The Hound of the Baskervilles Part 2 (2/2)
”The moor is very sparsely inhabited, and those who live near each other are thrown very ood deal of Sir Charles Baskerville With the exception of Mr Frankland, of Lafter Hall, and Mr Stapleton, the naturalist, there are no otherether, and a coht back much scientific infor we have spent together discussing the comparative anatomy of the Bushman and the Hottentot
”Within the last few ly plain to me that Sir Charles's nervous systeend which I have read you exceedingly to heart--so rounds, nothing would induce hiht Incredible as it may appear to you, Mr Hol his faive of his ancestors were not encouraging The idea of sohastly presence constantly haunted him, and on more than one occasion he has asked ht ever seen any strange creature or heard the baying of a hound The latter question he put to me several times, and alith a voice which vibrated with excite up to his house in the evening some three weeks before the fatal event He chanced to be at his hall door I had descended fro in front of him, when I saw his eyes fix themselves over my shoulder and stare past me with an expression of the most dreadful horror I whisked round and had just tie black calf passing at the head of the drive So excited and alaro down to the spot where the anione, however, and the incident appeared to make the worst i, and it was on that occasion, to explain the e that narrative which I read to you when first I came I mention this small episode because it assuedy which followed, but I was convinced at the time that the matter was entirely trivial and that his excitement had no justification
”It was at o to London His heart was, I knew, affected, and the constant anxiety in which he lived, however chi a serious effect upon his health I thought that a fewthe distractions of toould send him back a new man Mr Stapleton, a mutual friend as much concerned at his state of health, was of the same opinion At the last instant caht of Sir Charles's death Barryroo up late I was able to reach Baskerville Hall within an hour of the event I checked and corroborated all the facts which were mentioned at the inquest I followed the footsteps down the yew alley, I saw the spot at the e in the shape of the prints after that point, I noted that there were no other footsteps save those of Barryravel, and finally I carefully examined the body, which had not been touched until my arrival Sir Charles lay on his face, his arround, and his features convulsed with so emotion to such an extent that I could hardly have sworn to his identity There was certainly no physical injury of any kind But one false statement was made by Barrymore at the inquest He said that there were no traces upon the ground round the body He did not observe any But I did--some little distance off, but fresh and clear”
”Footprints?”
”Footprints”
”A ely at us for an instant, and his voice sank almost to a whisper as he answered
”Mr Holantic hound!”
Chapter 3 The Probleh me There was a thrill in the doctor's voice which showed that he was himself deeply moved by that which he told us Holmes leaned forward in his excitelitter which shot from them when he was keenly interested
”You saw this?”
”As clearly as I see you”
”And you said nothing?”
”What was the use?”
”Hoas it that no one else saw it?”
”The ave theht I don't suppose I should have done so had I not known this legend”
”There are s on the ”
”You say it was large?”
”Enormous”
”But it had not approached the body?”
”No”
”What sort of night was it?'
”Da?”
”No”