May 27, 2025 • 28 mins
In the eerie Baskerville Hall, a baronet is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Could his death be the consequence of a centuries-old family curse, believed to be carried out by a supernatural hound? Join the iconic detective duo, Holmes and Watson, as they delve into the enigmatic death of Sir Charles Baskerville, racing against time to protect the new baronet from a similar ominous fate.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Chapter thirteen of the Hound of the Baskervilles. This is
a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Read by Richard Ryman, Fixing the Nets. We're at close
(00:24):
scripts at last, said Holmes, as we walked together across
the moor. What a nerve the fellow has. How he
pulled himself together in the face of what must have
been a paralyzing shock when he found that the wrong
man had fallen a victim to his plot. I told
(00:46):
you in London, Watson, and I tell you now again
that we have never had a foeman more worthy of
our steel. I am sorry that he has seen you,
and so was I at first, but there was no
getting out of it. What effect do you think it
will have upon his plans now that he knows you
(01:07):
are here. It may cause him to be more cautious,
or it may drive him to desperate measures. At once,
Like most clever criminals, he may be too confident in
his own cleverness, and imagine that he has completely deceived us.
Why should we not arrest him at once? My dear Watson,
(01:30):
you were born to be a man of action. Your
instinct is always to do something energetic. But supposing, for
argument's sake, that we had him arrested tonight, what on
earth the better off should we be? For that we
could prove nothing against him. There's the devilish cunning of it.
(01:51):
If he were acting through a human agent, we could
get some evidence. But if we were to drag this
great dog to the light of day, it would not
help us in putting a rope round the neck of
its master. Surely we have a case, not a shadow
of one, only surmise and conjecture. We should be laughed
(02:13):
out of court if we came up with such a
story and such evidence. There is Sir Charles's death, found
dead without a mark upon him. You and I know
that he died of sheer fright, and we know also
what frightened him. But how are we to get twelve
stolid jurymen to know it? What signs are there of
(02:35):
a hound? Where are the marks of its fangs? Of
course we know that a hound does not bite a
dead body, and that Sir Charles was dead before ever
the brute overtook him. But we have to prove all
this and we are not in a position to do
it well then tonight we are not much better off tonight.
(03:00):
And there was no direct connection between the hound and
the man's death. We never saw the hound. We heard it,
but we could not prove that it was running upon
this man's trail. There is a complete absence of motive. No,
my dear fellow, we must reconcile ourselves to the fact
that we have no case at present, and that it
(03:22):
is worth our while to run any risk in order
to establish one. And how do you propose to do so?
I have great hopes of what missus Laura Lyons may
do for us when the position of affairs is made
clear to her, and I have my own plan as well.
Sufficient for tomorrow is the evil thereof, But I hope
(03:47):
before the day has passed to have the upper hand.
At last I could draw nothing further from him, and
he walked lost in thought. As far as the Baskerville gates,
are you coming up? Yes? I see no reason for
further concealment. But one last word, Watson, say nothing of
(04:10):
the hound to Sir Henry. Let him think that Selden's
death was as Stapleton would have us believe. He will
have a better nerve for the ordeal which he will
have to undergo tomorrow when he is engaged. If I
remember your report aright to dine with these people, and
(04:30):
so am I, then you must excuse yourself and he
must go alone. That will be easily arranged. And now
if we are too late for dinner, I think that
we are both ready for our suppers. Sir Henry was
more pleased than surprised to see Sherlock Holmes, for he
(04:52):
had for some days been expecting that recent events would
bring him down from London. He did raise his eyebrows,
how however, when he found that my friend had neither
any luggage nor any explanations for its absence between us,
we soon supplied his wants, and then, over a belated supper,
we explained to the Baronet as much of our experience
(05:15):
as it seemed desirable that he should know. But first
I had the unpleasant duty of breaking the news to
Barrymore and his wife. To him, it may have been
an unmitigated relief, but she wept bitterly in her apron
To all the world he was the man of violence,
half animal and half demon, but to her he always
(05:38):
remained the little wilful boy of her own girlhood, the
child who had clung to her hand. Evil indeed is
the man who has not one woman to mourn him.
I've been moping in the house all day since Watson
went off in the morning, said the baronet. I guess
I should have some credit, for I have kept my promise.
(06:02):
If I hadn't sworn not to go about alone, I
might have had a more lively evening, for I had
a message from Stapleton asking me over there. I have
no doubt that you would have had a more lively evening,
said Holmes dryly. By the way, I don't suppose you
appreciate that we have been mourning over you as having
(06:24):
broken your neck. Sir Henry opened his eyes. How was
that this poor wretch was dressed in your clothes? I
fear your servant who gave them to him may get
into trouble with the police. That is unlikely. There was
no mark in any of them, as far as I know.
