Dr.Mortimer,“thatyoudonotlookwithsuspiciouseyesuponeveryonewhoreceivedalegacyfromSirCharles,forIalsohadathousandpoundslefttome.”
“Indeed!Andanyoneelse?”
“Thereweremanyinsignificantsumstoindividuals,andalargenumberofpubliccharities.TheresidueallwenttoSirHenry.”
“Andhowmuchwastheresidue?”
“Sevenhundredandfortythousandpounds.”
Holmesraisedhiseyebrowsinsurprise.“Ihadnoideathatsogiganticasumwasinvolved,”saidhe.
“SirCharleshadthereputationofbeingrich,butwedidnotknowhowveryrichhewasuntilwecametoexaminehissecurities.Thetotalvalueoftheestatewascloseontoamillion.”
“Dearme!Itisastakeforwhichamanmightwellplayadesperategame.Andonemorequestion,Dr.Mortimer.Supposingthatanythinghappenedtoouryoungfriendhere—youwillforgivetheunpleasanthypothesis!—whowouldinherittheestate?”
“SinceRodgerBaskerville,SirCharles’syoungerbrotherdiedunmarried,theestatewoulddescendtotheDesmonds,whoaredistantcousins.JamesDesmondisanelderlyclergymaninWestmoreland.”
“Thankyou.Thesedetailsareallofgreatinterest.HaveyoumetMr.JamesDesmond?”
“YesheoncecamedowntovisitSirCharles.Heisamanofvenerableappearanceandofsaintlylife.IrememberthatherefusedtoacceptanysettlementfromSirCharles,thoughhepressedituponhim.”
“AndthismanofsimpletasteswouldbetheheirtoSirCharles’sthousands.”
“Hewouldbetheheirtotheestatebecausethatisentailed.Hewouldalsobetheheirtothemoneyunlessitwerewilledotherwisebythepresentowner,whocan,ofcourse,dowhathelikeswithit.”
“Andhaveyoumadeyourwill,SirHenry?”
“No,Mr.Holmes,Ihavenot.I’vehadnotime,foritwasonlyyesterdaythatIlearnedhowmattersstood.ButinanycaseIfeelthatthemoneyshouldgowiththetitleandestate.Thatwasmypooruncle’sidea.HowistheownergoingtorestorethegloriesoftheBaskervillesifhehasnotmoneyenoughtokeepuptheproperty?House,land,anddollarsmustgotogether.”
“Quiteso.Well,SirHenry,IamofonemindwithyouastotheadvisabilityofyourgoingdowntoDevonshirewithoutdelay.ThereisonlyoneprovisionwhichImustmake.Youcertainlymustn