Part 66 (1/2)
”He had left his own ravel I could discern no others”
Sherlock Holesture
”If I had only been there!” he cried ”It is evidently a case of extraordinary interest, and one which presented ie upon which I ed by the rain and defaced by the clogs of curious peasants Oh, Dr Mortimer, Dr Mortimer, to think that you should not have called me in! You have indeed much to answer for”
”I could not call you in, Mr Hol these facts to the world, and I have already givento do so Besides, besides--”
”Why do you hesitate?”
”There is a realm in which the most acute and most experienced of detectives is helpless”
”Youis supernatural?”
”I did not positively say so”
”No, but you evidently think it”
”Since the tragedy, Mr Holmes, there have come to my ears several incidents which are hard to reconcile with the settled order of Nature”
”For example?”
”I find that before the terrible event occurred several people had seen a creature upon the moor which corresponds with this Baskerville demon, and which could not possibly be any anie creature, luhastly, and spectral I have cross-examined these m and one a moorland farmer, who all tell the sa to the hell-hound of the legend I assure you that there is a reign of terror in the district, and that it is a hardy ht” and one a moorland farmer, who all tell the sa to the hell-hound of the legend I assure you that there is a reign of terror in the district, and that it is a hardy ht”
”And you, a trained man of science, believe it to be supernatural?”
”I do not knohat to believe”
Holed his shoulders
”I have hitherto confined ations to this world,” said he ”In a modest way I have combated evil, but to take on the Father of Evil himself would, perhaps, be too ambitious a task Yet you inal hound wasa man's throat out, and yet he was diabolical as well”
”I see that you have quite gone over to the supernaturalists But now, Dr Mortimer, tell me this If you hold these viehy have you come to consult me at all? You tell ate Sir Charles's death, and that you desire me to do it”
”I did not say that I desired you to do it”
”Then, how can I assist you?”
”By advising me as to what I should do with Sir Henry Baskerville, who arrives at Waterloo Station”-Dr Mortimer looked at his watch-”in exactly one hour and a quarter”
”He being the heir?”
”Yes On the death of Sir Charles we inquired for this young gentle in Canada From the accounts which have reached us he is an excellent fellow in every way I speak now not as a medical man but as a trustee and executor of Sir Charles's will”
”There is no other claimant, I presume?”
”None The only other kinser Baskerville, the youngest of three brothers of whom poor Sir Charles was the elder The second brother, who died young, is the father of this lad Henry The third, Rodger, was the black sheep of the family He came of the old e, they tell land too hot to hold him, fled to Central America, and died there in 1876 of yellow fever Henry is the last of the Baskervilles In one hour and five minutes I meet him at Waterloo Station I have had a wire that he arrived at Southa Now, Mr Holmes, ould you advise o to the home of his fathers?”
”It seems natural, does it not? And yet, consider that every Baskerville who goes there meets with an evil fate I feel sure that if Sir Charles could have spoken withthis, the last of the old race, and the heir to great wealth, to that deadly place And yet it cannot be denied that the prosperity of the whole poor, bleak countryside depends upon his presence All the good hich has been done by Sir Charles will crash to the ground if there is no tenant of the Hall I fear lest I should be swayed too much bythe case before you and ask for your advice”
Holmes considered for a little time
”Put into plain words, the matter is this,” said he ”In your opinion there is a diabolical agency which makes Dartmoor an unsafe abode for a Baskerville-that is your opinion?”
”At least Ithat there is some evidence that this may be so”
”Exactly But surely, if your supernatural theory be correct, it could work the young man evil in London as easily as in Devonshi+re A devil with n would be too inconceivable a thing” would be too inconceivable a thing”
”You put the matter more flippantly, Mr Holht into personal contact with these things Your advice, then, as I understand it, is that the young man will be as safe in Devonshi+re as in London He comes in fifty minutes What would you recommend?”
”I recommend, sir, that you take a cab, call off your spaniel who is scratching at my front door, and proceed to Waterloo to meet Sir Henry Baskerville”
”And then?”
”And then you will say nothing to him at all until I havewill it take you to make up your mind?”
”Twenty-four hours At ten o'clock to-ed to you if you will call upon me here, and it will be of help toSir Henry Baskerville with you”
”I will do so, Mr Holmes” He scribbled the appointe, peering, absent-minded fashi+on Holmes stopped him at the head of the stair
”Only one more question, Dr Mortimer You say that before Sir Charles Baskerville's death several people saw this apparition upon the moor?”
”Three people did”
”Did any see it after?”
”I have not heard of any”
”Thank you Good-”
Holmes returned to his seat with that quiet look of inward satisfaction whichout, Watson?”
”Unless I can help you”