Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Hound of the Baskervilles Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

"I have in my pocket a manuscript," said Dr. James Mortimer."I observed it as you entered the room," said Holmes."It is an old manuscript.""Early eighteenth century, unless it is a forgery.""How can you say that, sir?""You have presented an inch or two of it to my examination all the time that you havebeen talking. It would be a poor expert who could not give the date of a document within adecade or so. You may possibly have read my little monograph upon the subject. I put thatat 1730.""The exact date is 1742." Dr. Mortimer drew it from his breast-pocket. "This family paperwas committed to my care by Sir Charles Baskerville, whose sudden and tragic death somethree months ago created so much excitement in Devonshire. I may say that I was hispersonal friend as well as his medical attendant. He was a strong-minded man, sir, shrewd, practical, and as unimaginative as I am myself. Yet he took this document very seriously, and his mind was prepared for just such an end as did eventually overtake him."Holmes stretched out his hand for the manuscript and flattened it upon his knee. "Youwill observe, Watson, the alternative use of the long s and the short. It is one of severalindications which enabled me to fix the date."I looked over his shoulder at the yellow paper and the faded script. At the head waswritten: "Baskerville Hall," and below in large, scrawling figures: "1742.""It appears to be a statement of some sort.""Yes, it is a statement of a certain legend which runs in the Baskerville family.""But I understand that it is something more modern and practical upon which you wishto consult me?""Most modern. A most practical, pressing matter, which must be decided within twentyfour hours. But the manuscript is short and is intimately connected with the affair. Withyour permission I will read it to you