Собака Баскервиллей
The Problem
"IdidnotsaythatIdesiredyoutodoit."
"Then,howcanIassistyou?"
"ByadvisingmeastowhatIshoulddowithSirHenryBaskerville,whoarrivesatWaterlooStation"—Dr.Mortimerlookedathiswatch—"inexactlyonehourandaquarter."
"Hebeingtheheir?"
"Yes. OnthedeathofSirCharlesweinquiredforthisyounggentlemanandfoundthathehadbeenfarminginCanada. Fromtheaccountswhichhavereachedusheisanexcellentfellowineveryway. IspeaknotasamedicalmanbutasatrusteeandexecutorofSirCharles’swill."
"Thereisnootherclaimant,Ipresume?"
"None. TheonlyotherkinsmanwhomwehavebeenabletotracewasRodgerBaskerville,theyoungestofthreebrothersofwhompoorSirCharleswastheelder. Thesecondbrother,whodiedyoung,isthefatherofthisladHenry. Thethird,Rodger,wastheblacksheepofthefamily. HecameoftheoldmasterfulBaskervillestrain,andwastheveryimage,theytellme,ofthefamilypictureofoldHugo. HemadeEnglandtoohottoholdhim,fledtoCentralAmerica,anddiedtherein1876ofyellowfever. HenryisthelastoftheBaskervilles. InonehourandfiveminutesImeethimatWaterlooStation. IhavehadawirethathearrivedatSouthamptonthismorning. Now,Mr.Holmes,whatwouldyouadvisemetodowithhim?"
"Whyshouldhenotgotothehomeofhisfathers?"
"Itseemsnatural,doesitnot? Andyet,considerthateveryBaskervillewhogoestheremeetswithanevilfate.
