, e n’ètz segur de tot acò, Holmes ? E com sabotz
que la hemna es la soa molhèr ?
— Pr’amor que s’a oblidat eth-medix de mòdes que v’a
contat ua part vertadèira de la soa biografia a l’escadença
deu vòste permèir rencontre e’m pensi que li a desempuix
divut har hòrt dòu. Vertat es qu’es estat d’autescòps director
d’un collègi dentz lo Nòrd d’Inglatèrra. Mès adara, arré
n’es pas mei aisit que tornar trobar lo tralh d’un director
d’escòla. Qu’existéixenn agéncias especialisadas dab las
quaus e’s pòt identificar quau òmi qui estossi qui seré estat
dentz lo mestèir. Ua investigacion pechiva que m’ensenhè
qu’un collègi èra estat miat dinc’a la roeina en circons-
tàncias de las hastialas e que l’òmi qui’u gabidava – lo
son nom qu’èra aute – qu’avèva desapareixut dab lo soa
hemna. La descripcion que corresponèva. Qüand aprenoi
qu’aqueth qui avèva hugit qu’èra apassionat d’entomo-
logia, que saboi de qu’èra lo nòste òmi.
L’escuranha que desapareixèva mès hòrt de causas
qu’èrann encoèra assolombradas.
« And the warning - it must have come from her ! »
« Exactly ».
The shape of some monstrous villainy, half seen, half guessed,
loomed through the darkness which had girt me so long.
« But are you sure of this, Holmes ? How do you know that the
woman is his wife ? »
« Because he so far forgot himself as to tell you a true piece of
autobiography upon the occasion when he first met you, and I dare
say he has many a time regretted it since. He was once a school-
master in the North of England. Now, there is no one more easy to
trace than a schoolmaster. There are scholastic agencies by which
one may identify any man who has been in the profession. A little
investigation showed me that a school had come to grief under
atrocious circumstances, and that the man who had owned it - the
name was different - had disappeared with his wife. The description
agreed. When I learned that the missing man was devoted to
entomology the identification was complete ».
The darkness was rising, but much was still hidden by the
shadows.

— S’es vertat qu’aquera hemna es la soa molhèr, de qué
ne’n vira dab Mrs Laura Lyons ? ce domandèi.
— Acò qu’es un deus punts suus quaus las vòstas pròpias
recèrcas qu’ann hèit un chic de lutz. Lo vòste entertienn
dab dauna Lyons qu’a hèit mei clara la situacion.
Qu’ignoravi tot d’aqueth projecte de desmaridadge enter
era e lo son marit. En aqueth cas, que considerava
Stapleton com maridader e donc que comptava solide và-
der la soa molhèr.
— E qüand sabi, era, la vertat ?
— Qu’es pr’amor d’acò qu’i poirem trobar quauqua
ajuda de la part de Mrs Lyons. Lo nòste permèir dever que
serà doman de l’anar véder, tots dus. Ne pénsatz pas,
Watson, qu’ètz estat bèra pausa aloenhat deu vòste prètz-
hèit ? La vòsta plaça que seré a Baskerville Hall.
Los darrèirs arrais que s’èrann desfaçat cap a l’oèst
e adara que noeitejava sus la lana. Quauques estelas
lugrejàvann chicòi deu un cèu qui s’envriuletejava.
— Ua darrèira question, Holmes, ce dixoi en tot me
lhevar. Solide que ne hè pas besonh briga de secrets enter
jo e vos. Qu’es çò qui vòu díser tot acò ? A-ond es que’n
vòu arribar ?
La votz de Holmes que s’abaixè qüand arresponó.
— Murtri qu’es, Watson – un murtri finós, deliberat,
cometut de sangflac. Ne’m domànditz pas detalhs. Los
« If this woman is in truth his wife, where does Mrs Laura Lyons come
in ? » I asked.
« That is one of the points upon which your own researches have
shed a light. Your interview with the lady has cleared the situation
very much. I did not know about a projected divorce between herself
and her husband. In that case, regarding Stapleton as an unmarried
man, she counted no doubt upon becoming his wife ».
« And when she is undeceived ? »
« Why, then we may find the lady of service. It must be our first duty
to see her - both of us - tomorrow. Don’t you think, Watson, that you
are away from your charge rather long ? Your place should be at
Baskerville Hall ».
The last red streaks had faded away in the west and night had
settled upon the moor. A few faint stars were gleaming in a violet sky.
« One last question, Holmes, » I said, as I rose. « Surely there is
no need of secrecy between you and me. What is the meaning of it
all ? What is he after ? »
Holmes’s voice sank as he answered - « It is murder, Watson
refined, cold-blooded, deliberate murder. Do not ask me for
particulars. My nets are closing upon him, even as his-are upon Sir
115
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
mens hilats que’s sàrrann au son entorn tot medix se los
sons s’esplandéixenn sus En Henry, mès, pr’amor de la vòste
ajuda, eth qu’es dijà casi a la mia mercés. Que i a totun
un dangèir qui pòdem crànher : que truqui eth lo permèir
davant que nosatis e síim prèstes a har tot parièr. Un jorn
de mei, o, dus e qu’aurèi concludit l’ahar, mès entertant
plenhatz lo vòste prètz-hèit autan plan qu’at haré ua mair
aimanta au capcèir deu hilh malaut. La vòsta mission de
mei se justifica d’era-medixa mès, egau, que m’agradaré
encoèra mei que n’avóssitz pas deixada la vòsta plaça au
son costat – De qu’es acò ? Cho !
Un crit tarrible – ua bramèra d’eixante e d’engoeix
qu’esbrigalhè lo silenci de la lana. Aqueth cridòri
hastiau que’m sangtradí la sang hentz las veas.
— Au grand Diu Vivant ! ce marmusèi. De qu’es
acò ? De qué vòu díser ?
Holmes que s’èra tornat quilhar e que vedèvi lo son
tastuc escur e atletic suu solh deu caban, espallas
croixidas, capclin entà davant, en bèth har córrer l’oelh
capvath l’escurada.
— Cho ! ce chebitegè, cho !
Lo crit qu’avèva trenit tindent pr’amor de la soa
intensitat, mès que pervienèva d’un punt hòrt aloenhat
de la plana entenebrada.
— D’ond vienèva ? ce marmusè Holmes ; e que
Henry, and with your help he is already almost at my mercy. There
is but one danger which can threaten us. It is that he should strike
before we are ready to do so. Another day - two at the most - and
I have my case complete, but until then guard your charge as closely
as ever a fond mother watched her ailing child. Your mission today
has justified itself, and yet I could almost wish that you had not left
his side - Hark ! »
A terrible scream - a prolonged yell of horror and anguish burst
out of the silence of the moor. That frightful cry turned the blood to
ice in my veins.
« Oh, my God ! » I gasped. « What is it ? What does it mean ? »
Holmes had sprung to his feet, and I saw his dark, athletic outline
at the door of the hut, his shoulders stooping, his head thrust
forward, his face peering into the darkness.
« Hush ! » he whispered. « Hush ! »
The cry had been loud on account of its vehemence, but it had
pealed out from somewhere far off on the shadowy plain. Now it burst
upon our ears, nearer, louder, more urgent than before.
« Where is it ? » Holmes whispered ; and I knew from the thrill of
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
coneixoi au tremoladís de la soa votz que, eth, l’òmi
de hèrr, b’èra segotit dinc a l’amna.
— Per ’qui, me pensi, ce hadoi en bèth muixar deu
dit un punt de cap a l’escurada.
— No, de cap ací !
Lo cridòri d’agonia que tornè traucar lo silenci
noeitau, mei hòrt e mei pròixe que no pas jamei. E
unhaute son que s’i mesclava, ua mena d’esmarròc
pregond, amortosit, musicau e totun miaçaire, pujant
e baixant tantvau la marmusada constanta e enxordida
de la mar.
— Lo canhàs ! c’escridè Holmes. Çà-vietz, Watson,
çà-vietz ! Bon Diu, s’arribàvam tròp de tard !
Que s’èra eslançat capsús la lana e que’u seguii de
près. Mès, de quauque lòc suu terrenh escarp, casi en
fàcia de nosatis que trení un darrèir bramit desesperat
e puix ua caduda pesuga e amatigada. Que ns’estanquèm
e qu’escotèm. Nat aute bruit ne vinó pas destorbar lo
silenci pesant d’aquera noeit xentz vent.
Que vedoi Holmes com qui hombejava e puix que
truquè dab lo pèd en tèrra.
— Que’ns a colhonat, Watson. Qu’èm arribats tròp de
tard !
— No, no, segur que no !
— Ase qui soi estat de retiéner la mia man. E vos,
his voice that he, the man of iron, was shaken to the soul. « Where
is it, Watson ? »
« There, I think ». I pointed into the darkness.
« No, there ! »
Again the agonized cry swept through the silent night, louder and
much nearer than ever. And a new sound mingled with it, a deep,
muttered rumble, musical and yet menacing, rising and falling like
the low, constant murmur of the sea.
« The hound ! » cried Holmes, « Come, Watson, come ! Great
heavens, if we are too late ! »
He had started running swiftly .over the moor, and I had followed
at his heels. But now from somewhere among the broken ground
immediately in front of us there came one last despairing yell, and
then a dull, heavy thud. « We halted and listened. Not another sound
broke the heavy silence of the windless night.
I saw Holmes put his hand to his forehead, like a man distracted.
He stamped his feet upon the ground.
« He has beaten us, Watson. We are too late ».
« No, no, surely not ! »
« Fool that I was to hold my hand. And you, Watson, see what
116
Watson, e vedetz çò qui arriba qüand s’abandona lo son
prètz-hèit. Mès, hilh de puta ! se çò de sordeix s’es escadut,
que’u venjaram !
Que corrèvam a l’escadut, que trabucàvam suus
rocàs, que forçàvam lo nòste camin a travèrs deus
jaugars, agradilhant los penents e devarant de l’aute
costat en tot tirar de contunh dentz la direccion
d’aqueths sons hastiaus. A cada còp qu’atenhom lo som
d’ua tucòla, Holmes que dava ua espiada circulària mès
l’escurada qu’èra espessa adara sus la lana e arré ne
mavèva pas sus aquesta tèrra èrma.
— E i védetz quauquarré ?
— Arré, tè.
— Mès, auditz, çò qu’es acò ?
Un planhit qu’èra arribat dinc a las nòstas aurelhas.
Que tornava estar de cap a man esquèrra. D’aquera
part, ua seguida de rocàs que s’acabava sus ua paret
escarpa qui susplomava un penent plapat de calhavèira
gròssa. Sus aqueth, un mormòc qu’èra com espatarrat,
tantvau un plap néguer e irregulari. Qüand s’i arroncèm
de cap, los contorns que se’n precisènn. Qu’èrann los
d’un òmi espatarrat, espotit, lo cap qu’èra croixit dab
ua inclinason hastiau, las espallas rentradas e lo còs tot
rechichoït com qui’s vòu lançar dentz un subersaut.
L’actitud que n’èra tan grotèsca que, suu pic, ne realisèi
comes of abandoning your charge ! But, by Heaven, if the worst has
happened, we’ll avenge him ! »
Blindly we ran through the gloom, blundering against boulders,
forcing our way through gorse bushes, panting up hills and rushing
down slopes, heading always in the direction whence those dreadful
sounds had come. At every rise Holmes looked eagerly round him,
but the shadows were thick upon the moor and nothing moved upon
its dreary face.
« Can you see anything ? »
« Nothing ».
« But hark, what is that ? »
A low moan had fallen upon our ears. There it was again upon our
left ! On that side a ridge of rocks ended in a sheer cliff, which
overlooked a stone-strewn slope. On its jagged face was spreadeagled
some dark, irregular object. As we ran towards it the vague outline
hardened into a definite shape. It was a prostrate man face down-
wards upon the ground, the head doubled under him at a horrible
angle, the shoulders rounded and the body hunched together as if
in the act of throwing a somersault. So grotesque was the attitude
that I could not for the instant realize that that moan had been the

pas de qu’aqueth planhit èra estat lo son darrèir badalh.
Nat chebit, nada mudada ne segotívann pas mei lo còs
néguer que i èram estancat au dessús. Holmes que’u
toquè de la man e la se tirè autalèu dab un crit de hasti.
A la lutz de l’aluquet qui hroché Holmes, qu’espièm
los sos dits pegós de la sang qui tot toixau e hadèva un
plapàs chorrotejant deu cruc de la victima avant.
E puix que’ns muixè quauquarré mei qui’ns sangglacè
lo còr : aquí qu’avèvam lo còs de’N Henry Baskervil-
le !
Ne’us podèvam pas desbrembar – nat de nosatis –
aqueth costume de tweed de la color tan particulària
– color de rodilha –, lo tot permèir qu’avèva portat lo
quite matin que’ns èram encontrats a Baker Street.
Que’ns vaguè de n’aver ua espiada dessús e puix l’alu-
quet que s’estupè e en medix temps que s’esparvolè
l’esperança de las nòstas amnas. Holmes que larguè un
marronament e per estar dentz l’escurada, la soa cara
que panlegè frem.
— Lo mostre ! lo mostre, ce cridèi en bèth sarrar los
punhs. Oh, Holmes, jamei ne m’at perdonarèi de l’aver
atau deixat au son hat !
— Que soi mei a polhar jo que no pas vos. Per fin d’aver
un dorsièr complet cap e tot, qu’èi sacrificat la vita de la
mia pratica. De tota la mia carrièra qu’es lo truc lo mei
passing of his soul. Not a whisper, not a rustle, rose now from the
dark figure over which we stooped. Holmes laid his hand upon him,
and held it up again, with an exclamation of horror. The gleam of
the match which he struck: shone upon his clotted fingers and upon
the ghastly pool which widened slowly from the crushed skull of the
victim. And it shone upon something else which turned our hearts
sick and faint within us - the body of Sir Henry Baskerville !
There was no chance of either of us forgetting that peculiar ruddy
tweed suit - the very one which he had worn on the first morning that
we had seen him in Baker Street. We caught the one clear glimpse
of it, and then the match flickered and went out, even as the hope
had gone out of our souls. Holmes groaned, and his face glimmered
white through the darkness.
« The brute ! the brute ! » I cried, with clenched hands. « Oh, Holmes,
I shall never forgive myself for having left him to his fate ».
« I am more to blame than you, Watson. In order to have my case
well rounded and complete, I have thrown away the life of my client.
It is the greatest blow which has befallen me in my career. But how
could I know - how could I know - that he would risk his life alone
117
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
dur qui se m’es avut escàder. Mes quinn donc podèvi saber
– e-ò, quinn at saber – que s’i riscaré la vita, solet sus la
lana, en despieit de tots los avertiments ?
— E díser que l’am entenut a cridar – mon Diu –
d’aqueths crits ! e de no pas estar fotuts de’u sauvar ! A-
ond es aqueth puta de canhàs qui se l’a miat entà la
mòrt ? Que ! Deu solide estujà’s per demiei aqueths rocàs.
E Stapleton a-ond es tabé ? Qu’aurà de respóner d’aqueth
murtri.
— Que cau que ò. Qu’i velharèi. L’oncle e lo nebòt que
sonn estat assassinats – lo permèir mòrt de la pòur d’aver
avut vist a ua bestiassa qui pensè de qu’èra subernaturau,
lo segond miat a la soa acabada en bèth assajar de li esca-
par. Mès adara que’ns cau har lo ligami enter l’òmi e la
bèstia. A despart de çò qui am nosatis entenut, ne pòdem
pas quitament assolidir l’existéncia d’aquera bèstia puixque
d’evidéncia que s’es mòrt En Henry de la caduda. Mès, au
grand Diu vivant !, per tan rusat qui sii, l’ausèth que cau
que sii engabiat davant qu’unhaute jorn e sii passat !
Que s’estàvam còr-macats de part deu còs desarticulat,
com ablatugats par la mauparada sobta e irrevocabla
qui èra l’acabada tan pietadosa deus nòstes esfòrçs
longuèirs e pacientós. Alavetz, com pujava la lua entau
cèu, que’ns hadom entau som deu rocàs deu quau lo
nòste praube amic èra cadut, e d’aqueth capit que
upon the moor in the face of all my warnings ? »
« That we should have heard his screams – my God, those
screams ! – and yet have been unable to save him! Where is this brute
of a hound which drove him to his death ? It may be lurking among
these rocks at this instant. And Stapleton, where is he ? He shall
answer for this deed ».
« He shall. I will see to that. Uncle and nephew have been murdered
– the one frightened to death by the very sight of a beast, which he
thought to be supernatural, the other driven to his end in his wild
flight to escape from it. But now we have to prove the connection
between the man and the beast. Save from what we heard, we cannot
even swear to the existence of the latter, since Sir Henry has evidently
died from the fall. But, by heavens, cunning as he is, the fellow shall
be in my power before another day is past ! »
We stood with bitter hearts on either side of the mangled body,
overwhelmed by this sudden and irrevocable disaster which had
brought all our long and weary labours to so piteous an end. Then,
as the moon rose, we climbed to the top of the rocks over which our
poor friend had fallen, and from the summit we gazed out over the
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
guinhèm tot a l’entorn capvath la lana escuranhosa, a
miejas argentada. A l’enlà-hòra, miles enlà de cap entà
Grimpen, ua lutz soleta que lusiva xentz mudar. Ne
podèva pas perviéner sonque de la damorança deus
Stapleton. En tot maudíser, que segotii lo punh de cap
a l’indret aqueth.
— Perqué ne l’anirem pas gahar suu pic ?
— La hèita n’es pas completa, e aqueth lèd creat es rusat
e avisat au darrèir grad. Çò d’important n’es pas çò qui
sàbem mès çò qui poiram probar. Se hèm lo mendre faus
pas, l’ausèth que se’ns escaparà encoèra.
— Qu’es çò qui pòdem har ?
— Doman que seram pro encoentat tots dus. Anoeit ne
pòdem pas que rénder los darrèirs aunors au nòste praube
amic. Que tornèm amassa devarar lo penent escarp e’ns
hadom proixe deu còs, a l’encòp néguer e clar contra las
pèiras qui argentejàvann. L’agonia d’aqueths membres
estorçuts que’m hadó vièner un sanglut de pena e larmas
que se me’n vinonn aus oelhs.
— Que’ns cau anar cercar ajuda, Holmes ! Ne’u pòdem
pas carrejar solets entà la Mansa. Diu me dau, b’ètz vadut
hòu ?
Qu’avèva largat un crit e s’èra clinat de cap en-sus
lo còs e adara aquí qu’èra a dançar, e arríder en tot me
sarrar la man. E podèva estar lo men amic tan sang-
shadowy moor, half silver and half gloom. Far away, miles off, in the
direction of Grimpen, a single steady yellow light was shining. It
could only come from the lonely abode of the Stapletons. With a
bitter curse I shook my fist at it as I gazed.
« Why should we not seize him at once ? »
« Our case is not complete. The fellow is wary and cunning to the
last degree. It is not what we know, but what we can prove. If we make
one false move the villain may escape us yet ».
« What can we do ? »
« There will be plenty for us to do tomorrow. Tonight we can only
perform the last offices to our poor friend ».
Together we made our way down the precipitous slope and
approached the body, black and clear against the silver stones. The
agony of those contorted limbs struck me with a spasm of pain and
blurred my eyes with tears.
« We must send for help, Holmes ! We cannot carry him all the way
to the Hall. Good heavens, are you mad ? »
He had uttered a cry and bent over the body. Now he was dancing
and laughing and wringing my hand. Could this be my stern, self-
118
flac, tant austère ? Vertat de qu’avèva hoecs estujats en
eth !
— Ua barba ! Ua barba ! Qu’a ua barba !
— Ua barba !
— N’es pas lo baronet ! Qu’es – e-bé ò – qu’es lo men
vesin, lo forçat !
Dab un arsèc frebós qu’avèvann arrevirat lo còs e
aquera barba espelohida que puntejava de cap a la lua
hreida e clarjanta. Ne i avèva pas nat dotte rapòrt
a-d aqueth front proëminent, aqueths oelhs en.honsats,
tantvau ua bèstia. Qu’èra tot menat la medixa cara qui
se m’èra apareixuda a la lutz de la candela per en-dessús
deu rocàs – la cara deu Selden, lo criminau.
E atau, en un virat d’oelh, tot que’m pareixó clar.
Que’m brembèi com lo baronet e m’avèva contat de
qu’avèva balhat la soa garda-rauba vielha au Barrymore.
E Barrymore que l’avèva hèita passar au Selden per tant
de li har mei aisida la hugida. Las cauçaduras, la camisa,
lo bonet – tot qu’èra de’N Henry. La tragedia qu’èra
totjamei pro escura, mès aqueth òmi qu’avèva au mentz
ameritat la mòrt segond las leis deu país. Que dixoi
a Holmes com tot e s’èra debanat. Qu’avèvi lo còr qui
trucava de gratitud e de gai.
— Alavetz qu’es pr’amor deus vestits que n’es mòrt
aqueth praube gus, ce dixó. Qu’es pro clar que lo canhàs
contained friend ? These were hidden fires, indeed ! « A beard ! A
beard ! The man has a beard ! »
« A beard ? »
« It is not the baronet – it is – why, it is my neighbour, the con-
vict ! »
With feverish haste we had turned the body over, and that
dripping beard was pointing up to the cold, clear moon. There could
be no doubt about the beetling forehead, the sunken animal eyes.
It was indeed the same face which had glared upon me in the light
of the candle from over the rock - the face of Selden, the criminal.
Then in an instant it was all clear to me. I remembered how the
baronet had told me that he had handed his old wardrobe to
Barrymore. Barrymore had passed it on in order to help Selden in
his escape. Boots, shirt, cap - it was all Sir Henry’s. The tragedy was
still black enough, but this man. had at least deserved death by the
laws of his country. I told Holmes how the matter stood, my heart
bubbling over with thankfulness and joy.
« Then the clothes have been the poor fellow’s death, » said he. It
is clear enough that the hound has been laid on from some article

