Chapter 12. Death on the Moor

“Weheardnothingofthekind,”saidI. “Andwhatisyourtheoryofthispoorfellow’sdeath?” “Ihavenodoubtthatanxietyandexposurehavedrivenhimoffhishead.Hehasrushedaboutthemoorinacrazystateandeventuallyfallenoverhereandbrokenhisneck.” “Thatseemsthemostreasonabletheory,”saidStapleton,andhegaveasighwhichItooktoindicatehisrelief.“Whatdoyouthinkaboutit,Mr.SherlockHolmes?” Myfriendbowedhiscompliments.“Youarequickatidentification,”saidhe. “WehavebeenexpectingyouinthesepartssinceDr.Watsoncamedown.Youareintimetoseeatragedy.” “Yes,indeed.Ihavenodoubtthatmyfriend’sexplanationwillcoverthefacts.IwilltakeanunpleasantremembrancebacktoLondonwithmetomorrow.” “Oh,youreturntomorrow?” “Thatismyintention.” “Ihopeyourvisithascastsomelightuponthoseoccurrenceswhichhavepuzzledus?” Holmesshruggedhisshoulders. “Onecannotalwayshavethesuccessforwhichonehopes.Aninvestigatorneedsfactsandnotlegendsorrumours.Ithasnotbeenasatisfactorycase.” Myfriendspokeinhisfrankestandmostunconcernedmanner.Stapletonstilllookedhardathim.Thenheturnedtome. “Iwouldsuggestcarryingthispoorfellowtomyhouse,butitwouldgivemysistersuchafrightthatIdonotfeeljustifiedindoingit.Ithinkthatifweputsomethingoverhisfacehewillbesafeuntilmorning.” Andsoitwasarranged.ResistingStapleton’sofferofhospitality,HolmesandIsetofftoBaskervilleHall,leavingthenaturalisttoreturnalone.Lookingbackwesawthefiguremovingslowlyawayoverthebroadmoor,andbehindhimthatoneblacksmudgeonthesilveredslopewhichshowedwherethemanwaslyingwhohadcomesohorriblytohisend. “We’reatclosegripsatlast,”saidHolmesaswewalkedtogetheracrossthemoor.“Whatanervethefellowhas!Howhepulledhimselftogetherinthefaceofwhatmusthavebeenaparalyzingshockwhenhefoundthatthewrongmanhadfallenavictimtohisplot.ItoldyouinLondon,Watson,andItellyounowagain,thatwehaveneverhadafoemanmoreworthyofoursteel.” “Iamsorrythathehasseenyou.” “AndsowasIatfirst.Buttherewasnogettingoutofit.” “Whateffectdoyouthinkitwillhaveuponhisplansnowthatheknowsyouarehere?” “Itmaycausehimtobemorecautious,oritmaydrivehimtodesperatemeasuresatonce.Likemostclevercriminals,hemaybetooconfidentinhisownclevernessandimaginethathehascompletelydeceivedus.” “Whyshouldwenotarresthimatonce?” “MydearWatson,youwereborntobeamanofaction.Yourinstinctisalwaystodosomethingenergetic.Butsupposing,forargument’ssake,thatwehadhimarrestedtonight,whatonearththebetteroffshouldwebeforthat?Wecouldprovenothingagainsthim.There’sthedevilishcunningofit!Ifhewereactingthroughahumanagentwecouldgetsomeevidence,butifweweretodragthisgreatdogtothelightofdayitwouldnothelpusinputtingaroperoundtheneckofitsmaster.” “Surelywehaveacase.” “Notashadowofone—onlysurmiseandconjecture.Weshouldbelaughedoutofcourtifwecamewithsuchastoryandsuchevidence.” “ThereisSirCharles’sdeath.” “Founddeadwithoutamarkuponhim.YouandIknowthathediedofsheerfright,andweknowalsowhatfrightenedhim,buthowarewetogettwelvestolidjurymentoknowit?Whatsignsarethereofahound?Wherearethemarksofitsfangs?OfcourseweknowthatahounddoesnotbiteadeadbodyandthatSirCharleswasdeadbeforeeverthebruteovertookhim.Butwehavetoproveallthis,andwearenotinapositiontodoit.” “Well,then,tonight?” “Wearenotmuchbetterofftonight.Again,therewasnodirectconnectionbetweenthehoundandtheman’sdeath.Weneversawthehound.Weheardit,butwecouldnotprovethatitwasrunninguponthisman’strail.Thereisacompleteabsenceofmotive.No,mydearfellowwemustreconcileourselvestothefactthatwehavenocaseatpresent,andthatitisworthourwhiletorunanyriskinordertoestablishone.” “Andhowdoyouproposetodoso?” “IhavegreathopesofwhatMrs.LauraLyonsmaydoforuswhenthepositionofaffairsismadecleartoher.AndIhavemyownplanaswell.SufficientfortomorrowistheevilthereofbutIhopebeforethedayispasttohavetheupperhandatlast.” Icoulddrawnothingfurtherfromhim,andhewalked,lostinthought,asfarastheBaskervillegates. “Areyoucomingup?” “YesIseenoreasonforfurtherconcealment.Butonelastword,Watson.SaynothingofthehoundtoSirHenry.LethimthinkthatSelden’sdeathwasasStapletonwouldhaveusbelieve.Hewillhaveabetternervefortheordealwhichhewillhavetoundergotomorrow,whenheisengaged,ifIrememberyourreportaright,todinewiththesepeople.” “AndsoamI.” “Thenyoumustexcuseyourselfandhemustgoalone.Thatwillbeeasilyarranged.Andnow,ifwearetoolatefordinner,Ithinkthatwearebothreadyforoursuppers.”