Chapter 15 of the Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir, Arthur
Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Chapter 15, our retrospection.
It was the end of November and Holmes and I sat upon a raw and
foggy night on either side of a blazing fire in our sitting room
in Baker Street since the tragic upshot of our visit to
Devonshire. He had been engaged in to
Affairs of the utmost importance in the first of which he had
exposed the atrocious conduct of Colonel upward in connection
with the famous card scandal of the nonpareil Club.
While in the second he had defended the unfortunate Madam
Open Sea. The from the charge of murder,
which hung over her in connection with the death of her
stepdaughter. Mademoiselle car are the young
lady who has it will be remembered was found.
Six months later alive and married in New York.
My friend was in excellent Spirits over the success which
had attended a succession of difficult and important cases so
that I was able to induce him to discuss the details of the
Baskerville mystery. I'd waited patiently for the
opportunity for Aware that he would never permit cases to
overlap. And that is clear and logical.
Mind would not be drawn from its present work to dwell upon
memories of the past so Henry and dr.
Mortimer were, however, in London on their way to the long
Voyage, which had been recommended for the restoration
of his shattered nerves. They had called upon us, that
very afternoon. So it was natural that the
subject should come up for discussion.
The whole course of events, said, Holmes from the point of
view of the man who called himself Stapleton, was simple
and direct, although to us who had no means in the beginning of
knowing the motives of his actions and could only learn
part of the facts, it all appeared exceedingly complex.
I have had the advantage of two conversations with mrs.
Stapleton, and the case has now been so entirely cleared up
that. I am not aware that there is
anything, which is Remained a secret to us, you will find a
few notes upon the matter, Under The Heading, be in my index list
of cases. Perhaps you'd kindly give me a
sketch of the course of events. From memory.
Certainly though, I cannot guarantee that I carry all the
facts. In my mind.
Intense, mental concentration has a curious way of blotting
out, what has passed the Barrister who has his case at
his fingers ends, and is able to argue with an expert upon his
own. Object finds that a week or two
of the courts will drive it all out of his head once more.
So each of my cases displaces the last and Mademoiselle
carrier has blurred, my recollection of Baskerville
Hall. Tomorrow.
Some other little problem may be submitted to my notice, which
will in turn dispossess. The fair French lady and the
infamous upward so far as the case of the Hound goes.
However, I'll give you the course of events as nearly as I
can. And you will suggest anything,
which I may have forgotten. My enquiry show beyond all
question that the family portrait did not lie, and that
this fellow was indeed a Baskerville.
He was a son of that Rodger Baskerville.
The younger brother of Charles who fled with a Sinister
reputation to South America, where he was said to have died.
Unmarried, he did as a matter of fact, Mary and had one child.
This fellow whose real name is that same as his father's.
He married Barrel Garcia. One of the beauties of Costa
Rica and having purloined a considerable sum of public
money. He changed his name to vandalur
and fled to England where he established a school in the east
of Yorkshire. His reason for attempting this
special line of business was that he had struck up an
acquaintance with a consumptive tutor on the Voyage Home and
that he had used this man's ability to make the undertaking
a success. Fraser, the shooter Died.
However, and the school which had begun.
Well sank from disrepute into infamy, the Vandal has found it
convenient to change their name to Stapleton and he brought the
remains of his fortune, his schemes for the future.
And his taste for entomology to the south of England.
I learned at the British museum that he was a recognized
Authority upon the subject. And that the name of vandeleur
has been permanently attached to a certain moth which he had in
his Yorkshire days, being the first to describe.
We now come to that portion of his life which has proved to be
of such intense interest to us. The fellow had evidently made
inquiry and found that only two lives intervened between him and
a valuable estate. When he went to Devonshire.
His plans were I believe exceedingly hazy but that he
meant Mischief from the first is evident from the way in which he
took his wife with him. In the character of his sister,
the idea of using her as a decoy was clearly already.
In his mind though, he may not have been certain how the
details of his plot would be arranged.
He meant in the end to have the estate and he was ready to use
any tool or run any risk for that end.
His First Act was to establish himself as near to his ancestral
home as he could, and his second was to cultivate a friendship
with Sir Charles Baskerville. And with the neighbors.
The baroness himself told him about the family hound and so
prepared the way for his own death Stapleton, as I will
continue to call him knew that the old man's heart was weak and
that a shock would kill him so much.
He had learned from dr. Mortimer.
He had heard also that Sir Charles was superstitious and a
taken this Grim Legend very seriously.
His ingenious mind instantly suggested a way by which Which
the baronet could be done to death and yet it would be hardly
possible to bring home the guilt to the real murderer.
