THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES BY (ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE)

CHAPTER 1.MR.SHERLOCK HOLMES

MR.SHERLOCK HOLMES, WHO WAS USUALLY VERY LATE IN THE MORNINGS, SAVE UPON THOSE NOT
INFREQUENT OCCASIONS WHEN HE WAS UP ALL NIGHT, WAS SEATED AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE. I
STOOD UPON THE HEARTH-RUG 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 “PENANG LAWYER”. JUST UNDER THE HEAD WAS A BROAD SILVER BAND
NEARLY AN INCH ACROSS. “TO JAMES MORTIMER, M.R.C.S., FROM HIS FRIENDS OF THE C.C.H.,”
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-PLATED COFFEE-POT IN FRONT OF ME,” SAID HE. “BUT, TELL ME, WASTSON, 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 IMPORTANCE. LET ME
HEAR YOU RECONSTRUCT THE MAN BY AN EXAMINATION OF IT”. “I THINK”, SAID I, FOLLOWING AS
FAR AS I COULD THE METHODS OF MY COMPANION, “THAT DR. MORTIMER IS A SUCCESSFUL,
ELDERLY MEDICAL MAN, WELL-ESTEEMED SICE THOSE WHO KNOW HIM GIVE HIM THIS MARK OF
THEIR APPRECIATIN”. “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 TWON 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 ‘FRIENDS
OF THE C.C.H.’ 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, WASTON, YOU EXCEL YOURSELF,” SAID HOLMES,
PUSHING BACK 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 IT. 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 INDICATIONS UPON THE STICK. IT GIVES US THE BASIS FOR SEVERAL
DEDUCTIONS.” “HAS ANYTHING ESCAPED ME?” I ASKED WITH SOME SELF – IMPORTANCE. “I TRUST
THAT THERE IS NOTHING OF CONSEQUENCE WHICH I HAVE OVERLOOKED?” “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 NOTHING 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 THAT 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 ‘C. C. H.’ DOES STAND FOR ‘CHARING CROSS
HOSPITAL,’ WHAT FURTHER INFERENCES MAY WE DREW?” “DO NONE SUGGEST THEMSELVES? YOU
KNOW MY METHOS. APPLY THEM!” “I CAN ONLY THINK OF THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSION THAT THE
MAN HAS PRACTISED IN TOWN BRFORE GOING TO THE COUNTRY.” “I THINK THAT WE MIGHT
VENTURE A LITTLE FARTHER THAN THIS. LOOK AT IT 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 A PRACTICE
FOR HIMSELF. WE KNOW THERE HAS BEEN 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 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
PRACTITIONER VANISHES INTO THIN AIR, MY DEAR WATSON, AND THERE EMERGES A YOUNG
FELLOW UNDER THIRTY, AMIABLE, UNAMBITIOUS, ABSENT-MINDED, AND THE POSSESSOR OF A
FAVOURITE DOG, WHICH I SHOULD DESCRIBE ROUGHLY AS BEING 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, M. R. C. S., 1882, 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?’ CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE
SWEDISH PATHOLOGICAL SOCIETY. AUTHOR OF ‘SOME FREAKS OF ATAVISM’ (LANCET 1882). ‘DO WE
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 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 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 WAITINGAN HOUR IN YOUR ROOM.” “AND
THE DOG?” “HAS BEES 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 BEEEN –
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 DOOR-STEP, AND
THERE IS THE RING OF ITS OWNER. I BEG YOU, 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 JUTTED
OUT BETWEEN TWO KEEN, GRAY 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.”

“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 CONSUKTING
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 M. R. C. S.” “AND A MAN OF PRECISE MIND, EVIDENTLY.” “A DABBLER IN SCIENCE, MR.
HOLMES, A PICKER UP OF SHELLS ON 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. 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 I 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 DREW 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 DOING THAT AS WELL. I CAME TO
YOU, MR. HOLMES, BECAUSE I RECOGNIZED 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 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 ASSISTANCE.”

CHAPTER 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 SUBJET. 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 BASKERVILLE, 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 IT UPON HIS KNEE. “YOU WILL OBSERVE, WATSON, THE ALTERNATIVE USE OF THE LONS
AND THE SHORT. IT IS ONE OF SEVERAL INDICATIONS WHICH ENABLED ME TO FIX THE DATE.” I
LOCKED OVER HIS SHOULDER AT THE YELLOW PAPER AND THE FADED SCRIPT. AT THE HEAD WAS
WRITTEN: “BASKERVILLE HALL,” AND BELOWQ 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, CRACKING VOICE THE
FOLLOWING CURIOUS, OLD-WORLD NARRATIVE: "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 MY FATHER, WHO ALSO HAD IT FROM
HIS, I HAVE SET IT DOWN WITH ALL BELIEF THAT IT OCCURRED 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 BY 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 BY-WORD THROUGH
CHANCED THAT THIS HUGO CAME TO LOVE (IF, INDEED, SO DARK A PASSION MAY BE KNOWN
UNDER SO BRIGHT A NAME) 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 IDLE 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, 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, ONE 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 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 SHEPHERDS 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 ONWARD. BUT
SOON THEIR SKINS TURNED COLD, FOR THERE CAME A 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 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
AD 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 LYING NEAR HER, WHICH RAISED THE HAIR UPON THE HEADS OF THESE THREE DARE-
DEVIL ROYSTERERS, 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 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. IF 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 FOREVER
PUNISH THE INNOCENT B 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
ELIZABETH”].

WHEN DR. MORTIMER HAD FINISHED READING THIS SINGULAR NARRATIVE HE PUSHED HIS
SPECTACLES UP ON HIS FOREHEAD AND STARED ACROSS AT MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES. THE LATTER
YAWNED AND TOSSED THE END OF HIS CIGARETTE INTO THE FIRE. "WELL?" SAID HE. "DO YOU NOT
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 MAY 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 LEANED 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 AMIABILITY OF CHARACTER AND EXTREME GENEROSITY HAD WON THE AFFECTION AND
RESPECT OF ALL WHO HAD BEEN BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH HIM. IN THESE DAYS OF
NOUVEAUX RICHES IT IS REFRESHING TO FIND A 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 LEAST ENOUGH HAS BEEN DONE INQUEST, BUT AT
LEAST 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 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 FRIENDS, TENDS TO SHOW THAT SIR CHARLES'S HEALTH HAS FOR SOME
TIME BEEN IMPAIRED, AND POINTS ESPECIALLY TO SOME AFFECTION OF THE HEART, MANIFESTING
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 FOURTH OF MAY 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 WET, AND SIR CHARLES'S FOOTMARKS WERE EASILY TRACED DOWN
THE ALLEY. HALFWAY 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 THAT HE PASSED THE
MOOR-GATE, AND THAT HE APPEARED FROM THENCE ONWARD 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 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
INTERRUPTED. 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 PRESENTS SOME FEATURES OF INTEREST. I HAD OBSERVED SOME NEWSPAPER
COMMENT AT THE TIME, BUT I WAS EXCEEDINGLY 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?"

"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. MORTIMER, 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 INDORSE A POPULAR SUPERSTITION. I HAD THE FURTHER MOTIVE THAT
BASKERVILLE HALL, AS THE PAPER SAYS, WOULD CERTAINLY 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, 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 ANATOMY 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 THE 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. 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. 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 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 BODY. 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!"

I CONFESS AT THESE WORDS A SHUDDER PASSED THROUGH ME. THERE WAS A THRILL IN THE
DOCTOR'S VOICE WHICH SHOWED THAT HE WAS HIMSELF DEEPLY MOVED BY THAT WHICH HE TOLD
US. HOLMES LEANED FORWARD IN HIS EXCITEMENT AND HIS EYES HAD THE HARD, DRY GLITTER
WHICH SHOT FROM THEM WHEN HE WAS KEENLY INTERESTED. "YOU SAW THIS?" "AS CLEARLY AS I
SEE YOU." "AND YOU SAID NOTHING?" "WHAT WAS THE USE?"

