Chapter 4 of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir, Arthur
Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Chapter 4 Sir Henry Baskerville.
Our breakfast table was cleared early and Holmes waited in his
dressing gown for the promised interview.
Our clients were punctual to their appointment for the clock
had just struck ten when dr. Mortimer was shown up, followed
by the young baronet, the latter was a small alert.
Dark-eyed man about thirty years of age.
Very sturdily built with thick black eyebrows and a strong
pugnacious face. He wore a ready.
Tinted Tweed suit and had a weather-beaten appearance. of
one who has spent most of his time in the open air and yet
there was something in his steady eye and the quiet
Assurance of his bearing, which indicated the gentlemen This is
Sir, Henry Baskerville said dr. Mortimer, why?
Yes said he and the strange thing is mr.
Sherlock, Holmes. That if my friend here had not
proposed coming round to you this morning, I should have come
on my own account. I understand that you think out
little puzzles and I've had one this morning, which once more
Thinking Out than I am. Able to give it pray, take a
seat Sir. Henry do I understand you to say
that you have yourself had some remarkable A couple experience
since you arrived in London. Nothing of much importance, mr.
Holmes, only a joke as like as not.
It was this letter. If you can call it a letter
which reach me this morning, he laid an envelope on the table
and we all bent over it. It was a common quality grayish
in color. The address.
Sir Henry Baskerville Northumberland Hotel was printed
in rough characters. The postmark Charing Cross.
Ross and the date of posting the preceding evening.
Who knew that you were going to the Northumberland Hotel asked
Holmes. Glancing keenly across at our
visitor. No one could have known.
We only decided after I met dr. Mortimer.
But dr. Mortimer was no doubt already
stopping there. No, I had been staying with a
friend said, the doctor. There was no possible indication
that we intended to go to this hotel.
Hmm. Someone seems to be very deeply
interested in your movements. Out of the envelope.
He took a half-sheet of foolscap paper folded into for this, he
opened and spread flat upon the table across the middle of it.
A single sentence have been formed by the expedient of
pasting printed words upon it. It ran as you value your life,
or your reason, keep away from the more, the word, more only
was printed in ink. Now said, Sir Henry Baskerville.
Perhaps you'll tell me mr. Holmes, what in Thunder is the
meaning of that and who it is. That takes so much interest in
my affairs. What do you make of it?
Doctor Mortimer. You must allow that there is
nothing Supernatural about this at any rate.
No sir. But it might very well come from
someone who was convinced that the business is Supernatural.
What business asked, Sir, Henry sharply.
It seems to me that all you gentlemen, know a great deal,
more than I do about my own Affairs.
You shall share our knowledge before you leave this room Sir.
Henry I promise you that. Sherlock Holmes, we will confine
ourselves for the present with your permission to this very
interesting document, which must have been put together and
posted yesterday evening. Have you yesterday's times
Watson? It is here in the corner.
Might I trouble you for it. The inside page pleased with the
leading articles, he glanced swiftly over it, running his
eyes up and down the columns. Capital article this on free
trade, permit me to give you an extract from it.
You may be cajoled into imagining that your own special
trade or your own industry will be encouraged by a protective
tariff but it stands to reason that such legislation must in
the long run, keep away wealth from the country.
Diminish the value of our Imports and lower the general
conditions of life in this island.
What do you think of that Watson cried Holmes in high Glee?
Rubbing his hands together with satisfaction.
Ian. Don't you think that is an
admirable sentiment? Dr. Mortimer looked at homes
with an air of professional interest.
And Sir, Henry Baskerville turned a pair of puzzled, dark
eyes upon me. I don't know much about the
Tariff and things of that kind said he but it seems to me we've
got a bit off the trail so far. As that note is concerned on the
contrary, I think we are particularly hot upon the trail.
So Henry Watson here knows more about my methods than you do,
but I fear that even he has not quite grasped the significance
of this sentence. No, I confess that, I see no
connection. And yet my dear Watson there is
so very close a connection that the one is extracted out of the
other, you your, your life reason value.
Keep away from the, don't you see?
Now, whence these words have been taken, By Sundar, you're
right. Well if that isn't smart cried
Sir, Henry, if any possible doubt remained it is settled by
the fact that keep away and from thee are cut out in one piece.
Well, now, so it is Really mr. Holmes this exceeds anything
which I could have imagined. Said, dr.
Mortimer, gazing at my friend in amazement, I could understand
anyone saying that the words were from a newspaper but that
you should name which and add that it came from.
The leading article is really one of the most remarkable
things which I have ever known. How did you do it?