es estat demiat suu tralh pr’amor d’un article de’N Henry
– la cauçadura qui estó raubada a l’ostalaria, en tota
probabilitat – e qu’es atau que’s botè a acossar l’òmi. Qu’i
a ua causa pro esquèrra, totun : Quinn Selden e coneixó,
dentz l’escurada, que lo canhàs èra suu son tralh ?
— Que l’audí a laurar.
— D’audir a lairar un can per la lana ne miaré pas
un òmi deus durs com lo forçat a càder dentz un paroxis-
me d’aixante dinc a riscar d’estar représ en bèth largar
viahòras desesperats. Se’n júdjam preus crits, qu’a devut
tirar camin ua bèra pausa un còp qui sabó qu’èra a
l’acossar lo can. Quinn at a sabut ?
— Çò de mei misteriós per jo es perqué aqueth canhàs
– en tot perpensar que totas las nòstas conjecturas e síinn
corrèctas...
— N’aubiri pas arré...
— E bé, donc, perqué aqueth canhàs es estat laixat
anoeit. Que gadgi de que ne corr pas totjamei solet capvath
la lana. Stapleton ne’u dèixa pas anar e viéner a mentz
d’aver bonas rasons de véder que’N Henry i es.
— La mia dificultat qu’es la mei peluda de las duas,
pr’amor que’m pensi de qu’auram lèu ua esplica de las
vòstas mentre que la mia e damòri un mistèri a totjamei.
La question qu’es adara : çò qui hèm deu còs d’aqueth
of Sir Henry’s – the boot which was abstracted in the hotel, in all
probability – and so ran this man down. There is one very singular
thing, however: How came Selden, in the darkness, to know that the
hound was on his trail ? »
« He heard him ».
« To hear a hound upon the moor would not work a hard man like
this convict into such a paroxysm of terror that he would risk
recapturaby screaming wildly for help. By his cries he must have run
a long way after he knew the animal was on his track. How did he
know ?’
« A greater mystery to me is why this hound, presuming that all
our conjectures are correct -’
« I presume nothing ».
« Well, then, why this hound should be loose tonight. I suppose
that it does not always run loose upon the moor. Stapleton would
not let it go unless he had reason to think that Sir Henry would be
there ».
« My difficulty is the more formidable of the two, for I think that
we shall very shortly get an explanation of yours, while mine may
remain for ever a mystery. The question now is, what shall we do with
119
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
miserablau. Ne’u pòdem pas deixar aquí aus cròcs e a las
vops.
— Que prepausarí de’u botar dehentz un deus cabans
lo temps de qu’aperèssim la polícia.
— Bona idèia. Que soi segur de que, jo e vos, e’u poiram
carrejar dinc alà. Hòu ! Watson, qu’es acò ? Qu’es lo nòste
òmi , eth-medix, n’es pas de créder, tant d’audàcia ! ne
bohitz pas nat mot qui muixaré las nòstas sospieitadas, nat
mot o tots mos plans que mauescàdenn.
Quauqu’un que’s hadè pròixe de nosatis capvath la
lana e qu’aperceboi lo lutzèir rogejant deu cigarro. La
lua que lugranejava en dessús d’eth e que podoi
reconéixer lo tastuc esberit e lo caminar aniu deu
naturalista. Que s’estanquè qüand nes vedó, puix que’s
tornè encaminar.
— De qué, Dr Watson, acò’s vos ? Qu’ètz lo darrèir
òmi qu’aurí maginat véder sus la lana ad aquesta òra
de la noeit. Mès, mon Diu, de qu’es acò ? Quauqu’un
de blaçat ? No, ne’m dísitz pas de qu’es lo nòste amic
En Henry !
Que’m passè, xentz trigar e s’arrestè au dessús deu
mòrt. Que l’entenoi a pantaixar pregondament e lo
cigarro se li escapè deus dits.
— Qui, qui es aqueth ? ce bretonegè.
— Qu’es Selden, l’òmi qui s’èra escapat de Princetown.
this poor wretch’s body ? We cannot leave it here to the foxes and
the ravens ».
« I suggest that we put it in one of the huts until we can
communicate with the police ».
« Exactly. I have no doubt that you and I could carry it so far.
Halloa, Watson, what’s this ? It’s the man himself, by all that’s
wonderful and audacious ! Not a word to show your suspicions - not
a word, or my plans crumble to the ground ». A figure was
approaching us over the moor, and I saw the dull red glow of a cigar.
The moon shone upon him, and I could distinguish the dapper
shape and jaunty walk of the naturalist. He stopped when he saw
us, and then came on again.
« Why, Dr Watson, that’s not you, is it ? You are the last man that
I should have expected to see out on the moor at this time of night.
But, dear me, what’s this ? Somebody hurt ? Not - don’t tell me that
is our friend Sir Henry ! »
He hurried past me and stooped over the dead man. I heard a
sharp intake of his breath and the cigar fell from his fingers.
« Who - who’s this ? » he stammered.
« It is Selden, the man who escaped from Princetown ».
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Stapleton que virè entà nosatis ua cara panlejanta,
mès, mercés a-d un esfòrç tarrible, que s’i escadó
d’engolir estambornida e decebuda. Que’ns oelhiquegè
a Holmes e puix a jo.
— Mair de Diu ! Quau ahar hastiau ! E com s’es
mòrt ?
— Que sembla de que s’a copat lo còth qüand cadó per
dessús aqueths rocàs. Jo e lo men amic, qu’èram a’ns
passejar per la lana qüand audim a cridar.
— Qu’audii tabé un crit. Qu’es çò qui’m hadó sortir
d’alhors. Qu’èri chepicat pr’amor de’N Henry.
— Perqué pr’amor de’N Henry particulàriament ? ne’m
podoi pas empachar de domandar.
— Pr’amor que li avèvi perpausat de viéner entà nòste.
Com n’arribava pas, qu’èri estonat e naturaument qu’avoi
chepics rapòrt a la soa seguretat qüand entenoi aqueths crits
sus la lana. A prepaus – e los sos oelhs qu’anàvann de
jo a Holmes – n’auretz pas audit quauquarré mei qu’aqueths
crits ?
— No, ç’arresponó Holmes, e vos ?
— No pas.
— En qué pensàvatz donc ?
— Òh, be sàbetz l’istoèra que cóntann los paisans tocant
un canhàs hantauma e tot aquerò. Se ditz de que’u pòdenn
audir per la lana qüand noeiteja. Alavetz que’m pausavi
Stapleton turned a ghastly face upon us, but by a supreme effort
he had overcome his amazement and his disappointment. He
looked sharply from Holmes to me.
« Dear me ! What a very shocking affair ! How did he die ? »
« He appears to have broken his neck by falling over these rocks.
My friend and I » were strolling on the moor when we heard a cry ».
« I heard a cry also. That was what brought me out. I was uneasy
about Sir Henry ».
« Why about Sir Henry in particular ? » I could not help asking.
« Because I had suggested that he should come over. When he did
not come I was surprised, and I naturally became alarmed for his
safety when I heard cries upon the moor. By the way » his eyes darted
again from my face to Holmes’s - « did you hear anything else besides
a cry ? »
« No, » said Holmes ; « did you ? »
« No ». « What do you mean then ?’
« Oh, you know the stories that the peasants tell about a phantom
hound, and so on. It is said to be heard at night upon the moor. I
was wondering if there were any evidence of such a sound to-
night ».
120
la question de saber se quauquarré atau s’èra debanat
anoeit.
— N’am pas audit arré d’aquesta mena, ce hadoi.
— E quau es la vòsta teoria rapòrt a la mòrt d’aqueth
praube gent ?
— Que soi segur de que l’ància e lo hred e se li ann gahat
lo dessús. Qüand comencè de holejar, que s’arroncè capvath
la lana e s’escadó de qu’es tombat aquí, deu som avant,
e s’i es còth-torçut.
— Que sembla d’estar la teoria la mei rasonabla, ce dixó
Stapleton, en bèth aledar com qui es solaciat – ce’m
pareixó. De qué’n pénsatz, mossur Holmes ?
Lo men amic que’s clinè en mena de compliment.
— Qu’i sàbetz har entà identificar los gents, ce dixó.
— Que v’esperàvam per aquí desempuix lo doctor
Watson e i es. Qu’ètz arribat per temps entà-d assistir
a ua mauparada.
— Ò-bé, quiò. Ne dotti pas que las esplicas deu men
amic e correspòninn a çò qui’s debanè. Mès goardarèi un
maixant soviéner qüand me’n torni doman entà Londras.
— Òh, que ve’n tórnatz doman ?
— Acò qu’es la mia intencion.
— Qu’espèri la vòsta vesita qu’a tirat a lutz aqueras
hèitas de qui’ns ann estambornits ?
Holmes que haucè las espallas.
« We heard nothing of the kind, » said I.
« And what is your theory of this poor fellow’s death? » 1 have no
doijbt that anxiety and exposure have driven him off his head. He
has rushed about the moor in a crazy state and eventually fallen over
here and broken his neck ».
« That seems the most reasonable theory, » said Stapleton, and
he gave a sigh which I took to indicate his relief. « What do you think
about it, Mr Sherlock Holmes ?’
My friend bowed his compliments. « You are quick at identification,
» said he.
« We have been expecting you in these parts since Dr Watson came
down. You are in time to see a tragedy ».
« Yes, indeed. I have no doubt that my friend’s explanation will
cover the facts. I will take an unpleasant remembrance back to
London with me tomorrow ».
« Oh, you return tomorrow ? »
« That is my intention ».
I hope your visit has cast some light upon those occurrences which
have puzzled us ?’
Holmes shrugged his shoulders.

— Ne’s pòt pas totjamei ganhar a maugrat d’at esperar
a tot hòrt. Un investigator que li hè besonh hèitas e no pas
legendas o rumors. Ne serà pas estat un ahar qui m’agi
agradat.
Lo men amic que devisava deu mòde lo mei franc e
lo mei destacat qui li coneixèvi. Stapleton que se
l’espiava ficsadament. Puix que’s virè de cap a jo.
— Que perpausarí plan de carrejar aqueth praube gent
entà nòste, mès que balharé solide ua tau pòur a la mia
sòr que m’estimaré mei d’at no pas har. Me sembla que,
se botàvam quaquarré entà l’aprigar, ne riscaré pas arré
dinc a doman matin.
E atau qu’estó hèit. Jo e Holmes que dixom de-no
a l’auhèrta de Stapleton de’ns aubergar e que la gahèm
entà Baskerville Hall mentra lo naturalista e se’n tornava
solet a soa-casi. Que’ns arrevirèm entà véder lo son
tastuc a’s har enlà toixau capvath la lana grand, a
l’endarrèir que sobrava suu penent argentejant aqueth
plap escur qu’ensenhava l’indret ond èra ajacat aqueth
praube gent qui avèva coneixut ua fin tan hastiala.
— Enfin que n’èm a crotzar lo hèrr dab eth, ce dixó
Holmes, mentra qui marxàvam amassa sus la lana.
Quau sangflaquèr a lo nòste òmi ! Com s’es arregahat eth-
medix a maugrat de l’estrementida qu’espravè en bèth
compte-rende’s de que n’èra pas lo qui esperava lo qui s’èra
« One cannot always have the success for which one hopes. An
investigator needs facts, and not legends or rumours. It has not been
a satisfactory case ».
My friend spoke in his frankest and most unconcerned manner.
Stapleton still looked hard at him. Then he turned to me.
I would suggest carrying this poor fellow to my house, but it would
give my sister such a fright that I do not feel justified in doing it. I
think that if we put something over his face he will be safe until
morning ».
And so it was arranged. Resisting Stapleton’s offer of hospitality,
Holmes and I set off to Baskerville Hall, leaving the naturalist to
return alone. Looking back we saw the figure moving slowly away over
the broad moor, and behind him that one black smudge on the
silvered slope which showed where the man was lying who had come
so horribly to his end.
« We’re at close grips at last, » said Holmes, as we walked together
across the moor. « What a nerve the fellow has ! How he pulled himself
together in the face of what must have been a paralysing shock when
he found that the wrong man had fallen a victim to his plot. I told
121
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
espotit. Que v’at dixoi a Londras, Watson e que v’at torni
díser adara : jamei n’ann pas encontrat un adversari qui
se’n valèva de crotzar lo hèrr contra nos.
— Que’m hè dòu de que v’agi vist.
— Qu’es çò qui pensèi permèir. Mès n’i avèva pas nat
mejan d’at esvitar.
— Quau efèit e pòt aver suus sons plans, adara que sap
de qu’ètz aquí ? Qué ne’n pénsatz ?
— Acò que serà l’encausa que sii eth mei prudent o bé
que’u miarà a aver agís desesperats, suu pic. Com la mage
part deus criminaus intelligents, qu’aurà belèu tròp ahida
en lo son pròpi capadge e que creirà de que’ns a completa-
ment colhonats.
— Perqué no pas l’arrestar de-tira ?
— Mon car Watson, qu’ètz hèit entà estar un òmi
d’accion. D’instincte que vòletz totjamei miar accions
energicas. Mès, en bèth maginar de que l’avóssim arrestat
anoeit – acò preu plaser de la discutida –, en qué lo diable
e serem estats mei avançats ? Ne pòdem pas probar arré
contra eth. Acò qu’es la soa abinletat ihernau ! S’agiva eth
per l’intermediari d’un creat uman, que poirem tirar a lutz
ua pròba sii çò qui sii. Mès, e pervienóssim a desentutar
aqueth can gròs, acò nos ajadurà pas mei qu’atau a passar
lo nòid corredís au còth deu son mèste.
— Totun, qu’am elements...
you in London, Watson, and I will tell you now again, that we have
never had a foeman more worthy of our steel ».
« I am sorry that he has seen you ».
« And so was I at first. But there was no getting out of it ».
« What effect do you think it will have upon his plans, now that
he knows you are here ? »
« It may cause him to be more cautious, or it may drive him to
desperate measures at once. Like most clever criminals, he may be
too confident in his own cleverness andinagine that he has completely
deceived us ».
« Why should we not arrest him at once ? »
« My dear Watson, you were born to be a man of action. Your
instinct is always to do something energetic. But supposing, for
argument’s sake, that we had him arrested tonight, what on earth
the better off should we be for that ? We could prove nothing against
him. There’s the devilish cunning of it ! If he were acting through a
human agent we could get some evidence, but if we were to drag this
great dog to the light of day it would not help in putting a rope round
the neck of its master ».
« Surely we have a case ».
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— Pas un briga, sonque aubiradas e desdusidas. Que
se n’arriderenn de nosatis en un tribunau se vienèvam
condar ua istoèra atau xentz amuixar nada pròba.
— Be i a la mòrt de’N Charles.
— Trobat mòrt xentz nat traç de violéncia dessús eth.
Que sàbem jo e vos que s’es mòrt d’eixante e tabé que sàbem
çò qui l’eixantè ; mès quinn harann entà ne’n convéncer
dodze jurats pegalhons ? Quaus sonn los signes de qu’i èra
un canhàs ? Ond sonn las piadas soas ? Segur que sàbem
un can de muta ne nhaca pas un cadabre e que’N Charles
èra mòrt permèir que la bestiassa e l’avó ratrapat. Mès
que’ns cau probar tot acò e n’èm pas en pausicion d’at har.
— E donc, anoeit, qué hèm ?
— Anoeit n’èm pas goaire mei avançats. N’i a, un còp
mei, pas nat ligami dirècte enter la mòrt d’aqueth òmi e
lo canhàs. Ne l’am pas jamei vist, a-d aqueth canhàs. Egau
que l’am audit ; mès ne pòdem pas probar de qu’èra a
acossar lo forçat. E que hènn hrèita las visadas d’un tau
agís. No, amic men, que’ns dévem har a l’idèia que n’am
pas arré qui valhi dentz lo nòste dorsièr e que se’n vau la
pena de que córrim risques de quau mena qui estossi entà
l’assolidar.
« Not a shadow of one – only surmise and conjecture. We should
be laughed out of court if we came with such a story and such
evidence ».
« There is Sir Charles’s death ».
« Found dead without a mark upon him. You and I know that he
died of sheer fright, and we know also what frightened him ; but how
are we to get twelve stolid jurymen to know it ? What signs are there
of a hound? Where are the marks of its fangs ? Of course, we know
that a hound does not bite a dead body, and that Sir Charles was
dead before ever the brute overtook him. But we have to prove all
this, and we are not in a position to do it ».
« Well, then, tonight ? »
« We are not much better off tonight. Again, there was no direct
connection between the hound and the man’s death. We never saw
the hound. We heard it ; but we could not prove that it was running
upon this man’s trail. There is a complete absence of motive. No, my
dear fellow ; we must reconcile ourselves to the fact that we have no
case at present, and that it is worth our while to run any risk in order
to establish one ».
122
— E qué perpàusatz entà-d acò ?
— Qu’èi espèrrs deus bèths en Mrs Laura Lyons qui poiré
har hòrt entà nosatis qüand sabi quinn ne’n vira de l’ahar.
E mei qu’èi adobat un plan deus mens. Mès tot que’s deu
har per temps mès gadgi que, davant que sii passat lo jorn,
e gaharèi lo hòrt a la fin de la fin.
Ne’m podoi pas tirar mei d’eth e que n’anó, tot
empensat, dinc a las grilhas de Baskerville Hall.
— E m’acompànhatz entà l’en-sus ?
— E-ò, ne vei pas rasons mei entà m’estujar encoèra.
mès un mot per acabar Watson. Ne dísitz pas arré a’N
Henry d’aqueth canhàs. Dèixatz li pensar de que la mòrt
de Selden es tau com Stapleton la nes voló har créder. De
mòdes que sii en milhor estat entà afrontar doman l’espròba
qui, se’m brembi plan lo vòste rapòrt, es prevista preu
disnar en çò deus Stapleton.
— E jo tabé qu’i soi convidat.
— E bé que cau que’vs desencúsitz pr’amor qu’i deu anar
tot solet. Acò que’s deuré har adaise. E adara, s’èm tròp
tardius entau disnar, me pensi de qu’èm parats entà’ns har
un hart de sopar !
« And how do you propose to do so ? »
« I have great hopes of what Mrs Laura Lyons may do for us when
the position of affairs is made clear to her. And I have my own plan
as well. Sufficient for tomorrow is the evil thereof ; but I hope before
the day is past to have the upper hand at last ».
I could draw nothing further from him, and he walked, lost in
thought, as far as the Baskerville gates.
« Are you coming up ? »
« Yes ; I see no reason for further concealment. But one last word,
Watson. Say nothing of the hound to Sir Henry. Let him think that
Selden’s death was as Stapleton would have us believe. He will have
a better nerve for the ordeal which he will have to undergo tomorrow,
when he is engaged, if I remember your report aright, to dine with
these people ».
« And so am I ».
« Then you must excuse yourself, and he must go alone. That will
be easily arranged. And now, if we are too late for dinner, I think that
we are both ready for our suppers ».

