Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 56 The Legendary Hound (5)
"It's really hard to describe his appearance. He is probably in his 40s, not tall, with a long beard and a pale face. I don't remember anything else."

"What color are his eyes?"

"I didn't pay attention to this."

"Then what else do you remember?"

"I can't really remember anything else."

"There. I'll give you another half a gold pound if you'll keep us informed. Good-bye."

"Goodbye."

John Clayton went away happily.

Holmes shrugged his shoulders and shook his head at me.

"It's completely hopeless now. This guy is simply too cunning. He has already figured us out. When he found us following him, he thought we would write down the car number, so he played this game. Now our The opponent is not an ordinary character. I failed, I hope you are lucky, but I am a little worried about you going to Devonshire."

"Anything to worry about?"

"Because this matter is not only difficult but also very dangerous. I'm starting to hate this matter now, you won't laugh at me for being timid, will you? But anyway, if you can come back safely, then I will So happy." Baskerville Manor
On Saturday morning we set out for Devon as agreed.

Holmes sent me to the station and asked me again and again: "Watson, I don't ask you to do anything else. I just need you to report to me as much detail as possible. Let me do it."

I asked, "Then what are the things to focus on?"

"As long as it seems to be related to the case, pay attention to it, no matter how trivial it is. Especially pay attention to the relationship between the Sir and the surrounding neighbors, or the news related to the sudden death of Sir Childs. Not long ago, I have done some research. , but the results of the investigation were unsatisfactory. But one thing is certain, that is, Mr. James Deisman has nothing to do with the case. Let him alone for the time being. The rest is to consider the neighbors near Sir Henry's house. "

"Or fire the Barrymores."

"Don't do that! If they had nothing to do with it, it would be a little unreasonable to fire them; if they were involved, wouldn't that just give them a chance to escape? When you think about it, Be sure to put them on the list of suspects.

"The people to watch are the groom, the two farmers who live there, Staplet and his sister. And Mr. Frankland of Ryford Park. As for Dr. Mortimer, I'm sure he's infallible, but to His wife can't let it go easily. Remember?"

"Remember, I will do my best!"

"You must bring your weapons!"

"I've already brought it."

"Be vigilant, don't be careless, and keep your pistol with you at all times."

When we arrived at the station, Mortimer and Sir Henry were waiting for us.

Mortimer said to Holmes: "We haven't found any clues, but I can guarantee that we are not being followed. When we went out, I looked around and saw no one following us."

"Have you been together?"

"Except yesterday afternoon, I have been visiting the exhibition hall of the College of Surgeons."

Sir Henry replied, "I went to the park yesterday afternoon, but I didn't get into any trouble."

"Okay, as long as you don't touch it, don't be too careless anyway. Sir Henry, I advise you not to act alone, otherwise the danger will increase. Have you found the other leather shoe?"

"No, I guess it's impossible to find it."

Holmes suddenly remembered something again. When the train started slowly, he ran over and said to Sir Henry, "You must remember that you must not pass through the swamp at night."

When the train had moved away from the platform, I looked back. Holmes had been standing there watching us.

We all seemed very lighthearted and cheerful during the trip, and even played with Dr. Mortimer's long-toothed yellow dog for a while.

After a few hours of driving, the ground gradually turned red, the brick houses turned into stone buildings, the cows were grazing, and the vegetable garden was lush. This is really a treasure of geomantic omen.Henry had been looking out of the window, and was the first to cry out with delight as he approached Devonshire.

"Watson, I have been to many places. But there is no place like my beautiful homeland."

"No one does not praise their hometown." Dr. Mortimer said, "Not only is the environment here good, but it also raises a group of extraordinary people."

He pointed to Sir Henry's head and said: "Look at his head, it is Celtic-shaped, full of Celtic boldness and enthusiasm. Sir Childs is even rarer, half of his head is like a Chinese Erga, half Ivor. How old were you, Henry, when you came to Baskerville Hall?"

"I was in my teens when my father died, and we had been living in a small house on the south side of the coast, so I had never been to the estate before. After my father died, I went to North America. To be honest , I feel very strange to this manor, and now I really want to take a look at the swamp.”

Mortimer pointed out the window and said, "There is a swamp in front of you. Your wish will come true soon."

In the distance is a lush crop field with rows of trees.There is also a dark and gloomy hill next to it, which looks like a fairyland from a distance.

Sir Henry Baskerville admired everything he saw.He wore tweed and spoke with an American accent.His skin is so dark, and he is good at expressing his inner world with facial expressions, which makes me feel that he has the temperament of the head of the family.His thick black eyebrows and high nose bridge make him a real man who is strong and responsible.

The train stopped and we all got off one after another.The people here seem to welcome us very much. The station master and porters all come to help us move things.The small station was very quiet, but there were two policemen in black uniforms standing at the exit, holding rifles in their hands, and staring straight at every place.

