The Hound Of The Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles
LEVEL 4

The Hound of the Baskervilles
by sir Arthur Conan Doyle retold by Patrick Nobes

1 The Case Begins

The September sun was shining brightly into the windows of 221 B Baker Street, and London was enjoying a beautiful late summer. I had finished my breakfast and was reading the newspaper. As usual, Holmes had got up late, and was still eating. We wereexpecting a visitor at half−past ten, and I wondered whether Holmes would finish his breakfast before our visitor arrived. Holmes was in no hurry. He was reading once again a letter he had received three days ago. It was from Dr James Mortimer, who asked for an appointment with Holmes. `Well, Watson,' Holmes said to me, `I'm afraid that a doctor from Devonshire won't bring us anything of realinterest. His letter doesn't tell us anything about his business though he says it's very important. I hope we can help him.' At exactly half−past ten there was a knock on our front door. `Good,' said Holmes. `Dr Mortimer is clearly a man who will not waste our time.' We stood up as our visitor was brought into the room. `Good morning, gentlemen,' he said. `I'm Dr James Mortimer, from Grimpen inDevonshire, and I think you must be Mr Sherlock Holmes.' He shook hands with Holmes, who said: `How do you do, Dr Mortimer? May I introduce my good friend, Dr John Watson, who helps me with my cases. I hope you will allow him to listen to our conversation.' `Of course,' said Mortimer, as he turned to me and shook hands. `I need your help very badly, Mr Holmes. If it will be useful for Dr Watson to hearwhat I have to say, please let him stay and listen.' Mortimer did not look like a country doctor. He was very tall and thin. He had a long thin nose. His grey eyes were bright, and he wore gold glasses. His coat and trousers were old and worn. His face was young, but his shoulders were bent like an old man's and his head was pushed forward. He took some papers from his pocket, and said: `MrHolmes, I need your help and advice. Something very strange and frightening has been happening.' `Sit down, Dr Mortimer,' said Holmes, `and tell us your problem. I'll help you if I can.'

2 The Baskerville Papers

`These papers were given to me by Sir Charles Baskerville,' said Dr Mortimer. `He asked me to take good care of them. You may remember that Sir Charles died suddenly three months ago. Hisdeath caused much excitement in Devonshire, the county where Baskerville Hall is. Sir Charles was a sensible The Hound of the Baskervilles 1

The Hound of the Baskervilles man, but he believed the story which is told in these papers.' Dr Mortimer went on: `The story is about the Baskerville family. I have come to see you because I need your help. I think that something terrible is going tohappen in the next twenty−four hours. But you can't help me unless you know the story in these papers. May I read them to you?' `Please continue, Dr Mortimer,' said Holmes, and sat back in his chair with his eyes shut. Mortimer began to read in his high, rather strange, voice:

I, William Baskerville, write this for my sons in the year 1742. My father told me about the Hound of the Baskervilles. Hetold me when it was first seen, and I believe his story was true. I want you, my sons, to read this story carefully. I want you to know that God punishes those who do evil. But never forget that He will forgive those who are sorry for any evil they have done. A hundred years ago, in 1640, the head of the Baskerville family was Sir Hugo Baskerville. He was a wild and evil man. He was cruel andenjoyed hurting people. Sir Hugo fell in love with the daughter of a farmer who was a neighbour of his. The young woman was afraid of the evil Hugo, and avoided him. One day, Hugo heard that her father and brothers were away. He knew that she would be alone. So he rode to the farm with five or six of his evil friends. They made the girl go back to Baskerville Hall with them, and locked her in a room...