The Hound of the Baskervilles Page #2

showed only the toes of his boots.

There were no heel marks.

I'm something of an archaeologist

in my spare time

and so I'm used to looking

for the extraordinary.

You have not yet told us

what Sir Charles died of.

Before you do, sir, I suggest

it was heart failure.

The inquest found that he

died of arteriosclerosis

a disease of the coronary arteries.

A condition of the heart

that can lead to heart failure.

Yes. I think it must be

hereditary with the Baskervilles.

They all seem to suffer

from the same weakness.

Is there a successor

to the family title?

Yes. Sir Henry Baskerville.

He's due to arrive in London

tonight from Johannesburg.

Why have you come to me,

when you really don't believe

that I can help you?

- I don't think I know what you mean.

- I think you do.

Excuse me.

Although you knew the cause of death,

you've implied a more horrible death

that he might have seen the hound of

Hell, the curse of the Baskervilles.

Do you really believe that legend?

There are many things in life and

death that we do not understand.

Then I suggest you consult a

priest instead of a detective.

Do you think I can influence

the powers of darkness?

Of course not.

I thought you might prevent Sir

Henry from going into danger.

If there is an evil

curse on the family

it can be just as powerful

in London as in Devonshire.

- Where will he be staying?

- At the Northumberland Hotel.

Does this mean that you'll

investigate the matter?

I have not said. My

commitments are heavy.

I beg of you, Mr. Holmes, this

is a matter of life and death.

There can be no harm done

by my seeing the man.

Shall we say 10:
00 tomorrow

morning, at the hotel?

Good. That will suit admirably.

Thank you, Mr. Holmes.

You will not find me ungenerous

in the matter of fees.

My professional charges

are upon a fixed scale.

I do not vary them, except

when I remit them altogether.

Good day.

Good day, Mr. Holmes.

- Thank you, Doctor.

- Not at all, Doctor.

Good day, Dr. Watson.

I must say, you never cease

to surprise me, Holmes.

First you tear him apart, and

then you say you'll help him.

My dear Watson, you ought

to know me better.

I had to burst the balloon,

deflate his pomposity

to find one significant clue.

I saw nothing of significance

in anything he said.

I'm surprised you

bothered with him.

Nevertheless, one important

point did emerge.

Didn't you notice anything

odd in what he said?

The only thing I noticed was

that he said Sir Charles

was tiptoeing about

Dartmoor at night.

That's just it, Watson. Well done,

my boy. But he wasn't tiptoeing.

He was running, running

for his life

running in panic until

he burst his heart.

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