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you will be troubled in the matter. And I have also communicated with my faithful Cartwright, who would certainly have pined away at the door of my hut, as a dog does at his masterโ€™s grave, if I had not set his mind at rest about my safety.โ€

โ€œWhat is the next move?โ€

โ€œTo see Sir Henry. Ah, here he is!โ€

โ€œGood-morning, Holmes,โ€ said the baronet. โ€œYou look like a general who is planning a battle with his chief of the staff.โ€

โ€œThat is the exact situation. Watson was asking for orders.โ€

โ€œAnd so do I.โ€

โ€œVery good. You are engaged, as I understand, to dine with our friends the Stapletons tonight.โ€

โ€œI 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€

โ€œI fear that Watson and I must go to London.โ€

โ€œTo London?โ€

โ€œYes, I think that we should be more useful there at the present juncture.โ€

The baronetโ€™s face perceptibly lengthened.

โ€œI 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€

โ€œMy 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€

โ€œIf you insist upon it.โ€

โ€œThere is no alternative, I assure you.โ€

I saw by the baronetโ€™s clouded brow that he was deeply hurt by what he regarded as our desertion.

โ€œWhen do you desire to go?โ€ he asked coldly.

โ€œImmediately 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€

โ€œI have a good mind to go to London with you,โ€ said the baronet. โ€œWhy should I stay here alone?โ€

โ€œBecause 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€

โ€œAll right, then, Iโ€™ll stay.โ€

โ€œOne 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€

โ€œTo walk across the moor?โ€

โ€œYes.โ€

โ€œBut that is the very thing which you have so often cautioned me not to do.โ€

โ€œThis 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€

โ€œThen I will do it.โ€

โ€œAnd 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€

โ€œI will do just what you say.โ€

โ€œVery 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.

โ€œAny orders, sir?โ€

โ€œYou 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€

โ€œYes, sir.โ€

โ€œAnd 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.

โ€œThat 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.

โ€œI am investigating the circumstances which attended the death of the late Sir Charles Baskerville,โ€ said he. โ€œMy 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€

โ€œWhat have I withheld?โ€ she asked defiantly.

โ€œYou have confessed that you asked Sir Charles to be at the gate at ten oโ€™clock. We know that that was the place and hour of his death. You have withheld what the connection is between these events.โ€

โ€œThere is no connection.โ€

โ€œIn 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.

โ€œHis wife!โ€ she cried.

โ€œThe fact is no longer a secret. The person who has passed for his sister is really his wife.โ€

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