Lo hilat que s’aprèsta
E
Capítou tredzau
n Henry qu’estó mei content qu’estonat de
véder a Sherlock Holmes pr’amor, desempuix
quauques jorns, qu’esperava los eveniments
recents que’u harenn devarar de Londras avant. Que
haucè los sorcilhs totun qüand s’apercebó que lo men
amic ne’s hadèva pas seguir nat bagadge e que ne dava
pas nada esplica tapauc sus aquera manca. Enter jo e
lo baronet que s’i hadom lèu entà l’aprovedir de çò qui
li hadèva hrèita. E arrond d’un sopar tardiu, que
hadom au baronet lo raconte de çò qui’ns pareixèva
desirable en que podossi estar assabentat. Mès en
permèir, qu’avoi lo triste dever d’informar Barrymore
e la soa hemna de la mòrt de Selden. Entà-d eth qu’estó
solide un grand solaç mès era que s’esplorassè dentz
lo son davantau. Entau monde sancèir qu’èra un òmi
maixant, mitat bèstia e mitat demòni, mès entà-d era,
qu’èra damorat lo mainadge capborrut de la soa pròpia
joenessa, lo còixe qui li balhava la man. Be seré, un
diable tot cagat l’òmi qui n’auré pas ua quita hemna
entà’u plorar !
— Qu’èi passat lo temps a’m marfandir tot lo long deu
jorn desempuix que Watson e sortí oei matin, ce hadó lo
baronet. Que crèi de qu’èi quauque meriti d’aver tingut
la mia promessa. Se n’at avèvi pas jurat de no pas sortir
13 — Fixing the Nets
Sir Henry was more pleased than surprised to see Sherlock
Holmes, for he had for some days been expecting that recent events
would bring him down from London. He did raise his eyebrows,
however, when he found that my friend had neither any luggage nor
any explanations for its absence. Between us we soon supplied his
wants, and then over a belated supper we explained to the baronet
as much of our experience as it seemed desirable that he should
know. But first I had the unpleasant duty of breaking the news of
Selden’s death to Barrymore and his wife. To him it may have been
an unmitigated relief, but she wept bitterly in her apron. To all the
world he was the man of violence, half animal and half demon ; but
to her he always remained the little wilful boy of her own girlhood,
the child who had clung to her hand. Evil indeed is the man who has
not one woman to mourn him.
« I’ve been moping in the house all day since Watson went off in
the morning, » said the baronet. I guess I should have some credit,
for I have kept my promise. If I hadn’t sworn not to go about alone
I might have had a more lively evening, for I had a message from
Stapleton asking me over there ».
123
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
solet, qu’aurí podut passar ua serada mei agradiva pr’amor
Stapleton me mandè un messadge de convidacion a lor.
— Ne dotti pas qu’auretz avut passat ua serada mei
agradiva, ce repliquè Holmes secament. A prepaus
gadgi que ne m’agradaré pas de que’ns èm lamentat en
bèth créder de que v’èratz còth-torçut ?
En Henry que hadó oelhs.
— Com acò ?
— Aqueth praube gus qu’èra vestit dab las vòstas pelhas.
Qu’èi pòur que lo vòste serviciau qui los-i balhè a-d eth
agi quauques trabucs dab la polícia pr’amor de ’cò.
— Probable que no. N’i avèva pas nada marca sus nat
vestit, autant qu’at sèi.
— Acò qu’es astruc entà-d eth – en fèit entà vosatis tots
que, en aqueth ahar, ètz tots tant qui ètz deu maixant cos-
tat de la lei. Ne soi pas segur se, en qualitat de detectiu
conscienciós, lo men permèir dever ne seré pas de har
arrestar tota l’ostalada. Los rapòrts de Watson que sonn
documents qui múixann pampró la vòsta culpabilitat.
— Mès tocant au nòste ahar, ce domandè lo baronet.
E i ètz arribat a desmesclar lo gusmèth ? Ne crei pas, jo
e Watson e’n sàbim mei desempuix qui èm ací.
— Que pensi de que serèi en pausicion de tirar a lutz
aqueste ahar davant pausa. Que serà estat egau un deus
cas deus mei mauaisits e deus mei complicats. Que i a
« I have no doubt that you would have had a more lively eve-
ning, » said Holmes, dryly. « By the way, I don’t suppose you
appreciate that we have been mourning over you as having broken
your neck ? »
Sir Henry opened his eyes.
« How was that ? »
« This poor wretch was dressed in your clothes. I fear your servant
who gave them to him may get into trouble with the police ».
« That is unlikely. There was no mark on any of them, so far as I
know ».
« That’s lucky for him – in fact, it’s lucky for all of you, since you
are all on the wrong side of the law in this matter. I am not sure that
as a conscientious detective my first duty is not to arrest the whole
household. Watson’s reports are most incriminating documents ».
« But how about the case ? » asked the baronet. « Have you made
anything out of the tangle ? I don’t know that Watson and I are much
the wiser since we came down ».
« I think that I shall be in a position to make the situation rather
more clear to you before long. It has been an exceedingly difficult
and most complicated business. There are several points upon
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
encoèra numerós punts qui nes i hè besonh lutz, mès que’ns
hèm en davant.
— Qu’am avut ua benalèia, com Watson vos at a segur
contat. Qu’entenom a lairar lo canhàs sus la lana, e que
poix donc assolidir de que n’es pas ua supersticion boha-
ròca. Qu’avoi a m’aucupar de cans qüand èri dentz l’Oèst,
e que’n sèi conéixer lo lairar. Se li pòdetz liurar ua museta
e mei ua cadea, que soi prèste a’vs reconéixer com lo mei
grand detectiu de tots los temps.
— Que crei que l’enmuselarèi e que l’encadenarèi se’m
bàlhatz l’ajuda qui’m hè daunn.
— Qué que’m diratz de har, qu’at harèi.
— Hòrt plan, e mei que’vs domandarèi d’at har avu-
gladament xentz de me’n domandar jamei l’encausa.
— Qu’atz harèi com at vólhitz.
— Se hètz atau, me pensi de que ns’i escàdim entà
resòlver lo nòste problemòt. N’èi pas nat dotte...
Que s’estanquè de parlar e oelhiquegè per dessús lo
men cap entà l’en-sús. Lo carelh qu’esclairava la soa
cara e la soa espiada qu’èra tant intensa e tan pregonda
que tant valèva ua estatua d’estille classic qui personifi-
caré la Vigilància e l’Expectativa.
— Qu’es çò qu’es ? c’escridènn jo e lo baronet en medix
temps.
Que podoi véder, qüand Holmes e baixè la soa
which we still want light – but it is coming, all the same ».
« We’ve had one experience, as Watson has no doubt told you. We
heard the hound on the moor, so I can swear that it is not all empty
superstition. I had something to do with dogs when I was out West,
and I know one when I hear one. If you can muzzle that one and put
him on a chain I’ll be ready to swear you are the greatest detective
of all time ».
« I think I will muzzle him and chain him all right if you will give
me your help ».
« Whatever you tell me to do I will do ».
« Very good; and I will ask you also to do it blindly, without always
asking the reason ».
« Just as you like ».
If you will do this I think the chances are that our little problem
will soon be solved, I have no doubt – »
He stopped suddenly and stared fixedly up over my head into the
air. The lamp beat upon his face, and so intent was it and so still
that it might have been that of a clear-cut classical statue, a
personification of alertness and expectation.
« What is it ? » we both cried.
124
espiada de que reprimiva ua esmavuda interiora de las
hòrtas. Los trèit de la soa cara n’avèvann pas mudat au
contra deus oelhs qui amuixàvann ua ahiscada amusada.
— E vorretz desencusar l’amiracion d’un coneixedor, ce
hadó Holmes en tot lhevar la man de cap a ua renjada
de pertrèits qui cobrívann la paret opausada. Watson
que pretend de que n’i coneixi per arré en art, mès acò qu’es
gelosia cap e tot, pr’amor las nòstas vistas suu subjècte que
sonn desparièras. Qu’atz aquí ua seria de pertrèits deus
bèths, vertat.
— E bé, que soi urós de b’at enténer a díser, ce dixó En
Henry en tot espiar lo men amic dab un cèrt estonament.
Ne pretendi pas saber grand causa sus aqueras causas e que
soi milhor judge tocant a un xibau o a un taur que no pas
un tablèu. Ne sabèvi de que’vs vagava de v’interessar a taus
causas.
— Que sèi çò qui es bon qüand at vei e qu’at vei adara.
Acò’s un Kneller, qu’at jurarèi, aquera dauna de la pelha
de seda blua, alahòra, e lo gentilòmi valerós dab la perruca
qu’es solide un Reynolds. Que sonn tots pertrèits de familha,
vertat ?
— Tots que’n sonn.
— E conéixetz los lors noms ?
— Barrymore que me’us a ensenhat e que’m pensi de que
sèi la litçon de-plan.
I could see as he looked down that he was repressing some internal
emotion. His features were still composed, but his eyes shone with
amused exultation.
« Excuse the admiration of a connoisseur, » said he, as he waved
his hand towards the line of portraits which covered the opposite
wall. « Watson won’t allow that I know anything of art, but that is
mere jealousy, because our views upon the subject differ. Now, these
are a really very fine series of portraits ».
« Well, I’m glad to hear you say so, » said Sir Henry, glancing with
some surprise at ifly friend. « I don’t pretend to know much about
these things, and I’d be a better judge a horse or a steer than of a
picture. I didn’t know that you found time for such things ».
« I know what is good when I see it, and I see it now. That’s a Kneller,
I’ll swear, that lady in the blue silk over yonder, and the stout
gentleman with the wig ought to be a Reynolds. They are all family
portraits I presume ? »
« Every one ».
« Do you know the names ? »
« Barrymore has been coaching me in them, and I think I can say
my lessons fairly well ».

— Quau es lo gentilòmi dab lo telescòpi ?
— Qu’es lo sòst-amirau Baskerville qui serví devath
Rodney a las Antilhas. L’òmi de la vèsta blura e deu rollèu
de papèir qu’es En William Baskerville qui estó president
deus comitats de la Cramba de las Comunas deu temps
de’N Pitt.
— E aqueth “Cavalier” (1) en fàcia de jo – lo qui es
apelhat de velós néguer e dentela ?
— Ah, qu’atz lo dret de’u conéixer aqueth. Qu’es
l’encausa de tots los nòstes miscaps, Hugo lo hastiau qui
hadó vàder lo Canhàs deus Baskerville. Ne ríscam pas de’u
desbrembar.
Qu’espièi lo pertrèit dab interés e un chic d’esto-
nament.
— Tè, tè ! ce dixó Holmes, que sembla un òmi meilèu
tranquille e de las manèiras doças, mès gausarèi díser de
qu’i a ua beluga demoniaca en lo son espiar. Me l’aurí
figurat com un gent mei brinchut, mei galapian.
— N’i a pas nat dobte rapòrt a l’autenticitat, pr’amor
lo nom e la data – 1647 – que sonn au darrèir de la tela.
Holmes ne’s prosegè pas goaire mei, mès los pertrèits
deu vielh gorrinàs que semblava de l’enlobatir e mentra
qui sopàvam, ne se’n tirè pas los oelhs de dessús.
(1) subernom balhat aus partidaris de’N Charles I qüand lutàvann contra
los de Cromwell au sègle XVIIau.
« Who is the gentleman with the telescope ? »
« That is Rear-Admiral Baskerville, who served under Rodney in
the West Indies. The man with the blue coat and the roll of paper
is Sir William Baskerville, who was Chairman of Committees of the
House of Commons under Pitt ».
« And this Cavalier opposite to me - the one with the black velvet
and the lace ? »
« Ah, you have a right to know about him. That is the cause of all
the mischief, the wicked Hugo, who started the Hound of the
Baskervilles. We’re not likely to forget him ».
I gazed with interest and some surprise upon the portrait.
« Dear me ! » said Holmes, « he seems a quiet, meek-mannered man
enough, but I dare say that there was a lurking devil in his eyes. I
had pictured him as a more robust and ruffianly person ».
« There’s no doubt about the authenticity, for the name and the
date, 1647, are on the back of the canvas ».
Holmes said little more, but the picture of the old roisterer seemed
to have a fascination for him, and his eyes were continually fixed
upon it during supper. It was not until later, when Sir Henry had gone
to his room, that I was able to follow the trend of his thoughts. He
125
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
Qu’estó quauques temps après que’N Henry e se
n’anó jàcer en la soa cramba que podoi enfin seguir lo
caminar de las soas pensadas. Holmes, que’m miè, a
la sala de sopar, e aquí, a la lutz de la candela, que’m
tornè muixar sus la paret lo tablèu, passit preus anns.
— E i védetz quauquarré ?
Qu’espièi entau grand xapèu empanaixat, las blocas
en accroche-coeur, lo colar de dentela blanca e la cara
pòt-eixuga qui n’èra encadrada. N’èra pas ua espression
de brutalitat mès un aire de seriosèr, de duretat, dab
ua boca plan dessinada, pòt-prim, e un par d’oelhs
hissants e intolerants.
— E sembla a quauqu’un qui coneixèvatz ?
— Ò, belèu. Mès esperatz un chic !
Que pugè alavetz sus ua cadèira e en tot tiéner la
candela de la man esquèrra, qu’arrepleguè lo son braç,
dret per dessús lo xapèu de plumas e lo peu anerat.
— Diu Vivant ! ce cridèi estambornit.
La cara de Stapleton que vienèva de gessir sus la tela.
— Ah ! qu’at védetz adara. Los mens oelhs que sonn
acostumats a estudiar los visadges xentz de’m chautar de
çò qui’us environa. Que’s la permèira qualitat d’un
investigator criminau de poder véder a travèrs d’un
desguisament.
— Qu’es meravilhós. Qu’es lo son pertrèit tot menat.
led me back into the banqueting-hall, his bedroom candle in his
hand, and he held. it up against the time-stained portrait on the
wall.
« Do you see anything there ? »
I looked at the broad plumed hat, the curling lovelocks, the white
lace collar, and the straight severe face which was framed between
them. It was not a brutal countenance, but it was prim, hard and
stern, with a firm-set, thin-lipped mouth, and a coldly intolerant eye.
« Is it like anyone you know ? »
« There is something of Sir Henry about the jaw ».
« Just a suggestion, perhaps. But wait an instant ! »
He stood upon a chair, and holding up the light in his left hand,
he curved his right arm over the broad hat, and round the long
ringlets.
« Good heavens ! » I cried, in amazement.
The face of Stapleton had sprung out of the canvas.
« Ha, you see it now. My eyes have been trained to examine faces
and not their trimmings. It is the first quality of a criminal inves-
tigator that he should see through a disguise ».
« But this is marvellous. It might be his portrait ».
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— Ò-bé, qu’es un cas interessent d’un endarreriment,
qui, a l’encòp, es fisic e morau. Un estudi deus pertrèits
de familha que sufeix entà’vs convertir a la doctrina de la
reincarnacion. Lo nòste òmi qu’es un Baskerville, acò qu’es
clar.
— Dab visadas sus l’eretadge.
— E tè ! quiò ! L’escadença d’aquesta pintura que’ns
horneix la peça qui’ns hadèva lo mei hrèita. Que’u tienem
Watson, que’u tienem e que gadgi que, d’aquí doman
desser, aquí que l’auram a aletejar en lo nòste poda-pèd
xentz defensa tau com un de sos pròpis parpalhòus. Ua
esplinga, un tap, un tròç de carton e atau hèit que’u
horniram a la collecion de Baker Street.
E Holmes que s’escargalhè d’arríder, çò qui èra pro
riale. Ne l’avèvi pas audit sovent aqueth arríder mès
que n’avèva totjamei sabut mau en quauqu’un.
Que’m lhevèi de-d’òra au matin mès Holmes qu’èra
estat mei matiau encoèra pr’amor que l’aperceboi a
arremontar la lèia grand qüand jo n’èri encoèra a
m’apelhar.
— E-ò, qu’auram oei ua jornada beròi cargada,
ç’arremarquè e que’s fretè las mans tot gaujós de
l’accion qui s’aprestrava.
— Los poda-pèds que sonn tots en plaça, lo pescar que
va començar. Que sauram, permèir que s’acabi la jornada,
« Yes, it is an interesting instance of a throwback, which appears
to be both physical and spiritual. A study of family portraits is
enough to convert a man to the doctrine of reincarnation. The fellow
is a Baskerville - that is evident ».
« With designs upon the succession ».
« Exactly. This chance of the picture has supplied us with one of
our most obvious missing links. We have him, Watson, we have him,
and I dare swear that before tomorrow night he will be fluttering in
our net as helpless as one of his own butterflies. A pin, a cork, and
a card, and we add him to the Baker Street collection!’
He burst into one of his rare fits of laughter as he turned away from
the picture. I have not heard him laugh often, and it has always
boded ill to somebody.
I was up betimes in the morning, but Holmes was afoot earlier still,
for I saw him as I dressed coming up the drive.
« Yes, we should have,a full day today, » he remarked, and he
rubbed his hands with the joy of action. « The nets are all in place,
and the drag is about to begin. We’ll know before the day is out
whether we have caught our big, lean-jawed pike, or whether he has
got through the meshes ».
126
s’am gahat a-d aqueth bèth broixet de la maixèra fina o
se nes es passat enter las malhas.
— Qu’ètz dijà anat sus la lana ?
— Que soi anat a Grimpen entà mandar un rapòrt a
Princetown sus la mòrt de Selden. Me pensi de que poix
assegurar que nat de vosatis ne serà pas destorbat en aqueth
ahar. E qu’èi tabé pres contacte dab lo men fidèu Cartwight
qui’s seré deixat morir au pèd de la pòrta deu caban tantvau
un can sus la tomba deu son mèste se ne l’avèvi pas
rassegurat suu men sòrt.
— E qué hèm adara ?
— Véder a’N Henry que hèm. Ah, aquí que l’am !
— Adixatz, Holmes, ce dixó lo baronet. Que sémblatz
un generau qui es a aprestar ua batèsta dab lo son cap
d’estat-major.
— Acò qu’es exactement. Watson que domandava quaus
èrann los òrdis.
— E jo tabé qu’at domandi.
— Hòrt plan. Qu’ètz convidat, s’èi plan comprés, a
sopar dab los nòstes amics Stapleton anoeit.
— Qu’espèri de que viénitz tabé. Que sonn gents hòrt
avenents e que soi segur de que síinn hòrt urós de’vs véder.
— Qu’èi pòur de que, jo e Watson, e dévem anar entà
Londras.
— Entà Londras ?
« Have you been on the moor already ?’
« I have sent a report from Grimpen to Princetown as to the death
of Selden. I think I can promise that none of you will be troubled in
the matter. And I have also communicated with my faithful Cartwright,
who would certainly have pined away at the door of my hut as a dog
does at his master’s grave if I had not set his mind at rest about my
safety ».
« What is the next move ? »
« To see Sir Henry. Ah, here he is ! »
« Good morning, Holmes, » said the baronet. « You look like a
general who is planning a battle with his chief of the staff ».
« That is the exact situation. Watson was asking for orders ».
« And so do I ».
« Very good. You are engaged, as I understand, to dine with our
friends the Stapletons tonight ».
« I hope that you will come also. They are very hospitable people,
and I am sure that they would be very glad to see you ».
« I fear that Watson and I must go to London ».
« To London ? »

— Ò-bé, me pensi de que serem mei utiles alahòra en
l’estat actuau de l’ahar.
La cara deu baronet que s’alonguè de manèira
vededera.
— Qu’esperavi de que’m haretz companhia en aquesta
hèita. La Mansa e mei la lana ne sonn pas hòrt agradivas
qüand i ètz solet.
— Amic men, que cau qu’àgitz ahida cap e tot e que
hècitz exactament çò qui’vs dic. Que diratz aus vòstes amics
que serem estat hòrt urós de’vs poder acompanhar mès un
ahan urgent que’ns a obligat a tornar en vila. E qu’esperam
lèu-lèu poder tornar entau Devonshire. E’vs brembaratz
de’us har aqueth messadge.
— S’insístitz.
— N’i a pas d’auta solucion. Que v’at asseguri.
Qu’èra vededer, au pòt que hadèva lo baronet de
qu’èra pregondament macat per çò qui considerava
com ua desercion.
— E qüand es que ve’n vòletz anar ? ce domandè d’un
ton hred.
— De-tira après l’esdejuar. Qu’aniram en veitura dinc
a Coombe Tracey, mès Watson que deixarà los sos ahars
entà muixar que vòu tornar entà ’ci. Watson, be manda-
ratz un mot a Stapleton entà li díser de que’vs hè dòu de
no pas poder viéner.
« Yes, I think that we should be more useful there at the present
juncture ».
The baronet’s face perceptibly lengthened.
« I hoped that you were going to see me through this business. The
Hall and the moor are not very pleasant places when one is alo-
ne ».
« My dear fellow, you must trust me implicitly and do exactly what
I tell you. You can tell your friends that we should have been happy
to have come with you, but that urgent business required us to be
in town. We hope very soon to return to Devonshire. Will you
remember to give them that message ? »
« If you insist upon it ».
« There is no alternative, I assure you ».
I saw by the baronet’s clouded brow that he was deeply hurt by
what he regarded as our desertion.
« When do you desire to go ? » he asked, coldly.
« Immediately after breakfast. We will drive in to Coombe Tracey,
but Watson will leave his things as a pledge that he will come back
to you. Watson, you will send a note to Stapleton to tell him that you
regret that you cannot come ».
« I have a good mind to go to London with you, » said the baronet.
127
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
— Que’m haré vertadeirament enveja de v’acompa-
nhar entà Londras, ce dixó lo baronet. Perqué carré que
damorèssi ací solet ?
— Pr’amor aquí qu’es lo vòste dever. Pr’amor de que
n’atz prometut de har çò qui’vs dirèi de har e que’vs dic
de v’estar aquí.
— Que va plan. Donc que m’estau aquí.
— Ua directiva mei ! Que voi qu’ànitz en veitura dinc
a Merripit House, apuix renviatz-la e hètz saber de qu’atz
l’intencion de tornar de pèd.
— De n’anar capvath la lana ?
— E-ò.
— Mès qu’es çò qui justament e m’ann tan sovent con-
jurat de no pas har.
— Aqueste còp, at pòdetz har en tota seguretat. Se n’èri
pas estat segur deus vòstes nèrvis e deu vòste coradge, ne v’at
aurí pas suggerit, mès qu’es essenciau qu’at hècitz.
— E bé donc qu’at harèi.
— E com tiénetz a la vòsta vita, ne travèssitz pas la lana
en quau direccion qui estossi sonque preu sendèir qui la
gaha de Merripit House entà la rota de Grimpen. Qu’es
d’alhors lo camin costumèir entà tornar a vòste.
— Que harèi tau com at dísetz.
— Hòrt plan. Que m’agradaré de que partíssim de-tira
« Why should I stay here alone ? »
« Because it is your post of duty. Because you gave me your word
that you would do as you were told, and I tell you to stay ».
« All right, then, I’ll stay ».
« One more direction ! I wish you to drive to Merripit House. Send
back your trap, however, and let them know that you intend to walk
home ».
« To walk across the moor ? »
« Yes ».
« But that is the very thing which you have so often cautioned me
not to do ».
« This time you may do it with safety. If I had not every confidence
in your nerve and courage I would not suggest it, but it is essential
that you should do it ».
« Then I will do it ».
« And as you value your life, do not go across the moor in any
direction save along the straight path which leads from Merripit
House to the Grimpen Road, and is your natural way home ».
« I will do just what you say »..
« Very good. I should be glad to get away as soon after breakfast
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
après l’esdejuar de mòdes que i estóssim a Londras dentz
la vrespada.
Qu’èri hòrt estonat d’aqueth programi, ja que’m
brembavi de que Holmes avèva dit a Stapleton, la noeit
passada, que la soa vesita e s’acabaré lo jorn d’après.
Mès totun ne m’èra pas vingut a l’idèia de que volèva
que l’acompanhèssi e encoèra mentz qu’estóssim absents
tots dus a un moment qui eth-medix e declarava critic.
Mès arré mei sonque aubedir. E donc que dixom
adixatz au nòste òste desolat e un par d’òras mei tard
qu’èram a la gara de Coombe Tracey. E renviat lo cocher
entau Hall, que vedom un joenn gojat qui èra a esperar
suu cai.
— E i a òrdis entà jo, Mossur ?
— Que vatz préner aqueth trin entà la capitala. Deu
temps qui arríbitz que mandaratz un telegrama entà’N
Henry Baskerville signat deu men nom entà díser de que,
se trobava lo carnet de pòcha qui m’èi perdut, l’envièssi en
recomandat entà Basker Street a la mia atencion.
— Ò-bé, Mossur.
— E domandatz au cap de gara se i a un messadge entà
jo. Lo gojat que tornè dab un telegrama qui Holmes e’m
tenó. Atau que n’èra :
« Telegrama recebut. Devari dab mandat en blanc.
Arribada cinc òras quaranta. Lestrade ».
as possible, so as to reach London in the afternoon ».
I was much astounded by this programme, though I remembered
that Holmes had said to Stapleton on the night before that his visit
would terminate next day. It had not crossed my mind, however, that
he would wish me to go with him, nor could I understand how we
could both be absent at a moment which he himself declared to be
critical. There was nothing for it, however, but implicit obedience;
so we bade good-bye to our rueful friend, and a couple of hours
afterwards we were at the station of Coombe Tracey and had
dispatched the trap upon its return journey. A small boy was waiting
upon the platform.
« Any orders, sir ? »
« You will take this train to town, Cartwright. The moment you
arrive you will send a wire to Sir Henry Baskerville, in my name, to
say that if he finds the pocketbook which I have dropped he is to
send it by registered post to Baker Street ».
« Yes, sir ».
« And ask at the station office if there is a message for me ».
The boy returned with a telegram, which Holmes handed to me.
It ran :
128
— Acò qu’es responsa au men de oei matin. Qu’es lo
milhor deus policièrs professionaus, ce’m pensi, e que’ns
harà besonh la soa assisténcia. Adara, Watson, que crei
que’ns vaga d’aperar la vòsta coneixença, Mrs Laura Lyons.
Lo plan de campanha commençava d’aparéixer pro
clarament : Qu’utilisava lo baronet de mòdes que
hadossi créder aus Stapleton de qu’èram vertadeirament
partits, mentra qui tórnim au quite moment ond serem
efectivament necessaris. Aqueth telegrama de Londres,
s’èra mentavut pre’N Henry aus Stapleton que tiraré
las darrèiras sospeitadas dentz lor esperit. Dijà que’m
semblava de véder lo nòste poda-pèd a gahar lo broixet
hamolent.
Mrs Laura Lyons qu’èra au son burèu e Sherlock
Holmes qu’entamiè l’entervista dab ua franquessa
dirècta qui l’estonè hòrt, a-d era.
— Que soi a enquistar sus las circonstàncias qui sonn
ligadas a la mòrt deu praube En Charles Baskerville, ce
dixó. Lo men amic, Watson, m’informè de çò qui li avè-
vatz dit e mei de çò qui li avèvatz esconut tot parièr.
— Qu’es çò qui aurí esconut ? ce domandè mauhidenta.
— Qu’atz cohessat de qu’avèvatz domandat a’N
Charles d’estar au portau a dètz òras deu desser. Que’s
sabeder de qu’es lo lòc e l’òra de la soa mòrt. Qu’atz esconut
Wire received. Coming down with unsigned warrant. Arrive fiveforty -
LESTRADE.
« That is in answer to mine of this morning. He is the best of the
professionals, I think, and we may need his assistance. Now,
Watson, I think that we cannot employ our time better than by
calling upon your acquaintance, Mrs Laura Lyons ».
His plan of campaign was beginning to be evident. He would use
the baronet in order to convince the Stapletons that we were really
gone, while we would actually return at the instant when we were likely
to be needed. That telegram from London, if mentioned by Sir Henry
to the Stapletons, must remove the last suspicions from their minds.
Already I seemed to see our nets drawing close round that lean-
jawed pike.
Mrs Laura Lyons was in her office, and Sherlock Holmes opened
his interview with a frankness and directness which considerably
amazed her.
« I am investigating the circumstances which attended the death
of the late Sir Charles Baskerville, » said he. « My friend here, Dr
Watson, has informed me of what you have communicated, and also
of what you have withheld in connection with that matter ».

