SirHenryBaskervilleandDr.Mortimerwerereadyupontheappointedday,andwestartedasarrangedforDevonshire.Mr.SherlockHolmesdrovewithmetothestationandgavemehislastpartinginjunctionsandadvice.
“Iwillnotbiasyourmindbysuggestingtheoriesorsuspicions,Watson,”saidhe“Iwishyousimplytoreportfactsinthefullestpossiblemannertome,andyoucanleavemetodothetheorizing.”
“Whatsortoffacts?”Iasked.
“Anythingwhichmayseemtohaveabearinghoweverindirectuponthecase,andespeciallytherelationsbetweenyoungBaskervilleandhisneighboursoranyfreshparticularsconcerningthedeathofSirCharles.Ihavemadesomeinquiriesmyselfinthelastfewdays,buttheresultshave,Ifear,beennegative.Onethingonlyappearstobecertain,andthatisthatMr.JamesDesmond,whoisthenextheir,isanelderlygentlemanofaveryamiabledisposition,sothatthispersecutiondoesnotarisefromhim.Ireallythinkthatwemayeliminatehimentirelyfromourcalculations.ThereremainthepeoplewhowillactuallysurroundSirHenryBaskervilleuponthemoor.”
“WoulditnotbewellinthefirstplacetogetridofthisBarrymorecouple?”
“Bynomeans.Youcouldnotmakeagreatermistake.Iftheyareinnocentitwouldbeacruelinjustice,andiftheyareguiltyweshouldbegivingupallchanceofbringingithometothem.No,no,wewillpreservethemuponourlistofsuspects.ThenthereisagroomattheHall,ifIrememberright.Therearetwomoorlandfarmers.ThereisourfriendDr.Mortimer,whomIbelievetobeentirelyhonest,andthereishiswife,ofwhomweknownothing.Thereisthisnaturalist,Stapleton,andthereishissister,whoissaidtobeayoungladyofattractions.ThereisMr.Frankland,ofLafterHall,whoisalsoanunknownfactor,andthereareoneortwootherneighbours.Thesearethefolkwhomustbeyourveryspecialstudy.”
“Iwilldomybest.”
“Youhavearms,Isuppose?”
“Yes,Ithoughtitaswelltotakethem.”
“Mostcertainly.Keepyourrevolvernearyounightandday,andneverrelaxyourprecautions.”
Ourfriendshadalreadysecuredafirst-classcarriageandwerewaitingforusupontheplatform.
“No,wehavenonewsofanykind,”saidDr.Mortimerinanswertomyfriend’squestions.“Icansweartoonething,and