oodworkwhichhasbeendonebySirCharleswillcrashtothegroundifthereisnotenantoftheHall.IfearlestIshouldbeswayedtoomuchbymyownobviousinterestinthematter,andthatiswhyIbringthecasebeforeyouandaskforyouradvice.”
Holmesconsideredforalittletime.
“Putintoplainwords,thematteristhis,”saidhe.“InyouropinionthereisadiabolicalagencywhichmakesDartmooranunsafeabodeforaBaskerville—thatisyouropinion?”
“AtleastImightgothelengthofsayingthatthereissomeevidencethatthismaybeso.”
“Exactly.Butsurely,ifyoursupernaturaltheorybecorrect,itcouldworktheyoungmanevilinLondonaseasilyasinDevonshire.Adevilwithmerelylocalpowerslikeaparishvestrywouldbetooinconceivableathing.”
“Youputthemattermoreflippantly,Mr.Holmes,thanyouwouldprobablydoifyouwerebroughtintopersonalcontactwiththesethings.Youradvice,then,asIunderstandit,isthattheyoungmanwillbeassafeinDevonshireasinLondon.Hecomesinfiftyminutes.Whatwouldyourecommend?”
“Irecommend,sir,thatyoutakeacab,calloffyourspanielwhoisscratchingatmyfrontdoor,andproceedtoWaterlootomeetSirHenryBaskerville.”
“Andthen?”
“AndthenyouwillsaynothingtohimatalluntilIhavemadeupmymindaboutthematter.”
“Howlongwillittakeyoutomakeupyourmind?”
“Twenty-fourhours.Atteno’clocktomorrow,Dr.Mortimer,Iwillbemuchobligedtoyouifyouwillcalluponmehere,anditwillbeofhelptomeinmyplansforthefutureifyouwillbringSirHenryBaskervillewithyou.”
“Iwilldoso,Mr.Holmes.”Hescribbledtheappointmentonhisshirt-cuffandhurriedoffinhisstrange,peering,absent-mindedfashion.Holmesstoppedhimattheheadofthestair.
“Onlyonemorequestion,Dr.Mortimer.YousaythatbeforeSirCharlesBaskerville’sdeathseveralpeoplesawthisapparitionuponthemoor?”
“Threepeopledid.”
“Didanyseeitafter?”
“Ihavenotheardofany.”
“Thankyou.Good-morning.”
Holmesreturnedtohisseatwiththatquietlookofinwardsatisfactionwhichmeantthathehadacongenialtaskbeforehim.
“Goingout,Watson?”
“UnlessIcanhelpyou.”
“No,mydearfellow,itisatthehour