“Afixturealso.”
“Onthecontrary,IhavebeentoDevonshire.”
“Inspirit?”
“Exactly.Mybodyhasremainedinthisarmchairandhas,Iregrettoobserve,consumedinmyabsencetwolargepotsofcoffeeandanincredibleamountoftobacco.AfteryouleftIsentdowntoStamford’sfortheOrdnancemapofthisportionofthemoor,andmyspirithashoveredoveritallday.IflattermyselfthatIcouldfindmywayabout.”
“Alarge-scalemap,Ipresume?”
“Verylarge.”
Heunrolledonesectionandhelditoverhisknee.“Hereyouhavetheparticulardistrictwhichconcernsus.ThatisBaskervilleHallinthemiddle.”
“Withawoodroundit?”
“Exactly.Ifancytheyewalley,thoughnotmarkedunderthatname,muststretchalongthisline,withthemoor,asyouperceive,upontherightofit.ThissmallclumpofbuildingshereisthehamletofGrimpen,whereourfriendDr.Mortimerhashisheadquarters.Withinaradiusoffivemilesthereare,asyousee,onlyaveryfewscattereddwellings.HereisLafterHall,whichwasmentionedinthenarrative.Thereisahouseindicatedherewhichmaybetheresidenceofthenaturalist—Stapleton,ifIrememberright,washisname.Herearetwomoorlandfarmhouses,HighTorandFoulmire.ThenfourteenmilesawaythegreatconvictprisonofPrincetown.Betweenandaroundthesescatteredpointsextendsthedesolate,lifelessmoor.This,then,isthestageuponwhichtragedyhasbeenplayed,anduponwhichwemayhelptoplayitagain.”
“Itmustbeawildplace.”
“Yes,thesettingisaworthyone.Ifthedevildiddesiretohaveahandintheaffairsofmen—”
“Thenyouareyourselfincliningtothesupernaturalexplanation.”
“Thedevil’sagentsmaybeoffleshandblood,maytheynot?Therearetwoquestionswaitingforusattheoutset.Theoneiswhetheranycrimehasbeencommittedatallthesecondis,whatisthecrimeandhowwasitcommitted?Ofcourse,ifDr.Mortimer’ssurmiseshouldbecorrect,andwearedealingwithforcesoutsidetheordinarylawsofNature,thereisanendofourinvestigation.Butweareboundtoexhaustallotherhypothesesbeforefallingbackuponthisone.Ithinkwe’llshutthatwindowagain,ifyoudon’tmind.Itisasingularthing,butIfindthataconcentratedatmosphe