"Doyle, Arthur Conan - Hound Of The Baskervilles, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doyle Arthur Conan)

fallen upon evil 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 countryside 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