"HOW WAS IT THAT NO ONE ELSE SAW IT?" "THE MARKS WERE SOME TWENTY YARDS FROM THE
BODY AND NO ONE GAVE THEM A THOUGHT. I DON'T SUPPOSE I SHOULD HAVE DONE SO HAD I NOT
KNOWN THIS LEGEND." "THERE ARE MANY SHEEP-DOGS ON THE MOOR?" "NO DOUBT, BUT THIS
WAS NO SHEEP-DOG." "YOU SAY IT WAS LARGE?" "ENORMOUS." "BUT IT HAD NOT APPROACHED
THE BODY?" "NO." "WHAT SORT OF NIGHT WAS IT?' "DAMP AND RAW". "BUT NOT ACTUALLY
RAINING?" "NO." "WHAT IS THE ALLEY LIKE?" "THERE ARE TWO LINES OF OLD YEW HEDGE, TWELVE
FEET HIGH AND IMPENETRABLE. THE WALK IN THE CENTRE IS ABOUT EIGHT FEET ACROSS." "IS
THERE ANYTHING BETWEEN THE HEDGES AND THE WALK?" "YES, THERE IS A STRIP OF GRASS ABOUT
SIX FEET BROAD ON EITHER SIDE." "I UNDERSTAND THAT THE YEW HEDGE IS PENETRATED AT ONE
POINT BY A GATE?"
 "YES, THE WICKET-GATE WHICH LEADS ON TO THE MOOR." "IS THERE ANY OTHER OPENING?"
"NONE”. "SO THAT TO REACH THE YEW ALLEY ONE EITHER HAS TO COME DOWN IT FROM THE
HOUSE OR ELSE TO ENTER IT BY THE MOOR-GATE?" "THERE IS AN EXIT THROUGH A SUMMER-
HOUSE AT THE FAR END." "HAD SIR CHARLES REACHED THIS?" "NO; HE LAY ABOUT FIFTY YARDS
FROM IT." "NOW, TELL ME, DR. MORTIMER—AND THIS IS IMPORTANT—THE MARKS WHICH YOU
SAW WERE ON THE PATH AND NOT ON THE GRASS?" "NO MARKS COULD SHOW ON THE GRASS."
"WERE THEY ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE PATH AS THE MOOR-GATE?" "YES; THEY WERE ON THE
EDGE OF THE PATH ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE MOOR-GATE." "YOU INTEREST ME EXCEEDINGLY.
ANOTHER POINT. WAS THE WICKET-GATE CLOSED?" "CLOSED AND PADLOCKED." "HOW HIGH WAS
IT?" "ABOUT FOUR FEET HIGH." "THEN ANYONE COULD HAVE GOT OVER IT?"

"YES." "AND WHAT MARKS DID YOU SEE BY THE WICKET-GATE?" "NONE IN PARTICULAR.” "GOOD
HEAVEN! DID NO ONE EXAMINE?" "YES, I EXAMINED, MYSELF." "AND FOUND NOTHING?" "IT WAS
ALL VERY CONFUSED. SIR CHARLES HAD EVIDENTLY STOOD THERE FOR FIVE OR TEN MINUTES."
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?" "BECAUSE THE ASH HAD TWICE DROPPED FROM HIS CIGAR.”
"EXCELLENT! THIS IS A COLLEAGUE, WATSON, AFTER OUR OWN HEART.BUT THE MARKS?” "HE HAD
LEFT HIS OWN MARKS ALL OVER THAT SMALL PATCH OF GRAVEL. I COULD DISCERN NO OTHERS."
SHERLOCK HOLMES STRUCK HIS HAND AGAINST HIS KNEE WITH AN IMPATIENT GESTURE. "IF I HAD
ONLY BEEN THERE!" HE CRIED. "IT IS EVIDENTLY A CASE OF EXTRAORDINARY INTEREST, AND ONE
WHICH PRESENTED IMMENSE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE SCIENTIFIC EXPERT. THAT GRAVEL PAGE
UPON WHICH I MIGHT HAVE READ SO MUCH HAS BEEN LONG ERE THIS SMUDGED BY THE RAIN AND
DEFACED BY THE CLOGS OF CURIOUS PEASANTS. OH, DR. MORTIMER, DR. MORTIMER, TO THINK
THAT YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE CALLED ME IN! YOU HAVE INDEED MUCH TO ANSWER FOR."

"I COULD NOT CALL YOU IN,

MR. HOLMES, WITHOUT DISCLOSING THESE FACTS TO THE WORLD, AND I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN MY
REASONS FOR NOT WISHING TO DO SO. BESIDES, BESIDES—" "WHY DO YOU HESITATE?" "THERE IS A
REALM IN WHICH THE MOST ACUTE AND MOST EXPERIENCED OF DETECTIVES IS HELPLESS." "YOU
MEAN THAT THE THING IS SUPERNATURAL?" "I DID NOT POSITIVELY SAY SO." "NO, BUT YOU
EVIDENTLY THINK IT." "SINCE THE TRAGEDY, MR. HOLMES, THERE HAVE COME TO MY EARS SEVERAL
INCIDENTS WHICH ARE HARD TO RECONCILE WITH THE SETTLED 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 THIS 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 SUPERNATURAL?"

"I DO NOT KNOW 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 FOOTMARK IS MATERIAL."
"THE ORIGINAL HOUND WAS MATERIAL ENOUGH TO TUG A MAN'S THROAT OUT, AND YET HE WAS
DIABOLICAL AS WELL." "I 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."

"I DID NOT SAY THAT I DESIRED YOU TO DO IT." "THEN, HOW CAN I ASSIST YOU?" "BY ADVISING ME
AS TO WHAT I SHOULD DO WITH SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE, WHO ARRIVES AT WATERLOO STATION"—
DR. MORTIMER LOOKED AT HIS WATCH—"IN EXACTLY ONE HOUR AND A QUARTER." "HE BEING THE
HEIR?" "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 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 HOLD 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 OF 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 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 FOR YOUR ADVICE." HOLMES
CONSIDERED FOR A LITTLE TIME. "PUT INTO PLAIN WORDS, THE MATTER IS THIS," SAID HE.

"IN 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 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, I 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 WITH 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. "ONLY 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?" "I 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 I TURN TO YOU FOR
AID. BUT THIS IS SPLENDID, REALLY UNIQUE FROM SOME POINTS OF VIEW. WHEN YOU PASS
BRADLEY'S, WOULD YOU ASK HIM TO SEND 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 I FOUND MYSELF IN THE SITTING-ROOM ONCE MORE.

MY FIRST IMPRESSION AS I OPENED THE DOOR WAS THAT A FIRE HAD 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 I
HAD A VAGUE VISION OF HOLMES IN HIS DRESSINGGOWN COILED UP IN AN AR CHAIR WITH HIS
BLACK CLAY PIPE BETWEEN HIS LIPS. SEVERAL ROLLS OF PAPER LAY AROUND HIM. "CAUGHT COLD,
WATSON?" SAID HE. "NO, IT'S THIS POISONOUS ATMOSPHERE." "I 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 MAKES 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 BEEN? 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." "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
STAMFORD'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 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."

"IT MUST BE A WILD PLACE." "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 EXPLANATION."

"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 OF 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. HAVE YOU TURNED THE CASE OVER IN YOUR MIND?"

"YES, I HAVE THOUGHT A GOOD DEAL OF IT IN THE COURSE OF THE DAY." "WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF
IT?" "IT IS VERY BEWILDERING." "IT HAS CERTAINLY A CHARACTER OF ITS OWN. THERE ARE POINTS
OF DISTINCTION ABOUT IT.

THAT CHANGE IN THE FOOTPRINTS, FOR EXAMPLE. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?" "MORTIMER
SAID THAT THE MAN HAD WALKED ON TIPTOE DOWN THAT PORTION OF THE 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,
RUNNING 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?" "I 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 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 CREDIT FOR, DEDUCED FROM THE CIGAR ASH?" "BUT HE WENT OUT EVERY EVENING." "I
THINK IT UNLIKELY THAT HE WAITED AT THE MOOR-GATE EVERY EVENING. ON THE CONTRARY, THE
EVIDENCE IS THAT HE AVOIDED THE MOOR. THAT NIGHT HE WAITED THERE. IT WAS THE NIGHT
BEFORE HE MADE 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." OUR BREAKFAST TABLE WAS CLEARED EARLY, AND HOLMES WAITED IN HIS DRESSING-
GOWN FOR THE PROMISED INTERVIEW. OUR CLIENTS WERE PUNCTUAL TO THEIR APPOINTMENT,
FOR THE CLOCK HAD JUST STRUCK TEN WHEN DR. MORTIMER WAS SHOWN UP, FOLLOWED BY THE
YOUNG BARONET. THE LATTER WAS A SMALL, ALERT, DARK-EYED MAN ABOUT THIRTY YEARS OF
AGE, VERY STURDILY BUILT, WITH THICK BLACK EYEBROWS AND A STRONG, PUGNACIOUS FACE. HE
WORE A RUDDY-TINTED TWEED SUIT AND HAD THE WEATHERBEATEN 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," SAID DR. 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 ACCOUNT. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU THINK
OUT LITTLE PUZZLES, AND I'VE HAD ONE THIS MORNING WHICH WANTS MORE THINKING OUT THAN
I AM ABLE TO GIVE IT." "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?"
"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, GRAYISH IN COLOUR.
THE ADDRESS, "SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE, NORTHUMBERLAND HOTEL," WAS PRINTED IN ROUGH
CHARACTERS; THE POST-MARK "CHARING CROSS," AND THE DATE OF POSTING THE PRECEDING
EVENING.

