Chapter6.

BaskervilleHall

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.IusuallygiveuponedaytopureamusementwhenI