srepairedthatHolmesaskedBaskervillewhatwerehisintentions.
“TogotoBaskervilleHall.”
“Andwhen?”
“Attheendoftheweek.”
“Onthewhole,”saidHolmes,“Ithinkthatyourdecisionisawiseone.IhaveampleevidencethatyouarebeingdoggedinLondon,andamidthemillionsofthisgreatcityitisdifficulttodiscoverwhothesepeopleareorwhattheirobjectcanbe.Iftheirintentionsareeviltheymightdoyouamischief,andweshouldbepowerlesstopreventit.Youdidnotknow,Dr.Mortimer,thatyouwerefollowedthismorningfrommyhouse?”
Dr.Mortimerstartedviolently.“Followed!Bywhom?”
“That,unfortunately,iswhatIcannottellyou.HaveyouamongyourneighboursoracquaintancesonDartmooranymanwithablack,fullbeard?”
“No—or,letmesee—why,yes.Barrymore,SirCharles’sbutler,isamanwithafull,blackbeard.”
“Ha!WhereisBarrymore?”
“HeisinchargeoftheHall.”
“Wehadbestascertainifheisreallythere,orifbyanypossibilityhemightbeinLondon.”
“Howcanyoudothat?”
“Givemeatelegraphform.‘IsallreadyforSirHenry?’Thatwilldo.AddresstoMr.Barrymore,BaskervilleHall.Whatisthenearesttelegraph-office?Grimpen.Verygood,wewillsendasecondwiretothepostmaster,Grimpen:‘TelegramtoMr.Barrymoretobedeliveredintohisownhand.Ifabsent,pleasereturnwiretoSirHenryBaskerville,NorthumberlandHotel.’ThatshouldletusknowbeforeeveningwhetherBarrymoreisathispostinDevonshireornot.”
“That’sso,”saidBaskerville.“Bytheway,Dr.Mortimer,whoisthisBarrymore,anyhow?”
“Heisthesonoftheoldcaretaker,whoisdead.TheyhavelookedaftertheHallforfourgenerationsnow.SofarasIknow,heandhiswifeareasrespectableacoupleasanyinthecounty.”
“Atthesametime,”saidBaskerville,“it’sclearenoughthatsolongastherearenoneofthefamilyattheHallthesepeoplehaveamightyfinehomeandnothingtodo.”
“Thatistrue.”
“DidBarrymoreprofitatallbySirCharles’swill?”askedHolmes.
“Heandhiswifehadfivehundredpoundseach.”
“Ha!Didtheyknowthattheywouldreceivethis?”
“YesSirCharleswasveryfondoftalkingabouttheprovisionsofhiswill.”
“Thatisveryinteresting.”
“Ihope,”said