Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 67 The Hound of the Baskervilles 6
On the appointed day we set off for Devonshire as had been arranged.Holmes went with me to the station, and gave me some parting instructions and related advice.

"I would like you to tell me as much as possible what happened there, so that I can analyze and summarize them."

"What kind of things?" I asked.

"As long as it is related to this case, I have done some investigations a few days ago, but there is only one thing that is certain, that is, Mr. James Desman is kind by nature. I think we can take him into account when we consider the problem Leaving aside, there are only people in the moor, around Henry Baskerville."

"Say the Barrymores first?"

"Don't do that, or you're going to make a big mistake. We can put them first on the list of suspects. There's a groom, and two moor farmers. And our friend Dr. Mortimer, I believe. His loyalty, however, his wife we ​​don't know anything about. Staple Valley the biologist, and her sister, Mr. Frankland of Ryford Park, and one or two other neighbors. These are you People who want to study hard."

"I'm going to try to do it."

"I thought, would you take the gun?"

"Ok."

"That revolver of yours is to be carried with you day and night."

Our friends are waiting for us on the platform.

"No, nothing at all," said Mortimer, "but one thing, I assure you, we were not followed two days ago."

"You are always together."

"Except yesterday afternoon. I visited the gallery of the College of Surgeons."

"Sir Baskerville, I beg you not to walk about alone," said Holmes, shaking his head, "or you will be in for some misfortune. Have you found your shoes?"

"No."

"Well, good-bye," he said, as the train moved slowly along the platform, "Sir Henry, remember the words of that strange legend: Not when night falls, or when the power of evil is strong Walk across the swamp."

Henry cried out with joy when he recognized the Devonshire landscape.

"I've never seen a place like this," he said.

"I've never met a Devonshireman who didn't praise his homeland," I said.

"Not only the geography, but also the people here are unusual," said Dr. Mortimer. "You were very young when you saw Baskerville Hall, weren't you?"

"I was a teenager when my father died, and he lived in a little house on the south coast, so I never went to the estate. After my father died, I went to America's I went to a friend's. I was very much looking forward to seeing the moor."

"Is that so? You're about to see the moor," said Dr. Mortimer, looking out.

The train stopped at a small station by the road, and we all got off.There is a carriage waiting for us.The station master and the porters surrounded us and helped us carry our luggage.At the exit, there were two uniformed, military-looking men standing there, which struck me as odd.Their bodies were leaning on the rifles, their eyes were fixed on us.In a few minutes we were galloping down the avenue in a carriage.The wheels fell silent as our carriage passed a path covered with dead leaves.

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

Ahead appeared a sloping field, jutting out over the edge of the moor.At the highest point, there is a soldier on a horse watching us.

"What's that for, Perkins?" asked Dr. Mortimer.

The coachman turned around and said:

"A prisoner escaped from Prince Town. He has been on the run for three days and three nights. The jailers are watching every road and every station, but they haven't found him yet."

"Oh, I know there's a five pound reward for anyone who reports on the fugitive."

"Yes, sir, but if you know that you might have your throat cut, five pounds is a pitiful one. He's a very savage man."

"Who is he?"

"His name is Seldan, and he is the murderer on Nauting Hill."

I remember that case well, and the extreme brutality which permeated the entire assassination process aroused the interest of Holmes.Our carriage climbed to the top of the slope, and a vast swamp appeared in front of us. A cold wind blew from the swamp, and we all shivered.The cold wind and dark sky, together with this fugitive, looked even more terrifying.Even Baskerville was silent, and he drew his overcoat tighter.

Now and then we passed a cottage on the moor, and looking down, we suddenly saw a hollow in which grew little patches of oak and fir.On the top of the forest, two spiers stick out.The coachman pointed with his whip and said:

"This is Baskerville Hall."

A few minutes later, we arrived at the door of the apartment.The gate is made of iron bars with a pillar on each side.

As soon as you enter the gate, walk up the trail.A house at the end of the lane glowed ghostly, and Sir Baskerville shuddered.

"Did that happen here, that thing?" he asked in a low voice.

"No, it's on the side of the water pine road."

"In a place like this, it's no wonder my uncle always felt that disaster was coming," he said.

The road leads to a vast meadow, and the house appears in front of us.

"Welcome, Sir Henry! Welcome to Baskerville Hall!"

A tall man came out and opened the door of the carriage.Another figure of a woman appeared, and she stepped out to help the man take our duffel bag.

"Sir Henry, you will not mind if I have to go home?" said Dr. Mortimer. "My wife is waiting for me."

"You'd better go back after dinner."

"No, I must go. Maybe there is something waiting for me at home. Good-bye, and call me as soon as I can help you."

As soon as Sir Henry and I entered the hall, the noise of the wheels on the path ceased, and the door slammed heavily behind us.The room we were in was ornate, with huge black rafter beams.We looked round again, and saw the old glass windows, the oak panelling, the stuffed stag's head, and the coat of arms on the wall.All this looked dim and gloomy under the dim yellow light of the central chandelier.

"As I imagined it," said Sir Henry, "isn't this what an old family should look like? This is the hall where my family has lived for 500 years, and it makes me feel heavy when I think about it."

Barrymore came back after sending his luggage to the bedroom.He stood before us with the attitude of a well-trained servant.

"My lord, would you like to have supper?"

"Are you ready?"

"It will be ready in a moment, my lord, and you have hot water in your house. Sir Henry, my wife and I would be glad to serve you until you make arrangements. But you know, in this case, the A considerable number of servants are required in the house."

"What's new?"

"My lord, Sir Childs lives a reclusive life, so we can still take care of his needs. As for you, you must hope that more people will live with you, so you will definitely change your family affairs. .”

"Do you two want to quit your job?"

"My lord, of course, when it is convenient for you."

"But your family has lived with our family for several generations. It would be a pity if I broke this long-standing family connection as soon as I lived here."

An excited expression appeared on the butler's fair face.

"My wife and I think so, my lord. We both had great respect for Sir Childs, and his death shocks us. The circumstances here, everywhere, make us miserable. I'm afraid we'll never be here again in our hearts." There will be peace."

"But what are you going to do?"

"My lord, I am sure that if we do some business we shall be successful. Lord Childs' kindness has made it possible for us to do so. But now, lord, let me first show you the room." Bar."

In the upper part of the hall, there is a square veranda, which can only be accessed through a double-stacked staircase.Two long corridors protrude from the middle hall.My bedroom and Jazz's are on the same side and next to each other.

After dinner, we went to the new-style billiard room to smoke.

"Honestly, it's a rough place here," said Sir Henry. "I thought I'd get used to it. But I've always felt something was wrong. Well, if you like, we'll go to bed early to-night." , perhaps things will look more pleasant in the morning."

Before I went to bed, I opened the curtains and looked outside. There was a meadow outside, and there were two bushes in the distance, whimpering in the bitter cold wind.Behind the woods, in the dim light of the moon, I saw jagged hillsides and gloomy moors.I drew the curtains and thought the view matched my first impression of it.

Although I was very tired, I couldn't fall asleep, and I tossed and turned.The old house was shrouded in silence.The chiming clock sounded in the distance, beating bit by bit.Suddenly, I heard a loud voice, the voice of a woman crying.I sat up and listened quietly.It is quite certain that the crying came from this house.I waited nervously for half an hour, but there was no other sound except the bell and the ivy on the wall.

(End of this chapter)