Act Two, Scene Five

Near Baskerville Hall, later that same night.

SIR HENRY IS PACING UP AND DOWN. MORTIMER IS STANDING NEARBY. MRS. BARRYMORE ENTERS FROM THE ROAD, WITH A LANTERN.

Sir Henry

Well?

Mrs. B

I called down the Grimpen Road, Sir Henry, but there’s no sign of him.

Sir Henry

Might he have come home over the moor?

Mrs. B

Not from Coombe Tracey, sir.

Sir Henry

But he had another call to make - near Lafter Hall.

Mrs. B

Do you wish me to search the moorland path, sir?

Sir Henry

I think we must.

Mrs. B

Then if I might open the gun cupboard, sir?

Sir Henry

If it means you’ll go, take anything you want - take Mortimer.

Mrs. B

Thank you, sir.

SHE EXITS TO THE HOUSE.

Mortimer

Don’t get too worked up about him; Watson is a man of considerable experience - an Afghanistan veteran. I’m sure he’d survive a night on Dartmoor.

Sir Henry

But he gave me his word...

Mortimer

Hello, who’s this?

ENTER HOLMES AND WATSON.

Sir Henry

Watson! Watson! You’re safe!

Watson

Yes, quite safe, thank you, Sir Henry. Forgive my poor time keeping, only I met someone rather important.

Mortimer

I know that skull! Even under its cap! Sir Henry, this is he - this is Sherlock Holmes.

Sir Henry

Mr. Holmes, we meet at last; I was beginning to think you were entirely mythical.

Holmes

How do you do, Sir Henry. Wippel & Woodruff!

HOLMES INDICATES SIR HENRY’S TWEED SUIT.

Sir Henry

Oh, yes, of Bond Street. HE DISPLAYS THE JACKET LABEL.

Holmes

A very fine choice of tweed. But do you not dress for dinner at Baskerville Hall?

Sir Henry

We have had none - we were so worried for our friend, Watson.

Watson

Well, Sir Henry, you need fret no more. All danger is past; Holmes has the whole case fairly wrapped up.

Holmes

Well almost. Certainly, Sir Henry, I think you may sleep more soundly after tonight.

Sir Henry

Did you find your stranger?

Watson

Oh yes indeed - and through him we’ve solved the mystery of the hound.

Sir Henry

You don’t say!

Holmes

The man was from a geological survey of the Grimpen Mire. He has proved beyond doubt that the moaning you have heard is caused by the exhalation of marsh gas.

Watson

Great volumes of the stuff - incredible isn’t it?

Sir Henry

But it sounded so alive.

Holmes

Indeed the conditions are, in effect, comparable to the breathings of some long-extinct monster.

Mortimer

Well I never; they kept this quiet.

Watson

They feared exciting curiosity - you know how treacherous the mire can be.

Mortimer

And marsh gas would explain the strange lights and ghostly shapes of fire.

Holmes

Put all together, and there you have your hound.

Mortimer

So, Stapleton was right after all.

Sir Henry

And Sir Charles’ death?

Holmes

Entirely natural. But Sir Henry, there is one point I should like to clear up - for curiosity’s sake alone; only I shall need your co-operation in a little experiment.

Sir Henry

Mr. Holmes, just say the words.

Holmes

You have dinner tomorrow at Merripit House?

Sir Henry

Why yes, why not join us?

Holmes

I’m sorry, both Watson and myself return to London in the morning.

Sir Henry

Oh!

Holmes

But I should like you to keep your appointment. Drive there and send the trap back, with instructions that you intend to walk home across the moor.

Sir Henry

In the dark?

Holmes

Yes. That is it. Only you must stick to the main path - no shortcuts.

Sir Henry

Don’t worry; hound or no hound, the place is scary enough - but why -?

Holmes

- Please, Sir Henry, trust me - you’ll know the reason in due course.

MRS. BARRYMORE EMERGES WITH A SHOTGUN.

Sir Henry

Alright, Mr. Holmes - I don’t like secrets - but in the interests of -

Mrs. B

- Mr. Watson; You are safe, sir!

Watson

Yes, thank you, Mrs. Barrymore. This is Mr. Sherlock Holmes, he’ll be staying tonight.

Holmes

Good evening, Mrs. Barrymore. I am afraid we have some bad news... It’s about your brother.

Mrs. B

Have they caught him, Doctor?

Watson

No. He’s been found - by us... but I’m sorry to inform you that we found him dead. From a fall. It would have been quick and painless.

Mrs. B

I see. I should have known. How strange.

Sir Henry

Where was this?

Watson

Near the geological survey.

Sir Henry

Have you informed anyone?

Watson

Not yet; in the morning.

Mrs. B

If you’ll excuse me, sir.

Sir Henry

Of course, Mrs. Barrymore, go in.

MRS. BARRYMORE EXITS TO THE HOUSE. THERE IS AN AWKWARDNESS AMONGST THE GENTLEMEN.

Holmes

Watson has told me everything. I’m not sure I shouldn’t be arresting the entire household.

Sir Henry

Mr. Holmes, we acted, as we thought, for the best.

Holmes

But not within the law...

Mortimer

Am I missing something here?

Holmes

Not much, Dr. Mortimer, and, with respect, the less you know the better.

Watson

Selden was Mrs. Barrymore’s brother...

Mortimer

Oh? - Oh!...

Sir Henry

I’d better see if Mrs. Barrymore is alright.

EXIT SIR HENRY.

Holmes

Dr. Mortimer, do you, in the course of examinations, ever indulge your passion for phrenology?

