Chapter 4. Sir Henry Baskerville

Ourbreakfasttablewasclearedearly,andHolmeswaitedinhisdressing-gownforthepromisedinterview.Ourclientswerepunctualtotheirappointment,fortheclockhadjuststrucktenwhenDr.Mortimerwasshownup,followedbytheyoungbaronet.Thelatterwasasmall,alert,dark-eyedmanaboutthirtyyearsofage,verysturdilybuilt,withthickblackeyebrowsandastrong,pugnaciousface.Heworearuddy-tintedtweedsuitandhadtheweather-beatenappearanceofonewhohasspentmostofhistimeintheopenair,andyettherewassomethinginhissteadyeyeandthequietassuranceofhisbearingwhichindicatedthegentleman. “ThisisSirHenryBaskerville,”saidDr.Mortimer. “Why,yes,”saidhe,“andthestrangethingis,Mr.SherlockHolmes,thatifmyfriendherehadnotproposedcomingroundtoyouthismorningIshouldhavecomeonmyownaccount.Iunderstandthatyouthinkoutlittlepuzzles,andI’vehadonethismorningwhichwantsmorethinkingoutthanIamabletogiveit.” “Praytakeaseat,SirHenry.DoIunderstandyoutosaythatyouhaveyourselfhadsomeremarkableexperiencesinceyouarrivedinLondon?” “Nothingofmuchimportance,Mr.Holmes.Onlyajoke,aslikeasnot.Itwasthisletter,ifyoucancallitaletter,whichreachedmethismorning.” Helaidanenvelopeuponthetable,andweallbentoverit.Itwasofcommonquality,greyishincolour.Theaddress,“SirHenryBaskerville,NorthumberlandHotel,”wasprintedinroughcharactersthepost-mark“CharingCross,”andthedateofpostingtheprecedingevening. “WhoknewthatyouweregoingtotheNorthumberlandHotel?”askedHolmes,glancingkeenlyacrossatourvisitor. “Noonecouldhaveknown.WeonlydecidedafterImetDr.Mortimer.” “ButDr.Mortimerwasnodoubtalreadystoppingthere?” “No,Ihadbeenstayingwithafriend,”saidthedoctor. “Therewasnopossibleindicationthatweintendedtogotothishotel.” “Hum!Someoneseemstobeverydeeplyinterestedinyourmovements.”Outoftheenvelopehetookahalf-sheetoffoolscappaperfoldedintofour.Thisheopenedandspreadflatuponthetable.Acrossthemiddleofitasinglesentencehadbeenformedbytheexpedientofpastingprintedwordsuponit.Itran: Asyouvalueyourlifeoryourreasonkeepawayfromthemoor. Theword“moor”onlywasprintedinink. “Now,”saidSirHenryBaskerville,“perhapsyouwilltellme,Mr.Holmes,whatinthunderisthemeaningofthat,andwhoitisthattakessomuchinterestinmyaffairs?” “Whatdoyoumakeofit,Dr.Mortimer?Youmustallowthatthereisnothingsupernaturalaboutthis,atanyrate?” “No,sir,butitmightverywellcomefromsomeonewhowasconvincedthatthebusinessissupernatural.” “Whatbusiness?”askedSirHenrysharply.“ItseemstomethatallyougentlemenknowagreatdealmorethanIdoaboutmyownaffairs.” “Youshallshareourknowledgebeforeyouleavethisroom,SirHenry.Ipromiseyouthat,”saidSherlockHolmes.“Wewillconfineourselvesforthepresentwithyourpermissiontothisveryinterestingdocument,whichmusthavebeenputtogetherandpostedyesterdayevening.Haveyouyesterday’sTimes,Watson?” “Itishereinthecorner.” “MightItroubleyouforit—theinsidepage,please,withtheleadingarticles?”Heglancedswiftlyoverit,runninghiseyesupanddownthecolumns.“Capitalarticlethisonfreetrade.Permitmetogiveyouanextractfromit. ‘Youmaybecajoledintoimaginingthatyourownspecialtradeoryourownindustrywillbeencouragedbyaprotectivetariff,butitstandstoreasonthatsuchlegislationmustinthelongrunkeepawaywealthfromthecountry,diminishthevalueofourimports,andlowerthegeneralconditionsoflifeinthisisland.’ “Whatdoyouthinkofthat,Watson?”criedHolmesinhighglee,rubbinghishandstogetherwithsatisfaction.“Don’tyouthinkthatisanadmirablesentiment?” Dr.MortimerlookedatHolmeswithanairofprofessionalinterest,andSirHenryBaskervilleturnedapairofpuzzleddarkeyesuponme. “Idon’tknowmuchaboutthetariffandthingsofthatkind,”saidhe,“butitseemstomewe’vegotabitoffthetrailsofarasthatnoteisconcerned.” “Onthecontrary,Ithinkweareparticularlyhotuponthetrail,SirHenry.Watsonhereknowsmoreaboutmymethodsthanyoudo,butIf