(06:47):
That's lucky for him. In fact, it's lucky for all
of you, since you are all on the wrong side
of the law in this matter. I am not sure
that as a conscientious detective. My first duty is not
to our rest the whole household. Watson's reports are most
incriminating documents. But how about the case asked the baronet?
(07:10):
Have you made anything out of the tangle? I don't
know that. Watson and I are much the wiser since
we came down. I think that I shall be in
a position to make the situation rather more clear to
you before long. It has been an exceedingly difficult and
most complicated business. There are several points upon which we
(07:32):
still want light, but it is coming all the same.
We've had one experience, as Watson has no doubt told
you we heard the hound on the moor, so I
can swear that it is not all empty superstition. I
had something to do with dogs when I was out west,
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and I know one when I hear one. If you
can muzzle that one and put him on a chain,
I'll be ready to swear you are the greatest detective
of all time. I think I will muscle him and
chain him all right. If you will give me your help.
Whatever you tell me to do, I will do very good.
(08:13):
And I will ask you also to do it blindly
without always asking the reason, just as you like, If
you will do this, I think the chances are that
our little problem will soon be solved. I have no doubt.
He stopped suddenly and stared fixedly up over my head
into the air. The lamp beat upon his face, and
(08:36):
so intent was it, and so still that it might
have been that of a clear cut classical statue, a
personification of alertness and expectation. What is it? We both cried.
I could see as he looked down that he was
repressing some internal emotion. His features were still composed, but
(09:00):
his eyes shone with amused exultation. Excuse the admiration of
a connoisseur, said he as he waved his hand towards
the line of portraits which covered the opposite wall. Watson
won't allow that I know anything of aught, but that
is mere jealousy, because our views upon the subject differ. Now,
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these are a really very fine series of portraits. Well,
I'm glad to hear you say so, said Sir Henry,
glancing with some surprise at my friend. I don't pretend
to know much about these things, and I'd be a
better judge of a horse or a steer than of
a picture. I didn't know that you found time for
(09:46):
such things. I know what is good when I see it,
and I see it now that's a Nettler. I'll swear
that lady in the blue silk over Yonder, and the
stout gentleman with the wig to be a Reynolds. They
are all family portraits, I presume everyone. Do you know
(10:07):
the names? Barrymore has been coaching me in them, and
I think I can say my lessons fairly well. Who
is the gentleman with the telescope. That is Rear Admiral Baskerville,
who served under Rotney in the West Indies. The man
with the blue coat and the roll of paper is
(10:29):
Sir William Baskerville, who was Chairman of Committees of the
House of Commons under Pitt. And this cavalier opposite to me,
the one with the black velvet and the lace, Ah,
you have a right to know about him. That is
the cause of all the mischief. The wicked Hugo who
(10:50):
started that ound of the Baskervilles were not likely to
forget him. I gazed with interest in some surprise upon
the portrait, dear me, said Holmes. He seems a quiet,
meek mannered man enough, But I dare say that there
was a lurking devil in his eyes. I had pictured
(11:13):
him as a more robust and ruffianly person. There's no
doubt about the authenticity, for the name and the date
sixteen forty seven are on the back of the canvas.
Holmes said little more, but the picture of the old
Roysterer seemed to have a fascination for him, and his
eyes were continually fixed upon it during supper. It was
(11:37):
not until later, when Sir Henry had gone to his room,
that I was able to follow the trend of his thoughts.
He led me back into the banqueting hall, his bedroom
candle in his hand, and he held it up against
the time, staying portrait on the wall. Do you see
anything there? I looked at the broad plumed hat, the
(12:02):
curling love locks, the white lace collar, and the straight,
severe face which was framed between them. It was not
a brutal countenance, but it was prim hard and stern,
with a firm set, thin lipped mouth, and a coldly
intolerant eye. Is it like any one you know? Where
(12:27):
is something of Sir Henry about the jaw? Just a
suggestion perhaps? But waited an instant. He stood upon a
chair and holding up the light in his left hand,
curved his right arm over the broad hat and round
the long ringlets. Good heavens, I cried in amazement. The
(12:52):
face of Stapleton had sprung out of the canvas. Ah,
you see it now. My eyes have been trained to
examine faces and not their trimmings. Is the first quality
of a criminal investigator that he should see through a disguise.
But this is marvelous. It might be his portrait. Yes,
(13:17):
it is an interesting instance of a throwback which appears
to be both physical and spiritual. A study of family
portraits is enough to convert a man to the doctrine
of reincarnation. The fellow is a Baskerville that is evident
with designs upon the succession. Exactly. This chance of the
(13:40):
picture has supplied us with one of our most obvious
missing links. We have him, Watson, We have him, and
I dare swear that before tomorrow night he will be
fluttering in our net as helpless as one of his
own butterflies. A pin, a cork, and a card, and
(14:00):
we add him to the Baker Street collection. He burst
into one of his rare fits of laughter as he
turned away from the picture. I have not heard him
laugh often, and it has always boded ill to somebody.
