Ourbreakfasttablewasclearedearly,andHolmeswaitedinhisdressing-gownforthepromisedinterview.Ourclientswerepunctualtotheirappointment,fortheclockhadjuststrucktenwhenDr.Mortimerwasshownup,followedbytheyoungbaronet.Thelatterwasasmall,alert,dark-eyedmanaboutthirtyyearsofage,verysturdilybuilt,withthickblackeyebrowsandastrong,pugnaciousface.Heworearuddy-tintedtweedsuitandhadtheweather-beatenappearanceofonewhohasspentmostofhistimeintheopenair,andyettherewassomethinginhissteadyeyeandthequietassuranceofhisbearingwhichindicatedthegentleman.
“ThisisSirHenryBaskerville,”saidDr.Mortimer.
“Why,yes,”saidhe,“andthestrangethingis,Mr.SherlockHolmes,thatifmyfriendherehadnotproposedcomingroundtoyouthismorningIshouldhavecomeonmyownaccount.Iunderstandthatyouthinkoutlittlepuzzles,andI’vehadonethismorningwhichwantsmorethinkingoutthanIamabletogiveit.”
“Praytakeaseat,SirHenry.DoIunderstandyoutosaythatyouhaveyourselfhadsomeremarkableexperiencesinceyouarrivedinLondon?”
“Nothingofmuchimportance,Mr.Holmes.Onlyajoke,aslikeasnot.Itwasthisletter,ifyoucancallitaletter,whichreachedmethismorning.”
Helaidanenvelopeuponthetable,andweallbentoverit.Itwasofcommonquality,greyishincolour.Theaddress,“SirHenryBaskerville,NorthumberlandHotel,”wasprintedinroughcharactersthepost-mark“CharingCross,”andthedateofpostingtheprecedingevening.
“WhoknewthatyouweregoingtotheNorthumberlandHotel?”askedHolmes,glancingkeenlyacrossatourvisitor.
“Noonecouldhaveknown.WeonlydecidedafterImetDr.Mortimer.”
“ButDr.Mortimerwasnodoubtalreadystoppingthere?”
“No,Ihadbeenstayingwithafriend,”saidthedoctor.
“Therewasnopossibleindicationthatweintendedtogotothishotel.”
“Hum!Someoneseemstobeverydeeplyinterestedinyourmovements.”Outoftheenvelopehetookahalf-sheetoffoolscappaperfoldedintofour.Thisheopenedandspreadflatuponthetable.Acrossthemiddleofitasinglesentencehadbeenfo