I presume doctor that you could tell the skull of a negro from
that of an Eskimo. Most certainly, but how?
Because, that is my special hobby.
The differences are obvious, the supraorbital crest, the facial
angle, the maxilla recurve. The but this is my special
Hobby, and the differences are equally obvious.
There is as much difference to my eyes between the leaded
Bourgeois type of A Times article and the slovenly print
of an evening halfpenny paper, as it could be between your
negro. And your Eskimo, the detection
of types is one of the most Elementary branches of knowledge
to the special expert in crime though.
I confess that once when I was very young, I confuse the leads
Mercury with a western morning news, but a Times Leader is
entirely distinctive. And these words could have been
taken from nothing else as it was done yesterday, the
Probability was that we should find the words in yesterday's
issue. So far as I can follow you then
mr. Holmes said Sir Henry
Baskerville someone cut out this message with a scissors.
Nail scissors said Holmes, you can see that it was a very short
bladed, scissors since the cutter had to take two Snips
over, keep away. That is so someone then cut out
the message with a pair of short bladed, scissors pasted it with
paste, gum said, Holmes. With gum onto the paper.
But I want to know why the word more should have been written
because he could not find it in print.
The other words were all simple and might be found in any issue
but more would be less common. Why?
Of course that would explain it. Have you read anything else in
this message? Mr. Holmes, there are one or two
indications, and yet the utmost pains have been taken to remove
all Clues the address. You observe is printed in rough
characters. But the times is a paper, which
is seldom found in any hands, but those of the Highly
Educated, we may take it there for but the letter was composed
by an educated man who wish to pose as an uneducated one and is
effort to conceal. His own writing suggest that the
writing might be known or come to be known by you.
Again, you will observe that the words are not gummed on, in an
accurate line, but that some are much higher than others.
Life, for example, is quite out of its proper place that may
point to carelessness, or it may point to agitation and hurry
upon the part of the cutter. On the whole I inclined to the
latter view since the matter was evidently important, and it is
unlikely that the composer of such a letter, would be
careless. If you were in a hurry, it opens
up the interesting question. Why he should be in a hurry
since any letter posted up to early morning, would reach Sir,
Henry before he would leave his hotel, did the composer fear and
Interruption, and from whom we are coming now rather into the
region of guesswork. I said, dr.
Mortimer, say rather into the region where we balance
probabilities and choose the most likely.
It is the scientific use of the imagination, but we have always
some material basis on which to start our speculation.
Now, you would call it a guest, no doubt.
But I am almost certain that this address has been written in
a hotel. How in the world can you say
that? If you examine it carefully, you
will see that both the pen and the ink have given the writer
trouble. The pain as splattered twice in
a single word and has run dry three times.
In a shorter dress showing that there was very little ink in the
bottle. Now, a private pain or ink
bottle is seldom allowed to be in such a state, and the
combination of the two must be quite rare.
But, you know, the hotel in. Can the hotel pain, where it is,
rare to get anything else. Yes.
I have very little hesitation in
saying that could we examine the wastepaper baskets of the hotels
around Charing Cross. Until we found the remains of
the mutilated Times? Leader, we could lay our hands
straight upon the person who sent this singular message.
Hello. Hello.
What's this? He was carefully examining the
foolscap upon which the words were pasted holding it only an
inch or two from his eyes. Well, nothing said he throwing
it down. It is a blank half sheet of
paper without even a water mark upon it.
I think we have drawn as much as we can from this curious letter.
And now, Sir, Henry as anything else of Interest happened to you
since you've been in London. Why no, mr.
Holmes, I think not. You have not observed anyone,
follow? Or watch you?
I seem to walked right into the thick of a dime.
Novel said, our visitor wind Thunder.
Should anyone follow a watch me we are coming to that.
You have nothing else to report to us before we go into this
matter. Well it depends upon what you
think. Worth reporting.
I think anything out of the ordinary routine of life Well
worth reporting so Henry smiled. I don't know much of British
life yet for. I've spent nearly all my time in
the states and in Canada but I hope that to lose one of your
boots is not part of the ordinary routine of Life over
here. You have lost one of your boots.
My dear sir, cried, dr. Mortimer it is only mislaid.
You will find it when you return to the hotel, what is the use of
troubling mr. Holmes, with Trifles of this
kind? Well, he asked me for anything
outside. The extraordinary.
Exactly said, Holmes. However, foolish the incident
may seem you have lost one of your boots, you say, Well
mislaid it anyhow, I put them both outside my door last night,
and there was only one in the morning.
I could get no sense out of the chap, who cleans them.