I was up betimes in the morning, but Holmes was
afoot earlier still, for I saw him as I dressed,
(14:24):
coming up the drive. Yes, we should have a full
day to day, he remarked, and he rubbed his hands
with the joy of action. The nets are all in
place and the drag is about to begin. Well know
before the day is out whether we have caught our big,
(14:44):
lean jawed bite, or whether he has got through the meshes.
Have you been on the moor already? I have sent
a report from Grimpen to Princetown as to the death
of Selden. I think I can promise that none of
you will be troubled in the matter. And I have
also communicated with my faithful Cortwright, who would certainly have
(15:06):
pined away at the door of my hut as a
dog does at his master's grave, if I had not
set his mind at rest about my safety. What is
the next move to see, Sir Henry? Ah, here he is,
Good morning, Holmes, said the baronet. You look like a
(15:26):
general who is planning a battle with his chief of
the staff. That is the exact situation Watson was asking
for orders, and so do I very good you are engaged,
as I understand, to dine with our friends, the Stapletons,
(15:47):
to night. I hope that you will come also. They
are very hospitable people, and I am sure that they
would be very glad to see you. I fear that
Watson and I must go to London. To London, yes,
I think that we should be more useful there at
the present juncture. The Baronet's face perceptibly lengthened. I hoped
(16:11):
that you were going to see me through this business.
The hall and the moor are not very pleasant places
when one is alone. My dear fellow, you must trust
me implicitly and do exactly what I tell you. You can
tell your friends that we should have been happy to
have come with you, but that urgent business required us
(16:34):
to be in town. We hope very soon to return
to Devonshire. Will you remember to give them that message?
If you insist upon it. There is no alternative, I
assure you. I saw by the baronet's clouded brow that
he was deeply hurt by what he regarded as our desertion.
(16:56):
When do you desire to go? He asked coldly, immediately
after breakfast, we will drive in to Coombe Tracy, but
Watson will leave his things as a pledge that he
will come back to you. Watson, you will send a
note to Stapleton to tell him that you regret that
you cannot come. I have a good mind to go
(17:18):
to London with you, said the Baronet. Why should I
stay here alone? Because it is your post of duty.
Because you gave me your word that you would do
as you were told, and I tell you to stay
all right, then I'll stay one more direction. I wish
(17:38):
you to drive to Merry Pitt House, send back your trap, however,
and let them know that you intend to walk home,
to walk across the moor. Yes, but that is the
very thing which you have so often cautioned me not
to do. This time you may do it with safety.
(18:00):
If I had not every confidence in your nerve and courage,
I would not suggest it. But it is essential that
you should do it. Then I will do it. And
as you value your life, do not go across the
moor in any direction save along the straight path which
leads from Marypitt House to the Grimpin Road and is
(18:22):
your natural way home. I will do just what you say,
very good. I should be glad to get away as
soon after breakfast as possible, so as to reach London
in the afternoon. I was much astounded by this program.
Though I remembered that Holmes had said to Stapleton on
(18:42):
the night before that his visit would terminate next day.
It had not crossed my mind, however, that he would
wish me to go with him, Nor could I understand
how he could both be absent at a moment which
he himself declared to be critical. There was nothing for it, however,
but implicit obedience. So we bat goodbye to our rueful friend,
(19:07):
and a couple of hours afterwards we were at the
station of Coombe Tracy, and had dispatched the trap. Upon
its return journey, a small boy was waiting upon the platform.
Any of what is, sir? You will take this train
to town Cartwright. The moment you arrive, you will send
(19:28):
a wya to Sir Henry Baskerville in my name, to
say that if he finds the pocket book which I
have dropped, he is to send it by a registered
post to Baker Street. Yes, sir, and ask at the
station office if there is a message for me. The
boy returned with the telegram which Holmes handed to me.
(19:50):
It ran whya received coming down with unsigned warrant arrive
five forty Lestrade. That is an answer to mine of
this morning. He is the best of the professionals, I think,
and we may need his assistance now, Watson, I think
(20:13):
that we cannot employ our time better than by calling
upon your acquaintance, Missus Laura Lyons. His plan of campaign
was beginning to be evident. He would use the baronet
in order to convince the Stapletons that we were really gone,
while we should actually return at the instant when we
(20:35):
were likely to be needed. That telegram from London, if
mentioned by Sir Henry to the Stapletons, must remove the
last suspicions from their minds. Already I seem to see
our nets drawing closer around that lean jawn pike. Missus
Laura Lyons was in her office and Sherlock Holmes opened
(20:58):
his interview with the frankness and directness which considerably amazed her.
