The Hound of the Baskervilles Part 27 (2/2)
”That's lucky for him--in fact, it's lucky for all of you, since you are all on the wrong side of the law in this matter I am not sure that as a conscientious detective my first duty is not to arrest the whole household Watson's reports aredocuments”
”But how about the case?” asked the baronet ”Have you le? I don't know that Watson and I are much the wiser since we came down”
”I think that I shall be in a position toIt has been an exceedingly difficult and most complicated business There are several points upon which we still want light--but it is co all the same”
”We've had one experience, as Watson has no doubt told you We heard the hound on the moor, so I can swear that it is not all es when I was out West, and I know one when I hear one If you can muzzle that one and put hireatest detective of all tiht if you will give me your help”
”Whatever you tell ood; and I will ask you also to do it blindly, without always asking the reason”
”Just as you like”
”If you will do this I think the chances are that our little problem will soon be solved I have no doubt--”
He stopped suddenly and stared fixedly up over my head into the air The lamp beat upon his face, and so intent was it and so still that it ht have been that of a clear-cut classical statue, a personification of alertness and expectation
”What is it?” we both cried
I could see as he looked down that he was repressing some internal emotion His features were still composed, but his eyes shone with amused exultation
”Excuse the admiration of a connoisseur,” said he as he waved his hand towards the line of portraits which covered the opposite wall ”Watson won't allow that I know anything of art but that is mere jealousy because our views upon the subject differ Now, these are a really very fine series of portraits”
”Well, I' with some surprise at s, and I'd be a better judge of a horse or a steer than of a picture I didn't know that you found tiood when I see it, and I see it now That's a Kneller, I'll swear, that lady in the blue silk over yonder, and the stout gentleht to be a Reynolds They are all family portraits, I presume?”
”Every one”
”Do you know the na me in them, and I think I can say entleman with the telescope?”
”That is Rear-Admiral Baskerville, who served under Rodney in the West Indies The man with the blue coat and the roll of paper is Sir William Baskerville, as Chairman of Committees of the House of Commons under Pitt”
”And this Cavalier opposite to me--the one with the black velvet and the lace?”
”Ah, you have a right to know about hio, who started the Hound of the Baskervilles
We're not likely to forget hiazed with interest and some surprise upon the portrait
”Dear h, but I dare say that there was a lurking devil in his eyes I had pictured him as a more robust and ruffianly person”
”There's no doubt about the authenticity, for the name and the date, 1647, are on the back of the canvas”
Holmes said little more, but the picture of the old roysterer seemed to have a fascination for hi supper It was not until later, when Sir Henry had gone to his roohts He led -hall, his bedrooainst the ti there?”