'It seems to me that all you gentlemen know a great deal more than I do about my own affairs.' 'What business?' asked Sir Henry sharply. 'No, sir, but it might very well come from someone who was convinced that the business is supernatural.' Mortimer? You must allow that there is nothing supernatural about this, at any rate?'

Holmes, what in thunder is the meaning of that, and who it is that takes so much interest in my affairs?' 'Now,' said Sir Henry Baskerville, 'perhaps you will tell me, Mr. It ran: 'As you value your life or your reason keep away from the moor.' The word 'moor' only was printed in ink. Across the middle of it a single sentence had been formed by the expedient of pasting printed words upon it. This he opened and spread flat upon the table. 'Hum! Someone seems to be very deeply interested in your movements.' Out of the envelope he took a half-sheet of foolscap paper folded into four. 'There was no possible indication that we intended to go to this hotel.' 'No, I had been staying with a friend,' said the doctor. Mortimer was no doubt already stopping there?' 'Who knew that you were going to the Northumberland Hotel?' asked Holmes, glancing keenly across at our visitor. The address, 'Sir Henry Baskerville, Northumberland Hotel,' was printed in rough characters the postmark 'Charing Cross,' and the date of posting the preceding evening. It was of common quality, grayish in colour. He laid an envelope upon the table, and we all bent over it. It was this letter, if you can call it a letter, which reached me this morning.' Do I understand you to say that you have yourself had some remarkable experience since you arrived in London?' I understand that you think out little puzzles, and I've had one this morning which wants more thinking out than I am able to give it.' Sherlock Holmes, that if my friend here had not proposed coming round to you this morning I should have come on my own account. 'Why, yes,' said he, 'and the strange thing is, Mr. 'This is Sir Henry Baskerville,' said Dr. He wore a ruddy-tinted tweed suit and had the weather-beaten appearance of one who has spent most of his time in the open air, and yet there was something in his steady eye and the quiet assurance of his bearing which indicated the gentleman. The latter was a small, alert, dark-eyed man about thirty years of age, very sturdily built, with thick black eyebrows and a strong, pugnacious face. Mortimer was shown up, followed by the young baronet. Our clients were punctual to their appointment, for the clock had just struck ten when Dr. Our breakfast-table was cleared early, and Holmes waited in his dressing-gown for the promised interview.

The hound of the baskervilles gutenberg