Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 64 The Legendary Hound (13)
"Cartley, you go back at once. When you get to Baker Street, send a telegram to Sir Henry Baskerville in my name, and let him see if I have left any notebooks with him, and if so, to send Send it back."

"Ok."

"Now, Cartley, go to the post office and see if there is my telegram," said Holmes again.

The boy came back bouncing around in a few moments, with a telegram in his hand.

Holmes opened it and read:

After receiving the telegram, he went with a blank arrest ticket.Arrive at five forty.

Les Reid
"This is the answer. I think Lethyrade is the most capable. He is coming to assist us in this case. Watson, let us now call on Mrs. Laura Lyons."

I've seen his strategy.He sent Sir Henry a message to Staplet, letting him know we were gone.Also, the purpose of sending a telegram to Sir Henry was to let him talk to Staplet about this matter, so as to completely dispel their doubts.

Now, we are waiting to close the net.

We came to Mrs. Lyons's office, and she was sitting in it.She was rather surprised by the straightforwardness with which Holmes began his interview.

Holmes said: "The purpose of my coming today is to find out the cause of Sir Childs' death. My friend and you have already talked, but you have not told the whole truth."

She said angrily, "Is there anything else I want to say?"

"You have admitted that you asked Sir Childs to be at the gate at ten o'clock. We know that was the time and place of his death. You concealed the connection of these events."

"But there is no connection between these events!"

"If that's the case, it's quite a coincidence. But I think there must be a necessary connection. I'll tell you all about it. It's a murder. It's not just about your friend Staplet, it's about his His wife also has something to do with it more or less."

She was obviously shocked and jumped out of her chair. "His wife?"

"You are still kept in the dark, the woman who is usually his sister is his wife."

Mrs. Lyons sat down feebly, and seemed a little suspicious.

She cried, "His wife! His wife! He's never married!"

Holmes rolled his quick eyes.

"Do you have any proof? Show me the proof! If you can do this..." Her maddened expression can explain the problem more than anything else.

"Of course there is." Holmes took out a large envelope from his pocket. "This is a photo of the couple in Yorkshire four years ago. Look at the back and it says 'Mr. and Mrs. Vandale'. There is no need to doubt." This is a photo! These are three documents about Mr. and Mrs. Van Dale sent by several reliable witnesses. He used to run a private primary school, take a look! Do you still doubt whether this is the case? What about two people?"

She glanced at the photo, and a look of desperation, then anger, appeared on her face.

"Mr. Holmes, I can't believe this is true. He used to keep telling me that as long as my husband and I divorced, he would marry me. How dare this bastard keep playing with me? Lied to me, but why didn't I suspect him? I just figured it out now, I was used by him, and he didn't love me at all, so why should I protect him and save him from the punishment he deserved? What about punishment? Ask what you want! I will not hide anything. But let me make it clear that I have no intention of harming Sir Childs. He is my best friend. .”

"I believe you, madam," said Holmes. "I don't want you to repeat those things, which would make it harder for you. Let me ask, and you answer!"

"He suggested you to write that letter about Childs?"

"He dictated it, I wrote it myself."

"The reason he asked you to write was to get you financial help from Sir Childs for your divorce costs?"

"Yes, that is indeed the case."

"After you sent the letter, he discouraged you from going to the appointment, didn't he?"

"He said it was very disrespectful to ask other people to pay for such a purpose. He also said that although he was a poor man, he would spend his last pennies to remove the barriers that separated us. , so that he can feel at ease."

"He looks like a man of great affection. You haven't heard anything else since that death was reported in the papers, have you?"

"Yes."

"Did he tell you not to say anything about asking Childs that day?"

"Yes, he said that Childs' death was very strange, and that if people found out that I had asked him out, I would let others gossip. I thought the same thing, so I didn't dare to say it. "

"Even so, you still have doubts about him?"

She looked down and thought for a while. "I know what he is like. If he is sincere to me, I will be absolutely loyal to him."

"On the whole, I think you're lucky to have gotten away with it. You've got him now, and he knows it all too well. But it's your fault that you're still alive and not killed by him." Fate. You have been hovering on the edge of a precipice for months. Now we have to go, and you may hear an update soon.

"Our preparations are in place. Difficulties are falling before us one by one."

As we waited for the train, Holmes said: "I already have material for my fantastic and astonishing crime novels. Scholars of criminology will remember the murder in Godno, Russia, in 1866, and the Northern Kerelano The murder of Anderson in North Carolina. But my case is obviously more legendary. Although we have no conclusive evidence, this guy is already in our hands, and the truth will definitely come to light tonight."