Mortimer

Why, yes, I always take accurate skull measurements if I’m treating a head wound...or anything else, come to that.

Holmes

Do you have those measurements with you?

Mortimer

They should be here in my bag. I suppose they aren’t strictly medical records - I take it you wish to see them?

Holmes

If you would consent.

MORTIMER PULLS A BOOK FROM HIS BAG.

Mortimer

This little volume contains the details of over a hundred local inhabitants...though why they should be of interest to you -

Holmes

- I have a curious mind. HE TAKES THE BOOK.

MRS. BARRYMORE SOBS, FROM THE HOUSE.

Mortimer

Oh, there she goes again. Excuse me, I’d better assist.

EXIT MORTIMER TO THE HOUSE.

Watson

I say, Holmes, what are you doing? This phrenology business is a barrel of hogwash, you can’t possibly-

Holmes

- I’m not interested in phrenology, Watson; just the facts...and the figures, plain and simple. They may - ah! - and indeed do, point to the missing piece of our puzzle.

HOLMES RIPS TWO PAGES FROM THE BOOK.

Watson

You can’t do that to Mortimer’s records!

Holmes

They’ll be returned to him before he misses them. And by then he’ll understand my motives.

LAURA LYONS ENTERS, CAUTIOUSLY.

Watson

I say, Holmes, this is Laura Lyons.

Holmes

Ah! Mercurial Murphy! The gods bless him!

Laura

Good Evening, Doctor - and you must be Sherlock Holmes.

Holmes

Good Evening, Mrs. Lyons. You got my note - thank you for coming so promptly.

Laura

I will help you all I can. You say you would look into my divorce proceedings?

Holmes

But first I need some information.

WATSON TAKES NOTES.

Laura

What more do you wish to know?

Holmes

It concerns the death of Sir Charles.

Laura

I have told Dr. Watson all I know of that.

Holmes

Yet you withheld one piece of information. You have confessed that you asked Sir Charles to be at the moor gate at ten o’clock; we know that to be the hour and place of his death. What you have withheld is the connection between these events.

Laura

There is no connection.

Holmes

Then the coincidence is extraordinary! I shall be frank, Mrs. Lyons; we regard the case as one of murder and the evidence may implicate not only your friend Stapleton, but his wife as well.

Laura

His wife!

Holmes

The person who passes for his sister.

Laura

His wife! I knew it. I knew something was wrong. Mr. Holmes, this man has offered me marriage.

Watson

The villain!

Laura

He has lied to me all along. Now I see - I was never anything but a tool to him. Why should I shield him now? Ask me anything you like, but first, you must believe, that I never dreamed any harm would come to dear, dear Sir Charles.

SHE SOBS. WATSON PROFFERS A HANDKERCHIEF.

Holmes

I entirely believe you, madam. Let me make this easy for you. Just correct me if I go wrong. Stapleton suggested the sending of the letter?

Laura

He dictated it. He assured me that Sir Charles would help with my expenses.

Holmes

He then dissuaded you from keeping the appointment.

Laura

He told me it would hurt his self-respect if any man, other than himself, should find the means for my freedom.

Holmes

And after the death?

Laura

He frightened me into silence. He said the death was mysterious and that I’d better not get involved.

Holmes

But you had your suspicions?

Laura

Yes; and now they are confirmed.

Holmes

You’ve had a fortunate escape, Mrs. Lyons. I shall call, the day after tomorrow, to look into your matrimonial matters. Until then, please, say nothing of this to anyone.

Laura

I shall try to keep quiet, Mr. Holmes. Why, just think what my father would say!

SHE EXITS, SWIFTLY.

Watson

I say, Holmes, you said she’d prove useful.

Holmes

Useful, but dangerous. “Hell hath no fury”, Watson.

Watson

Quite.

Holmes

Murphy!

MURPHY ENTERS. HOLMES WRITES A NOTE.

Murphy

Mr. Holmes!

Holmes

Well done, Murphy - some extra feed for your pigeons. Our plans are well ahead of schedule. And now, just this wire to Inspector Lestrade...

Murphy

Lestrade of the Yard, would that be now?

Holmes

Haha! The very same, Murphy. He should just have time to rendezvous with us on Baskerville Moor at twenty-two-hundred hours tomorrow. If you will meet him at Tavistock and guide him thence. There you go.

HE HANDS MURPHY THE NOTE AND A LARGE COIN.

Murphy

Thank you, sir!

EXIT MURPHY AT SPEED.

Holmes

Fail us not!

Murphy

We’ll be there, sir; Murphy’s word!

Watson

Now then, Holmes, am I to be let in on this?

Holmes

You know me, Watson, I never communicate my plans until the instant of their fulfilment.

Watson

And when is that to be?

Holmes

Tomorrow night, Watson - after we have convinced one and all of our departure for London.

Watson

Where the place?

Holmes

[GOING] Upon the heath!

Watson

Upon the heath? [FOLLOWING]

THEY PAUSE.

Holmes

The moor, Watson, the moor. I thought you knew your Shakespeare! It’s from “Macbeth” - “Where the place? Upon the heath.” - Oh, you aren’t superstitious, are you?

Watson

You know me. And I know my Shakespeare -

Holmes

- Good!

EXEUNT TO THE HOUSE - HOLMES STILL IN FULL FLOW.

Terrible play, “Macbeth”; Why they didn’t arrest him and his wife after the murder of Duncan is quite beyond me. There they were, covered with blood, an obviously botched attempt to frame the servants...