Baskerville Hall

           SirHenryBaskervilleandDr.Mortimerwerereadyupontheappointedday,andwestartedasarrangedforDevonshire. Mr.SherlockHolmesdrovewithmetothestationandgavemehislastpartinginjunctionsandadvice. 

           "Iwillnotbiasyourmindbysuggestingtheoriesorsuspicions,Watson,"saidhe; "Iwishyousimplytoreportfactsinthefullestpossiblemannertome,andyoucanleavemetodothetheorizing." 

           "Whatsortoffacts? "Iasked. 

           "Anythingwhichmayseemtohaveabearinghoweverindirectuponthecase,andespeciallytherelationsbetweenyoungBaskervilleandhisneighboursoranyfreshparticularsconcerningthedeathofSirCharles. Ihavemadesomeinquiriesmyselfinthelastfewdays,buttheresultshave,Ifear,beennegative. Onethingonlyappearstobecertain, andthatisthatMr.JamesDesmond,whoisthenextheir,isanelderlygentlemanofaveryamiabledisposition,sothatthispersecutiondoesnotarisefromhim. Ireallythinkthatwemayeliminatehimentirelyfromourcalculations. ThereremainthepeoplewhowillactuallysurroundSirHenryBaskervilleuponthemoor." 

           "WoulditnotbewellinthefirstplacetogetridofthisBarrymorecouple?" 

           "Bynomeans. Youcouldnotmakeagreatermistake. Iftheyareinnocentitwouldbeacruelinjustice,andiftheyareguiltyweshouldbegivingupallchanceofbringingithometothem. No,no,wewillpreservethemuponourlistofsuspects. ThenthereisagroomattheHall,ifIrememberright. Therearetwomoorlandfarmers. ThereisourfriendDr.Mortimer,whomIbelievetobeentirelyhonest,andthereishiswife,ofwhomweknownothing. Thereisthisnaturalist,Stapleton,andthereishissister,whoissaidtobeayoungladyofattractions.