Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 63 The Hound of the Baskervilles 2
"I have a manuscript here," said the doctor.

"I saw it when you entered the room. It was a manuscript from the early eighteenth century, or it would be a forgery," said Holmes.

"How do you know?"

"As you speak, I see that the manuscript is protruding about an inch or two. I think it was completed in 1730."

"It's 1742." The doctor pulled it out. "This ancestral letter was entrusted to me by Sir Charles Baskerville, who died suddenly three months ago. I am his friend, and he The doctor. He regards this manuscript as very important, and he is already prepared to accept such an ending in his heart, but in fact, he actually got such an ending."

Holmes took the paper and laid it flat on his knees.

"Look, Watson, the interchange of long S and short S is one of the few characteristics that I have identified for the age."

I leaned over his shoulder to look at the yellow paper and the faded writing.It began with the words "Baskerville Manor," and below that was the number "1742."

"It looks like a record."

"A legend about the Baskervilles."

"I suppose, however, that you have come to me for present and more practical matters?"

"A matter of urgency. This is short and important. Let me read it to you."

Mortimer read:

"There have been various stories about the Hound of the Baskervilles, and I'm recording them because I believe they really happened. I'm a direct descendant of Hugo Baskervilles, and I heard it from my father Yes, and my father listened to my grandfather. Sons, after you know this, don’t be afraid, as long as you pay attention to it in the future, lest the family’s disaster befall you again.

"It is said that during the time of the Rebellion (I refer you to the history written by Lord Clarendon), this Baskerville House was originally occupied by Hugo Baskerville. He was a murderous man, and everyone in the West knows that. This Mr. Xiuguo fell in love with the daughter of a farmer’s family near the manor. But this good girl kept avoiding him. Once on the Mikomos Festival, this Mr. Xiuguo learned that the girl’s father and brother were going out So she and a few gangsters snatched her out and locked her in a small room in the manor. Xiu Guo and her friends were having a carnival downstairs, and the girl was at a loss when she heard their yelling. Finally , she climbed down from the window, clutching the vines, in extreme terror, and ran across the swamp to her home, which was nine miles from the estate.

"After a while, Xiu Guo went upstairs with wine and food (maybe there were even worse things). He suddenly found that the girl was gone, so he became furious and shouted: 'As long as I can catch up with that girl that night, I will I would like to give up my body and soul to the devil.’ At this time, a vicious guy said that the hounds should be let out to chase her. Xiuguo gave the dogs a sniff of the scarf that the girl had dropped, and then drove them all out.

"It took a while for the rascals to figure out what they were doing in the moor, and then they all started shouting again. At last they came to their senses, and thirteen mounted their horses and gave chase. They followed the maiden home in the moonlight. The only way to go is galloping away.

"They ran a mile or two, and met a shepherd in the moor, and asked him if he had seen the girl. The shepherd said he saw the girl, and a pack of hounds behind him. Later, Hugo Baskerville also rode a black horse. Passed this way. His horse was followed closely by a great hound. But presently they were terrified, for they heard a gallop in the moor, and then saw the black horse, Foaming and running, there was no one in the saddle, and the reins were trailing on the ground. The drunks huddled together in terror, but they went on to the moor. At last they overtook the dogs. Famous, but at this time also huddled at the end of a deep ditch, wailing together.

"The drunks reined in their horses, and they were much more sober than when they started. The three most courageous continued to push their horses down the ravine, and a spacious flat land appeared in front of them, where the girl's body was. What the drunk man was afraid of was that beside the girl, Hugo Baskerville's body had a big black hound biting his throat. Suddenly, the dog sprang at them. The three of them together Seeing it, he screamed in fright, and quickly turned his horse's head and fled. It is said that one of them died of fright that night, and the other two also became insane for life.

"My sons, this is where the legend of the hound comes from. It is said that the dog has harassed our family ever since, and that many people in our family have died strangely. God bless you, don't Condemnation to our third and fourth generations who only listen to the Bible. My sons, you must not go into the swamp at night or when the forces of evil are rampant.

"This is a family letter left by Hugo Baskerville to his two sons, Roger and John, and he warns them not to tell his sister Elizabeth about this."

Dr. Mortimer looked at Sherlock Holmes after he had read the manuscript.

"Don't you think it's funny?"

"For a man who collects myths, it is very interesting."

Mortimer drew a newspaper from his pocket.

"Mr. Holmes, here is the No. 14 issue of the Devonshire Register for May this year. It is a short account of the Sir's death a few days ago."

My friend listened intently.

