The Hound of the Baskervilles

tons of Me

e 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. Th

net. "We were tired with our journey and chilled by our drive, so we took a gray

ion," I answered. "Did you, for example, happen to

I heard something of the sort. I waited quite a time, but th

nd I am sure that it was

r he could account for our experience. It seemed to me that the pallid features

s the scullery-maid, who sleeps in the other wing. The other is my wife

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

iles 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 th

ad the telegram delivered to Mr

eliver

that telegram to Mr. Barrymore at

er, I deli

own hands?

not put it into his own hands, but I gave it into Mrs. B

see Mr. B

ell you he wa

im, how do you know

the postmaster testily. "Didn't he get the telegram? If ther

uting 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 qu

y surprise it was a stranger who was pursuing me. He was a small, slim, clean-shaven, prim-faced man, flaxen-haired and lean-jawed, between thirty and forty years of

I stood. "Here on the moor we are homely folk and do not wait for formal introductions. You may

h," said I, "for I knew that Mr. Stapleton

s surgery as you passed. As our road lay the same way I thought that I would overtak

ry well,

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 th

hink that i

legend of the fiend dog

e hear

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 serio

t h

d heart. I fancy that he really did see something of the kind upon that last night in the Yew Alley. I fear

you kno

d Mortime

pursued Sir Charles, and that he

ny better e

come to any

Sherloc

a glance at the placid face and steadfast eyes of

ou could not celebrate him without being known yourself. When Mortimer told me your name he could not deny your identity. If you are here,

t I cannot answe

going to honour us w

esent. He has other cases w

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 natur

pon a visit to my friend, Sir Henry,

discreet. I am justly reproved for what I feel was an unjustifiable i

inkled hill lay upon the right which had in bygone days been cut into a granite quarry. The face which was turned towards us fo

it House," said he. "Perhaps you will spare an hour that

ich his study table was littered. It was certain that I could not help with those. And Holmes had expressly said that

ers, with crests of jagged granite foaming up into fantastic surges. "You never tire of the moor. You

w it wel

ortly after Sir Charles settled. But my tastes led me to explore every part of the c

hard to

o the north here with the queer hills breaking out o

a rare place

cost several their lives before now. You notice th

m more fertile

ton la

me 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

ized, writhing neck shot upward and a dreadful cry echoed over the moor. It turne

r they get in the way of going there in the dry weather, and never know the differen

y you can p

hs which a very active man can

wish to go into so

the impassable mire, which has crawled round them in the course of years. That is

ry my luck

me with a s

on my head. I assure you that there would not be the least chance of your coming bac

cried. "Wh

ssible to say whence it came. From a dull murmur it swelled into a deep roar, and then sank back into

e, the moor

what

ervilles calling for its prey. I've heard it

in, mottled with the green patches of rushes. Nothing stirred over the vas

such nonsense as that?" said I. "What do y

es. It's the mud settling, or t

at was a li

s. Did you ever hear

never

hings are possible upon the moor. Yes, I should not be surprised to

rangest thing that eve

altogether. Look at the hill- side

ed with gray circular rings of

they? Sh

particular has lived there since, we find all his little arrangements exactly as he left them. These are his

a town. When wa

ic man-n

did

rsede the stone axe. Look at the great trench in the opposite hill. That is his mark. Yes, you will find

t 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 footi

een 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

"Go straight back t

rise. Her eyes blazed at me, and she tap

d I go bac

curious lisp in her utterance. "But for God's sake do what

ve only j

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

and came back to us breathing ha

med to me that the tone of his greet

k, you are

late autumn. What a pity that I should have missed him!" He spoke unconc

oduced yoursel

t it was rather late for him to s

do you thi

it must be Sir H

umble commoner, but his fri

r expressive face. "We have been t

for talk," her brother remarked

or," said she. "It cannot much matter to him whether it is early or late f

, 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 recogni

f in answer to my thought. "And yet we manage t

but there was no ring o

o 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 coul

it might be a little dull-less for

ever dull," sai

is own line. Poor Sir Charles was also an admirable companion. We knew him well, and miss him more than I can te

at he would b

he becomes accustomed to his new surroundings. Will you come upstairs, Dr. Watson, and inspect my collection of Lepidoptera? I think

gs 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 tha

had reached the road I was astounded to see Miss Stapleton sitting upon a rock by the side of th

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

friend, and his welfare is a very close concern of mine. Tell me why

me better you will understand that I cannot

e 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 whi

an instant over her face, but her eyes

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.

t is the

he story of

lieve in suc

ay from a place which has always been fatal to his family. The w

e. I fear that unless you can give me some more definite info

definite, for I do not

this when you first spoke to me, why should you not wish your brother to overh

d anything which might induce Sir Henry to go away. But I have done my duty now and I will say no more. I must get back, or he will miss me and suspect that I have seen y