"WHO KNEW THAT YOU WERE GOING TO THE NORTHUMBERLAND HOTEL?" 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
FOOLSCAP PAPER FOLDED INTO FOUR. THIS HE OPENED AND SPREAD FLAT UPON THE TABLE.
ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF IT A SINGLE SENTENCE HAD BEEN FORMED BY THE EXPEDIENT OF PASTING
PRINTED WORDS UPON IT. IT RAN: AS YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE OR YOUR REASON KEEP AWAY FROM
THE MOOR. THE WORD "MOOR" ONLY WAS PRINTED IN INK. "NOW," SAID SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE,
"PERHAPS YOU WILL TELL ME, MR. HOLMES, WHAT IN THUNDER IS THE MEANING OF THAT, AND
WHO IT IS THAT TAKES SO MUCH INTEREST IN MY AFFAIRS?" "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. "IT 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 P PROMISE YOU
THAT," SAID SHERLOCK HOLMES. "WE WILL CONFINE OURSELVES FOR THE PRESENT WITH YOUR
PERMISSION TO THIS VERY INTERESTING DOCUMENT, WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER
AND POSTED YESTERDAY EVENING. HAVE YOU YESTERDAY'S TIMES, WATSON?" "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 DOWN THE COLUMNS.
"CAPITAL ARTICLE THIS ON FREE TRADE. PERMIT ME TO GIVE YOU AN EXTRACT FROM IT. 'YOU MAY
BE CAJOLED INTO IMAGINING THAT YOUR OWN SPECIAL TRADE OR YOUR OWN INDUSTRY WILL BE
ENCOURAGED BY A PROTECTIVE TARIFF, BUT IT STANDS TO REASON THAT SUCH LEGISLATION MUST
IN THE LONG RUN KEEP AWAY WEALTH FROM THE COUNTRY, DIMINISH THE VALUE OF OUR
IMPORTS, AND LOWER THE GENERAL CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN THIS ISLAND.'

"WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT, WATSON?" CRIED HOLMES IN HIGH GLEE, RUBBING HIS HANDS
TOGETHER WITH SATISFACTION. "DON'T YOU THINK THAT IS AN ADMIRABLE SENTIMENT?" DR.
MORTIMER LOOKED AT HOLMES WITH AN AIR OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST, AND SIR HENRY
BASKERVILLE TURNED A PAIR OF PUZZLED DARK EYES UPON ME. "I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE
TARIFF AND THINGS OF THAT KIND," SAID HE, "BUT IT SEEMS TO ME WE'VE GOT A BIT OFF THE
TRAIL SO FAR AS THAT NOTE IS CONCERNED." "ON THE CONTRARY, I THINK WE ARE PARTICULARLY
HOT UPON THE TRAIL, SIR HENRY. WATSON HERE KNOWS MORE ABOUT MY METHODS THAN YOU
DO, BUT I FEAR THAT EVEN HE HAS NOT QUITE GRASPED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS SENTENCE."
"NO, I CONFESS THAT I SEE NO CONNECTION." "AND YET, MY DEAR WATSON, THERE IS SO VERY
CLOSE A CONNECTION THAT THE ONE IS EXTRACTED OUT OF THE OTHER. 'YOU,' 'YOUR,' 'YOUR,'
'LIFE,' 'REASON,' 'VALUE,' 'KEEP AWAY,' 'FROM THE.' DON'T YOU SEE NOW WHENCE THESE WORDS
HAVE BEEN TAKEN?" "BY THUNDER, YOU'RE RIGHT! WELL, IF THAT ISN'T SMART!" CRIED SIR HENRY.
"IF 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. "I COULD UNDERSTAND ANYONE SAYING THAT THE WORDS WERE FROM A
NEWSPAPER; BUT THAT YOU SHOULD NAME WHICH, AND ADD THAT IT CAME FROM THE LEADING
ARTICLE, IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE THINGS WHICH I HAVE EVER KNOWN. HOW DID
YOU DO IT?" "I PRESUME, DOCTOR, THAT YOU COULD TELL THE SKULL OF A NEGRO FROM THAT OF
AN ESQUIMAU?" "MOST CERTAINLY." "BUT HOW?"
"BECAUSE THAT IS MY SPECIAL HOBBY. THE DIFFERENCES ARE OBVIOUS. THE SUPRAORBITAL CREST,
THE FACIAL ANGLE, THE MAXILLARY CURVE, THE—" "BUT THIS IS MY SPECIAL HOBBY, AND THE
DIFFERENCES ARE EQUALLY OBVIOUS.

THERE IS AS MUCH DIFFERENCE TO MY EYES BETWEEN THE LEADED BOURGEOIS TYPE OF A TIMES
ARTICLE AND THE SLOVENLY PRINT OF AN EVENING HALF-PENNY PAPER AS THERE COULD BE
BETWEEN YOUR NEGRO AND YOUR ESQUIMAU.

THE DETECTION OF TYPES IS ONE OF THE MOST ELEMENTARY BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE
SPECIAL EXPERT IN CRIME, THOUGH I CONFESS THAT ONCE WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG I CONFUSED
THE LEEDS MERCURY WITH THE WESTERN MORNING NEWS. BUT A TIMES LEADER IS ENTIRELY
DISTINCTIVE, AND THESE WORDS COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM NOTHING ELSE. AS IT WAS DONE
YESTERDAY THE STRONG PROBABILITY WAS THAT WE SHOULD FIND THE WORDS IN YESTERDAY'S
ISSUE." "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?" "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, BE KNOWN, BY YOU. AGAIN, YOU WILL
OBSERVE THAT THE WORDS ARE NOT GUMMED ON IN AN ACCURATE LINE, BUT THAT SOME ARE
MUCH HIGHER THAN OTHERS. 'LIFE,' FOR EXAMPLE IS QUITE OUT OF ITS PROPER PLACE. THAT MAY
POINT TO CARELESSNESS OR IT MAY POINT TO AGITATION AND HURRY UPON THE PART OF THE
CUTTER. ON THE WHOLE I INCLINE TO THE LATTER VIEW, SINCE THE MATTER WAS EVIDENTLY
IMPORTANT, AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE COMPOSER OF SUCH A LETTER WOULD BE CARELESS. IF
HE WERE IN A HURRY IT OPENS UP THE INTERESTING QUESTION WHY HE SHOULD BE IN A HURRY,
SINCE ANY LETTER POSTED UP TO EARLY MORNING WOULD REACH SIR HENRY BEFORE HE WOULD
LEAVE HIS HOTEL. DID THE COMPOSER FEAR AN INTERRUPTION—AND FROM WHOM?" "WE ARE
COMING NOW RATHER INTO THE REGION OF GUESSWORK," SAID DR. MORTIMER. "SAY, RATHER,
INTO THE REGION WHERE WE BALANCE PROBABILITIES AND CHOOSE THE MOST LIKELY. IT IS THE
SCIENTIFIC USE OF THE IMAGINATION, BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS SOME MATERIAL BASIS ON WHICH TO
START OUR SPECULATION. NOW, YOU WOULD CALL IT A GUESS, NO DOUBT, BUT I AM ALMOST
CERTAIN THAT THIS ADDRESS HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN A HOTEL." "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 COMBINATION OF THE TWO MUST BE QUITE RARE. BUT YOU KNOW THE HOTEL INK AND THE
HOTEL PEN, WHERE IT IS RARE TO GET ANYTHING ELSE. YES, I HAVE VERY LITTLE HESITATION IN
SAYING THAT COULD WE EXAMINE THE WASTE-PAPER BASKETS OF THE HOTELS AROUND CHARING
CROSS UNTIL WE FOUND THE REMAINS OF THE MUTILATED TIMES LEADER WE COULD LAY OUR
HANDS STRAIGHT UPON THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS SINGULAR MESSAGE.

