The Hound of the Baskervilles Part 27 (1/2)
”Why should we not arrest him at once?”
”My dear Watson, you were born to be a etic But supposing, for arguht, what on earth the better off should we be for that? We could prove nothing against hi through a hu this great dog to the light of day it would not help us in putting a rope round the neck of its master”
”Surely we have a case”
”Not a shadow of one--only surhed out of court if we came with such a story and such evidence”
”There is Sir Charles's death”
”Found dead without a ht, and we know also what frightened hiet twelve stolid juryns are there of a hound?
Where are the s? Of course we know that a hound does not bite a dead body and that Sir Charles was dead before ever the brute overtook him But we have to prove all this, and we are not in a position to do it”
”Well, then, tonight?”
”We are not ain, there was no direct connection between the hound and the man's death We never saw the hound We heard it, but we could not prove that it was running upon this man's trail There is a complete absence of motive No, my dear felloe must reconcile ourselves to the fact that we have no case at present, and that it is worth our while to run any risk in order to establish one”
”And how do you propose to do so?”
”I have great hopes of what Mrs Laura Lyons may do for us when the position of affairs is made clear to her And I have my own plan as well Sufficient for tomorrow is the evil thereof; but I hope before the day is past to have the upper hand at last”
I could draw nothing further froht, as far as the Baskerville gates
”Are you co up?”
”Yes; I see no reason for further conceal of the hound to Sir Henry Let him think that Selden's death was as Stapleton would have us believe He will have a better nerve for the ordeal which he will have to undergo toht, to dine with these people”
”And so ao alone That will be easily arranged And now, if we are too late for dinner, I think that we are both ready for our suppers”
Sir Henry was more pleased than surprised to see Sherlock Hol that recent events would bring him down from London He did raise his eyebrows, however, when he found that e nor any explanations for its absence
Between us we soon supplied his wants, and then over a belated supper we explained to the baronet as much of our experience as it seemed desirable that he should know But first I had the unpleasant duty of breaking the news to Barryated relief, but she wept bitterly in her apron To all the world he was the man of violence, half animal and half demon; but to her he always reirlhood, the child who had clung to her hand Evil indeed is the man who has not one wo in the house all day since Watson went off in the uess I should have some credit, for I have kept ht have had ame over there”
”I have no doubt that you would have had a ,” said Holmes drily ”By the way, I don't suppose you appreciate that we have beenbroken your neck?”
Sir Henry opened his eyes ”Hoas that?”
”This poor wretch was dressed in your clothes I fear your servant who gave theet into trouble with the police”
”That is unlikely There was no mark on any of them, as far as I know”