I am investigating the circumstances which attended the death of
the late Sir Charles Baskerville. Said he, my friend here,
doctor Watson, has informed me of what you have communicated,
and also of what you have withheld in connection with
(21:19):
that matter. What have I withheld? She asked defiantly. You
have confessed that you asked Sir Charles to be at
the gate at ten o'clock. We know that that was
the place an hour of his death. You have withheld
what the connection is between these events? There is no
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connection in that case. The coincidence must indeed be an
extraordinary one. But I think that we shall succeed in
establishing a connection. After all, I wish to be perfectly
frank with you, Missus Lyons. We regard this case as
one of murder, and the evidence may implicate not only
(22:01):
your friend, mister Stapleton, but his wife as well. The
lady sprang from her chair. His wife, His wife, she cried.
The fact is no longer a secret. The person who
has passed for his sister is really his wife. Missus
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Lyons had resumed her seat. Her hands were grasping the
arms of her chair, and I saw that the pink
nails had turned white with the pressure of her grip.
His wife, she said again, his wife. He is not
a married man. Sherrac Holmes shrugged his shoulders prove it
(22:45):
to me. Prove it to me, and if you can
do so, the fierce flash of her eyes said, more
than any words, I have come prepared to do so,
said Holmes, drawing several papers from his pocket. Here is
a photograph of the couple, taken in York four years ago.
(23:06):
It is endorsed mister and Missus Vandeleur. But you will
have no difficulty in recognizing him and her also if
you know her by sight. Here are three written descriptions
by trustworthy witnesses of mister and Missus Vandeleur, who at
that time kept Saint Oliver's private school. Read them and
(23:28):
see if you can doubt the identity of these people.
She glanced at them, and then looked up at us
with the set, rigid face of a desperate woman. Mister Holmes,
she said, this man had offered me marriage on condition
that I could get a divorce from my husband. He
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has lied to me, the villain, in every conceivable way,
not one word of truth as he ever told me.
And why why I imagined it all for my own sake?
But now I see that I was never anything but
a tool in his hands. Why should I preserve faith
(24:09):
with him who never kept any with me. Why should
I try to shield him from the consequences of his
own wicked acts. Ask me what you like, and there
is nothing which I shall hold back. One thing I
swear to you, and that is that when I wrote
the letter, I never dreamed of any harm to the
old gentleman who had been my kindest friend. I entirely
(24:32):
believe you, madam, said Sherlock Holmes. The recital of these
events must be very painful to you, and perhaps it
will make it easier if I tell you what occurred,
and you can check me if I make any material mistake.
The sending of this letter was suggested to you by Stapleton,
(24:52):
he dictated it. I presume that the reason he gave
was that you would receive help from sirch Charles for
the legal expenses connected with your divorce exactly, and then
after you had sent the letter, he dissuaded you from
keeping the appointment. He told me that it would hurte
(25:13):
his self respect that any other man should find the
money for such an object, and that though he was
a poor man himself, he would devote his last penny
to removing the obstacles which divided us. He appears to
be a very consistent character. And then you heard nothing
until you read the reports of the death in the paper. No,
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and he made you swear to say nothing about your
appointment with Sir Charles. He did. He said that the
death was a very mysterious one, and that I should
certainly be suspected if the facts came out. He frightened
me into remaining silent. Quite so, but you had your suspicions.
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She hesitated and looked down. I knew him, she said,
But if he had kept faith with me, I should
always have done so with him. I think that on
the whole you have had a fortunate escape, said Sherlock Holmes.
You have had him in your power, and he knew it.
(26:16):
And yet you are alive. You have been walking for
some months very near to the edge of a precipice.
We must wish you good morning now, missus Lyons, and
it is probable that you will very shortly hear from us,
and enne our case becomes rounded off, and difficulty after
(26:37):
difficulty thins away in front of us, said Holmes, as
we stood waiting for the arrival of the express from town.
I shall soon be in the position of being able
to put into a single connected narrative one of the
most singular and sensational crimes of modern times. Students of
criminology will remember the analogous incidents in god know in
(27:02):
Little Russia in the year sixty six, and of course
there are the Anderson murders in North Carolina. But this
case possesses some features which are entirely its own. Even
now we have no clear case against this very wily man.
But I shall be very much surprised if it is
not clear enough. Before we go to bed this night,
(27:26):
the London Express came roaring into the station, and a small,
wiry bulldog of a man had sprung from a first
class carriage. We all three shook hands, and I saw
at once from the reverential way in which Lestrade gazed
at my companion, that he had learned a good deal
since the days when they had first worked together. I
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could well remember the scorn which the theories of the
reasoner used then excite in the practical man. Anything good,
he asked, the biggest thing for years, said Holmes. We
have two hours before we need think of starting. I
think we might employ it in getting some dinner and then, Lestrod,
(28:09):
we will take the London fog out of your throat
by giving you a breath of the pure night air
of Dartmoor. Never been there. Ah well, I don't suppose
you will forget your first visit. End of Chapter thirteen.
