sherlock-holmes-hound-of-the-baskervilles

a little,” said Holmes. “I think, Dr. Mortimer, you would do
“Just
if without more ado you would kindly tell me plainly
wisely
the exact nature of the problem is in which you demand
what
assistance.”
my
sir, that I have not inadvertently—”
10

Mortimer looked strangely at us for an instant, and his voice
Dr.
almost to a whisper as he answered:
sank
“Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!”
24

in a single word, and has run dry three times in a short
twice
showing that there was very little ink in the bottle.
address,
a private pen or ink-bottle is seldom allowed to be in such
Now,
state, and the combination of the two must be quite rare. But
a
know the hotel ink and the hotel pen, where it is rare to get
you
else. Yes, I have very little hesitation in saying that
anything
we examine the waste-paper baskets of the hotels around
could
Cross until we found the remains of the mutilated
Charing
leader we could lay our hands straight upon the person
Times
sent this singular message. Halloa! Halloa! What’s this?”
who
was carefully examining the foolscap, upon which the words
He
pasted, holding it only an inch or two from his eyes.
were
said he, throwing it down. “It is a blank half-sheet of
“Nothing,”
without even a water-mark upon it. I think we have
paper,
as much as we can from this curious letter; and now, Sir
drawn
has anything else of interest happened to you since you
Henry,
seem to have walked right into the thick of a dime novel,” said
“I
visitor. “Why in thunder should anyone follow or watch
our
are coming to that. You have nothing else to report to us
“We
we go into this matter?”
before
think anything out of the ordinary routine of life well worth
“I
reporting.”
“Well?”
have been in London?”
“Why, no, Mr. Holmes. I think not.”
“You have not observed anyone follow or watch you?”
me?”
“Well, it depends upon what you think worth reporting.”
44

brother is very anxious to have the Hall inhabited, for he
“My
it is for the good of the poor folk upon the moor. He
thinks
be very angry if he knew that I have said anything which
would
induce Sir Henry to go away. But I have done my duty
might
and I will say no more. I must get back, or he will miss me
now
suspect that I have seen you. Good-bye!” She turned and
and
disappeared in a few minutes among the scattered boulders,
had
I, with my soul full of vague fears, pursued my way to
while
Baskerville Hall.
97

will not speak about it just now, but it should make my next
I
interesting reading.
report
106