HALLOA! HALLOA! WHAT'S THIS?" HE WAS CAREFULLY EXAMINING THE FOOLSCAP, UPON WHICH
THE WORDS WERE PASTED, HOLDING IT ONLY AN INCH OR TWO FROM HIS EYES. "WELL?"

"NOTHING "NOTHING," SAID HE, THROWING IT DOWN. "IT IS A BLANK HALF-SHEET OF PAPER,
WITHOUT EVEN A WATER-MARK UPON IT. I THINK WE HAVE DRAWN AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM
THIS CURIOUS LETTER; AND NOW, SIR HENRY, HAS ANYTHING ELSE OF INTEREST HAPPENED TO YOU
SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN IN LONDON?" "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." SIR HENRY SMILED.
"I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF BRITISH LIFE YET, FOR I HAVE SPENT NEARLY ALL MY TIME IN THE STATES
AND IN CANADA. BUT I HOPE THAT TO LOSE ONE OF YOUR BOOTS IS NOT PART OF THE ORDINARY
ROUTINE OF LIFE OVER HERE." "YOU HAVE LOST ONE OF YOUR BOOTS?" "MY DEAR SIR," CRIED DR.
MORTIMER, "IT IS ONLY MISLAID. YOU WILL FIND IT WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE HOTEL. WHAT IS
THE USE OF TROUBLING MR. HOLMES WITH TRIFLES OF THIS KIND?" "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 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." "IT SEEMS A SINGULARLY USELESS THING TO STEAL," SAID
SHERLOCK HOLMES. "I CONFESS THAT I SHARE DR. MORTIMER'S BELIEF THAT IT WILL NOT BE LONG
BEFORE THE MISSING BOOT IS FOUND." "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 THE DEEPEST ATTENTION AND WITH AN OCCASIONAL EXCLAMATION OF SURPRISE. "WELL, I
SEEM TO HAVE COME INTO AN INHERITANCE WITH A VENGEANCE," SAID HE WHEN THE LONG
NARRATIVE WAS FINISHED. "OF COURSE, I'VE HEARD OF THE HOUND EVER SINCE I WAS IN THE
NURSERY. IT'S THE PET STORY OF THE FAMILY, THOUGH I NEVER THOUGHT OF TAKING IT SERIOUSLY
BEFORE. BUT AS TO MY UNCLE'S DEATH—WELL, IT ALL SEEMS BOILING UP IN MY HEAD, AND I CAN'T
GET IT CLEAR YET. YOU DON'T SEEM QUITE TO HAVE MADE UP YOUR MIND WHETHER IT'S A CASE
FOR A POLICEMAN OR A CLERGYMAN." "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 KNOWS MORE THAN WE DO ABOUT WHAT GOES ON UPON THE MOOR," SAID DR.
MORTIMER. "AND ALSO," SAID HOLMES, "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." "WHY SHOULD I NOT GO?" "THERE SEEMS
TO BE DANGER."

"DO YOU MEAN DANGER FROM THIS FAMILY FRIEND 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, "I HAVE HARDLY HAD TIME TO THINK OVER ALL THAT
YOU HAVE TOLD ME. IT'S A BIG THING FOR A MAN TO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND TO DECIDE AT
ONE SITTING. I SHOULD LIKE TO HAVE A QUIET HOUR BY MYSELF TO MAKE UP MY MIND. NOW,
LOOK HERE, MR. HOLMES, IT'S HALF-PAST ELEVEN NOW AND I AM GOING BACK RIGHT AWAY TO MY
HOTEL. SUPPOSE YOU AND YOUR FRIEND, DR. WATSON, COME ROUND AND LUNCH WITH US AT
TWO. I'LL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU MORE CLEARLY THEN HOW THIS THING STRIKES ME." "IS 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-MORNING!" 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 FROCKCOAT. 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. "SHALL
I RUN ON AND STOP THEM?" "NOT FOR THE WORLD, MY DEAR WATSON. I AM PERFECTLY SATISFIED
WITH YOUR COMPANY IF YOU WILL TOLERATE MINE. OUR FRIENDS ARE WISE, FOR IT IS CERTAINLY A
VERY FINE MORNING FOR A WALK." HE QUICKENED HIS PACE UNTIL WE HAD DECREASED THE
DISTANCE WHICH DIVIDED US BY ABOUT HALF. THEN, STILL KEEPING A HUNDRED YARDS BEHIND,
WE FOLLOWED INTO OXFORD STREET AND SO DOWN REGENT STREET. ONCE OUR FRIENDS
STOPPED AND STARED INTO A SHOP WINDOW, UPON WHICH HOLMES DID THE SAME. AN INSTANT
AFTERWARDS HE GAVE A LITTLE CRY OF SATISFACTION, AND, FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF HIS
EAGER EYES, I SAW THAT A HANSOM CAB WITH A MAN INSIDE WHICH HAD HALTED ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE STREET WAS NOW PROCEEDING SLOWLY ONWARD AGAIN. "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 IN SIGHT.
THEN HE DASHED IN WILD PURSUIT AMID THE STREAM OF THE TRAFFIC, BUT THE START WAS TOO
GREAT, AND ALREADY THE CAB WAS OUT OF SIGHT. "THERE NOW!" SAID HOLMES BITTERLY AS HE
EMERGED PANTING AND WHITE WITH VEXATION FROM THE TIDE OF VEHICLES. "WAS EVER SUCH
BAD LUCK AND SUCH BAD MANAGEMENT, TOO? WATSON, WATSON, IF YOU ARE AN HONEST MAN
YOU WILL RECORD THIS ALSO AND SET IT AGAINST MY SUCCESSES!" "WHO WAS THE MAN?" "I 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 ELSE
COULD IT BE KNOWN SO QUICKLY THAT IT WAS THE NORTHUMBERLAND HOTEL WHICH HE HAD
CHOSEN? IF THEY HAD FOLLOWED HIM THE FIRST DAY I ARGUED THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW HIM
ALSO THE SECOND. YOU MAY HAVE OBSERVED THAT I TWICE STROLLED OVER TO THE WINDOW
WHILE DR. MORTIMER WAS READING HIS LEGEND." "YES, I 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, I AM CONSCIOUS ALWAYS
OF POWER AND DESIGN. WHEN OUR FRIENDS LEFT I AT ONCE FOLLOWED THEM IN THE HOPES OF
MARKING DOWN THEIR INVISIBLE ATTENDANT. SO WILY WAS HE THAT HE HAD NOT TRUSTED
HIMSELF UPON FOOT, BUT HE HAD AVAILED HIMSELF OF A CAB SO THAT HE COULD LOITER BEHIND
OR DASH PAST THEM AND SO ESCAPE THEIR NOTICE. HIS METHOD HAD THE ADDITIONAL
ADVANTAGE THAT IF THEY WERE TO TAKE A CAB HE WAS ALL READY TO FOLLOW THEM. IT HAS,
HOWEVER, ONE OBVIOUS DISADVANTAGE." "IT 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? NO.
2704 IS OUR MAN. BUT THAT IS NO USE TO US FOR THE MOMENT." "I FAIL TO SEE HOW YOU COULD
HAVE DONE MORE." "ON OBSERVING THE CAB I SHOULD HAVE INSTANTLY TURNED AND WALKED IN
THE OTHER DIRECTION. I SHOULD THEN AT MY LEISURE HAVE HIRED A SECOND CAB AND FOLLOWED
THE FIRST AT A RESPECTFUL DISTANCE, OR, BETTER STILL, HAVE DRIVEN TO THE NORTHUMBERLAND
HOTEL AND WAITED THERE. WHEN OUR UNKNOWN HAD FOLLOWED BASKERVILLE HOME WE
SHOULD HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF PLAYING HIS OWN GAME UPON HIMSELF AND SEEING
WHERE HE MADE FOR. AS IT IS, BY AN INDISCREET EAGERNESS, WHICH WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF
WITH EXTRAORDINARY QUICKNESS AND ENERGY BY OUR OPPONENT, WE HAVE BETRAYED
OURSELVES AND LOST OUR MAN." WE HAD BEEN SAUNTERING SLOWLY DOWN REGENT STREET
DURING THIS CONVERSATION, AND DR. MORTIMER, WITH HIS COMPANION, HAD LONG VANISHED
IN FRONT OF US. "THERE IS NO OBJECT IN OUR FOLLOWING THEM," SAID HOLMES. "THE SHADOW
HAS DEPARTED AND WILL NOT RETURN. WE MUST SEE WHAT FURTHER CARDS WE HAVE IN OUR
HANDS AND PLAY THEM WITH DECISION. COULD YOU SWEAR TO THAT MAN'S FACE WITHIN THE
CAB?" "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
LIFE." "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."