The worst of it is that I only bought the pair last night in
the Strand, and I've never had them on.
If you have never worn them, why did you put them out to be
cleaned? They were tan boots and had
never been varnished. That was why I put them out.
Then I understand that on your arrival, in London, yesterday,
you went out at once and bought a pair of boots.
I did a great deal of shopping. Dr. Mortimer here went round
with me. You see, if I'm to be Squire
down there, I must rest apart and it may be that.
I've got a little careless in my ways out west.
Among other things. I bought these brown boots gave
six dollars for them and had one stolen before ever.
I had them on my feet. It seems a singularly useless
thing to steal said Sherlock Holmes.
I confess that I shared dr. Mortimer's belief that it will
not be long before the missing boot is found.
And now gentlemen, said the baronet with decision, it seems
to me that I have spoken quite enough about the little that I
know. It is time that you kept your
promise and gave me a full account of what we are, all
driving at, Your request is a very reasonable one.
Holmes answered dr. Mortimer, I think you could not
do better than to tell your story as you told it to us?
Thus encouraged our scientific friend, Drew his papers, from
his pocket and presented the whole case as he had done upon
the morning before. So Henry Baskerville listened
with the deepest attention and with an occasional exclamation
of surprise. Well, I seem to have come into
an inheritance with a Vengeance. Said he, when the long narrative
was finished, of course, I've heard of the Hound ever since I
was in the nursery, it's the pet story of the family though.
I never thought of taking it seriously before, but as to my
uncle's death, well, it all seems boiling up in my head and
I can't get it clear yet. You don't seem quite to have
made up your mind whether it's a case for a policeman or a Uh
German precisely and now there's this affair of the letter to me
at the hotel. I suppose that fits into its
place. It seems to show that someone
knows more than we do about what goes on upon the Moor.
So dr. Mortimer and also said Holmes
that someone is not ill-disposed towards you since they warn you
of danger. Or it may be that they wish for
their own purposes to scare me away.
Well, of course, that is a possible.
Also, I'm very much indebted to you dr.
Mortimer for introducing me to a problem, which presents several
interesting Alternatives, but the Practical point, which we
now have to decide. So Henry is whether it is or is
not advisable for you to go to Baskerville Hall.
Why should I not go? There seems to be danger.
Do you mean Danger from this family fiend?
Or do you mean Danger from human beings?
Well, that is what we have to find out which ever it is.
My answer is fixed. There is no devil in hell, mr.
Holmes. And there is no man, upon Earth
who can prevent me from going to the home of my own people.
And you may take that to be my final answer.
His dark brows knitted and his face flushed to a Dusky red as
he spoke. It was evident that the fiery
temper of the Baskervilles was not extinct in this their last
representative. Meanwhile said he, I have hardly
had time to think over all that. You've told me it's a big thing
for a man to have to understand. And to decide at one sitting, I
should like to have a quiet hour by myself to make up my mind.
Now look here mr. Holmes, it's Past eleven now and
I'm going back right away to my hotel.
Suppose you and your friend, dr. Watson come round and lunch with
us at to, I'll be able to tell you more clearly, then how this
thing's strikes me is that convenient to you Watson
perfectly, then you may expect us, shall I?
Have a cab called? I'd prefer to walk for this
affair, has flurry to me, rather I'll join you in walk with
pleasure said his companion. Then we meet again at 2:00 Irv.
Ah, and good morning. We heard the steps of our
visitors, descend, the stair. And the bang of the front door
in an instant Holmes, had changed from the languid dreamer
to the Man of Action. Your hat and Boots Watson.
Quick not a moment to lose. He rushed into his room in his
dressing-gown and was back again in a few seconds.
In a frock-coat. We hurried to Gather down the
stairs and into the street dr. Mortimer and Baskerville was
still visible about 200 yards ahead of us in the direction of
Oxford Street shy run, and stop them.
Not for the world. My dear Watson.
I am perfectly satisfied with your company.
If you will tolerate mine, our friends are wise for.
It is certainly a very fine morning for a walk.
He quickened his Pace until we had decreased the distance,
which divided Us by about half, then still keeping a hundred
yards behind, we followed into Oxford Street and so, down,
Regent Street, Once our friends stopped and stared into a shop
window upon which Holmes did the same, an instant afterwards, he
gave a little cry of satisfaction and following the
direction of his eager eyes I saw that a handsome cab with a
man inside which had halted on the other side of the street was
now proceeding slowly onward. Again there's our man Watson.
Come along. We'll have a good look at him.
Even if we can do no more at that.