The train drove into the platform with a long groan, and a man who was not big but looked stronger got off the train.We shook hands, and he was respectful to my companion.I also recall Holmes taunting and provoking the practical man's remarks.

He asked, "What's the good thing?"

"This is a very important and exciting business. We have two hours before we can act. Let's have some supper, and you can breathe the fresh night air on the Dart Marsh, and put it in your throat." Drive out the London fog. I don't think you will forget this trip." The legendary "Hound"

The biggest characteristic of Sherlock Holmes is that he will never disclose the plan to others before it is implemented.Part of this is due to his nature - he likes to dominate and want to surprise those around him; part of it is the needs of his work, and he never takes risks lightly.This often left those with him bewildered and sometimes very angry.I've had this experience several times, but none more painful than this long drive in the dark.

After groping in the dark for some time, a severe test lay before us, and we all went into alert mode.I don't know what I'm going to do or what will happen, so I can only let my imagination run wild.The cold wind was blowing in my face, and in this dark driveway, the anticipation of what was about to happen excited every cell in me.As the wheels turn, we approach the summit of our adventure.As the coachman was on hand, we could only talk about trivial matters.In fact, during this period, we were already very nervous. We passed Frankland's house on the way and got closer and closer to Baskerville Manor, and the tension just now gradually disappeared.We alighted at the gates of the estate, paid the money, and sent the coachman back to Coombe Tracy, while we proceeded to Melissa Hall.

"Lethred, are you armed?"

He smiled: "As long as I wear pants, I can't leave this pocket behind my butt empty."

"Well, good! We have already made all the preparations."

"Holmes, you are not only a detective, but also a detective who keeps secrets. What should we do now?"

"just wait!"

The detective looked into the distance, and there was a haze of smoke everywhere.

"It's really a place where you can't be happy."

"Look at the place where the light is on. That is the Melissa Mansion, which is our destination. Now we must proceed with caution."

We continued along the path, apparently on our way to the house, but Holmes stopped us when we were about two hundred yards from it.

Pointing to the dark rocks, he said, "Okay, just wait here! This is a very good place."

"Is it here?"

"Yes, let's hide here first. Lethred, come over here. Watson, are you familiar with the Staplet's house? What are the latticed windows at this end?"

"It's his kitchen."

"What about the room with the lights on?"

"That's the living room."

"Watson, you are more familiar with this place. Go over and see what they are doing. Remember to be careful, and don't let them find out!"

I tiptoed over and hid behind a wall, and through the trees I could see everything in the house clearly.Sir Henry and Staplet were the only two sitting in the room.They sat at the table facing each other.

They are smoking, wine and coffee are on the table.Staplet was gesticulating and talking, and Sir Henry was listening with some absent-mindedness, perhaps thinking of how to get across the moor.

Suddenly Stapler stood up and left the room.And Sir Henry poured another glass of wine and leaned back in his chair.I heard Staplet coming out, walking down a path on the other side of the wall where I was hiding.I poked my head out for a little look, and saw that he walked to the hut next to the fruit forest, took out the key and twisted the keyhole a few times. Once he entered, it was as if he was whipping something.He stayed inside for less than 2 minutes before coming out, locking the door and going back into the house.They started drinking and talking again.I quietly returned to our hiding place and told them what was going on there.

"Is Mrs. Staplet not there?" asked Holmes.

"Yes."

"So where is she? Only the kitchen light is on!"

"I don't know where she is."

At this time, the thick white mist over the Grimpen Mire floated towards us like glaciers floating in the sea.This was not good for us, and Holmes turned his face towards the direction in which the fog was drifting towards us.

He fixed his eyes on this side and said: "It's bad, Watson. The fog is coming upon us."

"Are the consequences serious?"

"Seriously. It might disrupt our plans. It's almost ten o'clock, and they're coming out soon. When he comes out will determine our success or failure and his own life."

What a beautiful night to-day, the stars twinkle in weary eyes, and the half-moon leans over us, and the whole swamp is bathed in soft moonlight.In front of us are the shadows of houses, and there are a few bright yellow lights in the room shining into the distance.

Suddenly the light in the kitchen went out, which meant that the servant had left.At this time, only the light of the living room was left, and there were two people sitting in it, one was the murderous host and the other was an unsuspecting guest.

The fog was still moving, already drifting over the houses.The wall was blurred.We waited in silence, now that the fog had crept over the house.The second floor is like a sailboat floating on the sea.

Here Holmes stamped his feet anxiously.

"If he doesn't come out again, the fog will block our view. After a while, we probably won't even be able to see our own fingers."

