Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 66 The Hound of the Baskervilles 5
"Sir Henry Baskerville is waiting for you upstairs," said the accountant. "He told me to take you up as soon as you arrive."

"You have no objection to my looking at the passenger register?" asked Holmes.

"not at all."

It can be seen from the register that they had two more groups of guests after that.One was from the Shofilus Johansen family, and the other was Mrs. Omor and her maid from High Rocky, Oton.

"Is that the Johnson I know?" said Holmes to the porter. "Is it a lawyer? Gray-haired, and limping about."

"No, this is Mr. Johnson, the collier, a lively gentleman about your age."

"You didn't mistake their occupations, did you?"

"No, sir, he has been staying at our hotel for many years."

"Mrs. Omo..."

"She's a sickly lady whose husband was the mayor of Gloucester City, and she always stays with us when she's in town."

"Thank you. I'm afraid she is not my acquaintance."

"These questions we have just asked make it clear, Watson," he murmured to me, as we ascended the stairs, "that those who are interested in our friends do not live with them. Ah, this Those are some very telling situations.”

"What does it mean?"

"It says -- my dear friend, what's the matter?"

When we were almost at the top of the stairs, Sir Henry came to meet us.His face was flushed with anger, and he was holding an old dusty high-top shoe in his hand.

"The people in the hotel seemed to see me as a bully. They were joking and found the wrong person. If I can't find my lost shoes, I will definitely not let them go."

"Still looking for your leather shoes?"

"Yes, sir, it must be found."

"But you said that what you lost was a new high-top brown leather shoe?"

"Yes, sir, but now I've lost an old black shoe."

"What, didn't you say..."

"I've got three pairs of shoes--the new brown ones, the old black ones, and this pair of patent leathers I had on my feet. They took the brown one last night, and they stole the black one today--hello , did you find it?"

A terrified German waiter came.

"No, sir, I've searched all over the hotel and found nothing."

"Okay, get me the shoes before dark, if not I'll go to the boss and tell him, and I'll leave this hotel right away."

"Sir, please be patient, I promise to find it for you."

"I must not lose any more in this den of thieves—well, Mr. Holmes, please forgive me for troubling you with such trifles..."

"I think it's a very remarkable thing."

"Oh, you take it too seriously."

"How do you explain this?"

"I don't want to explain, it's the most irritating and bizarre thing that's ever happened to me."

"Maybe so..."

"What do you think?"

"Ah, Sir Henry. In connection with your uncle's death, I dare not say that in the five hundred cases I have handled, I can have such a twist. But we have some in our hands. Clues, I believe one of them can help us find out the truth."

We ate breakfast, and there was very little mention of the matter during the meal.After dinner Holmes asked Baskerville in the drawing-room what he planned to do.

"Go to the manor."

"when?"

"this weekend."

"In short," said Holmes, "I think your decision is wise. You have been followed. Doctor Mortimer, do you not know that you have been followed since you came out of my house this morning?"

Dr. Mortimer was taken aback.

"By whom?"

"I don't know either. Are there any neighbors and acquaintances of yours on Dart Moor with long black beards?"

"Sir Childs' butler, Barrymore, has a black beard."

"Oh, where is Barrymore?"

"At the manor."

"We'd better check to see if he's there now, maybe he's in London now."

"How can you prove that?"

"Give me a telegram. 'Is everything ready for Sir Henry?' That will do. Send it to Baskerville Hall and give it to Mr. Barrymore. Where is the nearest telegraph office to the Hall? Greenpen?" "We'll send another telegram to the postmaster at Greenpen, telling him that the telegram to Barrymore must be delivered to him personally. If he is not available, please call back and inform Sir Henry Baskerville of the Northumberland Inn. So we shall be here before evening." Then we will know whether Barrymore is at the estate."

"That's all very well," said Baskerville, "but, Doctor Mortimer, what kind of man is this Barrymore?"

"He is the son of the late old housekeeper, who has tended the estate for four generations. The Barrymores, I understand, are very respected."

"These people couldn't be more comfortable without our family living on the estate," said Baskerville.

"That's true."

"Has Barrymore benefited from Sir Childs' will?" asked Holmes.

"The couple got five hundred pounds each."

"Ah. Did they know before that they would get the money?"

"Yes. Sir Childs is always willing to talk about his will."

"It's interesting."

"He left me a thousand pounds too," said the doctor.

"Really? Who else?"

"There were also many small individual sums and large donations to charity. The rest of his estate went to Sir Henry."

"How much surplus is there?"

"£74."

"I didn't expect so many," said Holmes in amazement.

"Sir Charles has always been famous for his wealth. His total fortune is about a million pounds."

"But, Dr. Mortimer, if something unfortunate should happen to our young friend—forgive me the bad supposition—who will inherit the fortune?"

"The property should go to the family of the Dysmans, a distant cousin. James Desmans is a clergyman in Westmoreland."

"Thank you for these details. Have you seen Mr. Desman?"

"Only once. He was a serious and respectable man, living a holy life, and he would not consent to any inheritance from Sir Childs."

"And this man is to be the heir to such a great wealth?"

"He will be the heir to the estate, that is the law. He will also inherit the money, unless the current owner makes another will."

"Sir Henry, have you made a will?"

"Not yet. However, I feel that under no circumstances should money be separated from the title and estate. My uncle's will is like this. If the owner of the estate does not have enough money to maintain it, he cannot restore the Baskervilles. Prestige, real estate and money must never be separated."