Chapter thirteen of the Hound of the Baskervilles. This is
a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
Read by Richard Ryman, Fixing the Nets. We're at close
(00:24):
scripts at last, said Holmes, as we walked together across
the moor. What a nerve the fellow has. How he
pulled himself together in the face of what must have
been a paralyzing shock when he found that the wrong
man had fallen a victim to his plot. I told
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you in London, Watson, and I tell you now again
that we have never had a foeman more worthy of
our steel. I am sorry that he has seen you,
and so was I at first, but there was no
getting out of it. What effect do you think it
will have upon his plans now that he knows you
(01:07):
are here. It may cause him to be more cautious,
or it may drive him to desperate measures. At once,
Like most clever criminals, he may be too confident in
his own cleverness, and imagine that he has completely deceived us.
Why should we not arrest him at once? My dear Watson,
(01:30):
you were born to be a man of action. Your
instinct is always to do something energetic. But supposing, for
argument's sake, that we had him arrested tonight, what on
earth the better off should we be? For that we
could prove nothing against him. There's the devilish cunning of it.
(01:51):
If he were acting through a human agent, we could
get some evidence. But if we were to drag this
great dog to the light of day, it would not
help us in putting a rope round the neck of
its master. Surely we have a case, not a shadow
of one, only surmise and conjecture. We should be laughed
(02:13):
out of court if we came up with such a
story and such evidence. There is Sir Charles's death, found
dead without a mark upon him. You and I know
that he died of sheer fright, and we know also
what frightened him. But how are we to get twelve
stolid jurymen to know it? What signs are there of
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a hound? Where are the marks of its fangs? Of
course we know that a hound does not bite a
dead body, and that Sir Charles was dead before ever
the brute overtook him. But we have to prove all
this and we are not in a position to do
it well then tonight we are not much better off tonight.
(03:00):
And there was no direct connection between the hound and
the man's death. We never saw the hound. We heard it,
but we could not prove that it was running upon
this man's trail. There is a complete absence of motive. No,
my dear fellow, we must reconcile ourselves to the fact
that we have no case at present, and that it
(03:22):
is worth our while to run any risk in order
to establish one. And how do you propose to do so?
I have great hopes of what missus Laura Lyons may
do for us when the position of affairs is made
clear to her, and I have my own plan as well.
Sufficient for tomorrow is the evil thereof, But I hope
(03:47):
before the day has passed to have the upper hand.
At last I could draw nothing further from him, and
he walked lost in thought. As far as the Baskerville gates,
are you coming up? Yes? I see no reason for
further concealment. But one last word, Watson, say nothing of
(04:10):
the hound to Sir Henry. Let him think that Selden's
death was as Stapleton would have us believe. He will
have a better nerve for the ordeal which he will
have to undergo tomorrow when he is engaged. If I
remember your report aright to dine with these people, and
(04:30):
so am I, then you must excuse yourself and he
must go alone. That will be easily arranged. And now
if we are too late for dinner, I think that
we are both ready for our suppers. Sir Henry was
more pleased than surprised to see Sherlock Holmes, for he
(04:52):
had for some days been expecting that recent events would
bring him down from London. He did raise his eyebrows,
how however, when he found that my friend had neither
any luggage nor any explanations for its absence between us,
we soon supplied his wants, and then, over a belated supper,
we explained to the Baronet as much of our experience
(05:15):
as it seemed desirable that he should know. But first
I had the unpleasant duty of breaking the news to
Barrymore and his wife. To him, it may have been
an unmitigated relief, but she wept bitterly in her apron
To all the world he was the man of violence,
half animal and half demon, but to her he always
(05:38):
remained the little wilful boy of her own girlhood, the
child who had clung to her hand. Evil indeed is
the man who has not one woman to mourn him.
I've been moping in the house all day since Watson
went off in the morning, said the baronet. I guess
I should have some credit, for I have kept my promise.
(06:02):
If I hadn't sworn not to go about alone, I
might have had a more lively evening, for I had
a message from Stapleton asking me over there. I have
no doubt that you would have had a more lively evening,
said Holmes dryly. By the way, I don't suppose you
appreciate that we have been mourning over you as having
(06:24):
broken your neck. Sir Henry opened his eyes. How was
that this poor wretch was dressed in your clothes? I
fear your servant who gave them to him may get
into trouble with the police. That is unlikely. There was
no mark in any of them, as far as I know.
(06:47):
That's lucky for him. In fact, it's lucky for all
of you, since you are all on the wrong side
of the law in this matter. I am not sure
that as a conscientious detective. My first duty is not
to our rest the whole household. Watson's reports are most
incriminating documents. But how about the case asked the baronet?