de que i avèva un ligami estret enter aqueths eveniments.
— Ne n’i a pas nat ligami.
— En aqueth cas que cau la coïncidéncia e sii estra-
ordinària. Mès que soi convençut de que ns’i escàdim a
establir lo ligami, fin finau. Que desiri estar franc com
l’òrr dab vos, Mrs Lyons. Que considéram de que s’ageix
d’un murtri e, se lo cas èra, implicaré no solament lo vòste
amic M. Stapleton, mès tabé la soa molhèr.
La dauna que’s quilhè de la cadèira avant.
— La soa molhèr ! ce s’escridè era.
— La hèita n’es pas mei un secret. La persona qui’s hè
passar per la soa sòr qu’es en realitat la soa hemna.
Mrs Lyons que’s tornè seitar. Las soas mans que’s
crispàvann suus acodaders deu fautulh de tant que
vedoi a blanquejar la carn enter pèth e ungla.
— La soa molhèr ! ce tornè díser era. La soa mo-
lhèr ! Mès n’èra pas maridat aqueth òmi !
Que haucè las espallas, Sherlock Holmes.
— Pròbatz-me lo ! Pròbatz-me lo ! E s’at pòdetz har...!
Lo son espiar que lugranegè çò qui’n disèva mei que
nada auta paraula.
— Que soi vingut entà-d acò, ç’arresponó Holmes en
bèth espochicar numerós papèirs. Aquí qu’atz ua fotò
deu coble, presa a York, qüate-anns-a. Qu’es mercada au
« What have I withheld ? » she asked defiantly.
« You have confessed that you asked Sir Charles to be at the gate
at ten o’clock. We know that that was the place and hour of his death.
You have withheld what the connection is between these events ».
« There is no connection ».
« In that case the coincidence must indeed be an extraordinary
one. But I think that we shall succeed in establishing a connection
after all. I wish to be perfectly frank with you, Mrs Lyons. We regard
this case as one of murder, and the evidence may implicate not only
your friend, Mr Stapleton, but his wife as well ».
The lady sprang from her chair. « His wife ! » she cried.
« The fact is no longer a secret. The person who has passed for his
sister is really his wife ».
Mrs Lyons had resumed her seat. Her hands were grasping the
arms of her chair, and I saw that the pink nails had turned white with
the pressure of her grip.
« His wife ! » she said, again. « His wife ! He was not a married
man ».
Sherlock Holmes shrugged his shoulders.
« Prove it to me ! Prove it to me ! And if you can do so - ! » The fierce
flash of her eyes said more than any words.
129
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
darrèir “Mr & Mrs Vandeleur”, mès n’auratz pas nat
trabuc a’u reconéixer a-d eth e mei a-d era, se l’atz dijà
vista. Aquí qu’atz tres descripcions escriutas de Mr e Mrs
Vandeleur, hèitas per testimònis de qui la bona fe es
sancèra. – Qui d’aqueth temps e gabidàvann l’escòla
privada St-Oliver. Legetz-los e que’m diratz se i a un dotte
sus l’identitat d’aqueths gents.
Que’ns espiè decap e puix que’ns guinhè, malacarosa
tantvau ua hemna deseperada.
— Mossur Holmes, ce dixó, aqueth òmi que’m prepausè
lo maridadge se per cas arribavi a’m desmaridar dab lo
men marit. Que me n’a mentit e arrementit, aqueth
mostre, d’ua manèira qui n’es pas de créder. Ne m’a pas
jamei dit nat mot qui estossi la vertat. E perqué ? per-
qué ? Que maginavi que tot qu’èra hèit entau men
ben ! Mès adara que vei de que n’estoi pas jamei qu’ua
manèita enter las soas mans. E perqué damorarí leiau de
cap a-d eth qüand eth ne n’estó pas jamei de cap a jo ?
Perqué assajarí de’u gandir de las consequéncias deus sos
pròpis actes ? Domandatz-me çò qui v’agrada, e ne
v’estujarèi pas arré de çò qui sèi. Ua causa – que v’at juri
– qu’estó que – qüand escrivoi la letra, n’avèvi pas nada
visada de causar deumau au vielh gentilòmi qui èra estat
lo men milhor amic.
« I have come prepared to do so, » said Holmes, drawing several
papers from his pocket. « Here is a photograph of the couple taken
in York four years ago. It is endorsed "Mr and Mrs Vandeleur," but
you will have no difficulty in recognizing him, and her also, if you
know her by sight. Here are three written descriptions by trustworthy
witnesses of Mr and Mrs Vandeleur, who at that time kept St Oliver’s
private school. Read them, and see if you can doubt the identity of
these people ».
She glanced at them, and then looked up at us with the set, rigid
face of a desperate woman.
« Mr Holmes, » she said, « this man had offered me marriage on
condition that I could get a divorce from my husband. He has lied
to me, the villain, in every conceivable way. Not one word of truth has
he ever told me. And why - why ? I imagined that all was for my own
sake. But now I see that I was never anything but a tool in his hands.
Why should I preserve faith with him who never kept any with me ?
Why should I try to shield him from the consequences of his own
wicked acts ? Ask me what you like, and there is nothing which I shall
hold back. One thing I swear to you, and that is, that when I wrote
the letter I never dreamed of any harm to the old gentleman, who
had been my kindest friend ».
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
— Que’vs crei cap e tot, madama, ce’i responó Holmes.
D’evocar tots aqueth eveniments qu’es ua causa hastiala
entà vos e belèu que’vs sèra mei aisit se’vs disi çò qui’s debanè
e’n tot ves deixar verificar se no hèi pas nada error mate-
riau. Qu’es Stapleton qui’vs suggerí d’enviar aquera le-
tra ?
— Que la me dictè.
— Que gadgi la rason qui balhè qu’èra qu’anàvatz
recéber ajuda de’N Charles entà las còstas legaus tocant
au divòrci ?
— Qu’es vertat.
— E arrond d’aver mandada la letra que’vs dissuadè
de ve n’anar au rendetz-vos ?
— Que’m dixó de que la soa dignitat lo hadèva empach
d’acceptar qu’unhaute òmi posqui balhar sòs entà ua tau
causa e maugrat qu’eth e sii un òmi praube, que haré lo
diu e lo diable entà har sautar los trabucs qui’ns dessepa-
ràvann.
— Que’m sembla de qu’a seguida en las idèias. E donc
n’atz pas arré sabut mei dinc a que legíssitz los articles sus
la mòrt de’N Charles hentz lo jornau.
— E no.
— E que’vs hadó jurar de no pas díser arré tocant au
vòste rendetz-vos dab En Charles ?
— Qu’es çò qui hadó. Que dixó de que la soa mòrt qu’èra
« I entirely believe you, madam, » said Sherlock Holmes. The recital
of these events mus~be very painful to you, and perhaps it will make
it easier if I tell you what occurra, and you can check me if I make
any material mistake. The sending of this letter was suggested to you
by Stapleton ? »
« He dictated it ».
« I presume that the reason he gave was that you would receive
help from Sir Charles for the legal expenses connected with your
divorce ? »
« Exactly ».
« And then after you had sent the letter he dissuaded you from
keeping the appointment ?’
« He told me that it would hurt his self-respect that any other man
should find the money for such an object, and that though he was
a poor man himself he would devote his last penny to removing the
obstacles which divided us ».
« He appears to be a very consistent character. And then you heard
nothing until you read the reports of the death in the paper ? »
« No ».
« And he made you swear to say nothing about your appointment
with Sir Charles?’
130
de las misteriosas e que serí segurament sospeitada se la
causa vienèva a estar sabuda. Que’m hadó pòur de tant
que m’estimèi mei de’m carar.
— Acò qu’es compreneder. Mès qu’avotz quauquas
sospeitadas ?
Era qu’esitè e que capbaixè.
— Lo coneixèvi, ce dixó. Mès s’èra estat leiau dab jo
que’n serí estada totjamei dab eth tabé.
— Que crei, tot compte hèit e rebatut, que v’i ètz escadut,
ce dixó Sherlock Holmes. Que l’atz avut en lo vòste poder
e eth qu’at sabèva e totun qu’ètz encoèra viva. Qu’atz
marxat pendent quauquas mesadas hòrt pròixe deu bòrn
deu perider. Adara que cau que’vs desírinn ua bona
jornada, Mrs Lyons, e probable qu’enteneratz a parlar de
nosatis pro lèu.
— Lo nòste ahar qu’a los angles qui s’arredonéixenn chic
a chic, e trabuc après trabuc, las causas que s’aclaréixenn,
ce dixó Holmes deu temps qui esperàvann lo trin esprès
qui arribava de Londres avant. Que serèi lèu a poder dar
esplicas sus un deus crimis los mei singulars e sensacionaus
deus temps modèrnes. Los estudiants en criminologia que’s
brembarann los ahars tot menats a Grodno, en Petita
Russia, dentz l’anada 1866, e plan segur l’assassinat deus
Anderson en Carolina deu Nòrd, mès lo cas nòste que
possedeix quauques trèits qui sonn especifics. Mès que serí
« He did. He said that the death was a very mysterious one, and
that I should certainly be suspected if the facts came out. He
frightened me into remaining silent ».
« Quite so. But you had your suspicions ? »
She hesitated and looked down. « I knew him, » she said. « But if
he had kept faith with me I should always have done so with him ».
« I think that on the whole you have had a fortunate escape, » said
Sherlock Holmes. « You have had him in your power and he knew it,
and yet you are alive. You have been walking for some months very
near to the edge of a precipice. We must wish you good morning now,
Mrs Lyons, and it is probable that you will very shortly hear from us
again ».
« Our case becomes rounded off, and difficulty after difficulty thins
away in front of us, » said Holmes as we stood waiting for the arrival
of the express from town. « I shall soon be in the position of being
able to put into a single connected narrative one of the most singular
and sensational crimes of modern times. Students of criminology
will remember the analogous incidents in Grodno, in Little Russia,
in the year ’66, and of course there are the Anderson murders in North
Carolina, but this case possesses some features which are entirely

hòrt estonat se ne tiràvam pas a lutz aqueth ahar permèir
qu’estom ajacats en los nòstes lheits.
Lo trin esprès de Londres que miè bruit qüand entrè
en gara e un òmi petiòt, nerviós tantvau un dògo
qu’avèva sautat d’un vagon de permèira classa. Que’ns
sarrèm las mans tots tres e que m’aperceboi de-tira que
la manèira deferenta de Lestrade de cap a mon com-
panhon muixava qu’avèva aprés a’u presar desempuix
los jorns qui avèvam començat de collaborar. Que’m
brembavi plan lo desdenh qui marcava aqueth òmi
its own. Even now we have no clear case against this very wily man.
But I shall be very much surprised if it is not clear enough before we
go to bed this night ».
The London express came roaring into the station, and a small,
wiry bulldog of a man had sprung from a first-class carriage. We all
three shook hands, and I saw at once from the reverential way in
which Lestrade gazed at my companion that he had learned a good
deal since the days when they had first worked together. I could well
131
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
pratic cap e tot entà las teorias logicas de Holmes.
— Quauquarré de bon ? ce domandè.
— Lo mei bèth ahar desempuix anadas, ce li responó
Holmes. Qu’am duas òras davant de pensar desmarrar.
Que crei que las empléguim en se pagar un disnar e puix,
Lestrade, que’vs vam tirar l’aire brumassós de Londras deus
vòstes paumons e’vs balhar l’escadença d’aledar l’aire blos
de Dartmoor. N’ètz pas jamei vingut per ací ? Ah, e bé
que crei de que ne desbrémbitz pas la vòsta permèira vesita.
remember the scorn which the theories of the reasoner used then to
excite in the practical man.
« Anything good ? » he asked.
« The biggest thing for years, » said Holmes. « We have two hours
before we need think of starting. I think we might employ it in getting
some dinner, and then, Lestrade, we will take the London fog out of
your throat by giving you a breath of the pure night-air of Dartmoor.
Never been there? Ah, well, I don’t suppose you will forget your first
visit ».
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
Capítou Catorzau
U
n deus desfauts de Sherlock Holmes, – se
vertadèirament acò se podèva sonar desfaut –
qu’èra de no pas comunicar los sos plans com-
plets en digun dinc a que síinn complits. Acò per part
de la soa natura dominadora qui aimava a gabidar e a
estonar los qui l’acompanhàvann. E per unhauta part
la soa prudéncia professionau que’u miava a no pas
préner risques deus inutiles. Lo resultat que n’èra,
egau, hòrt anujós entà’us qui agívann com sos agents
o sos ajunts. Qu’at avèvi patit mantuns còps mès pas
jamei tant com en aquera longuèira camada capvath
l’escurada. Au capdavant de nosatis qu’i avèva l’acabada
de l’ahar ; enfin que gahàvam lo balanç entau darrèir
esfòrc e Holmes n’avèva pas encoèra dit arré, e ne
podèvi pas qu’aubirar çò qui seré lo son plan d’accion.
Qu’avèvi los nèrvis sonque a l’idèia de çò qui s’anava
debanar qüand, au mentz, lo vent hred per las nòstas
caras e los espacis escurs e èrms de cada estrem de la
rota estreta e m’ensenhènn qu’èram, un còp mei,
tornats sus la lana. Cada camada deus xibaus, cada
virada de las arròdas que’ns hadèvann mei pròixe de
l’acabada de la nòsta aventura.
La convèrsa qu’èra retrèita pr’amor de la preséncia
deu miaire deu carriòt qui avèvam logat, de mòdes qui
14 — The Hound of the Baskervilles
One of Sherlock Holmes’s defects – if, indeed, one may call it a
defect – was that he was exceedingly loth to communicate his full
plans to any other person until the instant of their fulfilment.
Partly it came no doubt from his own masterful nature, which loved
to dominate and surprise those who were around him. Partly also
from his professional caution, which urged him never to take any
chances. The result, however, was very trying for those who were
acting as his agents and assistants. I had often suffered under it,
but never more so than during that long drive in the darkness. The
great ordeal was in front of us ; at last we were about to make our
final effort, and yet Holmes had said nothing, and I could only
surmise what his course of action would be. My nerves thrilled with
anticipation when at last the cold wind upon our faces and the dark,
void spaces on either side of the narrow road told me that we were
back upon the moor once again. Every stride of the horses and every
turn of the wheels was taking us nearer to our supreme adventure.
Our conversation was hampered by the presence of the driver of
the hired wagonette, so that we were forced to talk of trivial matters
132
èram obligats de’ns prosejar sus causas de las mei
comunas mentra qui avèvam los nèrvis tenuts per
l’espèra e l’esmavuda.
Qu’estó un vertadèir solaç entà jo qüand passèm
davant l’ostau de Frankland e que sabom atau de
que’ns hadèvam pròixe deu Hall e deu lòc de l’accion
finau. Ne hentrèm pas dehentz la Mansa, que ns’estan-
quèm còsta la grilha d’entrada. Que paguèm lo miaire
en tot li mandar de se’n tornar enta Coombe Tracey.
Mentretant que’ns hiquèm en camin entà Merripit
House.
— Lestrade, b’ètz armat ?
Lo petit detectiu qu’arridolegè.
— Tant qui pòrti pantalons, qu’èi un pochic e tant qui
èi aqueth pochic qu’èi quauquarré dehentz.
— Plan ! Jo e lo men amic qu’èm parats tabé entaus
cas d’urgéncia.
— N’ètz pas estat lengassut sus aqueth ahar, Mr Holmes.
Quau es lo jòc qui vam har adara ?
— Un jòc d’espèra.
— E bé monòme, lo lòc ne’m sembla pas hòrt agradiu,
ce dixó lo detectiu mentra que hadèva córrer l’oelh tot
a l’entorn suus penents néguers de la sèrra e sus
l’esplandida de brumassèra qui daunejava suu hanhèir
when our nerves were tense with emotion and anticipation. It was
a relief to me, after that unnatural restraint, when we at last passed
Frankland’s house and knew that we were drawing near to the Hall
and to the scene of action. We did not drive up to the door, but got
down near the gate of the avenue. The wagonette was paid off and
ordered to return to Coombe Tracey forthwith, while we started to
walk to Merripit House.
« Are you armed, Lestrade ? »
The little detective smiled. « As long as I have my trousers, I have
a hip-pocket, and as long as I have my hip-pocket I have something
in it ».
« Good ! My friend and I are also ready for emergencies ».
« You’re mighty close about this affair, Mr Holmes. What’s the
game now ? »
« A waiting game ».
« My word, it does not seem a very cheerful place, » said the
detective, with a shiver, glancing round him at the gloomy slopes
of the hill and at the huge lake of fog which lay over the Grimpen Mire.
« I see the lights of a house ahead of us ».