We carried all our things into a carriage, and the driver was a little man.After he saluted us, we were on our way.Rows of houses can be seen through the lush woods on both sides of the road.The village looked extraordinarily bright under the sunlight.

Behind the village is a large swamp, and behind it are rolling hills.The carriage turned into a side road again, and we walked zigzagging through a channel that had been sunk deep into the ground and had been formed by the wheels over the centuries.Dark green moss grew on both sides of the road, and ferns grew luxuriantly.The evening glow illuminates the mottled blackberries, which is really a beautiful sight.We crossed a small bridge over which the water was rushing and foaming, and then we followed a path lined with oak and fir trees.

Baskerville could not stop cheering.He looks at this and that, everything is beautiful in his eyes.But this small village gives me a feeling of bleakness, a kind of autumn sadness.There are scattered fallen leaves on the path, and leaves fall on our heads from time to time.The carriage passed here, the wheels were silent, and I had a premonition that the fallen leaves were an ominous gift from the gods scattered in front of the returning home.

"Ah! what's that?" exclaimed Dr. Mortimer.

Ahead is a slope full of evergreen shrubs, which is the most conspicuous part of the swamp.At the top stands a soldier who is making a ready-to-shoot motion, the gun resting on his left arm stretched forward.He kept staring at us.

Mortimer asked, "What is he doing?"

The coachman turned slightly and said, "A prisoner escaped from Prince Town a few days ago, and it has been three days now. Prison guards are monitoring every road and every station, but so far no prisoner has been arrested. People nearby have been feeling flustered for the past few days."

"Oh, there's a five-pound reward for tipping off on his whereabouts?"

The coachman said: "Yes, but this bounty is not easy to get at all, because he is not an ordinary criminal, he is almost a murderer."

"You mean, you know who he is?"

"Yes, he is the murderer in Nauting Hill—Seldan."

I still remember that case, his behavior was terrible, the whole process showed that he was an extraordinary murderer, and it was this case that Holmes solved.He was later given a suspended sentence, and because of his brutal methods, he was suspected of being mentally ill.

After a while, our car climbed to the top of the mountain, and there was a vast swamp in front of us. From a distance, there were many graves and tombstones.A cool wind blows from the front, making us shiver.This place with magical legends, coupled with this criminal fugitive, made people feel even more frightened and uneasy.Even brave Sir Henry Baskerville fell silent, wrapping himself tightly in his overcoat.

The fertile land fell behind us. Looking back, the setting sun illuminated the water like colored jade.The newly plowed black soil and the wide woods are all covered with colorful clothes.

The front became more desolate and gloomy, with huge strange rocks everywhere.We passed a stone cottage in the swamp, its rough outlines unmistakable, with no vegetation clinging to its walls.In front was a forest of mixed oak and fir trees. Two thin and tall spiers appeared on the top of the forest. The coachman waved his whip vigorously, pointed there and said, "This is Baskerville Manor."

The owner of the manor, Sir Henry, stood up excitedly.After a while, we came to the gate of the manor.On both sides of the gate stood two pillars, which were covered with moss and became green, and on the top of the pillars was a stone sculpture of a boar's head symbolizing the Baskerville family.The gatehouse was in dilapidated condition, and a new building was being erected behind it, which Sir Charles had built for himself.

As soon as we entered the gate, we walked on a path covered with fallen leaves.The branches of the old banyan tree form a piece on it, covering the sky, like a corridor.Passing through this deep corridor, we saw a house on the other side of the road. There was a faint light in the house, and we couldn't help but shivered.

Sir Henry asked: "Is that where it happened?"

Dr. Mortimer replied, "No, not here. It's in the cork lane."

The young man looked around with difficulty, "It's such a sinister place, no wonder Uncle..." He continued, "It's so disturbing, I decided to install a thousand Edison bulbs here, and by then , maybe there is a sense of grandeur here.”

The road leads to a wide lawn with the house in front of it.In the dim light, I could see a solid building in the center.In front was a level porch covered with ivy over the house.On the roof of the central building are a pair of ancient towers with many loopholes and lookout holes.There are also two wings on either side of the tower.All this looks so mysterious against the dim light.

At this time, the housekeeper and his wife came out to welcome us: "Sir Henry, welcome, welcome to Baskerville Manor."

A tall man came out from the shadows of the corridor and opened the carriage door.Under the dim light of the hall, another woman came out, and she came to help the man carry our luggage for us.

Dr. Mortimer said: "Sir Henry, I will not go in. My wife is waiting for me at home. I hope you don't mind."

"Why don't you come in and finish your meal before leaving."

"No, I'll go back first. I should have shown you around first, but it's enough to have Barrymore here. He's more familiar with this place than I am. I'll go back first, but if you have anything to say, just say it."

I entered the dining-room with Sir Henry, when the door slammed heavily.