(07:10):
Have you made anything out of the tangle? I don't
know that. Watson and I are much the wiser since
we came down. I think that I shall be in
a position to make the situation rather more clear to
you before long. It has been an exceedingly difficult and
most complicated business. There are several points upon which we
(07:32):
still want light, but it is coming all the same.
We've had one experience, as Watson has no doubt told
you we heard the hound on the moor, so I
can swear that it is not all empty superstition. I
had something to do with dogs when I was out west,
(07:52):
and I know one when I hear one. If you
can muzzle that one and put him on a chain,
I'll be ready to swear you are the greatest detective
of all time. I think I will muscle him and
chain him all right. If you will give me your help.
Whatever you tell me to do, I will do very good.
(08:13):
And I will ask you also to do it blindly
without always asking the reason, just as you like, If
you will do this, I think the chances are that
our little problem will soon be solved. I have no doubt.
He stopped suddenly and stared fixedly up over my head
into the air. The lamp beat upon his face, and
(08:36):
so intent was it, and so still that it might
have been that of a clear cut classical statue, a
personification of alertness and expectation. What is it? We both cried.
I could see as he looked down that he was
repressing some internal emotion. His features were still composed, but
(09:00):
his eyes shone with amused exultation. Excuse the admiration of
a connoisseur, said he as he waved his hand towards
the line of portraits which covered the opposite wall. Watson
won't allow that I know anything of aught, but that
is mere jealousy, because our views upon the subject differ. Now,
(09:24):
these are a really very fine series of portraits. Well,
I'm glad to hear you say so, said Sir Henry,
glancing with some surprise at my friend. I don't pretend
to know much about these things, and I'd be a
better judge of a horse or a steer than of
a picture. I didn't know that you found time for
(09:46):
such things. I know what is good when I see it,
and I see it now that's a Nettler. I'll swear
that lady in the blue silk over Yonder, and the
stout gentleman with the wig to be a Reynolds. They
are all family portraits, I presume everyone. Do you know
(10:07):
the names? Barrymore has been coaching me in them, and
I think I can say my lessons fairly well. Who
is the gentleman with the telescope. That is Rear Admiral Baskerville,
who served under Rotney in the West Indies. The man
with the blue coat and the roll of paper is
(10:29):
Sir William Baskerville, who was Chairman of Committees of the
House of Commons under Pitt. And this cavalier opposite to me,
the one with the black velvet and the lace, Ah,
you have a right to know about him. That is
the cause of all the mischief. The wicked Hugo who
(10:50):
started that ound of the Baskervilles were not likely to
forget him. I gazed with interest in some surprise upon
the portrait, dear me, said Holmes. He seems a quiet,
meek mannered man enough, But I dare say that there
was a lurking devil in his eyes. I had pictured
(11:13):
him as a more robust and ruffianly person. There's no
doubt about the authenticity, for the name and the date
sixteen forty seven are on the back of the canvas.
Holmes said little more, but the picture of the old
Roysterer seemed to have a fascination for him, and his
eyes were continually fixed upon it during supper. It was
(11:37):
not until later, when Sir Henry had gone to his room,
that I was able to follow the trend of his thoughts.
He led me back into the banqueting hall, his bedroom
candle in his hand, and he held it up against
the time, staying portrait on the wall. Do you see
anything there? I looked at the broad plumed hat, the
(12:02):
curling love locks, the white lace collar, and the straight,
severe face which was framed between them. It was not
a brutal countenance, but it was prim hard and stern,
with a firm set, thin lipped mouth, and a coldly
intolerant eye. Is it like any one you know? Where
(12:27):
is something of Sir Henry about the jaw? Just a
suggestion perhaps? But waited an instant. He stood upon a
chair and holding up the light in his left hand,
curved his right arm over the broad hat and round
the long ringlets. Good heavens, I cried in amazement. The
(12:52):
face of Stapleton had sprung out of the canvas. Ah,
you see it now. My eyes have been trained to
examine faces and not their trimmings. Is the first quality
of a criminal investigator that he should see through a disguise.
But this is marvelous. It might be his portrait. Yes,
(13:17):
it is an interesting instance of a throwback which appears
to be both physical and spiritual. A study of family
portraits is enough to convert a man to the doctrine
of reincarnation. The fellow is a Baskerville that is evident
with designs upon the succession. Exactly. This chance of the
(13:40):
picture has supplied us with one of our most obvious
missing links. We have him, Watson, We have him, and
I dare swear that before tomorrow night he will be
fluttering in our net as helpless as one of his
own butterflies. A pin, a cork, and a card, and
(14:00):
we add him to the Baker Street collection. He burst
into one of his rare fits of laughter as he
turned away from the picture. I have not heard him
laugh often, and it has always boded ill to somebody.
