The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (books to read this summer .txt) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซThe Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (books to read this summer .txt) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
โWhat is the next move?โ
โTo see Sir Henry. Ah, here he is!โ
โGood-morning, Holmes,โ said the baronet. โYou look like a general who is planning a battle with his chief of the staff.โ
โThat is the exact situation. Watson was asking for orders.โ
โAnd so do I.โ
โVery good. You are engaged, as I understand, to dine with our friends the Stapletons tonight.โ
โI hope that you will come also. They are very hospitable people, and I am sure that they would be very glad to see you.โ
โI fear that Watson and I must go to London.โ
โTo London?โ
โYes, I think that we should be more useful there at the present juncture.โ
The baronetโs face perceptibly lengthened.
โI hoped that you were going to see me through this business. The Hall and the moor are not very pleasant places when one is alone.โ
โMy dear fellow, you must trust me implicitly and do exactly what I tell you. You can tell your friends that we should have been happy to have come with you, but that urgent business required us to be in town. We hope very soon to return to Devonshire. Will you remember to give them that message?โ
โIf you insist upon it.โ
โThere is no alternative, I assure you.โ
I saw by the baronetโs clouded brow that he was deeply hurt by what he regarded as our desertion.
โWhen do you desire to go?โ he asked coldly.
โImmediately after breakfast. We will drive in to Coombe Tracey, but Watson will leave his things as a pledge that he will come back to you. Watson, you will send a note to Stapleton to tell him that you regret that you cannot come.โ
โI have a good mind to go to London with you,โ said the baronet. โWhy should I stay here alone?โ
โBecause it is your post of duty. Because you gave me your word that you would do as you were told, and I tell you to stay.โ
โAll right, then, Iโll stay.โ
โOne more direction! I wish you to drive to Merripit House. Send back your trap, however, and let them know that you intend to walk home.โ
โTo walk across the moor?โ
โYes.โ
โBut that is the very thing which you have so often cautioned me not to do.โ
โThis time you may do it with safety. If I had not every confidence in your nerve and courage I would not suggest it, but it is essential that you should do it.โ
โThen I will do it.โ
โAnd as you value your life do not go across the moor in any direction save along the straight path which leads from Merripit House to the Grimpen Road, and is your natural way home.โ
โI will do just what you say.โ
โVery good. I should be glad to get away as soon after breakfast as possible, so as to reach London in the afternoon.โ
I was much astounded by this programme, though I remembered that Holmes had said to Stapleton on the night before that his visit would terminate next day. It had not crossed my mind however, that he would wish me to go with him, nor could I understand how we could both be absent at a moment which he himself declared to be critical. There was nothing for it, however, but implicit obedience; so we bade good-bye to our rueful friend, and a couple of hours afterwards we were at the station of Coombe Tracey and had dispatched the trap upon its return journey. A small boy was waiting upon the platform.
โAny orders, sir?โ
โYou will take this train to town, Cartwright. The moment you arrive you will send a wire to Sir Henry Baskerville, in my name, to say that if he finds the pocketbook which I have dropped he is to send it by registered post to Baker Street.โ
โYes, sir.โ
โAnd ask at the station office if there is a message for me.โ
The boy returned with a telegram, which Holmes handed to me. It ran:
Wire received. Coming down with unsigned warrant. Arrive five-forty. Lestrade.
โThat is in answer to mine of this morning. He is the best of the professionals, I think, and we may need his assistance. Now, Watson, I think that we cannot employ our time better than by calling upon your acquaintance, Mrs. Laura Lyons.โ
His plan of campaign was beginning to be evident. He would use the baronet in order to convince the Stapletons that we were really gone, while we should actually return at the instant when we were likely to be needed. That telegram from London, if mentioned by Sir Henry to the Stapletons, must remove the last suspicions from their minds. Already I seemed to see our nets drawing closer around that lean-jawed pike.
Mrs. Laura Lyons was in her office, and Sherlock Holmes opened his interview with a frankness and directness which considerably amazed her.
โI am investigating the circumstances which attended the death of the late Sir Charles Baskerville,โ said he. โMy friend here, Dr. Watson, has informed me of what you have communicated, and also of what you have withheld in connection with that matter.โ
โWhat have I withheld?โ she asked defiantly.
โYou have confessed that you asked Sir Charles to be at the gate at ten oโclock. We know that that was the place and hour of his death. You have withheld what the connection is between these events.โ
โThere is no connection.โ
โIn that case the coincidence must indeed be an extraordinary one. But I think that we shall succeed in establishing a connection, after all. I wish to be perfectly frank with you, Mrs. Lyons. We regard this case as one of murder, and the evidence may implicate not only your friend Mr. Stapleton but his wife as well.โ
The lady sprang from her chair.
โHis wife!โ she cried.
โThe fact is no longer a secret. The person who has passed for his sister is really his wife.โ
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