Having conceived the idea. He proceeded to carry it out
with considerable finesse. An ordinary schemer would have
been content to work with a Savage Hound.
The use of artificial means to make the creature diabolical was
a Flash of Genius upon his part. The dog he brought in London
from Ross and mangles the dealers in Fulham Road.
It was the strongest and most Savage in their possession.
He brought it down by the north Devon line and walked a great
distance over the more. So as to get it home without
exciting any remarks You'd already on these insect hunts.
Learn to penetrate the grimpen mire.
And so had found a safe hiding place for the creature.
Here he kenneled it and waited his chance.
But it was some time. Coming the old gentleman could
not be decoys outside of his grounds at night.
Several times Stapleton looked about with his Hound but without
Avail, it was during these fruitless quests that he or
rather his ally was As seen by peasants and that the legend of
the demon dog received a new confirmation, he had hoped that
his wife might Lewis a child to his ruin, but he or she proved
unexpectedly independent. She would not Endeavor to
entangle the Old Gentleman In a Sentimental attachment which
might deliver him over to his enemy threats.
And even I'm sorry to say, blows refused to move her.
She would have nothing to do with it and for a Time,
Stapleton was a a Deadlock. He found a way out of his
difficulties through the chance that Sir Charles who had
conceived a friendship for him, made him the minister of his
charity in the case of this unfortunate woman, mrs.
Laura Lyons, by representing himself as a single man, he
acquired complete influence over her and he gave her to
understand that in the event of her, obtaining a divorce from
her husband, he would marry her. His plans were suddenly brought
to a head by his knowledge. That Sir Charles was about to
leave the hall on the advice of dr.
Mortimer with whose opinion he himself pretended to coincide.
He must act at once or his victim might get Beyond his
power. He therefore, put pressure upon
mrs. Lyons to write this letter
imploring. The old man to give her an
interview on the evening before his departure for London.
He them by a specious argument. Prevented her from going and so
had the chance for which he had waited.
Driving back in the evening from coombe Tracey.
He was in time to get his Hound to treat it with his infernal
paint and to bring the Beast round to the gate, but which he
had reason to expect that he would find the Old Gentleman
waiting the dog incited by his master, sprang over the
wicket-gate and pursued the unfortunate baronet who fled
screaming down the yew alley. In that gloomy tunnel.
It must indeed have been a dreadful sight to see that huge
black creature with its flaming jaws and blazing eyes bounding
after its victim. He fell dead at the end of The
Alley from heart disease and Terror.
The Hound had kept upon the grassy border.
While the baronet had run down the path so that no track, but
the man's was visible. On seeing him lying.
Still the creature had probably approach to sniff at him but
finding him. Dead had turned away again, it
was then that it left the print which was actually observed by
dr. Mortimer, the Hound was called
off and hurried away to its lair in the grimpen mire and a
mystery was left which puzzled the authorities, alarm the
countryside and finally brought the case within the scope of our
observation. So much for the death of Sir.
Charles Baskerville you perceives a devilish cunning of
it for really, it would be almost impossible to make a case
against the real murderer. His only accomplice was one who
could never give him away and the grotesque inconceivable
nature of the device. Only served to make it more
effective, both of the women concerned in the case, mrs.
Stapleton and mrs. Laura Lyons were left with a
strong suspicion against Stapleton mrs.
Stapleton knew that he had designs upon the old man and
also the existence of the Hound mrs.
Lyons New, neither of these things but have been impressed
by the death occurring at the time of an uncounseled
appointment, which was only known to him.
However, both of them were under his influence and he had nothing
to fear from them. The first half of his task was
successfully accomplished, but the more difficult still
remained, It is possible that Stapleton did not know of the
existence of an air in Canada, in any case he would very soon.
Learn it from his friend dr. Mortimer.
And he was told by the latter all details about the arrival of
Henry Baskerville stapleton's. First idea, was that this young
stranger from Canada might possibly be done to death in
London, without coming down to Devonshire at all, he
distrusted, his wife ever since she had refused to help him in
laying a trap for the old. Man, and he dared, not leave her
long out of his sight for fear. He should lose his influence
over her. It was, for this reason that he
took her to London with him. They lodged.
I find at the Mex prefer private hotel in Craven Street, which
was actually one of those called upon by my agent in search of
evidence. Here.
He kept his wife, imprisoned in her room while he disguised in a
beard followed dr. Mortimer to Baker Street and
afterwards to the station, and to the Northumberland Hotel, his
wife had some inkling of his plans, but she had such a fear
of her husband, a fear, founded upon brutal ill treatment, that
she dare not right to warn the man who she knew to be in danger
if the letter should fall into stapleton's.
Hands, her own life. Would not be safe.