I was up betimes in the morning, but Holmes was
afoot earlier still, for I saw him as I dressed,
(14:24):
coming up the drive. Yes, we should have a full
day to day, he remarked, and he rubbed his hands
with the joy of action. The nets are all in
place and the drag is about to begin. Well know
before the day is out whether we have caught our big,
(14:44):
lean jawed bite, or whether he has got through the meshes.
Have you been on the moor already? I have sent
a report from Grimpen to Princetown as to the death
of Selden. I think I can promise that none of
you will be troubled in the matter. And I have
also communicated with my faithful Cortwright, who would certainly have
(15:06):
pined away at the door of my hut as a
dog does at his master's grave, if I had not
set his mind at rest about my safety. What is
the next move to see, Sir Henry? Ah, here he is,
Good morning, Holmes, said the baronet. You look like a
(15:26):
general who is planning a battle with his chief of
the staff. That is the exact situation Watson was asking
for orders, and so do I very good you are engaged,
as I understand, to dine with our friends, the Stapletons,
(15:47):
to night. I hope that you will come also. They
are very hospitable people, and I am sure that they
would be very glad to see you. I fear that
Watson and I must go to London. To London, yes,
I think that we should be more useful there at
the present juncture. The Baronet's face perceptibly lengthened. I hoped
(16:11):
that you were going to see me through this business.
The hall and the moor are not very pleasant places
when one is alone. My dear fellow, you must trust
me implicitly and do exactly what I tell you. You can
tell your friends that we should have been happy to
have come with you, but that urgent business required us
(16:34):
to be in town. We hope very soon to return
to Devonshire. Will you remember to give them that message?
If you insist upon it. There is no alternative, I
assure you. I saw by the baronet's clouded brow that
he was deeply hurt by what he regarded as our desertion.
(16:56):
When do you desire to go? He asked coldly, immediately
after breakfast, we will drive in to Coombe Tracy, but
Watson will leave his things as a pledge that he
will come back to you. Watson, you will send a
note to Stapleton to tell him that you regret that
you cannot come. I have a good mind to go
(17:18):
to London with you, said the Baronet. Why should I
stay here alone? Because it is your post of duty.
Because you gave me your word that you would do
as you were told, and I tell you to stay
all right, then I'll stay one more direction. I wish
(17:38):
you to drive to Merry Pitt House, send back your trap, however,
and let them know that you intend to walk home,
to walk across the moor. Yes, but that is the
very thing which you have so often cautioned me not
to do. This time you may do it with safety.
(18:00):
If I had not every confidence in your nerve and courage,
I would not suggest it. But it is essential that
you should do it. Then I will do it. And
as you value your life, do not go across the
moor in any direction save along the straight path which
leads from Marypitt House to the Grimpin Road and is
(18:22):
your natural way home. I will do just what you say,
very good. I should be glad to get away as
soon after breakfast as possible, so as to reach London
in the afternoon. I was much astounded by this program.
Though I remembered that Holmes had said to Stapleton on
(18:42):
the night before that his visit would terminate next day.
It had not crossed my mind, however, that he would
wish me to go with him, Nor could I understand
how he could both be absent at a moment which
he himself declared to be critical. There was nothing for it, however,
but implicit obedience. So we bat goodbye to our rueful friend,
(19:07):
and a couple of hours afterwards we were at the
station of Coombe Tracy, and had dispatched the trap. Upon
its return journey, a small boy was waiting upon the platform.
Any of what is, sir? You will take this train
to town Cartwright. The moment you arrive, you will send
(19:28):
a wya to Sir Henry Baskerville in my name, to
say that if he finds the pocket book which I
have dropped, he is to send it by a registered
post to Baker Street. Yes, sir, and ask at the
station office if there is a message for me. The
boy returned with the telegram which Holmes handed to me.
(19:50):
It ran whya received coming down with unsigned warrant arrive
five forty Lestrade. That is an answer to mine of
this morning. He is the best of the professionals, I think,
and we may need his assistance now, Watson, I think
(20:13):
that we cannot employ our time better than by calling
upon your acquaintance, Missus Laura Lyons. His plan of campaign
was beginning to be evident. He would use the baronet
in order to convince the Stapletons that we were really gone,
while we should actually return at the instant when we
(20:35):
were likely to be needed. That telegram from London, if
mentioned by Sir Henry to the Stapletons, must remove the
last suspicions from their minds. Already I seem to see
our nets drawing closer around that lean jawn pike. Missus
Laura Lyons was in her office and Sherlock Holmes opened
(20:58):
his interview with the frankness and directness which considerably amazed her.