The doctor read again:

"The county mourned the sudden death of Sir Charles Baskerville a few days ago. It was said that he might be chosen as the Mid-Devon Liberal candidate at the next election. Although he is a young man, he has been deeply loved and loved for his loyalty and generosity. He has only been in the manor for two years. When people talked about his large-scale construction and repair plan, the plan was interrupted by his sudden death. A lot of wealth, but also publicly stated that he would donate to the village during his lifetime. Therefore, many people mourned his death.

"The coroner's report did not find out the death of the Sir, who was a widower and was said to have behaved differently in some respects. Although he had a lot of property, he only employed the Barrymore and his wife. The husband was the steward and the wife was the housekeeper. They His testimony stated that Sir had symptoms of insanity, especially a heart attack. James Mortimer, friend and personal physician of the deceased, also stated the same.

"The case is clear. Sir Sir has a habit of taking a walk along the famous yew-lined avenue of the manor every night before going to bed. On the [-]th of May, Sir Childs said that he was going to London the next day, and ordered Barrymore to do it for him. Prepared his luggage. That night, he went out for a walk as usual, but never came back. At twelve o'clock in the night, Barrymore found that the door of the hall was still open, so he lit a lantern and went out to find his master. Down the lane , it was easy to see the Sir's tracks. There was a gate in the middle of the path, which led to the moor, and there were all indications that Sir Charles Baskerville had stood before this gate, and then walked down the lane, and His body was found at the end of the alley. Barrymore said that his master's footprints, after passing through the gate, were changed, as if they were on tiptoe. From Sir Childs No trace of violence could be found, but the doctor's note showed that his face was distorted to an incredible degree, which is a common phenomenon when people die of breathing difficulties and heart failure. The coroner of the court delivered a similar verdict. It was a good result, as Sir Charles Baskerville's descendants will still live on the estate and will continue those good deeds. It is understood that if the investigation Sir Henry Baskerville, the son of his brother, if he had the next of kin living next of kin, the young man, who had been said to be living in America, was being inquired into so that he might be notified of his coming. Accept this property."

Dr. Mortimer folded the newspaper and put it back in his pocket.

"These are the general facts concerning Sir's death."

Sherlock Holmes said: "It is you, sir, who have aroused my interest in the case, and have the facts which are known to you in this piece of news which you have given?"

"Yes."

"Then, please tell me some more inside information!"

"That way," said Dr. Mortimer, "will tell all the things I didn't tell. I didn't even tell the coroner. My worst fear is to appear to be superstitious in public. My other The idea is that if things get worse, the manor's already terrible reputation will only get worse. So I think it's better not to tell all I know. But for you, I will give you five and ten Say it all.

"The inhabitants of the moor are farther apart, so those who live nearer are closer together. So Sir and I have more opportunities to meet. Childs is a man who loves to be alone, but the disease has brought us closer together." Together, our common interest in science has brought us closer.

"In the last few months, it has become increasingly clear to me that Sir Childs' nerves have been strained to the extreme. Although he always walks in his house, at night, he does not do anything at all. Ken went for a walk on the moor. Sir Childs thought his family was in danger. He asked me many times if I had seen any strange animal on my nocturnal visits, or heard a hound howling.

"I remember very well: I went to his house one evening, about three weeks before the Sir's death. He was at the door of the hall. Suddenly I caught a look of terror in his eyes, and his eyes With my eyes fixed on my back, I turned around suddenly, just in time to see a black animal as big as a calf running past quickly. I searched for the place where the animal had walked, but the monster Has run away. But it had a very bad effect on his mind. So I stayed with him one night, and in order to explain his mood, he quoted the account I just read to you. Please save it for me.

"Perhaps my advice has taken effect, and Sir Childs is preparing to move to London. His heart has been affected, and his health has been seriously affected, I think, by his constant anxiety. Only a few months of urban life can change him into a new man. However, this disaster happened at the last moment before his departure.

"On the night of Sir Childs' violent death, Barrymore, his steward, found me, and immediately sent the groom, Perkins, to find me on a fast horse. I was at Baskerville Hall within an hour of learning of it. I verified all the facts mentioned in the course of the autopsy, and finally I examined the body of Sir Childs. No one had touched it before me. Sir Childs was lying on the ground, arms stretched out, fingers Imbued so deep in the earth that his face was so constricted that I could not even make out his features, and there were indeed no marks on his body. Barrymore had claimed at the time of the coroner's autopsy that there were no marks on the ground around the body. No, he didn't see anything. However, I did see it—not far away, and the traces were very obvious."

"Footprints?"

"Footprints."

"Is it a man's or a woman's?"

"Mr. Holmes, the paw-print of a gigantic hound!"

(End of this chapter)