The Hound of the Baskervilles | Page 9

days is able to make his own fortune and to bring it back with him to
restore the fallen grandeur of his line. Sir Charles, as is well known, made large sums of
money in South African speculation. More wise than those who go on until the wheel
turns against them, he realized his gains and returned to England with them. It is only two
years since he took up his residence at Baskerville Hall, and it is common talk how large
were those schemes of reconstruction and improvement which have been interrupted by
his death. Being himself childless, it was his openly expressed desire that the whole
country-side should, within his own lifetime, profit by his good fortune, and many will
have personal reasons for bewailing his untimely end. His generous donations to local
and county charities have been frequently chronicled in these columns.
"The circumstances connected with the death of Sir Charles cannot be said to have been
entirely cleared up by the inquest, but at least enough has been done to dispose of those
rumours to which local superstition has given rise. There is no reason whatever to suspect
foul play, or to imagine that death could be from any but natural causes. Sir Charles was
a widower, and a man who may be said to have been in some ways of an eccentric habit
of mind. In spite of his considerable wealth he was simple in his personal tastes, and his
indoor servants at Baskerville Hall consisted of a married couple named Barrymore, the
husband acting as butler and the wife as housekeeper. Their evidence, corroborated by
that of several friends, tends to show that Sir Charles's health has for some time been
impaired, and points especially to some affection of the heart, manifesting itself in
changes of colour, breathlessness, and acute attacks of nervous depression. Dr. James
Mortimer, the friend and medical attendant of the deceased, has given evidence to the
same effect.
"The facts of the case are simple. Sir Charles Baskerville was in the habit every night
before going to bed of walking down the famous Yew Alley of Baskerville Hall. The
evidence of the Barrymores shows that this had been his custom. On the 4th of May Sir
Charles had declared his intention of starting next day for London, and had ordered
Barrymore to prepare his luggage. That night he went out as usual for his nocturnal walk,
in the course of which he was in the habit of smoking a cigar. He never returned. At
twelve o'clock Barrymore, finding the hall door still open, became alarmed, and, lighting

a lantern, went in search of his master. The day had been wet, and Sir Charles's footmarks
were easily traced down the Alley. Half-way down this walk there is a gate which leads
out on to the moor. There were indications that Sir Charles had stood for some little time
here. He then proceeded down the Alley, and it was at the far end of it that his body was
discovered. One fact which has not been explained is the statement of Barrymore that his
master's footprints altered their character from the time that he passed the moor-gate, and
that he appeared from thence onward to have been walking upon his toes. One Murphy, a
gipsy horse-dealer, was on the moor at no great distance at the time, but he appears by his
own confession to have been the worse for drink. He declares that he heard cries, but is
unable to state from what direction they came. No signs of violence were to be
discovered upon Sir Charles's person, and though the doctor's evidence pointed to an
almost incredible facial distortion--so great that Dr. Mortimer refused at first to believe
that it was indeed his friend and patient who lay before him--it was explained that that is
a symptom which is not unusual in cases of dyspnoea and death from cardiac exhaustion.
This explanation was borne out by the post-mortem examination, which showed
long-standing organic disease, and the coroner's jury returned a verdict in accordance
with the medical evidence. It is well that this is so, for it is obviously of the utmost
importance that Sir Charles's heir should settle at the Hall and continue the good work
which has been so sadly interrupted. Had the prosaic finding of the coroner not finally put
an end to the romantic stories which have been whispered in connection with the affair, it
might have been difficult to find a tenant for Baskerville Hall. It is understood that the
next of kin is Mr. Henry Baskerville, if he be still alive, the son of Sir Charles
Baskerville's younger brother. The young man when last heard of was in America, and
inquiries are being instituted with a