How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #4
"You think, then, that some dog pursued Sir Charles, and that he died of fright in consequence?"
"Have you any better explanation?"
"I have not come to any conclusion."
"Has Mr. Sherlock Holmes?"
The words took away my breath for an instant but a glance at [Stapleton's] placid face and steadfast eyes of my companion showed that no surprise was intended.
"It is useless for us to pretend that we do not know you, Dr. Watson," said he. "The records of your detective have reached us here, and you could not celebrate him without being known yourself." (7.36-40)
There's a cool blurring of lines between the real and fictional worlds here, since Stapleton has read Watson's stories about Holmes ("the records of your detective have reached us here") much as we have. Stapleton emphasizes the fact that Watson and Holmes are compadres: where Watson appears, Holmes must also be in the neighborhood. And where Watson is investigating, Holmes must be operating in the background. Their friendship is as famous as Woody and Buzz, Thelma and Louise, Dawson and...well, you get the idea.
Quote #5
I am no antiquarian, but I could imagine that [these prehistoric people] 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. (8.2-3)
Watson enjoys admiring the barren landscape of the moors and the prehistoric huts and ruins that dot the area. But he knows Holmes would think that daydreaming about the lives of cavemen is a waste of time. Even though Holmes and Watson aren't literally talking to each other, we still get the flavor of their teasing relationship from Watson's letters from the country.
Quote #6
"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." (10.43-5)
Conan Doyle writes at a time when it's still common for people to employ servants. This exchange with Barrymore shows readers the benefit of treating your servants kindly (beyond the fact that it's the right thing to do, of course). Barrymore's loyalty to Sir Charles makes him protect his reputation by not revealing his secret meeting with a woman the night he died. And now, Barrymore's gratitude toward Sir Henry makes him reveal the secret. Since the mysterious woman is key to the case against Stapleton, Barrymore's decision to open up to Sir Henry and Watson turns out to be very important.