"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 TELL HIM THAT YOU
WANT TO SEE THE WASTE-PAPER OF YESTERDAY. YOU WILL SAY THAT AN IMPORTANT TELEGRAM
HAS MISCARRIED AND THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IT. YOU UNDERSTAND?"

"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 THE 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, TO WHOM ALSO
YOU WILL GIVE A SHILLING. HERE ARE TWENTY-THREE SHILLINGS. YOU WILL THEN LEARN IN
POSSIBLY TWENTY CASES OUT OF THE TWENTY-THREE THAT THE WASTE OF THE DAY BEFORE HAS
BEEN BURNED OR REMOVED. IN THE THREE OTHER CASES YOU WILL BE SHOWN A HEAP OF PAPER
AND YOU WILL LOOK FOR THIS PAGE OF THE TIMES AMONG IT. THE ODDS ARE ENORMOUSLY
AGAINST YOUR FINDING IT. THERE ARE TEN SHILLINGS OVER IN CASE OF EMERGENCIES. LET ME
HAVE A REPORT BY WIRE AT BAKER STREET BEFORE EVENING. AND NOW, WATSON, IT ONLY
REMAINS FOR US TO FIND OUT BY WIRE THE IDENTITY OF THE CABMAN, NO. 2704, AND THEN WE
WILL DROP INTO ONE OF THE BOND STREET PICTURE GALLERIES AND FILL IN THE TIME UNTIL WE
ARE DUE AT THE HOTEL." HERLOCK HOLMES HAD, IN A VERY REMARKABLE DEGREE, THE POWER OF
DETACHING HIS MIND AT WILL. FOR TWO HOURS 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 THE LEAST." THE BOOK SHOWED
THAT TWO NAMES HAD BEEN ADDED AFTER THAT OF BASKERVILLE. ONE WAS THEOPHILUS
JOHNSON AND FAMILY, OF NEWCASTLE; 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, GRAY-HEADED, AND WALKS WITH A LIMP?" "NO, SIR, THIS IS
MR. JOHNSON, THE COAL-OWNER, A VERY ACTIVE GENTLEMAN, NOT OLDER THAN YOURSELF."
"SURELY YOU ARE MISTAKEN ABOUT 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. OLDMORE, TOO; I SEEM
TO REMEMBER THE NAME. EXCUSE MY CURIOSITY, BUT OFTEN IN CALLING UPON ONE FRIEND ONE
FINDS ANOTHER." "SHE IS AN INVALID LADY, SIR. HER HUSBAND WAS ONCE MAYOR OF
GLOUCESTER. SHE ALWAYS COMES TO US WHEN SHE IS IN TOWN." "THANK YOU; I AM AFRAID I
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
WHILE 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
MATTER?" AS WE CAME ROUND THE TOP OF THE STAIRS WE HAD RUN UP AGAINST SIR HENRY
BASKERVILLE HIMSELF. HIS FACE WAS FLUSHED WITH ANGER, AND HE HELD AN OLD AND DUSTY
BOOT IN ONE OF HIS HANDS. SO FURIOUS WAS HE THAT 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. I CAN TAKE A
JOKE WITH THE BEST, MR. HOLMES, BUT THEY'VE GOT A BIT OVER THE MARK THIS TIME." "STILL
LOOKING FOR YOUR BOOT?" "YES, SIR, AND MEAN TO FIND IT." "BUT, SURELY, YOU SAID THAT IT
WAS A NEW BROWN BOOT?" "SO IT WAS, SIR. AND NOW IT'S AN OLD BLACK ONE." "WHAT! YOU
DON'T MEAN TO SAY—?" "THAT'S JUST WHAT I DO MEAN TO SAY. I ONLY 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 DO OUT, MAN, AND DON'T STAND
STARING!" AN AGITATED GERMAN WAITER HAD APPEARED UPON THE SCENE. "NO, SIR; I HAVE
MADE INQUIRY ALL OVER THE HOTEL, BUT I CAN HEAR NO WORD OF IT." "WELL, EITHER THAT BOOT
COMES BACK BEFORE SUNDOWN OR I'LL SEE THE MANAGER AND TELL HIM THAT I GO RIGHT
STRAIGHT OUT OF THIS HOTEL." "IT SHALL BE FOUND, SIR—I PROMISE YOU THAT IF YOU WILL HAVE
A LITTLE 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—" "I THINK IT'S WELL WORTH TROUBLING ABOUT." "WHY, YOU LOOK VERY
SERIOUS OVER IT."

"HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN IT?" "I 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, I 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 I AM NOT SURE THAT OF ALL THE FIVE HUNDRED CASES
OF CAPITAL IMPORTANCE WHICH I HAVE HANDLED THERE IS ONE WHICH CUTS SO DEEP. 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. I 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, UNFORTUNATELY, IS WHAT I

CANNOT TELL YOU. HAVE YOU AMONG YOUR NEIGHBOURS OR ACQUAINTANCES ON DARTMOOR
ANY MAN WITH A 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 OF 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. 'IS ALL READY FOR SIR HENRY?' THAT WILL DO.
ADDRESS TO MR. BARRYMORE, BASKERVILLE HALL. WHAT 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, NO THUMBERLAND 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 I KNOW, HE AND HIS WIFE ARE AS RESPECTABLE A COUPLE AS
ANY IN THE COUNTY." "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 I ALSO HAD A
THOUSAND POUNDS LEFT TO ME."

"INDEED! AND ANYONE ELSE?" "THERE WERE MANY INSIGNIFICANT SUMS TO INDIVIDUALS, 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. "I 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 HOW VERY RICH HE WAS
UNTIL WE CAME TO EXAMINE HIS SECURITIES. THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE ESTATE WAS CLOSE ON TO
A MILLION." "DEAR ME! IT IS A STAKE FOR WHICH A MAN MIGHT WELL PLAY A DESPERATE 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 WESTMORELAND." "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. I 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 OTHERWISE BY THE PRESENT
OWNER, WHO CAN, OF COURSE, DO WHAT HE LIKES WITH IT." "AND HAVE YOU MADE YOUR WILL,
SIR HENRY?" "NO, MR. HOLMES, I HAVE NOT. I'VE HAD NO TIME, FOR IT WAS ONLY YESTERDAY THAT
I LEARNED HOW MATTERS STOOD. BUT IN ANY CASE I 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
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, I 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." "DR. MORTIMER RETURNS WITH ME." "BUT DR. MORTIMER HAS HIS PRACTICE TO ATTEND
TO, AND HIS HOUSE IS MILES AWAY FROM YOURS. WITH ALL THE GOODWILL 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 I SHOULD ENDEAVOUR TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON;
BUT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, WITH MY EXTENSIVE CONSULTING 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 THE MOST
REVERED NAMES IN ENGLAND IS BEING BESMIRCHED BY A BLACKMAILER, AND ONLY I 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 NO MAN WHO IS BETTER WORTH HAVING AT YOUR SIDE
WHEN YOU ARE IN A TIGHT PLACE. NO ONE CAN SAY SO MORE CONFIDENTLY THAN I." THE
PROPOSITION TOOK ME COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE, BUT BEFORE I 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 I DO. IF YOU WILL COME DOWN TO BASKERVILLE HALL AND SEE ME
THROUGH I'LL NEVER FORGET IT." THE PROMISE OF ADVENTURE HAD ALWAYS A FASCINATION FOR
ME, AND I WAS COMPLIMENTED BY THE WORDS OF HOLMES AND BY THE EAGERNESS WITH WHICH
THE BARONET HAILED ME AS A COMPANION. "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 TENTHIRTY 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. "I SEARCHED
THIS ROOM CAREFULLY BEFORE LUNCH." "AND SO DID I," SAID BASKERVILLE. "EVERY INCH OF IT."
"THERE WAS CERTAINLY NO BOOT IN IT THEN." "IN THAT CASE THE WAITER MUST HAVE PLACED IT
THERE WHILE WE WERE LUNCHING." 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 INEXPLICABLE
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, AND 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 IN 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. "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
HIMSELF. "I GOT A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OFFICE THAT A GENT AT THIS ADDRESS HAD BEEN
INQUIRING FOR NO. 2704," SAID HE. "I'VE DRIVEN MY CAB THIS SEVEN YEARS AND NEVER A WORD
OF COMPLAINT. I CAME HE OF COMPLAINT. I CAME HERE STRAIGHT FROM THE YARD TO ASK YOU
TO YOUR FACE WHAT YOU HAD AGAINST ME." "I 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, I'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 SHIPLEY'S YARD, NEAR WATERLOO STATION." SHERLOCK HOLMES
MADE A NOTE OF IT.