de Grimpen. Qu’apercebi las lutz d’un ostau cap entà
davant.
— Qu’es Merripit House e qu’es aquí que s’i acaba la
nòsta passejada. Que’vs domandi d’aravant de n’anar a
puntetas e de no pas parlar sonque en chebitejar.
Que’ns hadom en davant suu sendèir com s’anàvam
entà casa, mès Holmes que’ns hadó estancar qüand
estom a viron dus cents mètres d’aquera.
— Aquí qu’anirà, ce dixó. Aqueths rocàs a man dreta
que hènn ua bona paret entà’ns estujar de-plan.
— E vam har lo nhau ací ?
— Ò-bé, que i haram la nòsta petita emboscada. Botatz-
ve en aqueth horat, Lestrade. Qu’ètz dijà hentrat en aqueth
ostau, Watson, vertat ? E’m pòdetz díser quinn las pèças
e sonn dispausadas ? Quaus sonn aqueras frinèstras gri-
lhadjadas ad aqueth estrem ?
— Gadgi que sonn las frinèstas de la codina.
— E l’auta, mei enlà, qui luseix de tant ?
— Aquò qu’es de-segur la sala de minjar.
— Los contravents ne sonn pas barrats. Lo qui coneix
preu miélher los entorns acò’s vos. Hètz-ve’n davant
tot-toixau e espiatz ço qui sonn a har dehentz, mès au
grand Diu Vivant, que no sabóssinn de que sonn
susvelhats !
Que devarèi lo sendèir a puntetas e que m’arrestèi
« That is Merripit House and the end of our journey. I must request
you to walk on tiptoe and not to talk above a whisper ». We moved
cautiously along the track as if we were bound for the house, but
Holmes halted us when we were about two hundred yards from it.
« This will do, » said he. « These rocks upon the right make an
admirable screen ».
« We are to wait here ? »
« Yes, we shall make our little ambush here. Get into this hollow,
Lestrade. You have been inside the house, have you not, Watson ?
Can you tell the position of the rooms ? What are those latticed
windows at this end ? »
« I think they are the kitchen windows ».
« And the one beyond, which shines so brightly ? »
« That is certainly the dining-room ».
« The blinds are up. You know the lie of the land best. Creep
forward quietly and see what they are doing - but for Heaven’s sake
don’t let them know that they are watched ! »
I tiptoed down the path and stooped behind the low wall which
surrounded the stunted orchard. Creeping in its shadow, I reached
133
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
au darrèir de la paret baixa qui encintava lo verdurèir
magrejant. Qu’avancèi, croixit, a l’ombra deu murròt
dinc a un indret que podèvi espiar dret entà la frinèsta
xentz cortinas.
Que i èrann sonque dus òmis hentz la pèça : En
Henry e Stapleton. Qu’èrann seitats de perhiu a l’en-
torn d’ua taula. Tots dus qu’èrann a fumar cigar-
ros ; que i avèva cafè e vins davant d’eths. Stapleton
que devisava dab animacion, mès lo baronet pareixèva
panle e distrèit. Belèu que la pensada de se’n tornar
tot solet capvath la lana maladita que’u pesava hòrt.
Com los espiavi, Stapleton que’s quilhè e quitè la
pèça, mentra que’N Henry e’s tornava plenhar lo veire
e s’estanflava dentz son fautulh en bèth tirar ua bohada
deu cigarro. Qu’audii lo carincar d’ua pòrta e las cauça-
duras qui hadèvann craquejar lo gravèir. Lo trepei que
passè de long de la paret contra la quau m’èri rechichoït.
Qüand espièi per en-dessús que’m vaguè de véder lo
naturalista estancat davant la pòrta d’un granjòt
arrecoenhat dentz lo verdurèir. Ua clau que virè en ua
sarralha e qüand hentrè, que i avó com ua mena de
tarrabast. Que damorè ua o duas minutas dehentz,
puix qu’entenoi la clau a tornar virar, que’m tornè
passar davant e que hentrè dehentz l’ostau. Que’u
vedoi a rejúnher lo son convidat e que me’n tornèi tot
a point whence I could look straight through the uncurtained
window.
There were only two men in the room. Sir Henry and Stapleton. They
sat with their profiles towards me on either side of the round table.
Both of them were smoking cigars, and coffee and wine were in front
of them. Stapleton was talking with animation, but the baronet
looked pale and distrait. Perhaps the thought of that lonely walk
across the ill-omened moor was weighing heavily upon his mind.
As I watched them Stapleton rose and left the room, while Sir Henry
filled his glass again and leaned back in his chair, puffing at his
cigar. I heard the creak of a door and the crisp sound of boots upon
gravel. The steps passed along the path on the other side of the wall
under which I crouched. Looking over, I saw the naturalist pause at
the door of an out-house in the corner of the orchard. A key turned
in a lock, and as he passed in there was acurious scuffling noise from
within. He was only a minute or so inside, and then I heard the key
turn once more, and he passed me and re-entered the house. I saw
him rejoin his guest and I crept quietly back to where my companions
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
toixau entaus mens companhs qui atendèvann de
que’us i condavi çò qui avèvi vist.
— E dísetz, Watson, de que la dauna n’i es pas ? ce
domandè Holmes, qüand avoi acabat lo men rapòrt.
— No, n’i èra pas.
— E ond pòt donc estar, puixque n’i a pas nada lutz
en las autas pèças sonque la codina.
— Ne poix pas cutar ond es, era.
Qu’avèvi senhalat que, en dessús deu Hanhèir de
Grimpen, daunejava ua brumassèra espessa e blancosa.
Que’s hadèva en avant de cap a nosatis, e que hadèva
tantvau ua paret de la nòsta part, baixa mès espessa e
beròi trencada. La lua que s’i rebatèva dessús e que
semblava ua mena de grand iceberg lugranejant dab los
pics deus tors a l’enlahòra qui salhívann au dessús
tantvau montanhas d’arralha. Holmes qu’èra caravirat
de cap alà, e despacientat que dixó a mieja-votz :
— Be’ns vienn de cap, Watson.
— Es grèu ?
— Grèu que n’es, solide. La sola causa qui posqui
destorbar los mens plans. Ne trigarà pas hòrt adara. Que
sonn dijà dètz òras. La nòsta escadença e la soa quita vita
que pòdenn depénder de qüand sòrti davant o après que
la bruma e’s sii esplandida suu sendèir.
La noeit qu’èra clara e bèra au dessús de nosatis.
were waiting to tell them what I had seen.
« You say, Watson, that the lady is not there ? » Holmes asked,
when I had finished my report.
« No ».
« Where can she be, then, since there is no light in any other room
except the kitchen ? »
« I cannot think where she is ».
I have said that over the great Grimpen Mire there hung a dense,
white fog. It was drifting slowly in our direction, and banked itself
up like a wall on that side of us, low, but thick and well defined. The
moon shone on it, and it looked like a great shimmering icefield, with
the heads of the distant tors as rocks borne upon its surface.
Holmes’s face was turned towards it, and he muttered impatiently
as he watched its sluggish drift.
« It’s moving towards us, Watson ».
« Is that serious ? »
« Very serious, indeed – the one thing upon earth which could have
disarranged my plans. He can’t be very long now. It is already ten
o’clock. Our success and even his life may depend upon his coming
out before the fog is over the path ».
134
L’estelumi que lugranejava hredament mentra ua lua
vielha que banhava tot lo paisadge d’un lutzèir doç e
incertan. Davant nosatis que’s quilhava lo tastuc néguer
de l’ostau, dab la teulada dentelada e las chaminèias
qui’s destacàvann suu cèu qui argentejava. Arrajadas
bèras de lutz daurejanta que salhívann de las frinèstas
deu baix cap entau verdurèir e entà la lana. Tot sobte
l’ua d’eras que desapareixó : Los serviciaus qu’avèvann
deixat la codina. Ne sobrava pas mei sonque la lampa
de la sala de minjar que i èrann totjamei a devisar, l’òste
criminau e lo convidat inconscient deu perilh, en bèth
fumar cigarros.
De minuta en minuta l’estenuda lanosa e blan-
quejanta que’s hadèva de mei en mei pròixe de l’ostau.
Se’n vedèvann los permèirs arremolins qui hombejàvann
en tot passar davant lo carrat daurejant de la frinèsta
esclairada. La paret de delà deu verdurèir n’èra pas mei
vededera e los aubres que salhívann deus arremolins de
vapor blanquejanta. Mentra qui observàvann l’avan-
çada, la bruma que corrèva a l’entorn deus dus caires
de l’ostau, l’engolompè deu plan-pèd avant, de mòdes
qui lo permèir plan e la teulada e hadèvann pensar a
un vaixèth esquèrr flotejant sus ua mar ombrosa.
Holmes que truquè de la man lo rocàs que i èram davant
e mei, deu pèd çò qui mercava la soa despaciéncia.
The night was clear and fine above us. The stars shone cold and
bright, while a half-moon bathedthe whole scene in a soft, uncertain
light. Before us lay the dark bulk of the house, its serrated roof and
bristling chimneys hard outlined against the silver-spangled sky.
Broad bars of golden light from the lower windows stretched across
the orchard and the moor. One of them was suddenly shut off. The
servants had left the kitchen. There only remained the lamp in the
dining-room where the two men, the murderous host and the
unconscious guest, still chatted over their cigars.
Every minute that white woolly plain which covered one-half of the
moor was drifting closer and closer to the house. Already the first
thin wisps of it were curling across the golden square of the lighted
window. The farther wall of the orchard was already invisible, and
the trees were standing out of a swirl of white vapour. As we watched
it the fog-wreaths came crawling round both corners of the house and
rolled slowly into one dense bank, on which the upper floor and the
roof floated like a strange ship upon a shadowy sea. Holmes struck
his hand passionately upon the rock in front of us, and stamped his
feet in his impatience.

— Se n’es pas sortit d’aquí un quart d’òra, lo sendèir
que serà tot embrumassat. E dentz mieja-òra ne poiram
pas mei véder las nòstas mans au davant de nosatis.
— E deurem belèu arrecular entà un indret mei
haut ?
— Ò-bé, que crei de que seré ua bona causa.
Atau que hadom culas davant la bruma qui contu-
nhava a’s har en davant e que’ns estanquèm a viron oeit
cents mètres de l’ostau, e xentz paus ni cès la mar
espessa e blanquejanta qui la lua n’argentejava lo des-
sús, que’s mavèva a plasers.
— Qu’èm anat tròp loenh, ce dixó Holmes. Ne’ns cau
pas préner lo risc de que sii eth arregahat permèir que’ns
agi podut juntar. A tot hòrt que’ns cau damorar en-d
aqueth indret. Que’s botè a de-jolhs e que plaquè
l’aurelha contra lo sòu. Mair de Diu ! que crei de que
l’audissi a arribar.
Un trepejar rapide que trenquè lo silenci de la lana.
Acholats qui èram darrèir las ròcas, que guinhèm
intensament entà la paret de bruma bordurada d’argent.
Lo trepejar que vadó mei hòrt e a travèrs la bruma,
tantvau de darrèir d’ua cortina, que salhí l’òmi qui
esperàvam. Qu’espiè tot a l’entorn d’eth, estonat de
s’arretrobar sobtament dentz la noeit clara e estelada.
Puix que s’i hadó lèu-lèu de long deu sendèir, que passè
« If he isn’t out in a quarter of an hour the path will be covered.
In half an hour we won’t be able to see our hands in front of us ».
« Shall we move farther back upon higher ground ? »
« Yes, I think it would be as well ».
So as the fog-bank flowed onwards we fell back before it until we
were half a mile from the house, and still that dense white sea, with
the moon silvering its upper edge, swept slowly and inexorably on.
« We are going too far, » said Holmes. « We dare not take the chance
of his being overtaken before he can reach us. At all costs we must
hold our ground where we are ». He dropped on his knees and
clapped his ear to the ground. « Thank heaven, I think that I hear
him coming ».
A sound of quick steps broke the silence of the moor. Crouching
among the stones, we stared intently at the silvertipped bank in
front of us. The steps grew louder, and through the fog, as through
a curtain, there stepped the man whom we were awaiting. He looked
round him in surprise as he emerged into the clear, starlit night. Then
he came swiftly along the path, passed close to where we lay, and
went on up the long slope behind us. As be walked he glanced
135
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
tot pròixe l’indret ond èram esconuts e qu’entamiè la
pujada de la longa còsta qui èra au darrèir de nosatis.
En tot marxar que oelhiquejava de contunh per dessús
las espallas com un òmi qui es a malaise.
— Cho ! ce cridè Holmes e qu’entenoi de qu’armava
lo son revolvèrr. Hètz cas, aquí que’ns arriba de cap.
Un trepejar com qui marxaré a puntetas, nerviós,
continut, vienent com a l’escadut, deu honds de ’quera
brumassèra mavedissa. Aquera que’s trobava a un cin-
quantenat de mètras de l’indret ond nes estàvam e que
dàvam tots tres espiadas longuèiras, en tot domandà’ns
quau causa hastiala e s’anava sortir deu son sen. Qu’èri
cobde e cobde dab Holmes e que gueitèi la soa cara
ua estona : qu’èra panle mès esmerit, los oelhs qu’estin-
glàvann au clar de la lua. Mès tot d’un còp lo son espiar
vadó com sangglaçat, redde e boca badanta d’estam-
bornida. En medix temps, Lestrade larguè un crit d’ei-
xante e que s’espotí lo cap contra tèrra. Jo que’m qui-
lhèi, la man qui èra engahada suu pistolet be damorè
inèrta, l’esperit paralisat pr’amor de l’aparicion mostrosa
qui pinnè hòra de las riulejadas de la bruma. Un canhàs
qu’èra, un canharro néguer com la suja mès un can com
jamei nat oelh de crestian ne n’avèva pas vist. Hoec que
salhiva de la soa gola badanta, los oelhs que belugue-
jàvann tantvau brasas ardentas, lo mus, las patas qu’èrann
continually over either shoulder, like a man who is ill at ease.
« Hist ! » cried Holmes, and I heard the sharp click of a cocking
pistol. « Look out ! It’s coming ! »
There was a thin, crisp, continuous patter from somewhere in the
heart of that crawling bank. The cloud was within fifty yards of where
we lay, and we glared at it, all three, uncertain what horror was about
to break from the heart of it. I was at Holmes’s elbow, and I glanced
for an instant at his face. It was pale and exultant, his eyes shining
brightly in the moonlight. But suddenly they started forward in a
rigid, fixed stare, and his lips parted in amazement. At the same
instant Lestrade gave a yell of terror and threw himself face
downwards upon the ground. I sprang to my feet, my inert hand
grasping my pistol, my mind paralysed by the dreadful shape which
had sprung out upon us from the shadows of the fog. A hound it was,
an enormous coal-black hound, but not such a hound as mortal eyes
have ever seen. Fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowed with
a smouldering glare, its muzzle and hackles and dewlap were
outlined in flickering flame. Never in the delirious dream of a
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
engolompats, com ahriçats d’eslamas. Jamei dentz
nada chauchavielha de nat cervèth holejant n’auré
podut vàder un mostre mei ensauvadgit, mei hastiau
e mei ihernau que no pas lo qui ’ns èra vienut de cap,
sortent de la paret de bruma.
La bestiassa nega que corrèva a bèth sauts suu sendèir,
en tot seguir las piadas deixadas peu nòste amic. Qu’es-
tom de tant estambornits per aquera apareixuda que
la deixèm a passar davant qui’ns podom arrequin-
quilhar. Enfin jo e Holmes que hadom hoec amassa,
e la creatura que larguè un crit hastiau çò qui probava
que l’un de nosatis e l’avèva tocat. Mès ne s’estanquè
pas pr’amor de ’cò e que contunhè egau de s’arronçar.
A l’enlahòra, suu viòt, que vedom En Henry qui s’èra
arrevirat, cara blancosa a la lutz de la lua, las mans
lhevadas d’espante e que hadèva oelhs desesperadament
entà-d aquera causa espaventable qui l’acossava.
Mès aqueth crit de dolor qu’avèva largat lo canhàs
que’ns tirè totas las nòstas pòurs. S’èra vulnerable, creat
mortau qu’èra donc, e se’u podèvam nhafrar, que’u
podèvam tuar. Jamei ne vedoi un òmi a s’i har a córrer
com, Holmes, aquera noeit. Ne soi pas maixant per çò
qui es deu córrer, mès eth que’m ganhè autant com
jo ganhar suu petit foncionari. Mentra qui corrèvam
com hòus entà davant, qu’audiim los crits de’N Henry
disordered brain could anything more savage, more appalling,
more hellish, be conceived than that dark form and savage face
which broke upon us out of the wall of fog.
With long bounds the huge black creature was leaping down the
track, following hard upon the footsteps of our friend. So paralysed
were we by the apparition that we allowed him to pass before we had
recovered our nerve. Then Holmes and I both fired together, and the
creature gave a hideous howl, which showed that one at least had
hit him. He did not pause, however, but bounded onwards. Far away
on the path we saw Sir Henry looking back, his face white in the
moonlight, his hands raised inhorror, glaring helplessly at the
frightful thing which was hunting him down.
But that cry of pain from the hound had blown all our fears to the
winds. If he was vulnerable he was mortal, and if we could wound
him we could kill him. Never have I seen a man run as Holmes ran
that night. I am reckoned fleet of foot, but he outpaced me as much
as I outpaced the little professional. In front of us as we flew up the
track we heard scream after scream from Sir Henry and the deep roar
136
e los esmarròcs baixs deu canhàs.
Que’m vaguè qüand arribèi de véder la bèstia a sautar
dessús la soa preda, la sogar entà tèrra e cercar la
garganta entà nhacar-la. E dentz lo medix temps,
Holmes qu’avèva voeitat lo cargader deu revolvèrr en
bèth tirar cinc balas dehentz lo flanc deu mostre. Dab
un darrèir bram d’agonia e un claquejadís de maixèras
hentz lo voeit, que rollè la bèstia sus l’esquia en tot
arpatejar furiosament davant s’imobilisar suu costat.
Que m’estanquèi tot pantaixant e qu’apugèi lo canon
deu revolvèrr contra lo cap hastiau e lusent mès n’estó
pas necessari de prémer sus la destenta. Mòrt que n’èra
lo canharro gigant.
En Henry qu’èra xentz coneixença tot medix a l’indret
ond èra cadut. Que’u darriguèm lo còl de camisa e
Holmes que larguè ua pregària de gratitud qüand
vedom de que n’i avèva pas nada marca de blaçadura
e que los secors èrann arribats per temps. Dijà que
perperegè lo nòste amic e qu’assagè de’s màver febla-
ment. Lestrade que’u hiquè lo son flascon de cognac
enter las dents e un par d’oelhs eixantats que’ns es-
piènn de cap.
— Diu vivant, ce marmusè. Qu’es çò qui èra ? Quau
lo diable èra donc ?
— Qu’es mòrt adara, que sii çò qui sii, ce repliquè
of the hound. I was in time to see the beast spring upon its victim,
hurl him to the ground and worry at his throat. But the next instant
Holmes had emptied five barrels of his revolver into the creature’s
flank. With a last howl of agony and a vicious snap in the air it rolled
upon its back, four feet pawing furiously, and then fell limp upon
its side. I stooped, panting, and pressed my pistol to the dreadful,
shimmering head, but it was useless to press the trigger. The giant
hound was dead.
Sir Henry lay insensible where he had fallen. We tore away his
collar, and Holmes breathed a prayer of gratitude when we saw that
there was no sign of a wound and that the rescue had been in time.
Already our friend’s eyelids shivered and he made a feeble effort to
move. Lestrade thrust his brandy-flask between the baronet’s teeth,
and two frightened eyes were looking up at us.
« My God ! » he whispered. « What was it ? What, in Heaven’s name,
was it ? »
« It’s dead, whatever it is, » said Holmes. « We’ve laid the family
ghost once and for ever ».

Holmes, qu’am aucidut un còp per tots, la hantauma
de la familha.
Sonque pr’amor de la talha e de la poténcia qu’èra
ua bestiassa de las bèras qui jadèva davant nosatis.
N’èra pas un bloodhound natre e tapauc un mastin de
raça natra ; mès que semblava de qu’èra un mescladge
deus dus – herodge, sauvadge e grand tantvau ua liona
chicòia. Encoèra adara, per mòrt e redde qui estossi lo
canhàs, las soas maixèras poderosas semblàvann de
bohar ua eslama blueregenta e los oelhs petitons
en.honsats, crudèus qu’èrann com cerclats de hoec.
Que botèi la mia man suu mus lusent e qüand la retirèi
qu’avèvi los mens dits qui ardèvann e lugranejàvann per
l’escurada.
— Fosfòre, ce dixoi.
— B’es ua adoba de las peludas, acò ! ce hadó Holmes
en bèth reniflardejar l’animau mòrt. N’i a pas nada
aulor qui auré podut interferir dab lo flairar de la bèstia.
Que cau que’ns desencùsim pregondament, En Henry, de
v’aver espausat a ua causa tant aixantabla. Que gadjavi
de qu’èra un can mès no pas ua bestiassa atau. E la bruma
ne’ns deixè pas lo vagar de s’aucupar d’eth com at auré
calut.
— Que m’atz sauvat la vita.
— Arrond de l’aver hicada en perilh. Ètz pro goalhard
In mere size and strength it was a terrible creature which was lying
stretched before us. It was not a pure bloodhound and it was not
a pure mastiff ; but it appeared to be a combination of the two –
gaunt, savage, and as large as a small lioness. Even now, in the
stillness of death, the huge jaws seemed to be dripping with a bluish
flame, and the small, deep-set, cruel eyes were ringed with fire. I
placed my hand upon the glowing muzzle, and as I held them up
my own fingers smouldered and gleamed in the darkness.
« Phosphorus, » I said.
« A cunning preparation of it, » said Holmes, sniffing at the dead
animal. « There is no smell which might have interfered with his power
of scent. We owe you a deep apology. Sir Henry, for having exposed
you to this fright. I was prepared for a hound, but not for such a
creature as this. And the fog gave us little time to receive him ».
« You have saved my life ».
« Having first endangered it. Are you strong enough to stand ? »
« Give me another mouthful of that brandy and I shall be ready
for anything. So ! Now, if you will help me up. What do you propose
137
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
adara entà’vs tiéner quilhat ?
— Datz-me unhauta horrupada d’aqueth cognac e que
serèi parat entà que qui estossi. Haut ! adara se’m vòletz
ajudar a m’arrequilhar. Qué pénsatz har adara ?
— De’vs deixar aquí. N’ètz pas en estat anoeit de’vs
lançar de cap entà navèras benalèias. Se vòletz plan
esperar aquí, un o l’aute de nosatis que tornarà entau Hall
dab vos.
Qu’assagè de’s quilhar de pèd ; mès qu’èra totjamei
panle com la mòrt e la tremblèira que se l’avèva gahat
cap e tot. Que l’ajudèm dinc a un rocàs ond se seitè,
tot tremolant e’n bèth s’estujar lo cap hentz las mans.
— Que cau que’vs dèixim adara, ce dixó Holmes.
Que’ns cau acabar çò de començat e cada instant qu’es
importent. Qu’am l’ahar ganhat e ne vòlem adara arré
sonque gahar lo nòste òmi.
Ce contuhè eth :
— Un contra mila se ns’i escàdem a trobar Stapleton
a soa-casi, mentra qui nse’n tornàvam entà l’ostau a
bonas camadas. Los petarrats que l’ann devut avertir de
que la partida èra perduda tà d’eth.
— Qu’èram pro aloenhats e la bruma, belèu, que’us aurà
amortosits.
— Que seguiva lo canhàs entà se l’arrecaptar de-tira,
que’n pòdetz estar segur. Nani, a l’òra d’ara que s’es esca-
to do ? »
« To leave you here. You are not fit for further adventures to-
night. If you will wait, one or other of us will go back with you to the
Hall ».
He tried to stagger to his feet ; but he was still ghastly pale and
trembling in every limb. We helped him to a rock, where he sat
shivering with his face buried in his hands.
« We must leave you now, » said Holmes. « The rest of our work must
be done, and every moment is of importance. We have our case, and
now we only want our man. »
« It’s a thousand to one against our finding him at the house, »
he continued, as we retraced our steps swiftly down the path. «Those
shots must have told him that the game was up ».
« We were some distance off, and this fog may have deadened
them ».
« He followed the hound to call him off – of that you may be certain.
No, no, he’s gone by this time ! But we’ll search the house and make
sure ».
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
pat solide. Mès que vam egau horrucar l’ostalada entà’ns
assegurà’n.
La pòrta d’entrada qu’èra ubèrta, tabé que’ns arroncèm
dehentz e puix, de cramba en cramba, au grand estona-
ment d’un vielh serviciau hombejant qui encontrèm
dentz lo corredor. Lutz ne n’i avèva pas que dehentz
la sala de minjar, mès Holmes que se la hadó seguir
e no deixè pas nat arrecoenh de l’ostau xentz d’i hor-
rucar menimosament. Nat traç ne trobèm pas de l’òmi
qui èram a acaçar. Au permèir plan, totun, ua de las
pòrtas de cramba qu’èra clavada.
— Que i a quauqu’un dehentz ! ce cridè Lestrade.
qu’enteni a quauqu’un qui’s mau ! Aubritz aquesta pòr-
ta !
De l’auta part que’ns vienè un gemic aflaquit e mei
un forfolhadís de teixut. Holmes que larguè un còp de
pèd deus hòrts tot just au dret de la sarralha e la pòrta
que s’alandè. Pistolet en man, que’ns arroncèm tots
tres cap-hentz la cramba.
Mès dehentz n’i avèva pas nat tralh d’aqueth gusàs
qui esperàvam trobà’i. En plaça d’eth, qu’èram en
preséncia d’ua causa tant estranha e tant estonanta que
ns’estam ua pausa boca badanta d’estambornida.
La cramba qu’èra estada ameinadjada en ua mena de
musèu chicòi : las parets qu’èrann caperadas de veirinas
The front door was open, so we rushed in and hurried from room
to room, to the amazement of a doddering old manservant, who met
us in the passage. There was no light save in the dining-room, but
Holmes caught up the lamp, and left no corner of the house
unexplored. No sign could we see of the man whom we were chasing.
On the upper floor, however, one of the bedroom doors was locked.
« There’s someone in here ! » cried Lestrade. « I can hear a
movement. Open this door ! »
A faint moaning and rustling came from within. Holmes struck the
door just over the lock with the flat of his foot, and it flew open. Pistol
in hand, we all three rushed into the room.
But there was no sign within it of that desperate and defiant villain
whom we expected to see. Instead we were faced by an object so
strange and so unexpected that we stood for a moment staring at
it in amazement.
The room had been fashioned into a small museum, and the walls
were lined by a number of glass-topped cases full of that collection
of butterflies and moths the formation of which had been the
relaxation of this complex and dangerous man. In the centre of this
138
ond èra amassada la colleccion de parpalhòus qu’aqueth
òmi dangeirós e turmentat e n’avèva hèit lo son passa-
temps afavorit. Au bèth miei d’aquera cramba qu’èra
quilhat un piterau verticau qu’avèvann hicat ad aqueth
indret entà sustiéner lo piterau vielh tot cussoat qui
portava la teulada. A-d aquera pòst un gent qu’èra
ligotat mès, de tant qu’èra entorceligat e gusmerat
dentz los linçòus qui avèvann servit entà l’estacar au
mei sarrat, ne’s podèva pas destriar s’èra un òmi o ua
hemna. Passat a l’entorn de la garganta, un tòrcle que
l’estacava au pialar de husta. Unhaute tòrcle qu’aprigava
lo baix de la cara e deixava paréixer dus oelhs escurs
– de’us qui sonn arràs de xegrin, de vergonha e d’ua
interrogacion engoeixada – que’ns oelhiquejàvann. En
ua minuta, qu’avèvam tirat lo badalhon, destacat los
ligams e Mrs Stapleton que s’estanflè suu planxat da-
vant nosatis. Que capbaixè e que vedoi suu son còth
lo traç arroi, qu’avèva deixat un còp de hoet.
— La bruta qui es ! ce cridè Holmes. Aquí, Lestrade
hètz petar la vòsta botelha de cognac ! Hicatz-la suu
fautulh. Qu’es harta de maumiadas e d’aganiment.
Era que tornè aubrir los oelhs.
— Es viu ? ce domandè. S’i es escadut ?
— Ne s’i escaderà pas, dauna.
room there was an upright beam, which had been placed at some
period as a support for the old worm-eaten balk of timber which
spanned the roof. To this post a figure was tied, so swathed and
muffled in sheets which had been used to secure it that one could
not for the moment tell whether it was that of a man or a woman. One
towel passed round the throat, and was secured at the back of the
pillar. Another covered the lower part of the face and over it two dark
eyes – eyes full of grief and shame and a dreadful questioning –
stared back at us. In a minute we had torn off the gag, unswathed
the bonds, and Mrs Stapleton sank upon the floor in front of us. As
her beautiful head fell upon her chest I saw the clear red weal of a
whip-lash across her neck.
The brute ! » cried Holmes. « Here, Lestrade, your brandybottle !
Put her in the chair ! She has fainted from ill-usage and exhaus-
tion ».
She opened her eyes again.
« Is he safe ? » she asked. « Has he escaped ? »
« He cannot escape us, madam ».
« No, no, I did not mean my husband. Sir Henry ? Is he safe ? »

