The Hound of the Baskervilles: From Watson's Diary

From this point Watson kept a diary, and the first days were full of cold rain and grey fog over the moor.He thought of the convict out there in the wet, of the hound, and of the mysterious man he had seen on the hill.Barrymore was upset that they had hunted Selden, and he begged Sir Henry not to tell the police.

He promised that in a few days his brother-in-law would sail to South America and never trouble anyone again.Sir Henry agreed, and the grateful butler said that he would tell them something in return.He knew why Sir Charles had been waiting at the gate on the night he died: he had gone there to meet a woman.

That morning Sir Charles had received a letter from Coombe Tracey, written in a woman’s hand.Weeks later Mrs. Barrymore found its burnt remains in the fireplace, and one line could still be read.It begged him to burn the letter and to be at the gate by ten o’clock, and it was signed with the letters L. L.

Watson wrote at once to Holmes, and Dr. Mortimer told him that the only L. L. nearby was Laura Lyons of Coombe Tracey.She was the daughter of old Mr. Frankland, who had cut her off after she married against his wishes.Her husband had left her too, and she now earned a poor living by typing.

Barrymore also told Watson that there was another man hiding on the moor, and that he was not a convict.Selden had seen him: a gentleman, as far as anyone could tell, living among the old stone huts.A boy brought him food and everything else he needed.

Barrymore did not like it at all, and said that there was evil on the moor and that he wished Sir Henry were back in London.Watson decided to find this stranger himself, since he might be the key to the whole mystery.