Why should he not go to the family home?asked Holmes.
Because so many Baskervilles who go there die horrible deaths.But Sir Charlesgood work must go on.If it doesnt,all the people on the Baskerville lands will be much poorer.If the Baskerville family leaves the Hall,that is what will happen.I dont know what to do.That is why I came to you for advice.
Holmes though for a little while.Then he said:You think it is too dangerous for any Baskerville to live at the Hall because of this supernatural hellhound.Well,I think you should go and meet Sir Henry Baskerville.Say nothing to him about this.I shall give you my advice in twentyfour hours.At ten oclock tomorrow morning,Dr Mortimer,I would like you to bring Sir Henry Baskerville here.
Dr Mortimer got up from his chair.As he was leaving the room,Holmes said:One more question,Dr Mortimer.You said that before Sir Charlesdeath several people saw this strange creature on the moor?
Three people did,said Mortimer.
Did anyone see it after the death?
I havent heard of anyone.
Thank you,Dr Mortimer.Good morning.
After Mortimer had left us,Holmes sat down in his chair.He looked pleased.He always looked pleased when a case interest ed him.
I knew that he needed to be alone to think about all that he had heard.I went out for the day,and came back to find the room full of thick smoke from Holmespipe.
What do you think of this case?I asked him.
It is hard to say.Take,for example,the change in the foot prints.Did Sir Charles walk on his toes down the Alley?Only a stupid person is likely to believe that.The truth is he was run ning—running for his life.He ran until his heart stopped and he fell dead.
What was he running from?I asked.
That is the difficult question,said Holmes.I think he was mad with fear before he began to run.He didnt know what he was doing.That explains why he ran away from the house instead of towards it.He was running away from help.The next question:who was he waiting for that night?And why was he waiting in the Yew Alley and not in the house?
You think he was waiting for someone?
Sir Charles was old and unwell.We can understand why he took a walk each evening.But why did he stand in the cold,on wet ground,for five or ten minutes?Dr Mortimer cleverly noted the cigar ash,so we know how long Sir Charles stood there.We know that he kept away from the moor,so its un likely that he waited at the moor gate every evening.I am be ginning to understand some things,Watson.But Ill think no more about it until we meet Dr Mortimer and Sir Henry Baskerville in the morning.Please give me my violin.
And Holmes began to play his violin.He had done all the thinking he could.Now he needed more details of the case to help him.
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