— No, no, ne pensavi pas au men marit. En Henry ?
es viu ?
— Ò-bé, que n’es.
— E lo canhàs ?
— Mòrt que n’es.
Que larguè era ua longa bohada de contentèir.
— Diu mercés ! Diu mercés ! Òh lo salopiàs ! espiatz
com m’a trattat ! Que’s trossè las manjas e’ns muixè los
sos braç ; que vedom – dab hasti – de qu’èrann macats
de pertot.
— E acò n’es pas arré ! ce contunhè era. Qu’es la mia
amna e lo men esperit qui a turmentats e salopejats. D’at
engolir tot qu’èri capabla : maumiadas, soledat, ua vita-
vitanta hèita de decebudas. Tant qui podèvi esperar de que
conservavi lo son amor. Mès adara que sèi que soi estada
colhonada, enganada...
E com acabava de parlar que s’esplorassè.
— Ne li’n sàbetz pas nat ben, adara, Madama ? ce
hadó Holmes. Disetz-nos a-ond lo pòdem trobar. Se v’es
escadut de l’ajudar entà har lo mau, hètz-v’i adara de
mòdes de ve’n meritar lo sauvament.
— N’i a pas qu’un indret ond s’i a podut escapar,
ç’arresponó. Qu’i a ua vielha mina d’estam qui’s tròba
sus un islòt au bèth mitan deu Grand Hanhèir. Qu’èra
alahòra que’s goardava lo canhàs e mei, qu’i avèva hèit
« Yes ».
« And the hound ? »
« It is dead ».
She gave a long sigh of satisfaction.
« Thank God ! Thank God ! Oh, this villain ! See how he has treated
me ! »
She shot her arms out from her sleeves, and we saw with horror
that they were all mottled with bruises.
« But this is nothing - nothing ! It is my mind artd soul that he has
tortured and defiled. I could endure it all, ill-usage, solitude, a life
of deception, everything, as long as I could still cling to the hope
that I had his love, but now I know that in this also I have been
his dupe and his tool ».
She broke into passionate sobbing as she spoke.
« You bear him no good will, madam, » said Holmes. « Tell us, then,
where we’shall find him. If you have ever aided him in evil, help us
now and so atone ».
« There is but one place where he can have fled, » she answered.
« There is an old tin mine on an island in the heart of the Mire. It was
there that he kept his hound, and there also he had made prepara-
139
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
òbras de mòdes d’i aver un arrecapte. De cap aquí que s’a
devut hoéger.
Lo brum que pegava a la frinèsta tantvau coton blanc.
Holmes que lhevè la lampa de cap.
— Espiatz, ce dixó era. Digun ne’s trobarà pas lo camin
anoeit dehentz lo Hanhèir Grand de Grimpen.
Que se n’arridó e que piquè de las mans. Oelhs e
dents que lusívann d’un gai maixant.
— Que’s trobarà lo camin entà hentrar mès no pas tà’n
sortir, ce s’escridè era. E com poiré véder los pauhics hentz
l’escur ? Que’us hiquèm tots dus amassa, jo e eth, entà
marcar lo sendèir qui’n va capvath lo Hanhèir. Oh ! avossi
podut tirà’us oei lo dia ! Alavetz que l’auretz avut a la vòsta
mercés, solide !
Qu’èra evident tà nosatis que tota perseguida e’s haré
en vaganau dinc au moment qui lo brum e’s seré esta-
vanit. Mentra qui deixàvam Lestrade a s’aucupar de
l’ostalada, jo e Holmes que tornèm entau Hall per tant
de racompanhar lo baronet. Ne li podèvam pas mei
estujar l’istòria deus Stapleton mès que hadó cap
brabament qüand aprenó la vertat tocant a la hemna
qui se n’èra enamorada. Totun, l’estrementida de las
soas aventuras de la noeit passada que li avèva segotit
los nèrvis e, au matin, qu’avèva la riula e que’s botè a
desparlar. Lo doctor Mortimer que s’aucupè d’eth.
tions so that he might have a refuge. That is where he would fly ».
The fog-bank lay like white wool against the window. Holmes
held the lamp towards it.
« See, » said he. « No one could find his way into the Grimpen Mire
tonight ».
She laughed and clapped her hands. Her eyes and teeth gleamed
with fierce merriment.
« He may find his way in, but never out, » she cried. « How can he
see the guiding wands tonight ? We planted them together, he and
I, to mark the pathway through the Mire. Oh, if I could only have
plucked them out today ! Then indeed you would have had him at
your mercy ».
It was evident to us that all pursuit was in vain until the fog had
lifted. Meanwhile we left Lestrade in possession of the house, while
Holmes and I went back with the baronet to Baskerville Hall. The
story of the Stapletons could no longer be withheld from him, but
he took the blowbravely when he learned the truth about the woman
whom he had loved. But the shock of the nighty-adventures had
shattered bis nerves, and before morning he lay delirious in a high
fever, under the care of Dr Mortimer. The two of them were destined
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Tots dus qu’avèvann previst de viadjar amassa entà har
lo torn deu mond davant que’N Henry e tornèssi estar
goalhard e brinchut com ne n’èra estat davant de vàder
lo propietari d’aqueth ben maladit.
E adara que’n vieni lèu a l’acabada d’aqueth raconte
esquèrr tot de long deuquau èi assajat de har partadjar
au legidor aqueras pòurs negas e aqueths sospieits im-
precís qui emposoènn pausa las nòstas vitas e qui
s’acabènn d’ua manèira tan tragica. Lo lendoman ma-
tin après la mòrt deu Canhàs, lo país que s’èra desem-
brumat e Mrs Stapleton que’ns miè dinc au punt qui
marcava lo sendèir qui avèvann descobèrt entà travessar
lo Hanhèir. Acò nos ajudè a realisar quau vita hastialassa
e s’avèva patit, en bèth véder dab quau gai e quau mai-
xantèr e’ns botè suus tralhs deu son marit. Que la
deixèm aquí sus l’estreta banda de tèrra frèma qui
s’ahoniva de cap entau hanhèir. D’aquí avant, pauhics
deus prims qu’èrann en.hicats aquí e alà e qu’ense-
nhàvann quinn serpejava lo sendèir d’un juncar entà
unhaute per demiei los clòts d’aiga de la grauma ver-
dejanta e las bosigas tradidoras qui hadèvann empach
a l’estrangèir de ’quera contrada. Canavèras de las bèras
e plantas aiguèiras de las limacosas que’ns largàvann
de cap, ua aulor de poiridèira e ua bruma pesuga de
to travel together round the world before Sir Henry had become once
more the hale, hearty man that he had been before he became mas-
ter of that ill-omened estate.
And now I come rapidly to the conclusion of this singular narra-
tive, in which I have tried to make the reader share those dark fears
and vague surmises which clouded our lives so long, and ended in
so tragic a manner. On the morning after the death of the hound the
fog had lifted and we were guided by Mrs Stapleton to the point
where they had found a pathway through the bog. It helped us to
realize the horror of this woman’s life when we saw the eagerness and
joy with which she laid us on her husband’s track. We left her
standing upon the thin peninsula of firm, peaty soil which tapered
out into the wide-spread bog. From the end of it a small wand
planted here and there showed where the path zigzagged from tuft
to tuft of rushes among those green-scummed pits and foul quagmires
which barred the way to the stranger. Rank reeds and lush, slimy
water-plants sent an odour of decay and a heavy miasmatic vapour
into our faces, while a false step plunged us more than once thigh-
140
pudentís mentretant qui lo mendre faus pas e’ns
plonjava, mei d’un còp, dinc a mieja-coeixa dehentz
la hanha negrejanta qui ondejava, capvath detzenats de
mètres adarrond, mothament a l’entorn deus nòstes
pèds. Aquera causa hastialassa qu’èra gahiva a las nòstas
calhivas tant mei e’ns hadèvann en davant e se, de-còps,
trabucàvam, qu’èra com s’ua man malivolenta e cercava
de’ns trajar cap-hentz aqueras honsors en.hastiairas,
tant nega e poderosa e n’èra l’enlobatada. Un solet còp
que vedom un tralh qui’ns ensenhè de que quauqu’un
èra passar pr’aqueth sendèir perilhós davant nosatis.
D’ua mata de lin deus marescs qui’u sostienèva en
dessús deu hanhèir, que salhiva quauquarré de néguer.
Holmes que s’en.honsè dinc a la talha qüand, en bèth
voler assajar de gahà-la, e s’apartè deu sendèir e, n’es-
tossim pas estats aquí entà’u halar, que seré podut que
jamei no tornèssi préner pèd suu tèrra-hòrt. Que
tienèva en l’aire ua vielha cauçadura nega qui i èra im-
primit suu coèir dehentz “Meyers, Torento”.
— Acò be se’n valèva de préner un banh de hanha, ce
dixó Holmes. Aquí que l’am la cauçadura qui èra de
manca a’N Henry.
— Sogada aquí per Stapleton qüand hoegèva.
— Quiò. Que la se goardava a la man après se n’aver
servit entà hicà’i lo canhàs suu tralh. E qüand comprenó
deep into the dark, quivering mire, which shook for yards in soft
undulations around our feet. Its tenacious grip plucked at our heels
as we walked, and when we sank into it it was as if some malignant
hand was tugging us down into those obscene depths, so grim and
purposeful was the clutch in which it held us. Once only we saw a trace
that someone had passed that perilous way before us. From amid
a tuft of cotton-grass which bore it up out of the slime some dark
thing was projecting, Holmes sank to his waist as he stepped from
the path to seize it, and had we not been there to drag him out he
could never have set his foot upon firm land again. He held an old
black boot in the air. « Meyers, Toronto », was printed on the leather
inside.
« It is worth a mud bath, » said he. « It is our-friend Sir Henry’s
missing boot ».
« Thrown there by Stapleton in his flight ».
« Exactly. He retained it in his hand after using it to set the hound
upon his track. He fled when he knew the game was up, still clutching
it. And he buried it away at this point of his flight. We know at least

de que tot èra jogat, que s’escapè en bèth contunhar de la
se har seguir dab eth. E que la soguè a l’indret aqueste de
la soa hoejuda. Que sàbem au mentz qu’arribè dinc ací
xentz pic ni pelat.
Mès ne’n sabom jamei mei sonque de maginar bèra
tropa de causas. N’i avèva pas nada xança de trobar
piadas capvath lo hanhèir pr’amor la hanha que’us
desfaçava autalèu, mès, qüand atenhom enfin un sòu
mei dur de l’auta part deu hanhèir, que’n cerquèm,
piadas, de pertot, dab arsèc. Mès avom bèth har córrer
l’oelh : pas lo mendre tralh chicòi ne trobèm pas jamei.
Se la tèrra ne’ns mentí pas, alavetz Stapleton n’èra pas
jamei pervienut donc dinc a d’aqueth islòt d’arrecapte
de cap au quau s’èra arronçat la noeit passada, capvath
lo brum. En quauque lòc, au còr deu Hanhèir Grand
de Grimpen, dehentz la hanha hastiala d’aqueth maresc
gigant qui se l’a engahat, aqueth gusmand hastiau qui
es sepelit a totjamei.
Bèra tropa de tralhas que trobènn de la soa preséncia
dehentz l’islòt ond avèva esconut lo son aliat ensauvadgit.
Ua arròda mavedissa giganta e un putz a miejas plenhat
de borrièr qu’amuixàvann lo lòc de la mina abandonada.
Pròixas qu’èrann las rèstas aclapadas de las damoranças
deus minèros qui, au segur, èrann estats caçats per las
pudentissas deu maresc qui’us enrodava. Dehentz l’un
that he came so far in safety ».
But more than that we were never destined to know, though there
was much which we might surmise. There was no chance of finding
footsteps in the mire, for the rising mud oozed swiftly in upon them,
but as we at last reached firmer ground beyond the morass we all
looked eagerly for them. But no slightest sign of them ever met our
eyes. If the earth told a true story, then Stapleton never reached that
island of refuge towards which he struggled through the fog upon
that last night.,ISomewhere in the heart of the great Grimpen Mire,
down in the foul slime of the huge morass which had sucked him in,
this cold and cruelhearted man is for ever buried.
Many traces we found of him in the bog-girt island where he had
hid his savage ally. A huge driving-wheel and a shaft halffilled with
rubbish showed the position of an abandoned mine. Beside it were
the crumbling remains of the cottages of the miners, driven away,
no doubt, by the foul reek of the surrounding swamp. In one of these
a staple and chain, with a quantity of gnawed bones, showed where
141
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
d’aqueths ostaus, un anèth dentz la paret e ua cadena,
dab ua quantitat d’òs roganhats qu’ensenhàvann de
qu’un animau i èra estat detingut. Ua esqueleta dab
quauquas tufas de peu moret dessús encoèra que’s
trobava per demiei las escobaduras.
— Un can ! ce dixó Holmes. Mair de Diu ! qu’èra un
espanhèu deu peu anherat. Lo praube Mortimer ne tornarà
pas véder lo son can tan carit. E bé, que crei aqueth indret
n’a pas mei nat secret qui ne n’àgim pas hèit encoèra la
tròba. Que podèva estujar lo son canhàs mès no pas de’u
har carar, çò qui esplicava los lairaments en la quita jor-
nada qui ne hadèva pas gai d’enténer. En un cas de fòrça,
que podèva goardar lo canhàs a Merripit House, dehentz
l’alonguet, mès qu’èra totjamei dangeirós, e n’èra pas estat
qu’a-d aqueth jorn especiau qui eth considerava com
l’escaduda de tots los sons esfòrç, qu’at gausè har.
Aquera pastaclica dehentz la boita de hèrr-blanc qu’èra
au segur la mesclada luminescenta qui serviva a n’endusir
la criatura. Aquera idèia que li èra estada suggerida, plan
segur, pr’amor de la legenda familiau deu canhàs ihernau
e per tant d’eixantar lo vielh En Charles dinc a ne’n
morissi. Arré d’estonant que lo praube gus de forçat e corró
e bramè, com at hadó lo nòste amic e com aurem hèit nosa-
tis tot parièr qüand eth e vedó ua tau criatura salhir hòra
l’escurada de la lana entà l’acaçar. Qu’èra ua idèia
the animal had been confined. A skeleton with a tangle of brown hair
adhering to it lay among the debris.
« A dog ! » said Holmes. « By Jove, a curly-haired spaniel. Poor
Mortimer will never see his pet again. Well, I do not know that this
place contains any secret which we have not already fathomed. He
could hide his hound, but he could not hush its voice, and hence
came those cries which even in daylight were not pleasant to hear.
On an emergency he could keep the hound in the outhouse at
Merripit, but it was always a risk, and it was only on the supreme
day, which he regarded as the end of all his efforts, that he dared
do it. This paste in the tin is no doubt the luminous mixture with
which the creature was daubed. It was suggested, of course, by the
story of the family hell-hound, and by the desire to frighten old Sir
Charles to death. No wonder the poor devil of a convict ran and
screamed, even as our friend did, and as we ourselves might have
done, when he saw such a creature bounding through the darkness
of the moor upon his track. It was a cunning device, for, apart from
the chance of driving your victim to his death, what peasant would
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
astuciosa cap e tot pr’amor, a despart de poder aviar la
victima dinc a la mòrt, quau paisan e’s gausaré aventurar
a ne’n saber mei sus ua criatura atau, quitament se l’avèva
apercebuda quauque còp, com mantuns at avèvann hèit
sus la lana ? Qu’at dixoi en Londras, Watson, e qu’at torni
venture to inquire too closely into such a creature should he get sight
of it, as many have done, upon the moor ? I said it in London, Watson,
and I say it again now, that never yet have we helped to hunt down
a more dangerous man than he who is lying yonder » – he swept his
142
díser oei, que jamei n’ann pas avut dinc adara a percaçar
un òmi tan dangeirós com lo qui es en.hanhat alahòra,
– que muixè deu son braç longuejant de cap a l’esplandida
deu Hanhèir, saupicada de plaps verdejants, qui s’acabava
suus penents rossejants de la lana.
long arm towards the huge mottled expanse of green-splotched bog
which stretched away until it merged into the russet slopes of the
moor.