"NOW, CLAYTON, TELL ME ALL ABOUT THE FARE WHO CAME AND WATCHED 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 A PRETTY 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. "OH, HE MENTIONED HIS NAME, DID HE? THAT WAS
IMPRUDENT. WHAT WAS THE NAME THAT HE MENTIONED?" "HIS NAME," SAID 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 THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME." "EXCELLENT! TELL
ME WHERE YOU PICKED HIM UP AND ALL THAT OCCURRED."

"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 OUTAND TOOK A
CAB FROM THE RANK. WE FOLLOWED THEIR CAB UNTIL IT PULLED UP SOMEWHERE NEAR HERE."

"THIS VERY DOOR," SAID HOLMES. "WELL, I COULDN'T BE SURE OF THAT, BUT I DARE SAY MY FARE
KNEW ALL ABOUT IT. WE PULLED UP HALFWAY DOWN THE STREET AND WAITED AN HOUR AND A
HALF. THEN THE TWO GENTLEMEN PASSED US, WALKING, AND WE 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 I SHOULD DRIVE RIGHT
AWAY TO WATERLOO STATION AS HARD AS I COULD GO. 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 HE SAID: 'IT MIGHT INTEREST YOU TO
KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DRIVING MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES.' THAT'S HOW I COME 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 DON'T KNOW AS I COULD SAY MORE THAN THAT." "COLOUR OF HIS EYES?" "NO, I
CAN'T SAY THAT." "NOTHING MORE THAT YOU CAN REMEMBER?" "NO, SIR; NOTHING." "WELL,
THEN, HERE IS YOUR HALF-SOVEREIGN. 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 HIS 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 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 LAUGH, BUT I GIVE YOU MY WORD THAT I SHALL BE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU
BACK SAFE AND SOUND IN BAKER STREET ONCE MORE."

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 INJUNCTIONS 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
THEORIZING." "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 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 LIST 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 AN
UNKNOWN FACTOR, AND THERE ARE ONE OR TWO OTHER NEIGHBOURS. THESE ARE THE FOLK WHO
MUST BE YOUR VERY SPECIAL STUDY." "I WILL DO MY BEST." "YOU HAVE ARMS, I SUPPOSE?" "YES, I
THOUGHT IT AS WELL TO TAKE THEM." "MOST CERTAINLY. KEEP YOUR REVOLVER NEAR YOU NIGHT
AND DAY, AND NEVER RELAX YOUR PRECAUTIONS." OUR FRIENDS HAD ALREADY 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. "I CAN SWEAR TO ONE
THING, AND THAT IS THAT 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. I
USUALLY GIVE UP ONE DAY TO PURE AMUSEMENT WHEN I COME TO TOWN, SO I 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. "I 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." I LOOKED BACK AT THE PLATFORM WHEN WE HAD LEFT IT FAR BEHIND AND SAW THE
TALL, AUSTERE FIGURE OF HOLMES STANDING MOTIONLESS AND 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
I LEFT IT, DR. WATSON," 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 COUNTY," I REMARKED. "IT
DEPENDS UPON THE BREED OF MEN QUITE AS MUCH AS ON THE COUNTY," SAID DR. MORTIMER. "A
GLANCE AT OUR FRIEND HERE REVEALS THE ROUNDED HEAD OF THE CELT, WHICH CARRIES INSIDE
IT THE CELTIC ENTHUSIASM AND POWER OF ATTACHMENT. POOR SIR CHARLES'S HEAD WAS OF A
VERY RARE TYPE, HALF GAELIC, HALF IVERNIAN IN ITS CHARACTERISTICS. BUT YOU WERE VERY
YOUNG WHEN YOU LAST SAW BASKERVILLE HALL, WERE YOU NOT?" "I WAS A BOY IN MY TEENS AT
THE TIME OF MY FATHER'S DEATH AND HAD NEVER SEEN THE HALL, FOR HE LIVED IN A LITTLE
COTTAGE ON THE SOUTH COAST. THENCE I WENT STRAIGHT TO A FRIEND IN AMERICA. I TELL YOU IT
IS ALL 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 GRAY, 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 I READ
UPON HIS EAGER FACE 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
RAILWAYCARRIAGE, 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 HAZEL EYES. IF ON THAT FORBIDDING MOOR A DIFFICULT AND
DANGEROUS QUEST SHOULD LIE 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 DESCENDED. 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 CARRY
OUT OUR LUGGAGE. IT WAS A SWEET, SIMPLE COUNTRY SPOT, BUT I 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 LITTLE FELLOW, SALUTED SIR HENRY BASKERVILLE, AND IN A FEW MINUTES WE WERE
FLYING SWIFTLY DOWN THE BROAD, WHITE ROAD. ROLLING PASTURE LANDS CURVED UPWARD ON
EITHER SIDE OF US, AND OLD GABLED HOUSES PEEPED OUT FROM AMID THE THICK GREEN FOLIAGE,
BUT BEHIND THE PEACEFUL AND SUNLIT COUNTRYSIDE THERE ROSE EVER, DARK AGAINST THE
EVENING SKY, THE LONG, GLOOMY CURVE OF THE MOOR, BROKEN BY THE JAGGED AND SINISTER
HILLS. THE WAGONETTE SWUNG ROUND INTO A SIDE ROAD, AND WE CURVED UPWARD THROUGH
DEEP LANES WORN BY CENTURIES OF WHEELS, HIGH BANKS ON EITHER SIDE, HEAVY WITH DRIPPING
MOSS AND FLESHY 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 GRAY BOULDERS. BOTH ROAD AND STREAM WOUND UP THROUGH A VALLEY
DENSE WITH SCRUB OAK AND FIR. AT EVERY TURN 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 OUTLYING 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 ALONG WHICH WE TRAVELLED. "WHAT
IS THIS, PERKINS?" ASKED DR. MORTIMER. 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, I 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 NOTHING." "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 WAN 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. 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 CUPLIKE DEPRESSION,
PATCHED WITH STUNTED OAKS AND FIRS WHICH HAD BEEN TWISTED AND BENT 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 RISEN AND WAS STARING WITH
FLUSHED CHEEKS AND 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 BOARS' 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 SIR CHARLES'S SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD.
THROUGH THE GATEWAY WE PASSED INTO THE AVENUE, WHERE THE WHEELS 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 ALLEY IS ON THE OTHER SIDE." THE YOUNG HEIR GLANCED ROUND WITH
A GLOOMY FACE. "IT'S NO WONDER MY UNCLE FELT AS IF TROUBLE WERE COMING ON HIM IN
SUCH A PLACE AS THIS," SAID HE. "IT'S ENOUGH TO SCARE ANY MAN. I'LL HAVE A ROW OF ELECTRIC
LAMPS UP HERE INSIDE OF SIX MONTHS, AND YOU WON'T KNOW IT AGAIN, WITH A THOUSAND
CANDLE-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 I
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, CRENELATED, 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 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, I MUST GO. I 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. GOODBYE, AND NEVER HESITATE NIGHT OR DAY TO
SEND FOR ME IF I CAN BE OF SERVICE." THE WHEELS DIED AWAY DOWN THE DRIVE WHILE SIR
HENRY AND I TURNED INTO THE HALL, AND THE DOOR CLANGED HEAVILY BEHIND US. IT WAS A FINE
APARTMENT IN WHICH WE FOUND OURSELVES, LARGE, LOFTY, AND HEAVILY RAFTERED WITH HUGE
BAULKS OF AGEBLACKENED 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. "IT'S JUST AS I
IMAGINED IT," SAID SIR HENRY. "IS 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. THE 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 OUR LUGGAGE TO OUR ROOMS. HE STOOD IN FRONT OF US NOW
WITH THE 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?" "IN A VERY FEW
MINUTES, SIR. YOU WILL FIND HOT WATER IN YOUR ROOMS. MY WIFE AND I WILL BE HAPPY, SIR
HENRY, TO STAY WITH YOU UNTIL YOU HAVE MADE YOUR FRESH ARRANGEMENTS, BUT YOU WILL
UNDERSTAND THAT UNDER THE NEW CONDITIONS THIS HOUSE WILL REQUIRE A CONSIDERABLE
STAFF." "WHAT NEW CONDITIONS?" "I 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
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 FAMILY HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS, HAVE THEY NOT? I SHOULD BE
SORRY TO BEGIN MY LIFE HERE BY BREAKING AN OLD FAMILY CONNECTION."