"Shall we move to a higher place?"

"Yes, it might be better that way."

As the fog approached, we kept retreating, about half a mile back, but the fog did not abate at all.

Holmes said: "No, we have gone too far. Perhaps we will not be able to make it past the moment when he is murdered. In any case, I must stay here."

He knelt down and put his ear to the ground.

"My God! He's out at last."

Footsteps broke the silence here.We hid here waiting for what was to come.Footsteps sounded coming closer, and Sir Henry was coming towards us through the fog.He looked around now and then, and then he came onto a path.When we were almost here, we walked towards the hillside again.As he walked, he looked around in a panic.

Holmes put his hand to his mouth and said "shh", and then I heard the sound of the trigger of the pistol. "Attention!"

Only the sound of "pat-ta-pat" came from the thick fog. The wall of fog was less than fifty yards away from us, and the three of us were staring at the target.I glanced at Holmes, who was pale but exultant, with a gleam in his eyes.Suddenly, he stared straight ahead at a spot in front of him, and opened his mouth wide in surprise.

Just then Lethred fell to the ground with a cry of alarm, and I sprang up, clutching the revolver tightly in both hands.A terrible thing came running towards us.It was a hunting dog, but it was not the kind of hunting dog that people usually see.Its mouth spewed fire, its eyes were like two fireballs, and it wore a collar around its neck, shining brightly.This oddly shaped hound was something more ferocious than we dreamed of, and it was like what is called a devil.

We were all stupefied as the fearsome hound pursued Sir Henry.When we reacted, it had already run past us.Holmes and I fired two shots at the same time, and heard the monster roar, which meant that it had been shot, but it didn't stop there, and kept chasing forward. When Henry looked back and saw all this, he danced and danced. He yelled, his face was as horrible as wearing a mask, and his eyes almost burst.

Its roar reassured us that it was not a monster.I have never seen Holmes run so fast. I have always been called a "scud", but this time I did not outrun Holmes.And Lethred was right behind me, and we rushed over like a [-]-meter sprint.

In just a few tens of seconds, we heard Sir Henry's roar and the animal's howling.As we approached, the hound sprang up again, pinned Jazz to the ground, and bit him by the throat.At this critical moment, Holmes fired five shots in succession before the hound fell to the ground.The creature uttered a final cry of pain and kicked up on all fours, then became motionless.I bent down to check and it was indeed dead.

Sir Henry was unconscious, and we undressed him. When Holmes saw that Sir Henry was uninjured, indicating that the rescue was not too late, he prayed gratefully.Presently Sir Henry opened his closed eyes, and seemed to want to move, but could not.Lestrade thrust his brandy bottle between Sir Henry's teeth, and Sir Henry's frightened eyes looked up at us.He said, "Did you see that? What the hell is that!"

Holmes said: "That is your monster, but we have wiped it out forever."

The hound lying before us was a large lioness like a lioness.The great mouth still seemed to be dripping blue flames, and there were rings of fire around the small, deep-set, cruel eyes.I touched its glowing mouth, and when I raised my hand, my fingers glowed in the dark.

I said loudly, "It's phosphorus."

"The man is too scheming," said Holmes. "It has not affected his sense of smell. Well, Sir Henry, we ought to say sorry to you for frightening you so much. I think it is only It's just an ordinary hunting dog. I didn't expect it to be like this. The fog is too heavy today, and we didn't catch him in time."

"I should thank you. If it weren't for you, I would have died a long time ago."

"And yet you have taken such a risk. Will you still stand?"

"Give me one more brandy, and I'll have nothing to fear. Help me up, please. What shall we do next?"

"You are very weak now, so why not stay here! We will accompany you back to the manor if you wish."

He tried to stand up, but his body was weak and his limbs were shaking.The three of us helped him onto a rock.

"We must set off," said Holmes. "It is time for us to catch the criminal."

"The chance of finding him inside the house is one in a thousand," said Holmes, as we hurried back down the path again. "The shots have told him that he is finished."

"We were quite far from him then, and perhaps he hadn't heard."

"No, he must have had the hound with him then, so he could keep it under control. He's certainly not in the house now, but we'd better go back and have a look."

We rushed in quickly.Holmes hastily turned on the light in the room, but found nothing but an old footman.

We went up to the second floor and found a room locked.

Lethred said, "Listen, open the door!"

Holmes kicked the door open, and we all rushed in with guns in hand.

But the desperate, daring villain we were looking for wasn't in the house.In front of us was a very strange and unimaginable thing. We stood there in amazement and watched.

(End of this chapter)