SherlockHolmeshad,inaveryremarkabledegree,thepowerofdetachinghismindatwill.Fortwohoursthestrangebusinessinwhichwehadbeeninvolvedappearedtobeforgotten,andhewasentirelyabsorbedinthepicturesofthemodernBelgianmasters.Hewouldtalkofnothingbutart,ofwhichhehadthecrudestideas,fromourleavingthegalleryuntilwefoundourselvesattheNorthumberlandHotel.
“SirHenryBaskervilleisupstairsexpectingyou,”saidtheclerk.“Heaskedmetoshowyouupatoncewhenyoucame.”
“Haveyouanyobjectiontomylookingatyourregister?”saidHolmes.
“Notintheleast.”
ThebookshowedthattwonameshadbeenaddedafterthatofBaskerville.OnewasTheophilusJohnsonandfamily,ofNewcastletheotherMrs.Oldmoreandmaid,ofHighLodge,Alton.
“SurelythatmustbethesameJohnsonwhomIusedtoknow,”saidHolmestotheporter.“Alawyer,ishenot,grey-headed,andwalkswithalimp?”
“No,sir,thisisMr.Johnson,thecoal-owner,averyactivegentleman,notolderthanyourself.”
“Surelyyouaremistakenabouthistrade?”
“No,sir!hehasusedthishotelformanyyears,andheisverywellknowntous.”
“Ah,thatsettlesit.Mrs.Oldmore,tooIseemtorememberthename.Excusemycuriosity,butoftenincallingupononefriendonefindsanother.”
“Sheisaninvalidlady,sir.HerhusbandwasoncemayorofGloucester.Shealwayscomestouswhensheisintown.”
“ThankyouIamafraidIcannotclaimheracquaintance.Wehaveestablishedamostimportantfactbythesequestions,Watson,”hecontinuedinalowvoiceaswewentupstairstogether.“Weknownowthatthepeoplewhoaresointerestedinourfriendhavenotsettleddowninhisownhotel.Thatmeansthatwhiletheyare,aswehaveseen,veryanxioustowatchhim,theyareequallyanxiousthatheshouldnotseethem.Now,thisisamostsuggestivefact.”
“Whatdoesitsuggest?”
“Itsuggests—halloa,mydearfellow,whatonearthisthematter?”
AswecameroundthetopofthestairswehadrunupagainstSirHenryBaskervillehimself.Hisfacewasflushedwithanger,andheheldanoldanddustybootinoneofhishands.Sofuriouswashethathewashardlyarticulate,andwhenhedidspeakitwasinamuchbroaderandmoreWesterndialectthananywhichwehadheard