Instant, I was aware of a bushy, black beard and a pair of
piercing eyes turned upon us through the side window of the
cab instantly. The trap door at the top, flew
up, something was screened to the driver and the calves flew
madly off down Regent Street, Holmes looked eagerly around for
another, but no empty one was in sight, then he dashed in Wild
Pursuit amid. The stream of the traffic.
But the start was too great and already the cab was out of
sight. There.
Now said, Holmes, bitterly as he emerged panting and white with
vexation from the tide of vehicles was ever such bad luck
and such bad management to Watson Watson.
If you're an honest man, you will record this also and set it
against my successes. Who was the man?
I have not an idea. A spy well it was evident from
what we've heard. That Baskerville has been very
closely shadowed by someone since he has been in town how
else could it be known so quickly that it was the
Northumberland hotel which he had chosen if they had followed
him. The first day, I argued that
they would follow him. Also the second you may have
observed that I twice strolled over to the window while dr.
Mortimer was reading his Legend. Yes, I remember I was looking
out for loiterers in a street, but I saw non, we are dealing
with a clever man. Watson this matter Cuts very
deep and though, I have not finally made up my mind, whether
it is a benevolent or a malevolent agency, which is in
touch with us, I am conscious always of power and design when
our friends left at once, followed them in the hopes of
marking down their invisible attendant.
So while he was he but he had not.
Trust himself upon foot but he availed himself of a cab so that
he could loiter behind or Dash past them.
And so escape, the notice his method had the additional
Advantage. But who say what?
To take a cab, he was already to follow them.
It has however, one obvious disadvantage, it puts him in the
power of the cabmen. Exactly.
What a Pity we didn't get the number.
My dear Watson clumsy as I have been you surely do not
seriously. Imagine that I neglected to get
the number. Now to 704 is our man but that
is no use to us for the moment. I fail to see how you could have
done more. On observing the cab, I should
have instantly turned and walked in the other direction.
I should then at my leisure have hired a second cab and followed
the first at a respectful distance or better still have
driven to the Northumberland hotel and waited there, when our
unknown had followed Baskerville home, we should have had the
opportunity of playing his own game upon himself and seeing
where he made for as it is by an Indiscreet eagerness, which was
taken advantage of with extraordinary quickness and
energy by our opponent. We have betrayed Add ourselves
and lost our man. We had been sauntering slowly
down Regent Street during this conversation and dr.
Mortimer With His companion, had long vanished in front of us.
There is no object in our following them said Holmes, The
Shadow has departed and will not return.
We must see what further cards we have in our hands and play
them with decision. Could you swear to that man's
face with in the cab? I could swear only to the beard
And so could I from which I gather that in all probability,
it was a false one. A clever man upon so delicate
and errand has no use for a beard safe to conceal.
His features coming here Watson, he turned into one of the
district messenger offices where he was warmly greeted by.
The manager are Wilson. I see you have not forgotten the
little case in which I had the Good Fortune to help you now
sir, indeed, I have not you save my good name.
And perhaps my life, my dear fellow, you exaggerate.
I have some recollection Wilson that you had among your boys.
A lad named Cartwright who showed some ability during the
investigation. Yes, sir, he's still with us.
Could you ring him up? Thank you.
And I should be glad to have change of this five-pound note.
A lot of 14 with a bright Keen face had a bay, the Summons of
the manager. He stood now gazing with great
reverence at the famous detective.
Let me have the hotel directory. Said Holmes, thank you.
Now Cartwright There are the names of 23 hotels here.
All in the immediate neighborhood of Charing Cross.
Do you see? Yes, sir.
You will visit each one of these in turn?
Yes sir. You will begin in each Case by
giving the outside Porter. One shilling here are twenty
three Shillings. Yes sir you will tell him that
you want to see the waste paper of yesterday.
You will say that an important telegram has miscarried and that
you are looking for it. You understand?
Yes, sir. What you're really looking for
is the center page of the times with some holes, cut in it with
scissors, here is a copy of the times.
It is. This page you could easily
recognize it could you not? Yes sir.
In each case the outside portal will send for the hall Porter to
whom also you will give a shilling here are twenty three
Shillings, you will then learn in possibly 20 cases out of the
23 at the waist of the day before has been burned or
removed in the three other cases.
You will be shown a heap of paper and you will look for this
page of the times among it. The odds are enormously against
your finding. It there are ten shillings over
in case of emergencies, let me have a report by wire at Baker
Street before evening, and now Watson, it only remains for us
to find out by wire the identity of the cabmen.
Number 270 for. And then we will drop into one
of the Bond Street picture galleries and fill in the time
until we are due at the hotel. End of chapter 4.