Chapter 6. Baskerville Hall

SirHenryBaskervilleandDr.Mortimerwerereadyupontheappointedday,andwestartedasarrangedforDevonshire.Mr.SherlockHolmesdrovewithmetothestationandgavemehislastpartinginjunctionsandadvice. “Iwillnotbiasyourmindbysuggestingtheoriesorsuspicions,Watson,”saidhe“Iwishyousimplytoreportfactsinthefullestpossiblemannertome,andyoucanleavemetodothetheorizing.” “Whatsortoffacts?”Iasked. “Anythingwhichmayseemtohaveabearinghoweverindirectuponthecase,andespeciallytherelationsbetweenyoungBaskervilleandhisneighboursoranyfreshparticularsconcerningthedeathofSirCharles.Ihavemadesomeinquiriesmyselfinthelastfewdays,buttheresultshave,Ifear,beennegative.Onethingonlyappearstobecertain,andthatisthatMr.JamesDesmond,whoisthenextheir,isanelderlygentlemanofaveryamiabledisposition,sothatthispersecutiondoesnotarisefromhim.Ireallythinkthatwemayeliminatehimentirelyfromourcalculations.ThereremainthepeoplewhowillactuallysurroundSirHenryBaskervilleuponthemoor.” “WoulditnotbewellinthefirstplacetogetridofthisBarrymorecouple?” “Bynomeans.Youcouldnotmakeagreatermistake.Iftheyareinnocentitwouldbeacruelinjustice,andiftheyareguiltyweshouldbegivingupallchanceofbringingithometothem.No,no,wewillpreservethemuponourlistofsuspects.ThenthereisagroomattheHall,ifIrememberright.Therearetwomoorlandfarmers.ThereisourfriendDr.Mortimer,whomIbelievetobeentirelyhonest,andthereishiswife,ofwhomweknownothing.Thereisthisnaturalist,Stapleton,andthereishissister,whoissaidtobeayoungladyofattractions.ThereisMr.Frankland,ofLafterHall,whoisalsoanunknownfactor,andthereareoneortwootherneighbours.Thesearethefolkwhomustbeyourveryspecialstudy.” “Iwilldomybest.” “Youhavearms,Isuppose?” “Yes,Ithoughtitaswelltotakethem.” “Mostcertainly.Keepyourrevolvernearyounightandday,andneverrelaxyourprecautions.” Ourfriendshadalreadysecuredafirst-classcarriageandwerewaitingforusupontheplatform. “No,wehavenonewsofanykind,”saidDr.Mortimerinanswertomyfriend’squestions.“Icansweartoonething,andthatisthatwehavenotbeenshadowedduringthelasttwodays.Wehavenevergoneoutwithoutkeepingasharpwatch,andnoonecouldhaveescapedournotice.” “Youhavealwayskepttogether,Ipresume?” “Exceptyesterdayafternoon.IusuallygiveuponedaytopureamusementwhenIcometotown,soIspentitattheMuseumoftheCollegeofSurgeons.” “AndIwenttolookatthefolkinthepark,”saidBaskerville. “Butwehadnotroubleofanykind.” “Itwasimprudent,allthesame,”saidHolmes,shakinghisheadandlookingverygrave.“Ibeg,SirHenry,thatyouwillnotgoaboutalone.Somegreatmisfortunewillbefallyouifyoudo.Didyougetyourotherboot?” “No,sir,itisgoneforever.” “Indeed.Thatisveryinteresting.Well,good-bye,”headdedasthetrainbegantoglidedowntheplatform.“Bearinmind,SirHenry,oneofthephrasesinthatqueeroldlegendwhichDr.Mortimerhasreadtous,andavoidthemoorinthosehoursofdarknesswhenthepowersofevilareexalted.” Ilookedbackattheplatformwhenwehadleftitfarbehindandsawthetall,austerefigureofHolmesstandingmotionlessandgazingafterus. Thejourneywasaswiftandpleasantone,andIspentitinmakingthemoreintimateacquaintanceofmytwocompanionsandinplayingwithDr.Mortimer’sspaniel.Inaveryfewhoursthebrownearthhadbecomeruddy,thebrickhadchangedtogranite,a