The Man on the Tor

           Theextractfrommyprivatediarywhichformsthelastchapterhasbroughtmynarrativeuptothe18thofOctober,atimewhenthesestrangeeventsbegantomoveswiftlytowardstheirterribleconclusion. Theincidentsofthenextfewdaysareindeliblygravenuponmyrecollection,andIcantellthemwithoutreferencetothenotesmadeatthetime. IstartthenfromthedaywhichsucceededthatuponwhichIhadestablishedtwofactsofgreatimportance, theonethatMrs.LauraLyonsofCoombeTraceyhadwrittentoSirCharlesBaskervilleandmadeanappointmentwithhimattheveryplaceandhourthathemethisdeath, theotherthatthelurkingmanuponthemoorwastobefoundamongthestonehutsuponthehill-side. WiththesetwofactsinmypossessionIfeltthateithermyintelligenceormycouragemustbedeficientifIcouldnotthrowsomefurtherlightuponthesedarkplaces. 

           IhadnoopportunitytotellthebaronetwhatIhadlearnedaboutMrs.Lyonsupontheeveningbefore,forDr.Mortimerremainedwithhimatcardsuntilitwasverylate. Atbreakfast,however,Iinformedhimaboutmydiscovery,andaskedhimwhetherhewouldcaretoaccompanymetoCoombeTracey. Atfirsthewasveryeagertocome,butonsecondthoughtsitseemedtobothofusthatifIwentalonetheresultsmightbebetter. Themoreformalwemadethevisitthelessinformationwemightobtain. IleftSirHenrybehind,therefore,notwithoutsomeprickingsofconscience,anddroveoffuponmynewquest. 

           WhenIreachedCoombeTraceyItoldPerkinstoputupthehorses,andImadeinquiriesfortheladywhomIhadcometointerrogate. Ihadnodifficultyinfindingherrooms,whichwerecentralandwellappointed. Amaidshowedmeinwithoutceremony,andasIenteredthesitting-roomalady,whowassittingbeforeaRemingtontypewriter, sprangupwithapleasantsmileofwelcome.