Brembas de l’endarrèir
Capitou quinzau
Q
u’èra la fin de noveme, jo e Holmes qu’èrann
seitats – ua desserada hreda e brumassèra –
de cada estrem d’un hoec batalhèir dehentz
lo nòste salon de Basker Street. Desempuix
l’acabada tragica de la nòsta sejornada en Devonshire,
qu’èra estat engadjat en dus ahars de la mei grand
importéncia. En la permèira, que muixè quau èra la
conduita hastiala deu coroner Upwood tocant au famós
escandale de las cartas deu Nonpareil Club mentra
qu’en la segonda defendó la prauba Mme Montpensier,
encusada de murtri dessús la persona de la soa bèra-
hilha Melle Carrère, la quau donzèla, com at sàbetz
solide, estó arretrobada xeis mes après, viva e maridada
en New-York.
Lo men amic qu’èra en un estat d’esperit deus bons
pr’amor de l’escaduda qui avèva muixat en un seguissi
d’ahars mauaisits e d’importéncia. De mòdes que’u
mièi a tornar discutir deu mistèri de Baskerville.
Qu’avèvi pacientat entà que s’escadossi pr’amor qu’èri
assabentat de que n’acceptava pas jamei que dus ahars
e s’entermesclèssinn. E mei que lo son esperit, clarejant
e logic n’èra pas portat a’s desavaviar de l’ahar en cors
per tant de’s har e l’endarrèir, de cap a brembas
15 — A Retrospection
It was the end of November, and Holmes and I sat, upon a raw
and foggy night, on either side of a blazing fire in our sittingroom
in Baker Street. Since the tragic upshot of our visit to Devonshire he
had been engaged in two affairs of the utmost importance, in the
first of which he had exposed the atrocious conduct of Colonel
Upwood in connection with the famous card scandal of the Nonpareil
Club, while in the second he had defended the unfortunate Mme
Montpensier from the charge of murder, which hung over her in
connection with the death of her step-daughter. Mlle Carrere, the
young lady who, as it will be remembered, was found six months later
alive and married in New York.
My friend was in excellent spirits over the success which had
attended a succession of difficult and important cases, so that I was
able to induce him to discuss the details of the Baskerville mystery.
I had waited patiently for the opportunity, for I was aware that he
would never permit cases to overlap, and that his clear and logical
mind would not be drawn from its present work to dwell upon
memories of the past. Sir Henry and Dr Mortimer were, however, in
London, on their way to that long voyage which had been
143
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
passadas. Totun, En Henry e lo doctor Mortimer
qu’èrann a Londras, en camin de cap en-d aqueth long
viadge que li avèvann arrecomandat entà-d arrequin-
quilhar los sos nèrvis espravats. Que’ns avèvann vesitat
aqueste vrèspe justament, de mòdes qu’èra naturau de
que l’ahar e vienossi en discutida.
— Tot lo debanar deus eveniments, ce dixó Holmes,
de la part de lo qui s’aperava eth-medix Stapleton, qu’èra
simple e dret ; au contra de nosatis qui, au commençar,
n’avèvam pas nat mejan de compréner las motivacions de
l’ahar e qui ne coneixèvam pas qu’ua part deus hèits, tot
que pareixèva excessivament complicat. Qu’èi avut lo parat
de duas convèrsas dab Mrs Stapleton e l’ahar n’es estat com-
pletament tirat a lutz que ne’m sembla pas de que se’ns
posqui estujar un mendre secret estossi çò qui estosssi. Que’n
trobaratz quauquas nòtas a la letra B dehentz lo men
fiquèir.
— Belèu que me’n vorretz plan har un abracat de
memòria rapòrt au debanar deus eveniments ?
— Ò-bé, ja que ne poix goarantir d’at aver enmemoriat
tot. Ua concentracion mentau intensa qu’a lo poder curiós
de desfaçar çò deu passat. L’avocat qui mesteja lo son ahar
suu cap deus dits e qui’n pòt pleitejar dab un espèrt, que
s’aperceu, au cap de ua o duas semmanadas passadas au
recommended for the restoration of his shattered nerves. They had
called upon us that very afternoon, so that it was natural that the
subject should come up for discussion.
« The whole course of events, » said Holmes, « from the point of view
of the man who called himself Stapleton, was simple and direct,
although to us, who had no means in the beginning of knowing the
motives of his actions and could only learn part of the facts, it all
appeared exceedingly complex. I have had the advantage of two
conversations with Mrs Stapleton, and the case has now been so
entirely cleared up that I am not aware that there is anything which
has remained a secret to us. You will find a few notes upon the matter
under the heading B in my indexed list of cases ».
« Perhaps you would kindly give me a sketch of the course of events
from memory ».
« Certainly, though I cannot guarantee that I carry all the facts in
my mind. Intense mental concentration has a curious way of blotting
out what has passed. The barrister who has his case at his fingers’
end, and is able to argue with an expert upon his own subject, finds
that a week or two of the courts will drive it all out of his head once
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
tribunau, que l’ahar se li a escapat deu cap, un còp mei.
Atau, cada ahar navèth que gaha lo hòrt dessús lo prece-
dent e Melle Carrère qu’a desfaçat las mias brembas de
Baskerville Hall. Doman quauque navèth chicòi pro-
blèma poirà estar sosmetut a la mia atencion, qui au son
torn, e s’enmemoriarà en plaça de la genta damisèla
francesa e deu hastiau Upwood. Pertocant a l’ahar deu
Canhàs, que’vs vau condar lo debanar deus eveniments au
mei pròixe de la realitat e que m’avertiratz de çò qui aurí
podut oblidar.
Las mias recèrcas qu’amùixann, xentz contèsta, de que
lo pertrèit de familha ne’n mentiva pas e qu’aqueth lèd
creat èra plan un Baskerville. Qu’èra un hilh d’aqueth
Rodger Baskerville, lo hrair caddèth de’N Charles qui la
mala fama e’u miè entà l’America deu Sud ond se morí,
ce dísenn, celibatari. Que devó, en fèit, estar maridat e
amainadat d’un gojat, lo nòste Stapleton, qui lo son nom
de batisme vertadèir èra lo medix com lo deu pair. Que’s
maridè dab Beryl Garcia, ua de las beutats de la Costa
Rica. E qüand avó desvirat ua soma granassa d’argent
public, que cambiè lo son nom en Vandeleur e s’escapè entà
l’Anglatèrra ond vienó establí’s ua escòla dehentz lo lhe-
vant deu Yorkshire. La rason qui’u hadó causir especiau-
ment aqueth ahar d’ensenhar qu’èra pr’amor qu’avèva
more. So each of my cases displaces the last, and Mlle Carrere has
blurred my recollection of Baskerville Hall. Tomorrow some other
little problem may be submitted to my notice, which will in turn
dispossess the fair French lady and the infamous Upwood. So far
as the case of the hound goes, however, I will give you the course of
events as nearly as I can, and you will suggest anything which I may
have forgotten.
« My inquiries show beyond all question that the family portrait
did not lie, and that this fellow was indeed a Baskerville. He was a
son of that Rodger Baskerville, the younger brother of Sir Charles,
who fled with a sinister reputation to South America, where he was
said to have died unmarried. He did, as a matter of fact, marry, and
had one child, this fellow, whose real name is the same as his father.
He married Beryl Garçia, one of the beauties of Costa Rica, and,
having purloined a considerable sum of public money, he changed
his name to Vandeleur and fled to England, where he established
a school in the east of Yorkshire. His reason for attempting this
special line of business was that he had struck up an acquaintance
144
encontrat un director d’estudis tuberculós mentra lo viadge
entà l’Anglatèrra. E qu’aprofieitè l’esperiéncia d’aqueth
gent entà escàder-s’i en aquera enterpresa. Mès Fraser, lo
director, que’s morí, e l’escòla, qui avèva començat plan,
que coneixó ua maixanta fama qui’s virè en enfamia. Los
Vandeleur que s’estimènn mielhe alavetz de cambiar lo lor
nom en Stapleton e que’s tranportènn las rèstas deu lor
rixèr, los plans entà l’avenider e la soa passion de l’ento-
mologia, de cap au Sud de l’Anglatèrra. Qu’aprenoi deu
British Museum qu’èra Stapleton, ua autoritat reconeixu-
da suu subjèct e que lo nom de Vandeleur qu’èra estat
balhat a ua cèrta marmaucha qui èra eth estat lo permèir
a descríver deu temps deu son sejorn en Yorkshire.
Que n’arríbam adara a la part de la soa vita qui s’es
amuixada d’un tau grand interés per nosatis. Lo nòste òmi
qu’avèva hèit recèrcas, acò’s vededer, e qu’avèva trobat de
que duas vitas sonque lo hadèvann empach de cap a un
eretage de grand valor. Qüand se’n vienó en Devonshire,
los sos plans qu’èrann, ce’m pensi, nebulós cap e tot mès
de-tira, qu’avèva avut l’idèia de mau har çò qui n’assolida
lo hèit d’aver hèita passar la soa hemna en-per la soa sòr.
Aquera idèia de l’utilisar, com qui vòu amorçar, qu’èra
clarament hentz lo son esperit, tot medix se n’èra pas estat
sabeder de-tira per eth quinn s’argergarenn los detalhs de
with a consumptive tutor upon the voyage home, and that he had
used this man’s ability to make the undertaking a success. Fraser,
the tutor, died, however, and the school which had begun well, sank
from disrepute into infamy. The Vandeleurs found it convenient to
change their name to Stapleton, and he brought the remains of his
fortune, his schemes for the future, and his taste for entomology to
the south of England. I learn at the British Museum that he was a
recognized authority upon the subject, and that the name of
Vandeleur has been permanently attached to ascertain moth which
he had, in his Yorkshire days, been the first, to describe.
« We now come to that portion of his life which has proved to be
of such intense interest to us. The fellow had evidently made inquiry,
and found that only two lives intervened between him and a valuable
estate. When he went to Devonshire his plans were, I believe,
exceedingly hazy, but that he meant mischief from the first is evident
from the way in which he took his wife with him in the character of
his sister. The idea of using her as a decoy was clearly already in his
mind, though he may not have been certain how the details of his

l’ahar. La soa visada qu’èra de s’apoderar lo ben de Bas-
kerville e qu’èra prèste a utilisat quau mejan qui estossi,
o córrer quau risc qui estossi entà s’i escàder. Lo son permèir
acte qu’estó de s’establir eth-medix au mei pròixe de la
mansa ancestrau e lo segond d’amistosejar dab En Charles
Baskerville e dab los deu vesiadge.
Lo baronet eth-medix, que li condè la legenda familiau
deu Canhàs e qu’aprestè atau lo camin qui l’anava miar
entà la soa pròpia mòrt. Stapleton, com contunharèi de
l’aperar, sabèva de que lo còr deu vielh òmi flaquejava e
qu’ua estrementida hòrta e’u tuaré au segur. Qu’at avèva
sabut deu Dr Mortimer. Qu’avèva tabé entenut a díser
que’N Charles èra supersticiós e qu’avèva pres dab hòrt de
seriosèir aquera nega legenda. Lo son esperit ginhèc que’u
suggerí de-tira un mejan preu quau la mòrt deu baronet
poiré estar provocada e qui haré casi impossible la descubèr-
ta deu murtrèir vertadèir.
Concebuda l’idèia, que la se botè en xantièr dab hòrt
de finessa. Un criminau deus comuns se seré acontentat
de har dab un can ensauvadgit. L’utilisacion de mejans
artificiaus entà’n har un creat demoniac qu’estó, de la soa
part, un trèit ginhèc. Lo can, que’u crompè a Londras en
çò de Ross & Mangles, los revenedors de Fulham Road.
Qu’èra lo mei brinchut e lo mei maixant deus cans qui
plot were to be arranged. He meant in the end to have the estate,
and he was ready to use any tool or run any risk for that end. His
first act was to establish himself as near to his ancestral home as
he could, and his second was to cultivate a friendship with Sir
Charles Baskerville, and with the neighbours.
« The baronet himself told him about the family hound, and so
prepared the way for his own death. Stapleton, as I will continue to
call him, knew that the old man’s heart was weak, and that a shock
would kill him. So much he had learned from Dr Mortimer. He had
heard also that Sir Charles was superstitious and had taken this
grim legend very seriously. His ingenious mind instantly suggested
a way by which the baronet could be done to death, and yet it would
be hardly possible to bring home the guilt to the real murderer.
« Having conceived the idea, he proceeded to carry it out with
considerable finesse. An ordinary schemer would have been content
to work with a savage hound. The use of artificial means to make the
creature diabolical was a flash of genius upon his part. The dog he
bought in London from Ross and Mangles, the dealers in Fulham
Road. It was the strongest and most savage in their possession. He
145
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
possedívann. Que se’u hadó seguir en passar per la linha
deu North Devon e en bèth caminar bèra pausa capvath
la lana, de mòdes que tornèssi a casa xentz d’ahiscar lo
curiosèir deu vesiadge. Que sabèva dijà quinn travessar lo
Hanhèir Grand de Grimpen, causa qu’avèva aprés deu
temps qui hadèva a la caça de las marmauchas. E qu’avèva
trobat un jaç segur e esconut entà la bèstia. Aquí que se
l’estaquè e qu’esperè de que s’escadossi lo parat.
Mès qu’estó longuèir. Arré ne podèva pas tirar lo vielh
gentilòmi deu son ostau talèu com noeitejava. Mantuns
còps, Stapleton qu’èra vingut a rodejar per ’qui dab lo
canhàs mès en vaganau. Qu’estó vist, mentra aqueras
passejadas estèrlas, o meilèu lo son aliat, per paisans, e la
legenda deu can ihernau que se’n tornè assolidar. Qu’avèva
esperat de que la soa hemna e poiré miar ’N Charles entà
la soa pèrda mès era que muixè aquí, contra tota espèra,
la soa independéncia. Ne voló pas, en nada manèira, har
vàder sentiments amorós en çò deu vielh gentleman çò qui
l’auré hicat a la mercés deu son enemic. Miaças – e que’m
hè dòu d’at díser – quitis trucs ne s’escadonn pas a la har
cambiar. Ne volò pas aver arré a véder dab tot aquerò e
per ua pausa Stapleton que s’arretrobè despoderat.
Que trobè totun lo mejan de se’n virar pr’amor que
s’escadó En Charles, qui s’èra amistosat dab eth, que’n
brought it down by the North Devon line, and walked a great
distance over the moor, so as to get it home without exciting any
remarks. He had already on his insect hunts learned to penetrate
the Grimpen Mire, and so had found a safe hiding-place for the
creature. Here he kennelled it and waited his chance.
« But it was some time coming. The old gentleman could not be
decoyed outside of his grounds at night. Several times Stapleton
lurked about with his hound, but without avail. It was during these
fruitless quests that he, or rather his ally, was seen by peasants, and
that the legend of the demon dog received a new confirmation. He
had hoped that his wife might lure Sir Charles to his ruin, but here
she proved unexpectedly independent. She would not endeavour to
entangle the old gentleman in a sentimental attachment which
might deliver him over to his enemy. Threats and even, I am sorry
to say, blows failed to move her. She would have nothing to do with
it, and for a time Stapleton was at a deadlock.
« He found a way out of his difficulties through the chance that Sir
Charles, who had conceived a friendship with him, made him the
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
hadò lo son “menistre de las caritats” de cap a-d aquera
damisèla qui praubejava, Mrs Laura Lyons. En bèth se har
passar eth-medix pr’un celibatari, qu’aquesí ua influéncia
hòrta dessús era. E que li deixè compréner que, se per cas,
era s’i escadèva a’s ganhar lo son divòrci, que la se ma-
ridaré. Los sos plans qu’estonn egau abrivat qüand aprenó
que’N Charles èra per quitar la Mansa suus conselhs deu
Dr Mortimer dab las opinions deu quau eth-medix e
pretendèva estar a-d ua. Que’u caliva agir suu pic siquenó
la soa victima se li anava escapar. Qu’es pr’amor de ’cò
que premó Mrs Lyons entà qu’escrivossi aquera letra, qui
implorava lo vielh mossur de li acordar ua entervista lo
desser davant que partissi eth entà Londras. Puix, Staple-
ton, pr’amor d’un argument especiós, que l’empachè d’i
anar ; atau que tienèva l’escadença qu’avèva tant esperada.
Aqueth desser que tornè en veitura de Coombe Tracey,
pro de-d’ora entà s’anar coélher lo canhàs, de’u carapin-
trar dab la soa pintura ihernau, de’u demiar pròixe deu
portalet ond èra solide que i trobaré lo vielh mossur a
esperar. Lo can, ahiscat preu son mèste, que sautè per dessús
lo cledon e’s botè a acossar lo praube baronet qui s’en.hugí
tot cridassejant capbaix la lèia deus taixs. Dehentz aquera
mena de tunèu escur, que devèva estar vertadeirament ua
chauchavielha que de véder aquera criaturassa nega qui
minister of his charity in the case of this unfortunate woman, Mrs
Laura Lyons. By representing himself as a single man, he acquired
complete influence over her, and he gave her to understand that in
the event of her obtaining a divorce from her husband he would
marry her. His plans were suddenly brought to a head by his
knowledge that Sir Charles was about to leave the Hall on the advice
of Dr Mortimer, with whose opinion he himself pretended to
coincide. He must act at once, or his victim might get beyond his
power. He therefore put pressure upon Mrs Lyons to write this letter,
imploring the old man to give her an interview on the evening before
his departure for London. He then, by a specious argument,
prevented her from going, and so had the chance for which he had
waited.
« Driving back in the evening from Coombe Tracey, he was in time
to get his hound, to treat it with his infernal paint, and to bring the
beast round to the gate at which he had reason to expect that he
would find the old gentleman waiting. The dog, incited by its master,
sprang over the wicket-gate and pursued the unfortunate baronet,
who fled screaming down the Yew Alley. In that gloomy tunnel it must
indeed have been a dreadful sight to see that huge black creature,
146
escupiva eslamas e qui los oelhs e lugranejàvann, a har
au mei córrer au darrèir de la soa preda. Que cadó mòrt,
au cap de la lèia, d’eixante e d’ua flaquejada deu còr. Lo
canhàs qu’avèva corrut sus la bordura entascada mentra
lo baronet que gahava preu sendèir. Qu’es atau qu’estonn
vedederas sonque las piadas de l’òmi. En tot lo véder a
s’estar xentz mudar, la criatura s’èra de-segur hèita pròixe
entà’u reniflar mès com l’avèva trobat mòrt, se n’èra tornat
d’ond vienèva. Qu’estó a-d aqueth moment que deixè lo
tralh que lo doctor Mortimer e descobrí alavetz. Aperat
preu son mèste, que tornè lo can entau son jaç deu Ha-
nhèir de Grimpen e atau que vadó un mistèri qui descon-
certè las autoritats, espaurí lo parçan e fin finau miè l’ahar
dinc au nòste camp d’observacion.
Atau donc tocant la mòrt de’N Charles Baskerville. Que
percébetz quinn diabolica abinletat estó desplegada qui
hadèva casi despoderada tota accion contra lo murtrèir
vertadèir. Lo son solet complici qu’èra de’us qui jamei ne’u
denonciarenn e mei la natura grotèsca, de mau concéber
de l’engenia que’u rendè encoèra mei eficaça. Las duas
hemnas pertocadas per l’ahar, Mrs Stapleton e Mrs Lyons
qu’avonn sospieits deus hòrts de cap a Stapleton. Mrs
Stapleton sabèva que i avèva manipòlis de cap au vielh
mossur e mei coneixèva l’existéncia deu canhàs. Mrs Lyons
with its flaming jaws and blazing eyes, bounding after its victim. He
fell dead at the end of the alley from heart-disease and terror. The
hound had kept upon the grassy border while the baronet hrilb run
down the path, so that no track but the man’s was visible. On seeing
him lying still the creature had probably approached to sniff at him,
but, finding him dead, had turned away again. It was then that it
left the print which was actually observed by Dr Mortimer. The hound
was called off and hurried away to its lair in the Grimpen Mire, and
a mystery was left which puzzled the authorities, alarmed the
countryside, and finally brought the case within the scope of our
observation.
« So much for the death of Sir Charles Baskerville. You perceive
the devilish cunning of it, for really it would be almost impossible
to make a case against the real murderer. His only accomplice was
one who could never give him away, and the grotesque, inconceivable
nature of the device only served to make it more effective. Both of
the women concerned in the case, Mrs Stapleton and Mrs Laura
Lyons, were left with a strong suspicion against Stapleton. Mrs
Stapleton knew that he had designs upon the old man, and also of
the existence of the hound. Mrs Lyons knew neither of these things,

no sabèva pas nada d’aqueras causas mès qu’èra estada
impressionada de que la mòrt e s’escadossi precisament au
quiti moment qui èra adiat un rendetz-vos qui n’èra pas
estat anullat e qui èra coneixut d’eth solet. Totun totas duas
qu’èrann devath la soa influéncia e donc eth n’avèva pas
arré a crànher de la part d’eras. La permèira mitat deu
son prètz-heit qu’èra complida dab succès mès çò de mei
mauaisit que damorava a har.
Que’s pòt Stapleton n’avossi pas coneixut de qu’i avèva
un eretèir au Canadà. En tot cap que n’estó pro lèu assa-
bentat preu son amic, lo doctor Mortimer qui l’informè
de tots los detalhs tocant a la vinguda d’Henry Baskerville.
La permèira idèia de Stapleton qu’estó qu’aqueth joenn
estrangèir qui desbarcava deu Canadà, e podossi trobar
la mòrt en Londras xentz d’aver daun de devarar entau
Devonshire. Que’s mauhidava de la soa hemna desempuix
qu’avèva, era, arrefusat de l’ajudar a téner un poda-camas
au vielh mossur e ne la gausava pas deixar pausa hòra de
la soa vista de pòur de no pas mei aver lo hòrt sus era. Qu’es
per aquesta rason que se la hadó seguir entà Londras. Que’s
lodgènn, qu’èi après, au Mexborough private Hotel, en
Craven Street, qu’èra l’ua de las ostalarias de la tièra qui
vesitè lo men agent Cartwright qu’avèvi mandat en quista
d’ua pròba qui estossi çò qui estossi. Aquí que’s goardè la
but had been impressed by the death occurring at the time of an
uncancelled appointment which was only known to him. However,
both of them were under his influence, and he had nothing to fear
from them. The first half of his task was successfully accomplished,
but the more difficult still remained.
« It is possible that Stapleton did not know of the existence of an
heir in Canada. In any case he would very soon learn it from his friend
Dr Mortimer, and he was told by the latter all details about the
arrival of Henry Baskerville. Stapleton’s first idea was that this
young stranger from Canada might possibly be done to death in
London without coming down to Devonshire at all. He distrusted his
wife ever since she had refused to help him in laying a trap for the
old man, and he dared not leave her long out of his sight for fear he
should lose his influence over her. It was for this reason that he took
her to London with him. They lodged, I find, at the Mexborough
Private Hotel, in Craven Street, which was actually one of those called
upon by my agent in search of evidence. Here he kept his wife
147
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
hemna presonèira dehentz la cramba mentra qui eth,
desguisat dab ua barba, e seguiva lo Dr Mortimer capvath
Baker Street e puix dinc a la gara e au Northumberland
Hotel. La soa hemna qu’aubirava per part çò qui èrann
los sos manipòlis, mès de tant qu’avèva pòur au son marit
– ua pòur devuda aus mautreitaments qui pativa era –
ne gausava pas escríver entà-d avertir l’òmi qui sabèva
estar en perilh. Se la letra vienèva per cas a càder hentz
las mans de Stapleton, la soa pròpia vita, a-d era, que seré
poduda estar miaçada. Fin finau, com at sàbem, que’s
decidí en mena d’espedient, a descopar dehentz un diari
los mots qui hadèvann lo messadge e de botar l’adreça
dessús, d’un escríver desguisat. Que’u recebó lo baronet e
que l’assabentè, preu permèir còp, d’un dangèir qui’u
pertocava.
Qu’èra ua hèita essenciau entà Stapleton de’s poder
arrecaptar un article vestimentari de’N Henry de mòdes
que, se per cas, èra amiat a utilisar lo can, avossi totjamei
a man un mijan de’u botar suus tralhs deu baronet.
Dab ua promptitud e un hargardèir plan caracteristic,
qu’apitè de-tira l’ahar aqueste e nat dotte que, o lo ceraire
de cauçaduras o bé la goja de netejar las crambas de l’osta-
laria, estonn crompats entà l’ajudar en aquera malihèita.
Que’s mauescadó, totun, que la permèira cauçadura qui’s
imprisoned in her room while he, disguised in a beard, followed Dr
Mortimer to Baker Street, and afterwards to the station and to the
Northumberland Hotel. His wife had some inkling of his plans; but
she had such a fear of her husband - a fear founded upon brutal ill-
treatment - that she dare not write to warn the man whom she knew
to be in danger. If the letter should fall into Stapleton’s hands her
own life would not be safe. Eventually, as we know, she adopted the
expedient of cutting out the words which would form the message,
and addressing the letter in a disguised hand. It reached the
baronet, and gave him the first warning of his danger.
« It was very essential for Stapleton to get some article of Sir
Henry’s attire, so that, in case he was driven to use the dog, he might
always have the means of setting him upon his track. With
characteristic promptness and audacity he set about this at once,
and we cannot doubt that the boots or chambermaid of the hotel
was well bribed to help him in his design. By chance, however, the
first boot which was procured for him was a new one, and, therefore,
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
procurè èra de las navas e donc, pr’amor de ’cò, xentz nada
utilitat. E que la tornè en-per escambià-la – ua hèita beròi
ensenhadera puixque hadèva la pròba, entà jo, de
qu’avèvann a har dab un canhàs de carn e d’òs, pr’amor
nada auta supausicion ne balhava l’esplic d’ua tau necèra
d’obtiéner ua cauçadura vielha e no pas ua de las navas.
Tant mei outrée e grotèsca e sii ua hèita, tant mei e s’ame-
ritarà d’estar espiada menimosament. E lo punt chicòi qui
sembla de complicar un ahar, s’es considerat de-plan e
scientificament aprestat, que serà fin finau lo qui es lo mei
pròpi a tirar l’ahar a lutz.
Apuix qu’avom la vesita deus nòstes amics, lo lendoman
matin, totjamei seguits per Stapleton dehentz lo fiacre.
Pr’amor de la coneixença qu’avèva de la nòsta damorança
e de la mia aparéncia, taplan com pr’amor deu son anar
en generau que crei de que la carrièra criminau de Sta-
pleton ne s’es pas sonque limitada, de nada manèira, a
l’ahar de Baskerville.
Qu’es interessent de notar que, mentra aqueras tres ana-
das passadas, que s’i sonn avut passats qüate raubatòris
dentz la part oèst deu país que jamei nat volurr n’estó pas
arrestat en quau cas qui sii. Lo darrèir d’aquestes, a Fol-
kestone Court, au mes de mai, qu’èra de remarcar pr’amor
deu murtri deu serviciau qui avèva gahat suu hurt lo
useless for his purpose. He then had it returned and obtained
another – a most instructive incident, since it proved conclusively
to my mind that we were dealing with a real hound, as no other
supposition could explain this anxiety to obtain an old boot and
this indifference to a new one. The more outré and grotesque an
incident is the more carefully it deserves to be examined, and the
very point which appears to complicate a case is, when duly
considered and scientifically handled, the one which is most likely
to elucidate it.
« Then we had the visit from our friends next morning, shadowed
always by Stapleton in the cab. From his knowledge of our rooms
and of my appearance, as well as from his general conduct, I am
inclined to think that Stapleton’s career of crime has been by no
means limited to this single Baskerville affair. It is suggestive that
during the last three years there have been four considerable
burglaries in the West Country, for none of which was any criminal
ever arrested. The last of these, at Folkestone Court, in May, was
remarkable for the cold-blooded pistolling of the page, who
surprised the masked and solitary burglar. I cannot doubt that
Stapleton rec~ted his waning resources in this fashion, and that for
148
raubaire masquetat e solitari, cometut dab sang-flaquèr.
N’èi pas nat dotte quinn Stapleton recrubava las soas
ressorças qui s’achequívann, e desempuix anadas qu’es un
òmi dangeirós e destemblat.
Qu’am avut vist un exemple de la prontitud deus sos agís
aqueth matin qui s’i escadó tan plan a’ns escapar e mei
de la soa audàcia en bèth tornà’m lo men nom per
l’intermediari deu cochèr. D’aquí avant que comprenó de
que la causa èra perduda a Londras pr’amor que m’èri
encargat de l’ahar. Que se’n tornè entà Dartmoor e qu’ati-
nó de qu’arribèssi lo baronet.
— Un momentòt ! ce dixoi. Qu’atz descriut de-plan lo
debanar deus eveniments mès que i a un punt qu’atz deixat
xentz esplica. De qué’n virava deu canhàs de tant qui èra
a Londras lo son mèste ?
— Qu’èi perpensat un chic sus aqueth problèma qui es,
solide, importent. Solide de que Stapleton agi avut un
complici, ja que n’es pas de créder de que se sii botat en
las soas mans en tot li desvelar totas las soas visadas. Que
i avèva un vielh serviciau a Merripit House que lo son nom
èra Anthony. Los sos ligamis dab los Stapleton qu’arre-
móntann a mantuas anadas, au mentz deu temps deu
collègi, de mòdes que deu aver estar assabentat de que lo
mèste e la dauna èrann per a-de bon marit e molhèr.
years he has been a desperate and dangerous man.
« We had an example of his readiness of resource that morning
when he got away from us so successfully, and also of his audacity
in sending back my own name to me through the cabman. From that
moment he understood that I had taken over the case in London,
and that therefore there was no chance for him there. He returned
to Dartmoor and awaited the arrival of the baronet ».
« One moment ! » said I. « You have, no doubt, described the
sequence of events correctly, but there is one point which you have
left unexplained. What became of the hound when its master was in
London ? »
« I have given some attention to this matter, and it is undoubtedly
of importance. There can be no question that Stapleton had a
confidant, though it is unlikely that he ever placed himself in his
power by sharing all his plans with him. There was an old manservant
at Merripit House, whose name was Anthony. His connection with the
Stapletons can be traced for several years, as far back as the
schoolmastering days, so that he must have been aware that his
master and mistress were really husband and wife. This man has