I SEEMED TO DISCERN SOME SIGNS OF EMOTION UPON THE BUTLER'S WHITE FACE. "I 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. I FEAR THAT WE SHALL NEVER AGAIN BE EASY IN OUR MINDS AT BASKERVILLE
HALL." "BUT WHAT DO YOU INTEND TO DO?" "I HAVE NO DOUBT, SIR, THAT WE SHALL SUCCEED IN
ESTABLISHING OURSELVES IN SOME BUSINESS. SIR CHARLES'S 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 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 REM 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. IT WAS A LONG CHAMBER WITH A STEP SEPARATING THE DAIS WHERE THE
FAMILY SAT FROM THE LOWER PORTION RESERVED FOR THEIR DEPENDENTS. AT ONE END A
MINSTREL'S 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 I FOR ONE WAS GLAD WHEN THE MEAL WAS OVER AND WE WERE ABLE TO RETIRE
INTO THE MODERN BILLIARDROOM AND SMOKE A CIGARETTE.

"MY WORD, IT ISN'T A VERY CHEERFUL PLACE," SAID SIR HENRY. "I SUPPOSE ONE CAN TONE DOWN
TO IT, BUT I FEEL A BIT OUT OF THE PICTURE AT PRESENT. I DON'T WONDER THAT MY UNCLE GOT A
LITTLE JUMPY IF HE LIVED ALL ALONE IN SUCH A HOUSE AS THIS. HOWEVER, IF IT SUITS YOU, WE
WILL RETIRE EARLY TONIGHT, AND PERHAPS THINGS MAY SEEM MORE CHEERFUL IN THE
MORNING." I DREW ASIDE MY CURTAINS BEFORE I WENT TO BED AND LOOKED OUT FROM MY
WINDOW. IT 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 I SAW BEYOND THE TREES A BROKEN FRINGE OF
ROCKS, AND THE LONG, LOW CURVE OF THE MELANCHOLY MOOR. I CLOSED THE CURTAIN, FEELING
THAT MY LAST IMPRESSION WAS IN KEEPING WITH THE REST. AND YET IT WAS NOT QUITE THE LAST.
I 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 OLD HOUSE. AND
THEN SUDDENLY, IN THE VERY DEAD OF THE NIGHT, THERE CAME A SOUND TO MY EARS, CLEAR,
RESONANT, AND UNMISTAKABLE. IT WAS THE SOB OF A WOMAN, THE MUFFLED, STRANGLING
GASP OF ONE WHO IS TORN BY AN UNCONTROLLABLE SORROW. I SAT UP IN BED AND LISTENED
INTENTLY. THE NOISE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FAR AWAY AND WAS CERTAINLY IN THE HOUSE. FOR
HALF AN HOUR I 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.

THE FRESH BEAUTY OF THE FOLLOWING MORNING DID SOMETHING TO EFFACE FROM OUR MINDS
THE GRIM AND GRAY IMPRESSION WHICH HAD BEEN LEFT UPON BOTH OF US BY OUR FIRST
EXPERIENCE OF BASKERVILLE HALL. AS SIR HENRY AND I 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. "I GUESS IT IS OURSELVES
AND NOT THE HOUSE THAT WE HAVE TO BLAME!" SAID THE BARONET. "WE WERE TIRED WITH OUR
JOURNEY AND CHILLED BY OUR DRIVE, SO WE TOOK A GRAY 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," I ANSWERED. "DID YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, HAPPEN TO HEAR SOMEONE,
A WOMAN I THINK, SOBBING IN THE NIGHT?" "THAT IS CURIOUS, FOR I DID WHEN I WAS HALF
ASLEEP FANCY THAT I HEARD SOMETHING OF THE SORT. I WAITED QUITE A TIME, BUT THERE WAS
NO MORE OF IT, SO I CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS ALL A DREAM." "I HEARD IT DISTINCTLY, AND I AM
SURE THAT IT WAS REALLY THE SOB OF A WOMAN." "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 THAT 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 I MET MRS. BARRYMORE IN THE
LONG CORRIDOR WITH THE SUN FULL UPON HER FACE. SHE WAS A LARGE, IMPASSIVE, HEAVY-
FEATURED WOMAN WITH A STERN SET EXPRESSION OF MOUTH. BUT HER TELLTALE EYES WERE RED
AND GLANCED AT ME FROM BETWEEN SWOLLEN LIDS. IT 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? ALREADY ROUND THIS PALE-FACED, HANDSOME, BLACK-BEARDED MAN THERE WAS
GATHERING AN ATMOSPHERE OF MYSTERY AND OF GLOOM. IT WAS HE WHO HAD BEEN THE FIRST
TO DISCOVER THE BODY OF SIR CHARLES, AND WE HAD ONLY HIS WORD 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 I SETTLE THE POINT
FOREVER? OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST THING TO DO WAS TO SEE THE GRIMPEN POSTMASTER AND FIND
WHETHER THE TEST TELEGRAM HAD REALLY BEEN PLACED IN BARRYMORE'S OWN HANDS. BE THE
ANSWER WHAT IT MIGHT, I 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. IT WAS A PLEASANT WALK OF FOUR MILES ALONG THE EDGE
OF THE MOOR, LEADING ME AT LAST TO A SMALL GRAY 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. "CERTAINLY, SIR," SAID HE, "I HAD THE TELEGRAM DELIVERED TO
MR. BARRYMORE EXACTLY AS DIRECTED." "WHO DELIVERED IT?" "MY BOY HERE. JAMES, YOU
DELIVERED THAT TELEGRAM TO MR. BARRYMORE AT THE HALL LAST WEEK, DID YOU NOT?" "YES,
FATHER, I DELIVERED IT."

"INTO HIS OWN HANDS?" I ASKED.

"WELL, HE WAS UP IN THE LOFT AT THE TIME, SO THAT I COULD NOT PUT IT INTO HIS OWN HANDS,
BUT I GAVE IT INTO MRS. BARRYMORE'S HANDS, AND SHE PROMISED TO DELIVER IT AT ONCE." "DID
YOU SEE MR. BARRYMORE?"

"NO, SIR; I TELL YOU HE WAS IN THE LOFT." "IF 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 FARTHER, BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT IN SPITE 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? I THOUGHT OF THE STRANGE WARNING
CLIPPED OUT 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 IN SENSATIONAL
INVESTIGATIONS. I PRAYED, AS I WALKED BACK ALONG THE GRAY, 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 SOUND OF RUNNING FEET BEHIND ME AND BY A VOICE WHICH CALLED ME BY
NAME. I 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 LEANJAWED, BETWEEN THIRTY AND FORTY YEARS OF AGE, DRESSED IN A GRAY SUIT
AND WEARING A STRAW HAT. A TIN BOX FOR BOTANICAL SPECIMENS HUNG OVER HIS SHOULDER
AND HE CARRIED A GREEN 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 I 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. I AM STAPLETON, OF
MERRIPIT HOUSE." "YOUR NET AND BOX WOULD HAVE TOLD ME AS MUCH," SAID I, "FOR I KNEW
THAT MR. STAPLETON WAS A NATURALIST. BUT HOW DID YOU KNOW ME?" "I 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 I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD OVERTAKE YOU AND
INTRODUCE MYSELF. I 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. IT IS ASKING MUCH OF A WEALTHY MAN
TO COME DOWN AND BURY HIMSELF IN A PLACE OF THIS KIND, BUT I NEED NOT TELL YOU THAT IT
MEANS A VERY GREAT DEAL TO THE COUNTRYSIDE. SIR HENRY HAS, I SUPPOSE, NO SUPERSTITIOUS
FEARS IN THE MATTER?" "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." "IT IS EXTRAORDINARY HOW
CREDULOUS THE PEASANTS ARE ABOUT HERE! ANY NUMBER OF THEM ARE READY TO SWEAR THAT
THEY HAVE SEEN SUCH A CREATURE UPON THE MOOR." HE SPOKE WITH 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 I 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 DISEASED 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 I 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?" "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 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. WHEN MORTIMER TOLD ME YOUR NAME HE COULD NOT DENY YOUR IDENTITY.
IF YOU ARE HERE, THEN IT FOLLOWS 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 I 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 I CAN BE OF SERVICE
TO YOU I 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, I MIGHT PERHAPS EVEN NOW
GIVE YOU 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 I FEEL WAS
AN UNJUSTIFIABLE INTRUSION, AND I PROMISE YOU THAT I 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 GRAY 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 I
SHOULD BE BY SIR HENRY'S SIDE. BUT THEN I REMEMBERED THE PILE OF PAPERS AND BILLS WITH
WHICH HIS STUDY TABLE WAS LITTERED. IT WAS CERTAIN THAT I COULD NOT HELP WITH THOSE.
AND HOLMES HAD EXPRESSLY SAID THAT I SHOULD STUDY THE NEIGHBOURS UPON THE MOOR. I
ACCEPTED STAPLETON'S INVITATION, AND WE TURNED TOGETHER DOWN THE PATH. "IT 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. IT IS SO VAST, AND SO BARREN, AND SO MYSTERIOUS."

