“Take a seat, Sir Henry. Do I understand that something has happened since you arrived in London?”

“Nothing important, Mr. Holmes. Only a joke, I think. It was this letter, which reached me this morning.”

He laid an envelope upon the table, and we all looked at it. It was of common quality, grayish in colour. The address was “Sir Henry Baskerville, Northumberland Hotel”.

“Who knew that you were going to the Northumberland Hotel?” asked Holmes.

“No one. We only decided after I met Dr. Mortimer.”

“Hum! Someone seems to be very deeply interested in you.” Out of the envelope he took a sheet of paper. Across it one sentence was formed of printed words pasted on it. It ran:

The word “moor” only was written by hand.

“Now,” said Sir Henry Baskerville sharply, “perhaps you will tell me, Mr. Holmes, what it means, and who takes so much interest in my affairs? It seems to me that all you gentlemen know a great deal more than I do about my own affairs.”

“I shall tell you everything before you leave here today. And now, this very interesting document must have been composed and posted yesterday evening. Have you yesterday’s Times, Watson?” said Sherlock Holmes.

“It is here.”

He looked over it.

“What do you think of that, Watson?” cried Holmes.”These words have been taken from here.”

“You’re right! Well, isn’t it smart!” cried Sir Henry.

“So, Mr. Holmes,” said Sir Henry Baskerville, “someone cut out these words with a pair of scissors and pasted them with gum. But I want to know why the word ‘moor’ was written by hand.”

“Because he could not find it in the newspaper. The other words were all simple and might be found easily, but ‘moor’ is less common.”

“Why, of course, that explains it. Have you read anything else in this letter, Mr. Holmes?”

“There are one or two things. The Times is a paper which is only read by the highly educated. We may say, therefore, that the letter was composed by an educated man. The words are not gummed on in an accurate line, some are much higher than others. It may point to hurry in which he was. And now, Sir Henry, has anything else of interest happened to you since you have been in London?”

“Why, no, Mr. Holmes. I think not.”

“You have not observed anyone follow or watch you?”

“Why should anyone follow or watch me?” said our visitor.

“You have nothing else to tell us?”

Sir Henry smiled.

“I don’t know much of British life yet, for I have spent nearly all my time in the States and in Canada. But I hope that to lose one of your boots is not part of the ordinary routine of life over here.”

“You have lost one of your boots?”

“My dear sir,” cried Dr. Mortimer, “You will find it when you return to the hotel. What is the use of troubling Mr. Holmes with trifles of this kind?”

“I only bought the pair last night in the Strand, and I have never worn them. I did a good deal of shopping. Among other things I bought these brown boots—and one of them was stolen before I had them on my feet.”

“It seems a strange thing to steal,” said Sherlock Holmes.

“And, now, gentlemen,” said the baronet, “it seems it is time for you to give me a full account of what you know.”

Dr. Mortimer presented the whole case as he had done on the morning before. Sir Henry Baskerville listened with the deepest attention.

“Of course, I’ve heard of the hound ever since I was a boy,” said he. “It’s a favourite story of the family, though I never thought of taking it seriously before. But as to my uncle’s death—well, you have not made up your mind whether it’s a case for a policeman or a clergyman.”

“And the letter to you at the hotel shows that someone knows more than we do about what goes on upon the moor,” said Dr. Mortimer.

“We now have to decide, Sir Henry, whether it is good for you to go to Baskerville Hall.”

“Why should I not go?”

“It may be dangerous.”

“Do you mean danger from this supernatural hound or do you mean danger from man?”

“Well, that is what we have to find out.”

“No one can prevent me from going to the home of my family. Now, look here, Mr. Holmes, could you and your friend, Dr. Watson, come and lunch with us at two. I’ll be able to tell you more clearly then about my plans.”

“You may expect us.”

“Then we meet again at two o’clock. Good morning!”