Eventually, as we know she adopted the expedient of cutting
out the words, which would form the message and addressing the
letter. In a disguised hand, it reached
the baronet and gave him the first warning of his Danger.
It was very essential for Stapleton to get some article of
Sir Henry's attire. So that in case he was driven to
use the dog, he might always have the means of setting him
upon his track with characteristic promptness.
And audacity he set about this at once, and we cannot doubt
that the boots or chambermaid of the hotel was well bribed to
help him in his design by chance.
However, the first boot, which was procured for him was a new
Ooh 1 and therefore useless for his purpose he then had it
returned and obtained. Another a most instructive
incident since it proved conclusively to my mind that we
were dealing with a real Hound. As no other supposition could
explain this anxiety to obtain an old Boot and this
indifference to a new one. The more you Trey and grotesque
and incident is the more carefully, it deserves to be
examined. And the Very point which appears
to complicate a case is when Julie considered and
scientifically handled the one which is most likely to
elucidate it. Then we had the visit from our
friends. Next morning shadowed Always by
Stapleton in the cab from his knowledge of our rooms and of my
appearance as well as from his General conduct.
I am inclined to think Thing, that stapleton's career of crime
has been by no means limited to this single Baskerville Affair.
It is suggestive that during the last three years there have been
for considerable, burglaries in the west country for none of,
which was any criminal ever arrested.
The last of these at folkestone court in May was remarkable for
the cold-blooded pistol in of the page who surprised the
masked and solitary burglar. I cannot doubt that Stapleton
recruited his waning resources in this fashion and that for
years, he had been a desperate and dangerous, man.
We had an example of his Readiness of resource that
morning when he got away from us, so successfully and also of
his audacity and sending back my own name to me, through the cab
man. From that moment, he understood
that I had taken over the case in London and that therefore
there was no chance for him. There he returned to Dartmoor
and awaited the arrival of the baronet.
One moment said, I have no doubt describe the sequence of events
correctly, but there's one point which you've left unexplained.
What became of the Hound. When its master was in London, I
have given some attention to this matter and it is
undoubtedly of importance. There can be no question that
Stapleton. Had a confident though, it is
unlikely that he ever placed himself in his power by sharing
all his plans with him. There was an old man servant at
merripit house. Whose name was Anthony.
His connection with the stapleton's can be traced for
several years as far back as the school mastering days.
So that he must have been aware that his master and mistress
were really husband and wife. This man has disappeared and has
escaped from the country. It is suggestive that Anthony is
not a common name in England. While Antonio is so in all
Spanish or Spanish American countries, the man like mrs.
Stapleton herself, spoke good English.
But with the Curious lisping accent, I have myself seen this
old man cross the grimpen mire by the path, which Stapleton had
marked out. It is very probable, therefore,
But in the absence of his master, it was he who cared for
the Hound though, he may never have known the purpose for which
the Beast was used. The stapleton's then went down
to Devon. Sure, whether they were soon
followed by Sir, Henry. And you one word.
Now, as to how I stood myself at that time, it may possibly recur
to your memory. That when I examine the paper
upon, which the printed words were fastened, I made a close
inspection for the watermark in doing.
So, I held it within a few inches of my eyes and was
conscious of a faint smell of the scent known as white
Jessamine. There are 75 perfumes which is
very necessary that a criminal expert should be able to
distinguish from each other and cases have more than once within
my own experience depended upon their prompt recognition.
The scent suggested the presence of a lady and already my
thoughts began to turn towards the stapleton's, the side made
certain of the hound and add guests at the criminal before
ever. We went to the West country It
was my game to watch Stapleton. It was evident however that I
could not do this, if I were with you, since he would be
keenly on his guard. I deceived everybody there for
yourself included and I came down secretly when I was
supposed to be in London, my hardships were not so great.
As you imagined though, such trifling details must never
interfere with the investigation of a case.
I stayed for the most part at coombe Tracey.
And only used the Hut upon the Moor.
When it was necessary to be near the scene of action, Cartwright
had come down with me and in his disguise as a country boy, he
was of great assistance to me how is dependent upon him for
food and clean linen. When I was watching Stapleton
Cartwright was frequently watching you so that I was able
to keep my hand upon all the strings.
I've already told you that your reports reached me rapidly being
forward instantly from A street to coombe Tracey.
They were of great service to me.
And especially that one, incidentally, truthful piece of
biography of stapleton's. I was able to establish the
identity of the man, and the woman.
And knew at last exactly how. I stood, the case had been
considerably complicated through the incident of the escaped
convict, and the relations between him and the Barrymore's.
This also, you cleared up in a very effective way though.
I had already come to the same conclusions from my own
observations by the time that you discovered me upon the more.