We went into the house and looked at it, it was gorgeous and every room was very spacious.Because of the age of the house, the roof beams have turned black.Outside, next to the window, was a statue of an iron dog, and behind it was a huge, bulky fireplace, with logs crackling and crackling.We looked here and there again, and saw the windows of stained glass and fine panels, and the coats of arms on the walls, all dim and mysterious in the soft light.

Sir Henry said: "It is exactly as I imagined it to be. How many generations of us have lived in this hall. I feel a little sad when I think of it."

We looked around, and it was evident that Sir Henry was beginning to have hope and confidence in the place.

Barrymore came out after carrying our luggage to our room.He was well-groomed, tall, with a neatly trimmed beard and a fair, handsome face.

"My lord, it's time for you to eat."

"Are you all ready?"

"Go and burn your feet first, and we will have dinner after you are relieved. My lord, until you reschedule, we and my wife will be happy to serve you. However, the situation has changed now, and we still need more people."

"why is it like this?"

"My lord, I think you also know that the old lord is a person who likes to be quiet, so the two of us are enough. But I think you are an open-minded person, so you need more people."

"You mean, you don't want to do it anymore?"

"My lord, that's not what I mean. But if you don't think it's necessary for us to be here, then we won't do it."

Sir Henry said: "Your family and our family have lived here for several generations. And once I become the master, I am afraid it is not appropriate to change this long-standing family situation!"

The butler's fair face twitched a few times, and one could tell that it was an expression of excitement.

"My lord, we don't really want to leave here. To be honest, we all admired Sir Childs as a man, and his death made us very sad. We often recall everything when we stay here, so we always We are all in mourning. I am afraid that we shall never find peace of mind again at Baskerville Hall."

"So what are you going to do?"

"My lord, I intend to use the money that Sir Childs gave us to do some business. But now, I will show you to see your room."

At the top of the right hall, there is a square veranda with a return railing. To go up, you have to pass a long staircase.A long passage protrudes from the middle of the hall, and along this passage are the bedrooms.My bedroom was next to Baskerville's.These bedrooms appeared to be of a much newer style than the rooms in the middle of the building, and were much lighted with candles, and of brighter and more subdued colours, which more or less dispelled the gloomy impressions we had upon our first arrival.

The restaurant across the hall was a bit dark by comparison.This is a rectangular room divided into two parts with different heights by steps.The higher part is where the lord eats, and the lower part is where the servants eat.It's spacious enough for a banquet.

And now it's just the two of us sitting in such an empty home, it looks very bleak, and we don't even dare to speak loudly.Facing the rows of portraits of our ancestors, we feel even more depressed. All these ancestors stared at us with their eyes open, silently accompanying us, which gave us a feeling of panic. I seldom speak, and after a quick meal, I came to the new entertainment room.

"To be honest, I feel very depressed at night. I thought there was something scary, and I got used to it after a few days. Now it seems that my previous thinking was completely wrong. No wonder my uncle stayed here for several years. It hasn't gotten any better! Let's go to bed first today! Maybe tomorrow will be better."

Although I feel very tired, I can't fall asleep when I lie down.I opened the curtains and looked into the distance.The grass in the distance is sleeping quietly, and the woods in the distance rustle angrily in the wind.In the pale moonlight I saw the swamp as dead and silent.

There was silence in the room, only the sound of the clock "dongdong" was heard.Later, I suddenly heard a woman crying sadly. This kind of crying sounded like the kind when she was going through a life and death parting.I sat up on the bed and listened quietly. The sound could not have come from far away, but it was in this house for sure.In this way, I listened to the crying nervously, until the sound disappeared, only the sound of the clock beating and the wind blowing through the ivy.scary swamp

Early the next morning, fresh air rushed straight into my nostrils, the sun slanted here, and it was a brand new atmosphere.This more or less allayed my fears of Baskerville Hall.

We had breakfast together.Sunlight streamed in through the windows, making the dark wainscots glow bronze.Now, both of us are relaxed, and there is no longer the fear of last night.

"I guess it's our own minds playing tricks, so nobody was happy last night. Isn't it different now? We're all at ease."

I said, "I suppose it's not just the mind at work, for example, did you hear someone last night—a woman, I think—crying in the night?"

"Yes, I vaguely heard it, but then there was nothing. I thought I was dreaming."

"I heard it so clearly, it must be a woman crying."

He rang the bell and called Barrymore.Sir Henry asked him, "Sir, I heard a woman crying last night. Do you know who she is and why she is crying?"

After the manager heard these words, his face was very ugly. "Mr. Henry, there are only two women in this house. One is the maid, who sleeps in the opposite wing; the other is my wife. I can assure you that she never cried last night."

But later, I learned that the butler was lying.After breakfast I met Mrs. Barrymore in the corridor, who had red eyes, and gave me a look with her swollen eyes.Judging by the situation, she must have cried last night.If she was the one crying last night, why did her husband hide it?What was she crying for?

(End of this chapter)