I am investigating the circumstances which attended the death of
the late Sir Charles Baskerville. Said he, my friend here,
doctor Watson, has informed me of what you have communicated,
and also of what you have withheld in connection with
(21:19):
that matter. What have I withheld? She asked defiantly. You
have confessed that you asked Sir Charles to be at
the gate at ten o'clock. We know that that was
the place an hour of his death. You have withheld
what the connection is between these events? There is no
(21:39):
connection in that case. The coincidence must indeed be an
extraordinary one. But I think that we shall succeed in
establishing a connection. After all, I wish to be perfectly
frank with you, Missus Lyons. We regard this case as
one of murder, and the evidence may implicate not only
(22:01):
your friend, mister Stapleton, but his wife as well. The
lady sprang from her chair. His wife, His wife, she cried.
The fact is no longer a secret. The person who
has passed for his sister is really his wife. Missus
(22:22):
Lyons had resumed her seat. Her hands were grasping the
arms of her chair, and I saw that the pink
nails had turned white with the pressure of her grip.
His wife, she said again, his wife. He is not
a married man. Sherrac Holmes shrugged his shoulders prove it
(22:45):
to me. Prove it to me, and if you can
do so, the fierce flash of her eyes said, more
than any words, I have come prepared to do so,
said Holmes, drawing several papers from his pocket. Here is
a photograph of the couple, taken in York four years ago.
(23:06):
It is endorsed mister and Missus Vandeleur. But you will
have no difficulty in recognizing him and her also if
you know her by sight. Here are three written descriptions
by trustworthy witnesses of mister and Missus Vandeleur, who at
that time kept Saint Oliver's private school. Read them and
(23:28):
see if you can doubt the identity of these people.
She glanced at them, and then looked up at us
with the set, rigid face of a desperate woman. Mister Holmes,
she said, this man had offered me marriage on condition
that I could get a divorce from my husband. He
(23:48):
has lied to me, the villain, in every conceivable way,
not one word of truth as he ever told me.
And why why I imagined it all for my own sake?
But now I see that I was never anything but
a tool in his hands. Why should I preserve faith
(24:09):
with him who never kept any with me. Why should
I try to shield him from the consequences of his
own wicked acts. Ask me what you like, and there
is nothing which I shall hold back. One thing I
swear to you, and that is that when I wrote
the letter, I never dreamed of any harm to the
old gentleman who had been my kindest friend. I entirely
(24:32):
believe you, madam, said Sherlock Holmes. The recital of these
events must be very painful to you, and perhaps it
will make it easier if I tell you what occurred,
and you can check me if I make any material mistake.
The sending of this letter was suggested to you by Stapleton,
(24:52):
he dictated it. I presume that the reason he gave
was that you would receive help from sirch Charles for
the legal expenses connected with your divorce exactly, and then
after you had sent the letter, he dissuaded you from
keeping the appointment. He told me that it would hurte
(25:13):
his self respect that any other man should find the
money for such an object, and that though he was
a poor man himself, he would devote his last penny
to removing the obstacles which divided us. He appears to
be a very consistent character. And then you heard nothing
until you read the reports of the death in the paper. No,
(25:35):
and he made you swear to say nothing about your
appointment with Sir Charles. He did. He said that the
death was a very mysterious one, and that I should
certainly be suspected if the facts came out. He frightened
me into remaining silent. Quite so, but you had your suspicions.
(25:56):
She hesitated and looked down. I knew him, she said,
But if he had kept faith with me, I should
always have done so with him. I think that on
the whole you have had a fortunate escape, said Sherlock Holmes.
You have had him in your power, and he knew it.
(26:16):
And yet you are alive. You have been walking for
some months very near to the edge of a precipice.
We must wish you good morning now, missus Lyons, and
it is probable that you will very shortly hear from us,
and enne our case becomes rounded off, and difficulty after
(26:37):
difficulty thins away in front of us, said Holmes, as
we stood waiting for the arrival of the express from town.
I shall soon be in the position of being able
to put into a single connected narrative one of the
most singular and sensational crimes of modern times. Students of
criminology will remember the analogous incidents in god know in
(27:02):
Little Russia in the year sixty six, and of course
there are the Anderson murders in North Carolina. But this
case possesses some features which are entirely its own. Even
now we have no clear case against this very wily man.
But I shall be very much surprised if it is
not clear enough. Before we go to bed this night,
(27:26):
the London Express came roaring into the station, and a small,
wiry bulldog of a man had sprung from a first
class carriage. We all three shook hands, and I saw
at once from the reverential way in which Lestrade gazed
at my companion, that he had learned a good deal
since the days when they had first worked together. I
(27:46):
could well remember the scorn which the theories of the
reasoner used then excite in the practical man. Anything good,
he asked, the biggest thing for years, said Holmes. We
have two hours before we need think of starting. I
think we might employ it in getting some dinner and then, Lestrod,
(28:09):
we will take the London fog out of your throat
by giving you a breath of the pure night air
of Dartmoor. Never been there. Ah well, I don't suppose
you will forget your first visit. End of Chapter thirteen.
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