by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
1/26/2012
Sir Charles Baskerville is found lying dead on the grounds of his house, Baskerville Hall. The cause of death is ascribed to a heart attack. Fearing for the safety of Sir Charles's nephew and only known heir, Henry Baskerville—who was coming to London from Canada to claim his inheritance—Dr James Mortimer travels from Devon to London, and appeals for help to Sherlock Holmes.Mortimer explains to Holmes and Watson that the Baskerville family is said to be afflicted by a curse. He reads a description of the origin of the curse, as written down by a descendant of one Hugo Baskerville.Mortimer reports that before his death, Sir Charles Baskerville had become fearful of the legendary curse and its hellhound.. Sir Charles's face was contorted in death into a ghastly expression, while his footprints suggested that he was desperately running from something. It was known that the elderly Sir Charles's heart was not strong, and also that he planned to go to London the next day. Mortimer also reveals that he had himself observed the footprints of a "gigantic hound" near Sir Charles's body.Sir Henry insists on visiting Baskerville HalllIt is decided that, with Holmes being tied up in London with other cases, Watson will accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall and report back by telegramMortimer, Watson, and Sir Henry set off for Baskerville Hall. The baronet is excited to see it and his connection with the land is clear, but finds the moor dampenedWatson meets Jack Stapleton, a naturalist familiar with the moor even though he has only been in the area for two years. They hear a moan that the peasants attribute to the hound, but Stapleton attributes it to the cry of a bittern, or possibly the bog settling. He then runs off. Watson is not alone for long before Beryl Stapleton, Jack's sister, approaches him. Mistaking him for Sir Henry, she urgently warns him to leave the area, but drops the subject when her brother returnsSir Henry soon meets Miss Stapleton and becomes romantically interested, despite her brother’s intrusions. Meanwhile, during the day, Sir Henry continues to pursue Beryl Stapleton until her brother runs up on them and yells angrily. He later explains to the disappointed baronet that it was not personal, he was just afraid of losing his only companion so quickly. To show there are no hard feelings, he invites Sir Henry to dine with him and his sister on Friday.Barrymore told Watson that another man lived out on the moor besides Selden, and Frankland unwittingly confirms this, when he shows Watson through his telescope the figure of a boy carrying food. Watson departs the house and goes in that direction. He finds the prehistoric stone dwelling where the unknown man has been staying, goes in, and sees a message reporting on his own activities. He waits, revolver at the ready, for the unknown man to return.The unknown man is Holmes. He has kept his location a secret so that Watson would not be tempted to come out and so he would be able to appear on the scene of action at the critical moment. Watson’s reports have been of much help to him, and he then tells his friend some of the information he has uncovered – Stapleton is actually married to the woman passing as Miss Stapleton, and was also promising marriage to Laura Lyons to get her cooperation. Holmes and Watson return to Baskerville Hall where, over dinner, the detective stares at Hugo Baskerville's portrait. Calling Watson over after dinner he covers the hair to show the face, revealing its striking likeness to Stapleton. This provides the motive in the crime – with Sir Henry gone, Stapleton could lay claim to the Baskerville fortune, being clearly a Baskerville himself. They go to the railway station to meet Det. Inspector Lestrade, whom Holmes has called in by telegram.Under the threat of advancing fog, Watson, Holmes, and Lestrade lie in wait outside Merripit House, where Sir Henry has been dining. When the baronet leaves and sets off across the moor, Stapleton looses the hound. Holmes and Watson manage to shoot it before it can hurt Sir Henry seriously, and discover that its hellish appearance was acquired by means of phosphorus. They find Mrs. Stapleton bound and gagged in an upstairs room of Merripit House. When she is freed, she tells them of Stapleton’s hideout; an island deep in the Great Grimpen Mire. They look for him next day, unsuccessfully, as he is dead, having lost his footing and being sucked down into the foul and bottomless depths of the mire.
