Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 70 The Hound of the Baskervilles 9
I have henceforth transcribed my letters to Mr. Sherlock Holmes in the order in which they occurred.My dear Holmes:

My previous letters and telegrams may have kept you abreast of all that is going on here.

You did not receive any reports a few days ago because nothing special has happened.But then an inexplicable incident happened, which I will now tell you in detail.Before I talk, I have to do some foreshadowing.

One of them was the fugitive.It has been found out that he has fled far away, and the farmers in remote areas can feel at ease.

I was with three strong men, so self-preservation was not an issue.But when I think of the Staple Valley family, I feel uneasy.There is no one else for miles around where they live.There was only one maid, an old manservant, and their brother and sister.His brother was not strong either.If the fugitive broke through the door, it was no joke.Jazz and I were concerned about their situation, but Staple Valley was not.

Sir Henry, has shown a keen interest in our female neighbour.She was a charming girl, with a tropical air about her that contrasted sharply with her brother's indifference.However, the fiery feelings in his heart are also known.He must have some power over her.When she spoke, she always looked at her brother from time to time, as if every sentence required his permission.

On the first day he came to call on Sir Henry.The next morning, they took us to see the place where the rumor is that the profligate Xiu Guo had an accident.The place was so desolate that it was easy for people to make up that story.We found a section of ravine among the two chaotic rock hills. Walking along this ravine, we came to an open space with white cotton grass growing everywhere.In the middle of the clearing stood two boulders, the tops of which had been weathered into pointed shapes, much like the worn-out tusks of some gigantic beast.This scene is consistent with the old legend.Sir Henry had asked Staple Valley many times if he really believed in the interference of ghosts and ghosts in the affairs of men.Staple Valley was very cautious in answering, he didn't want to reveal what he meant, and said as little as possible.We get the sense that he sees the matter as the average person does.

On the way back we dined at Melissa, where Sir Henry and Miss Staple Valley made their acquaintance.As soon as he saw her, he was deeply attracted.And I dare say, this is not wishful thinking.From that day on, we saw their brother and sister almost every day.One would have to think that Staple Valley would have approved of such a pair if combined.But I have more than once seen an expression of distaste on Sir Henry's face whenever he paid the slightest attention to her sister.Dare I say, he doesn't want to see their friendship turn into love.And I have found many times that he has tried to avoid giving them the opportunity to talk alone.

Mortimer joins us for dinner on Thursday.He dug an earthen grave in Changgang and got a prehistoric skull.Then the Staple Valley brothers and sisters came.The doctor, at Sir Henry's request, led us into the Yaw Lane, and related to us the events of the night when Sir Childs died.I still remember your opinion on the matter.I tried to picture the whole process in my mind, he was running along the narrow and gloomy lane.But why did he run? Was it because he saw a sheepdog, or was it a ghostly spaniel? Was someone playing tricks? Was Barrymore hiding something? It was all puzzling.

Since I last wrote to you, I have met another neighbour, Mr. Frankland of Ryford Park.He is an old man with ruddy complexion, gray hair and bad temper.He seemed to have a penchant for English law, and had spent a great deal of his fortune in litigation.Sometimes he would block a road and openly defy the orders of the diocese to let him open it;He is proficient in the old fief and public rights laws, sometimes using his knowledge to defend the interests of the villagers, and sometimes against them.I heard that he still has seven pending cases.He seemed a genial man, apart from the law, and I was only mentioning him.Because you once asked me to describe the people around me in detail.He's busy right now, he's an amateur astronomer, but it'd be nice if he put all his energy into it.It is said that he is now planning to charge Dr. Mortimer with digging the dead man's grave without his consent.

Let me conclude with the Barrymore story.Among them, what happened last night was more noticeable.

The first concerns your tentative telegram from London to ascertain whether Barrymore is indeed here.You have already been told that the words of the postmaster showed that the temptation was fruitless.I told Sir Henry the truth of the matter, but he called Barrymore at once, and asked him if he had received the telegram himself.Barrymore said yes.

"Did the boy give you the telegram himself?" asked Sir Henry.

Barrymore was surprised, and he considered it for a moment.

"No," said he, "I was upstairs in the cabin when my wife sent me the telegram upstairs."

"Did you reply the telegram yourself?"

"No, I told my wife how to write, and she went downstairs to write."

That night, Barrymore brought up the issue again.

"I wonder why you asked me that question this morning, Sir Henry?" said he. "Has I done something to make you distrust me?"

Sir Henry assured him that he had no intention of it, and reassured him by giving him most of his old clothes.

Mrs. Barrymore caught my attention. She was prim and puritanical.But I told you I heard her cry the first night I came here.Since then, I have seen tears on her face more than once, but last night's adventure cleared all my doubts about him.

You know, I'm a very light sleeper, plus I have to be alert all the time, so my sleep is more restless than usual.Last night, around two o'clock in the morning, I was awakened by the sound of hurried footsteps outside the window.I opened the door and looked out, and there was a long black shadow projected on the floor of the corridor.It was a figure holding a candle and walking gently along the aisle.Judging from his figure, this man was Barrymore.He walked slowly, with a furtive look.

The corridor that encircled the hall was interrupted by a section of balcony, but continued on the other side of the balcony.I waited until he was out of sight before following, and by the time I approached the balcony he had reached the end of the corridor.I saw a light through a door and knew he had gone in.These rooms were neither furnished nor inhabited, so his behavior was all the more eccentric.I peeked in from the door.

Holding the candle, Barrymore leaned close to the windowpane, with his head half-turned towards me, his face very serious as he gazed at the dark moor.He watched for a few minutes, then sighed deeply, and extinguished the candle with a gesture of impatience.I went back to my room immediately.After a while, I heard the sound of his returning footsteps. After a long time, when I was about to fall asleep, I heard the sound of turning a lock somewhere, but I couldn't tell where the sound came from.It seems to me that there is a conspiracy going on in this house, which I shall find out sooner or later.I had a long talk with Sir Henry this morning, and we have drawn up a plan of action which I shall not dwell on now, but which will surely make our next report interesting to read.

From Baskerville Hall October thirteenth

(End of this chapter)