Holmes sat quietly for several minutes, thinking. 'This is certainly a very interesting case,' he said finally. 'But what exactly do you want me to do?' 'I need your advice,' said Dr. Mortimer. 'Sir Henry Baskerville is arriving in London today.' 'He is coming from Canada to claim his inheritance.' 'He is the last of the Baskervilles.' 'If something happens to him, the family line will end.' 'Should I tell him about the curse?' asked Dr. Mortimer. 'Should I let him go to Baskerville Hall?' Holmes stood up and walked to the window. 'What do you believe yourself?' he asked. 'I do not know what to believe,' admitted the doctor. 'The footprints were real, but a supernatural hound seems impossible.' 'Let me ask you some questions,' said Holmes. 'Did anyone else see the footprints?' 'No, I was the first to arrive at the scene.' 'By the time others came, they had been trampled over.' 'Were the footprints on the path or beside it?' 'They were on the grass at the edge of the path.' 'Very interesting,' murmured Holmes. 'Did Sir Charles walk on the grass too?' 'No, he stayed on the gravel path.' 'Tell me about the Yew Alley,' said Holmes. 'It is a path between two rows of old yew trees.' 'It leads from the house to a gate on the moor.' 'Is there another way to reach the moor?' asked Holmes. 'Yes, but the Yew Alley was Sir Charles's favorite walk.' 'Was the gate locked?' 'No, but Sir Charles never went through it.' 'Yet you found his body near the gate?' 'Yes, that is very strange.' 'It seems he was waiting for someone there.' 'How do you know he was waiting?' asked Holmes sharply. 'Because the ash from his cigar had fallen twice.' 'He must have stood there for at least five minutes.' 'Excellent observation!' said Holmes with approval. 'But why would he wait outside instead of at the house?' 'Perhaps it was a secret meeting,' I suggested. 'That is possible,' agreed Holmes. 'Now, Dr. Mortimer, who inherits the estate?' 'Sir Henry Baskerville is the only heir.' 'If he were to die, who would be next?' 'A distant cousin named James Desmond.' 'He is an elderly clergyman in Westmorland.' 'I cannot imagine him harming anyone.' 'What about the servants?' asked Holmes. 'There is a butler named Barrymore and his wife.' 'Sir Charles left them five hundred pounds in his will.' 'They had known about the inheritance before his death.' 'Interesting,' said Holmes thoughtfully. 'Who else lives nearby?' 'There are several neighbors on the moor.' 'Mr. Stapleton is a naturalist who studies insects.' 'He lives at Merripit House with his sister.' 'Dr. Mortimer, bring Sir Henry to me tomorrow at ten,' said Holmes. 'I will think about this case tonight.' 'Until then, do not tell him anything about the hound.' Dr. Mortimer agreed and took his leave. As the door closed, Holmes lit his pipe and began to think.
B1Chapter 3 / 15490 words60 sentences
The Problem
Chapter 3 · The Hound of the Baskervilles · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
Holmes considers the case and learns that Sir Henry Baskerville is arriving from Canada to claim his inheritance.
1 / 60
🇬🇧English→🇬🇧English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
How did Sir Charles Baskerville die?
2
What unusual evidence did Dr. Mortimer find near Sir Charles's body?
3
What was Sir Charles's habit that led to his death?
4