Aqueth òmi qu’a desapareixut e que s’es escapat deu país.
Qu’es de bon véder de que Anthony n’es pas un nom
costumèir en Anglatèrra ; au contra Antonio n’es costumèir
dehentz los país ispanics o d’America latina. L’òmi, tot
parrièr com Mrs Stapleton era-medixa, parla un anglés deu
bon mès dab un curiós accent zezejant. Que l’èi avut vist
jo medix, aqueth vielhaco a travessar lo Hanhèir de Grim-
pen, en tot seguir lo sendèir aprestat per Stapleton. Proba-
ble donc qu’es eth qui’s devèva aucupar deu canhàs, ja que
n’avó pas jamei sabut de que’n virava de l’utilisacion
d’aquera bèstia.
Los Stapleton, donc, que se’n tornènn entau Devonshire
ond estonn lèu seguits pre’N Henry e vos. Un mot adara
sus çò qui hadoi en-d aqueth temps. Que n’atz belèu
brembança que, qüand examinèi lo papeir ond i èrann
pegats los mots en letras de molla descopats, cerquèi de vèder
menimosament après lo filigrana. En tot procedir atau,
que’u tienó, au papèir, a quauques centimètres deus mens
oelhs e que prenoi consciéncia de l’aulor prima d’un
perhum, qui s’apèra lo jansemin blanc. Que i a setanta-
cinc menas de perhum qui l’espert criminau e deu saber
destriar los uns deus autes. Mantuns ahars, mei d’un còp,
de çò qui tiri de la mia esperiéncia, que depenonn de la
capacitat de’us saber arreconéixer lèu-lèu. Lo perhum que
disappeared and has escaped from the country. It is suggestive that
Anthony is not a common name in England, while Antonio is so in
all Spanish or Spanish-American countries. The man, like Mrs
Stapleton herself, spoke good English, but with a curious lisping
accent. I have myself seen this old man cross the Grimpen Mire by
the path which Stapleton had marked out. It is very probable,
therefore, that in the absence of his master it was he who cared for
the hound, though he may never have known the purpose for which
the beast was used.
« The Stapletons then went down to Devonshire, whither they were
soon followed by Sir Henry and you. One word now as to how I stood
myself at that time. It may possibly recur to your memory that when
I examined the paper upon which the printed words were fastened
I made a close inspection for the watermark. In doing so I held it
within a few inches of my eyes, and was conscious of a faint smell of
the scent known as white jessamine. There are seventy-five perfumes,
which it is very necessary that the criminal expert should be able to
distinguish from each other, and cases have more than once within
my own experience depended upon their prompt recognition. The
149
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
suggeriva la preséncia d’ua dauna e dijà las mias per-
pensadas comencènn de virar a l’entorn deus Stapleton.
Adonc, qu’èri solide de qu’existiva lo canhàs e qu’avèvi
endobinat lo criminau quau èra davant qu’avóssim
quitament botat lo pèd dentz l’Oèst.
Lo men jòc qu’èra de susvelhar Stapleton. Qu’èra evi-
dent totun que n’at podèvi pas har s’èri dab vosatis, pr’amor
que seré estat totjamei sus sas gardas. Que n’èi donc mentit
a tots, quitament a vos, e que devarèi secretament men-
tra qui tot lo monde e’m credèva en Londras. Lo men
confòrt n’estó pas tan maixant com at pòdetz créder. De
tota manèira, ne’s cau pas deixar destorbar dentz l’anar
d’ua envestigacion criminau per menudalhas d’aqueras.
Que damorèi, la mage part deu temps, a Coombe Tracey
e n’utilisèi lo caban sus la lana sonque qüand calèva estar
pròixe deu lòc de las operacions. Cartwight, que me l’avèvi
hèit seguir e desguisat en paisanòt qu’estó d’ua grand ajuda
entà jo. Qu’es eth qui m’avitalhava preu minjar e per la
pelha neta. Qüand èri a har lo nhau de cap a Stapleton,
Cartwright qu’èra sovendetas a’vs susvelhar, atau qu’avè-
vi a man tots los hius.
Que v’avèvi dit dijà que los vòstes rapòrts qu’arribàvann
rapidament, mandats qui èrann suu pic de Baker Street
avant entà Coombe Tracey. Qu’estonn de grand utilitat
scent suggested the presence of a lady, and already my thoughts
began to turn towards the Stapletons. Thus I had made certain of
the hound, and had guessed at the criminal before ever we went to
the West Country.
« It was my game to watch Stapleton. It was evident, however, that
I could not do this if I were with you, since he would be keenly on
his guard. I deceived everybody, therefore, yourself included, and
I came down secretly when I was supposed to be in London. My
hardships were not so great as you imagine, though such trifling
details must never interfere with the investigation of a case. I stayed
for the most part at Coombe Tracey, and only used the hut upon the
moor when it was necessary to be near the scene of action. Cartwright
had come down with me, and in his disguise as a country boy he was
of great assistance to me. I was dependent upon him for food and
clean linen. When I was watching Stapleton, Cartwright was frequently
watching you, so that I was able to keep my hand upon all the strings.
« I have already told you that your reports reached me rapidly,
being forwarded instantly from Baker Street to Coombe Tracey.
They were of great service to me, and especially that one incidentally
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
entà jo, especiaument lo qui, se n’èra escadut, mentavèva
un tròç vertadèir de la biografia deus Stapleton. Qu’estoi
alavetz a mand d’establir l’identitat de l’òmi e de la hemna
e que saboi atau de que’n virava exactament. L’ahar qu’estó
complicat considerablament pr’amor de la mauescaduda
deu forçat escapat e deus ligamis enter eth e los Barrymore.
Acò tabé qu’at sabotz tirar a lutz d’ua manèira hòrt
eficaça, ja qu’èri tabé arribat a la medixa conclusion a
partir de las mias observacions.
Deu temps qui’m descobritz sus la lana, qu’avèvi dijà
ua coneixença completa de tot l’ahar, mès n’avèvi pas arré,
au contra qui podossi viéner davant ua jurada. La quita
tentativa de murtri sus En Henry la noeit aquera, qui
s’acabè per la mòrt deu malurós forçat, ne’ns ajudava pas
hòrt entà probar la culpabilitat deu nòste òmi. Que
semblava de que n’i avèva pas nada alternativa sonque
de’u gahar suu hurt, e entà-d acò que’ns caliva utilisar En
Henry, solet e xentz nada proteccion aparenta tau com qui
vòu amorçar. Que hadom atau e au prètz d’ua estremen-
tida de las peludas entau nòste client, que ns’i escadom a
clavar lo nòste dorsièr, e mei a’s har perir Stapleton. Que’m
pòdenn arcastar d’aver devut espausar atau En Henry e
qu’estó, ç’at cohessi, ua hrèita dentz lo men mainadjament
de l’ahar. N’avèvam pas egau los mejans de prevéder l’es-
truthful piece of biography of Stapleton’s. I was able to establish
the identity of the man and the woman, and knew at last exactly how
I stood. The case had been considerably complicated through the
incident of the escaped convict and the relations between him and
the Barrymores. This also you cleared up in a very effective way,
though I had already come to the same conclusions from my own
observations.
« By the time that you discovered me upon the moor I had a
complete knowledge of the whole business, but I had not a case
which could go to a jury. .Even Stapleton’s attempt upon Sir Henry
that night, which ended in the death of the unfortunate convict, did
not help us much in proving murder against our man. There seemed
to be no alternative but to catch him redhanded, and to do so we
had to use Sir Henry, alone and apparently unprotected, as a bait.
We did so, and at the cost of a severe shock to our client we succeeded
in completing our case and driving Stapleton to his destruction.
That Sir Henry should have been exposed to this is, I must confess,
a reproach to my management of the case, but we had no means of
foreseeing the terrible and paralysing spectacle which the beast
150
pectacle tarrible e hastiau qui’ns amuixè la bèstia, ni mei
la bruma qui’ns l’estugè, e qui atau e s’arronsè dessús nosatis
au darrèir moment. Que ns’i escadom a un prètz qui, tots
dus, l’especialista e lo Dr Mortimer, e m’assegúrann de que
l’estrementida e’n serà temporària. Un viadge deus longs
qu’arrequinquilharà lo nòste òmi de la soa estrementida
nerviosa e mei de las soas amors contrariadas. Lo son
enamorament de cap a Mrs Stapleton qu’èra pregond e sin-
cère ; e, entà-d eth, çò de mei triste de tot aqueth ahar né-
guer qu’estó la decebuda qui coneixó dab era.
Ne sobra pas sonque d’ensenhar lo ròlle qui joguè era
aquí dehentz. N’i a pas nat dotte que Stapleton avèva ua
influéncia de las hòrtas de cap a-d era, qu’estossi per amor
o qu’estossi per pòur, o hòrt probable preus dus puixque,
de nada manèira, ne sonn pas incompatiblas.
Influéncia qui estó plenària en tot cap. Qüand comandè,
era que consentí a’s har passar com la soa sòr, ja que toquè
los limits deu son poder sus era en bèth assajar de’n har
la soa complícia activa deu murtri. Qu’èra parada a
avertir N’Henry autant que podèva xentz d’implicar lo son
marit, e que s’i tornè mantuns còps atau. Stapleton, eth-
medix que sembla d’aver podut estar gelós, qüand vedó lo
baronet a har l’amor a la dauna, a maugrat qu’acò estossi
ua part deus sos plans, ne’s sabó pas empachar de’us
presented, nor could we predict the fog which enabled him to burst
upon us at short notice. We succeeded in our object at a cost which
both the specialist and Dr Mortimer assure me will be a temporary
one. A long journey may enable our friend to recover not only from
his shattered nerves but also from his wounded feelings. His love for
the lady was deep and sincere, and to him the saddest part of all
this black business was that he should have been deceived by her.
« It only remains now to indicate the part which she had played
throughout. There can be no doubt that Stapleton exercised an
influence over her which may have been love or may have been fear,
or very possibly both, since they are by no means incompatible
emotions. It was, at least, absolutely effective. At his command she
consented to pass as his sister, though he found the limits of his
power over her when he endeavoured to make her the direct
accessory to murder. She was ready to warn Sir Henry so far as she
could without implicating her husband, and again and again she
tried to do so. Stapleton himself seems to have been capable of
jealousy, and when he saw the baronet paying court to the lady, even

interrómper dab un eslanç apassionat qui amuixè l’amna
herodja qui lo son sangflaquèr estujava tan beròi. En bèth
encoradjar la loa intimetat, que s’assolidava de que’N
Henry e vieneré sovendetas entà Merripit House, e mei o
mentz tard que s’escaderé lo parat qui esperava. Mès lo jorn
adiat, la soa molhèr que’s virè egau, tot d’un còp contra
eth. Qu’avèva aprés quauquarré tocant a la mòrt deu
forçat. E mei que sabèva lo canhàs qu’èra estat demiat
dehentz l’alonguet lo quite desser que’N Henry e devèva
viéner sopar. Qu’encusè lo son marit de voler miar un crimi
e ua brega tarribla que s’enseguí e peu permèir còp eth que
l’assabentè de qu’èra enamorat d’unhauta. La soa fidelitat
que’s virè suu pic en-per un òdi amar e que comprenó eth
de que’u poiré, era, tradir. Que la man-liguè de mòdes que
ne s’i podossi escàder entà-d avertir ’N Henry, e qu’espera-
va, bahida, que un còp tot lo parçan e seré estat segur de
que l’encausa de la mòrt deu baronet èra la maladiccion
familiau – com at aurenn avut hèit solide –, e’s poiré tornar
la hemna a acceptar lo hèit complit e era de’s carar sus
çò qui sabèva. En acò, que’m pensi de que s’enganava de
tota manèira e mei, se n’èram pas estats aquí nosatis, lo
son hat qu’èra egau sagerat. Ua hemna de la sang espa-
nhòla ne perdona pas tant aisidament ua tau mocada. E
adara, Watson men, xentz de’m referir a las mias nòtas,
though it was part of his own plan, still he could not help interrupting
with a passionate outburst which revealed the fiery soul which his
self-contained manner so cleverly concealed. By encouraging the
intimacy he made it certain that Sir Henry would frequently come to
Merripit House, and that he would sooner or later get the opportunity
which he desired. On the day of the crisis, however, his wife turned
suddenly against him. She had learned something of the death of
the convict, and she knew that the hound was being kept in the
outhouse on the evening that Sir Henry was coming to dinner. She
taxed her husband with his intended crime and a furious scene
followed, in which he showed her for the first time that she had a rival
in his love. Her fidelity turned in an instant to bitter hatred, and he
saw that she would betray him. He tied her up, therefore, that she
might have no chance of warning Sir Henry, and he hoped, no doubt,
that when the whole countryside put down the baronet’s death to
the curse of his family, as they certainly would do, he could win his
wife back to accept an accomplished fact, and to keep silent upon
what she knew. In this I fancy that in any case he made a
miscalculation, and that, if we had not been there, his doom would
none the less have been sealed. A woman of Spanish blood does not
151
Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville
ne’vs poix pas balhar mei de detalhs tocant a-d aqueste
ahar esquèrr. Ne i a pas arré d’essenciau qui no sii estat
deixat xentz esplicas.
— Ne podèva pas esperar totun eixantar ’N Henry dinc
a’u har morir de pòur com at avèva avut hèit dab lo
vielh oncon mercés lo son espante de canhàs.
— La bèstia qu’èra ensauvadgida e a miejas hamolen-
ta. Se lo son aspècte ne miava pas la victima a’n morir
d’eixante, au mentz qu’auré ajudat a’n paralisar la soa
capacitat de pèd-hremar.
— Solide. Que damòra sonque un trabuc. Se s’escadè-
va Stapleton qu’eretèssi, com auré podut esplicar lo hèit que,
eth l’eretèir, estossi damorat, desconeixut dab un nom de
malhèu tan pròixe deu ben familiau ? Com auré podut
reclamar xentz d’estar l’encausa de sospieitadas e d’enquis-
tas ?
— Acò qu’es un trabuc deus peluts e que cranhi de que
me’n domàndatz tròp qüand espératz de que’vs vau
arrespóner. Lo passat e lo present que son dehentz lo men
camp d’enquistar, mès de saber çò qu’un òmi e poiré har
en l’avenider qu’es ua question de mau arrespóner. Mrs
Stapleton qu’avèva entenut lo son marit a discutir suu
problèma mantuns còps. Qu’i avèva tres possibilitats. Que
podèva reclamar la proprietat d’America deu Sud avant,
condone such an injury so lightly. And now, my dear Watson, without
referring to my notes, I cannot give you a more detailed account of
this curious case. I do not know that anything essential has been
left unexplained ».
« He could not hope to frighten Sir Henry to death, as he had done
the old uncle, with his bogy hound ».
« The beast was savage and half-starved. If its appearance did not
frighten its victim to death, at least it would paralyse the resistance
which might be offered ».
« No doubt. There only remains one difficulty. If Stapleton came
into the succession, how could he explain the fact that he, the heir,
had been living unannounced under another name so close to the
property ? How could he claim it without causing suspicion and
inquiry ? »
« It is a formidable difficulty, and I fear that you ask too much when
you expect me to solve it. The past and the present are within the
field of my inquiry, but what a man may do in the future is a hard
question to answer. Mrs Stapleton has heard her husband discuss
the problem on several occasions. There were three possible courses.
He might claim the property from South America, establish his
 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
assolidir la soa identitat davant las autoritas britanicas
alahòra, e atau obtiéner la fortuna xentz jamei aver a
viéner entà l’Anglatèrra ; o bé qu’auré podut adoptar un
desguisament de tria mentra la tempsada corteta que li
auré calut estar a Londras ; o encoèra, qu’auré podut tro-
bar un complici que li auré hornit pròbas e papèirs, en
tot lo har passar en-per l’eretèir e en lo pagar dab ua part
calculadera suu rixèir esperat. Ne pòdem pas dottar, dab
çò qui sàbem d’eth, de qu’auré trobat ua escapa entà’s virar
identity before the British authorities there, and so obtain the
fortune without ever coming to England at all ; or he might adopt
an elaborate disguise during the short time that he need be in
London ; or, again, he might furnish an accomplice with the proofs
and papers, putting him in as heir, and retaining a claim upon some
proportion of his income. We cannot doubt, from what we know of
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de la dificultat. E adara, car Wason, qu’am avut semma-
nadas de tribalh penós adarrond e per ua serada, au
mentz, me pensi de que deurem virar las nòstas pensadas
entà ahars mei plasents. Qu’èi ua lòdja entaus “Huguenots”.
L’atz audit a’u de De Rezkes ? E’vs poix pertobar alavetz
en vos domandar d’estar prèste d’aquí mieja-òra de mò-
des que’ns pósquim estancar en çò de Marcini entà sopar
liugèir en camin ?
him, that he would have found some way out of the difficulty. And
now, my dear Watson, we have had some weeks of severe work, and
for one evening, I think, we may turn our thoughts into more pleasant
channels. I have a box for Les Huguenots. Have you heard the De
Reszkes ? Might I trouble you then to be ready in half an hour, and
we can stop at Marcini’s for alittle dinner on the way ? »
 Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville

153
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Ensenhador

1 — En Sherlock Holmes......................................5 7 — Los Stapleton de Merripit House................56

2 — La maladiccion deus Baskerville................11
3 — Lo Problèma................................................20
4 — En Henry Baskerville....................................28
5 — Tres hius copats............................................38
6 — La mansa de Baskerville...............................47
8 — Permèir Rapòrt deu Dr Watson..................68
9 — La lutz per la lana........................................75
10 — Tròç deu jornau deu Dr Watson.............91
11 — L’òmi dessús la tucòla..............................100
12 — La mòrt qu’es sus la lana.........................111

13 — Lo hilat que s’aprèsta................................123

14 — Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville......................132
15 — Brembas de l’endarrèir..............................143

154
 Lo Canhàs deus Baskerville

Acabat d’estampar sus las

premsas de l’estamparia
ICN, en Pau, au mes de mai
de 2001, preu compte de las
edicions Princi Néguer
SOED de Pau en Biarn.
( TIRADA INICIAU : MAI DE 2001)

155
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

156