"Quite right. Ah, Sir Henry, I agree with going to Devonshire, but I don't think you can go there alone."

"Dr. Mortimer will go with me."

"However, he is busy with official business, and the two of you are not close to each other. You must find a trustworthy person to accompany you back."

"What about yourself?

"If the matter really develops to a critical level, I will definitely go there in person. But I have a moral obligation and requests from all sides. It is impossible for me to go to the moor now."

"Who do you want to go?"

Holmes patted the back of my hand and said:

"It would be great if my friend would take on the task."

This unexpected suggestion took me by surprise.Before I could answer, Baskerville took my hand and shook it enthusiastically.

"Ah, Dr. Watson, I cannot thank you enough for your kindness," said he; "if you will come to Baskerville Park to accompany me, I shall never forget it."

"Sure, I'd love to," I said. "It's a very worthwhile use of my time."

"Report to me seriously," said Holmes. "I will tell you how to act when the danger comes. You can start on Saturday, right?"

"Is Dr. Watson convenient?"

"very convenient."

"Then we shall meet at the station for the ten-thirty train from Paddington."

As we were taking our leave, Baskerville rushed to the corner of the room with a cry, and dragged a brown shoe from under a cupboard.

"That's the shoe I lost."

"May our difficulties vanish like this!" said Sherlock Holmes.

"That's strange," said Dr. Mortimer. "I searched it carefully before lunch."

"I've searched too!" said Baskerville. "I've searched everywhere."

"At that time, there was absolutely no such shoe in the house."

"Then the waiter must have put it there when we were at lunch."

The German waiter was called, but he knew nothing.One mystery after another: the letter received in type, the stalker in the cart, the disappearance of the two shoes, and now the brown shoes being returned.Holmes sat in silence as we drove back to Baker Street, and spent the whole afternoon and into the night steeped in tobacco and thought.

Just before supper came two telegrams.

The first letter is:

It was learned that Barrymore was indeed at the manor.Baskerville.

The second letter is:

According to instructions, he went to 23 hotels, but did not find the torn "Times".I'm sorry.Cartley.

"Both of my leads are broken, Watson. We must turn around."

"We can still find the coachman."

"Yes. I have wired to the Licensing Section to find out his name and address."

At this time, the doorbell rang.As soon as the door opened, a reckless fellow entered, and he was the man we were looking for.

"I received a notification from the General Administration that there is a gentleman here looking for the driver of No. 2704!" He said, "I want to ask you in person what you don't like about me."

"I have nothing against you, brother," said Holmes. "I will give you a half-pound if you will answer my question exactly."

The coachman smiled and said, "Ah, today, I am really lucky. What do you want to ask, sir?"

"First, I'd like to ask for your name and address so I can get in touch."

"John Clayton, lives at 3 Turpy Street, in the town. My car is hired from the Hipbury Yard near Waterloo Station."

Sherlock Holmes wrote these down.

"Please tell me about the man who came to watch the house this morning and then followed the two gentlemen in Regent Street."

The man was a little confused.

"Well, it seems you know as much as I do," said he. "Well, that gentleman once told me he was a detective, and wouldn't let me tell anyone."

"Boy, this is a very serious matter, and if you try to hide something from me, you're in for some bad luck. Do you think your passenger ever told you he was a detective?"

"Yes, that's what he said."

"When did he say that?"

"When getting out of the car."

"Did you say anything else?"

"He told me his name."

"Oh, he told you his name, didn't he? What was his name?"

"Sherlock Holmes."

My friend sat there in amazement without saying a word.Then he laughed out loud again.

"Watson, that is wonderful. He says he is Sherlock Holmes. Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Tell me where he picked you up and after that."

"At 09:30 he called my car in Trevorna Square, said he was a detective, and said he would give me two guineas if I would listen to him all day without asking questions. I consented. We went first to the Northumberland Inn, and waited there till the two gentlemen came out and hired a carriage. We followed them till we stopped near here."

"It is this gate," said Holmes.

"Oh, I'm not sure of that. But, I dare say, my passenger knows everything. We waited in the street for an hour and a half, and then two gentlemen passed us, and we followed, along the with..."

"I know that."

"When we were about three-quarters of the way through Regent Street, suddenly the gentleman in my carriage told me to drive the carriage quickly to Waterloo Station. I whipped the horse and we were there in less than ten minutes. He He did give me two gold pounds. As he was leaving, he said to me: 'Your passenger is Sherlock Holmes.'”

"Is that so, have you never seen him again?"

"Yes."

"What does he look like?"

"He looks about forty, is of medium height, and is two or three inches shorter than you, sir. He has a black beard and a pale complexion."

"What color are the eyeballs?"

"I can't tell."

"Well, here's your half guinea. Good night!"

"Good night, sir, and thank you."

John Clayton went away laughing.Holmes turned his head to me in disappointment.

"Our third lead is broken again," said he, "and this scoundrel has got to the bottom of us, knowing that Henry Baskerville has been looking for me, and has found me in Regent Street, and he thinks I must go for it." Hence the lie, coachman. I've hit a wall in London, and I hope you have better luck in Devonshire. But I'm not sure."

"What are you worried about?"

"Worried about the thing that sent you. It's a hard thing to do."

(End of this chapter)