"YOU KNOW IT WELL, THEN?" "I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE TWO YEARS. THE RESIDENTS WOULD CALL
ME A NEWCOMER. WE CAME SHORTLY 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 I DO." "IS IT 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?" "IT WOULD BE A RARE PLACE FOR A GALLOP."
"YOU WOULD NATURALLY THINK SO AND THE THOUGHT HAS COST SEVERAL 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. "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 UPWARD AND A DREADFUL CRY ECHOED
OVER THE MOOR. IT TURNED ME COLD WITH HORROR, BUT MY COMPANION'S NERVES SEEMED TO
BE STRONGER THAN MINE. "IT'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 CLUTCHES. IT'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. I HAVE FOUND THEM OUT." "BUT WHY SHOULD YOU
WISH TO GO INTO SO HORRIBLE A PLACE?" "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." "I 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. I ASSURE YOU THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE THE LEAST CHANCE OF YOUR COMING BACK
ALIVE. IT IS ONLY BY REMEMBERING CERTAIN COMPLEX LANDMARKS THAT I AM ABLE TO DO IT."
"HALLOA!" I 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 IN
HIS FACE. "QUEER PLACE, THE MOOR!" SAID HE. "BUT WHAT IS IT?"

"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 LOOKED 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 CAUSE OF SO STRANGE A SOUND?" "BOGS MAKE
QUEER NOISES SOMETIMES. IT'S THE MUD SETTLING, 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, I SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO
LEARN THAT WHAT 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?" THE WHOLE
STEEP SLOPE WAS COVERED WITH GRAY CIRCULAR RINGS OF STONE, A SCORE OF THEM AT LEAST.
"WHAT 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 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 HE
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! IT IS SURELY
CYCLOPIDES." A SMALL FLY OR MOTH HAD FLUTTERED ACROSS OUR PATH, AND IN AN INSTANT
STAPLETON WAS RUSHING WITH EXTRAORDINARY ENERGY AND SPEED IN PURSUIT OF IT. TO MY
DISMAY THE CREATURE FLEW STRAIGHT FOR THE GREAT MIRE, AND MY ACQUAINTANCE NEVER
PAUSED FOR AN INSTANT, BOUNDING FROM TUFT TO TUFT BEHIND IT, HIS GREEN NET WAVING IN
THE AIR. HIS GRAY CLOTHES AND JERKY, ZIGZAG, IRREGULAR PROGRESS MADE HIM NOT UNLIKE
SOME HUGE MOTH HIMSELF. I 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 I 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 I
REMEMBERED THAT I 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 GREATER CONTRAST BETWEEN BROTHER AND SISTER, FOR STAPLETON WAS
NEUTRAL TINTED, WITH LIGHT HAIR AND GRAY 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 FIGURE AND ELEGANT DRESS SHE WAS,
INDEED, A STRANGE APPARITION UPON A LONELY MOORLAND PATH. HER EYES WERE ON HER
BROTHER AS I TURNED, AND THEN SHE QUICKENED HER PACE TOWARDS ME. I HAD RAISED MY HAT
AND WAS ABOUT TO MAKE SOME EXPLANATORY 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?" I 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 PLACE." STAPLETON HAD ABANDONED THE CHASE AND CAME BACK TO US
BREATHING HARD AND FLUSHED WITH HIS EXERTIONS.

"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, I WAS CHASING A
CYCLOPIDES. HE IS VERY RARE AND SELDOM FOUND IN THE LATE AUTUMN. WHAT A PITY THAT I
SHOULD HAVE MISSED HIM!" HE SPOKE UNCONCERNEDLY, BUT HIS SMALL LIGHT EYES GLANCED
INCESSANTLY FROM THE GIRL TO ME. "YOU HAVE INTRODUCED YOURSELVES, I CAN SEE." "YES. I
WAS TELLING SIR HENRY THAT IT WAS RATHER LATE FOR HIM TO SEE THE TRUE BEAUTIES OF THE
MOOR." "WHY, WHO DO YOU THINK THIS IS?" "I IMAGINE THAT IT MUST BE SIR HENRY
BASKERVILLE." "NO, NO," SAID I. "ONLY 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. "I TALKED AS IF DR. WATSON WERE A RESIDENT
INSTEAD OF BEING MERELY A VISITOR," SAID SHE. "IT CANNOT MUCH MATTER TO HIM WHETHER 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 MOORLAND HOUSE, 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 WHICH 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?"

"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 UNINTERESTING, 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 VERY DEAR TO ME. HOWEVER, THE FATES WERE AGAINST US. A
SERIOUS EPIDEMIC BROKE OUT IN THE SCHOOL AND THREE OF THE BOYS DIED. IT 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
ZOOLOGY, 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 WINDOW." "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 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 HENRY?" "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
LEPIDOPTERA? 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 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
LONDON." "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 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 GUIDE 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 THE FAMILY, AND
WHEN THIS TRAGEDY CAME I NATURALLY FELT THAT THERE MUST BE SOME GROUNDS FOR THE
FEARS WHICH 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 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 WHICH HE, OR ANYONE ELSE,
COULD OBJECT." "MY BROTHER IS VERY ANXIOUS TO HAVE THE HALL INHABITED, FOR HE THINKS IT
IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE POOR FOLK UPON THE MOOR. HE WOULD BE VERY ANGRY IF HE KNEW
THAT I HAVE 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 GO 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. FROM THIS POINT ONWARD 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, OCTOBER 13TH. MY DEAR
HOLMES: MY PREVIOUS LETTERS AND TELEGRAMS HAVE KEPT YOU PRETTY WELL UP TO 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 THE 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 SUPPOSED TO HAVE MARKED THEIR TEMPLES. AS YOU LOOK AT THEIR
GRAY 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 TO 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
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 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 MAN LIKE 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 GOES 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 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 HENRY 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 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 TETE-A-TETE. 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 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. HALFWAY 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 SHEEP-DOG 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 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 DOWN SOME 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 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, GOODNATURED 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 BARRYMORES, AND ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE SURPRISING
DEVELOPMENT OF LAST NIGHT. FIRST OF ALL ABOUT THE TEST TELEGRAM, WHICH YOU SENT FROM
LONDON IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT BARRYMORE 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 RECURRED 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 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 WONDER 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
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 HELD 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 FACE SEEMED TO BE RIGID WITH EXPECTATION AS HE STARED OUT
INTO THE BLACKNESS OF THE MOOR. FOR SOME MINUTES HE STOOD WATCHING INTENTLY. 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 THE SOUND
CAME. WHAT IT ALL MEANS I CANNOT GUESS, BUT THERE IS SOME 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.

BASKERVILLE HALL, OCT. 15TH. 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 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, THE THEREFORE, THAT BARRYMORE, SINCE ONLY
THIS WINDOW WOULD SERVE THE 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 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 PASSES." 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 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 CONSIDERABLE 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." "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 SPOIL-SPORT. I MUST GO OUT
ALONE."

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. 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. THENCE I SAW HIM AT ONCE. HE WAS ON THE MOOR PATH ABOUT A QUARTER
OF A MILE OFF, AND A LADY WAS BY HIS SIDE WHO COULD ONLY BE MISS STAPLETON. IT WAS CLEAR
THAT THERE WAS ALREADY AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN 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, 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 G 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 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 WIT'S 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 ALL
THAT HAD OCCUR WITNESSED 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 STRAITJACKET.
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?" "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 FELT 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 HAVE 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 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."