The Hound of the Baskervilles Part 13 (2/2)
”He is very well, thank you”
”We were all rather afraid that after the sad death of Sir Charles the new baronetmuch of a wealthy man to come down and bury himself in a place of this kind, but I need not tell you that it reat deal to the countryside Sir Henry has, I suppose, no superstitious fears in the matter?”
”I do not think that it is likely”
”Of course you know the legend of the fiend dog which haunts the family?”
”I have heard it”
”It is extraordinary how credulous the peasants are about here! Any number of them are ready to swear that they have seen such a creature upon the moor” He spoke with a smile, but I seemed to read in his eyes that he took the reat hold upon the iination of Sir Charles, and I have no doubt that it led to his tragic end”
”But how?”
”His nerves were so worked up that the appearance of any dog ht have had a fatal effect upon his diseased heart I fancy that he really did see soht in the yew alley I feared that soht occur, for I was very fond of the old man, and I knew that his heart eak”
”How did you know that?”
”My friend Morti pursued Sir Charles, and that he died of fright in consequence?”
”Have you any better explanation?”
”I have not come to any conclusion”
”Has Mr Sherlock Holmes?”
The words took away lance at the placid face and steadfast eyes of my companion showed that no surprise was intended
”It is useless for us to pretend that we do not know you, Dr Watson,”
said he ”The records of your detective have reached us here, and you could not celebrate hi known yourself When Mortimer told me your name he could not deny your identity If you are here, then it follows that Mr Sherlock Hol himself in the matter, and I am naturally curious to knohat view he may take”
”I am afraid that I cannot answer that question”
”May I ask if he is going to honour us with a visit himself?”
”He cannot leave town at present He has other cases which engage his attention”
”What a pity! He ht on that which is so dark to us
But as to your own researches, if there is any 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 nature of your suspicions or how you propose to investigate the case, I ive you some aid or advice”