I had a complete knowledge of the whole business but I had not
a case which could go to a jury even stapleton's, attempt, upon
Sir Henry that night which ended in the death of the unfortunate.
Convict did not help us much improving murder against our
man. There seemed to be no
alternative. Alternative but to catch him
red-handed and to do. So we had to use Sir Henry alone
and apparently unprotected as a bait we did.
So and at the cost of a severe shock to our client, we
succeeded in completing our case and driving Stapleton to his
destruction. That's a Henry should have been
exposed to. This is I must confess our
approach to my management of the case, but we had no means of
Before seeing the terrible and paralyzing spectacle, which the
Beast presented nor could we predict the fog which enabled
him to burst upon us at such short notice.
We succeeded in our object at a cost which both The Specialist
and dr. Mortimer assure me, will be a
temporary one. A long journey may enable our
friend to recover, not only from his shattered nerves but also
from his wounded feelings. His love for the lady was deep
and sincere and to him. The saddest part of all this
black business was that he should have been deceived by
her. It only remains to indicate the
part which she had played throughout.
There can be no doubt that Stapleton.
Exercised, an influence over her, which may have been love or
may have been fear or very possibly both since they are by
no means incompatible, emotions. It was, at least Least,
absolutely effective. At his command, she consented to
pass as his sister, though he found the limits of his power
over her when he endeavored to make her the direct accessory to
murder. She was ready to warn Sir Henry
so far as she could without implicating her husband.
And again, and again, she tried to do so Stapleton himself seems
to have been capable of jealousy and when he saw the baronet
paying Court to the lady, even though it was part of his own
plan, Still, he could not help interrupting with a passionate
Outburst which revealed the Fiery Soul, which is
self-contained manner. So cleverly concealed by
encouraging the intimacy. He made it certain that Sir
Henry would frequently come to Mary pit house and that he would
sooner or later, get the opportunity which he desired.
On the day of the crisis. However, his wife turned
suddenly against him, she had learned something of the death
of the convict. And she knew that the Hound was
being kept in the Outhouse on the evening, that Sir, Henry was
coming to dinner. She taxed her husband, with his
intended crime, and a furious scene, followed in, which he
showed her for the first time that she had a rival in his
love. Her Fidelity turned in an
instant too. Bitter hatred.
And he saw that she would be Betray him.
He tied her up there for but she might have no chance of warning
so Henry and he hoped no doubt that when the whole Countryside,
put down the baronet's, death to the curse of his family, as they
certainly would do. He could win his wife back to
accept an accomplished fact and to keep silent upon what she
knew. In this, I fancy that in any
case he made a miscalculation and that if we had not been
there, his Doom would nonetheless have been sealed a
woman of Spanish. Blood does not condone such an
injury so lightly and now my dear Watson without referring to
my notes. I cannot give you a more
detailed account of. This curious case, I do not know
that anything essential has been left.
Unexplained, he could not hope to frighten Sir, Henry to death
as he had done the Uncle with his bogey Hound, the Beast was
Savage and half-starved. If its appearance did not
frighten his victim to death, at least he would paralyze the
resistance which might be offered no doubt.
There are no remains one difficulty, if Stapleton came
into the succession, how could you explain the fact that he the
air had been living unannounced under another name?
So close to the property. How could he claim it without
causing suspicion and inquiry? It is a formidable difficulty
and I fear that you ask too much when you expect me to solve it
the past and the present are within the field of my inquiry.
But what a man may do in the future is a hard question to
answer. Mrs. Stapleton has heard her
husband discussed. The problem on several
occasions, there were three possible courses.
He might claim the property from South America, establish his
identity before the British authorities there.
And so, obtain the fortune without ever coming to England
at all, or he might adopt an elaborate disguise during the
short time that he need be in London.
Or again, he might furnish an accomplice with the proofs and
papers putting him in as a Air and retaining a claim upon some
proportion of his income. We cannot doubt from what we
know of him that he would have found some way out of the
difficulty and now my dear Watson, we've had some weeks of
severe work and for one evening I think we may turn our thoughts
into more pleasant channels. I have a box for lazy, you know.
Have you heard the direct skis? Might I trouble you?
Then to be ready in half an hour and we can stop at Marcy knees
for a little dinner on the way. End of chapter 15 and the end of
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir, Arthur Conan Doyle read by
David Clark, BG, David dot, wordpress.com and b.g. coffee
dotnet. Thank you so much for listening.
End of chapter 15 and the end of The Hound of the Baskervilles by
Sir, Arthur Conan Doyle read by David Clark, BG, David dot,
wordpress.com and b.g. coffee dotnet.
Thank you so much for listening.