The Hound of the Baskervilles Page #7

It's over two hours

since the roof fell.

You've been down there.

We've heard nothing.

Not likely to, with all

that rock in front of us.

That don't mean to

say he's not alive.

Plenty of air in that old mine. Comes

in from them ventilating shafts.

Couldn't we get down one of

them and find him that way?

I wouldn't like to say, sir.

I doubt there's a man as

knows them entrances.

We must try to find one.

Mr. Stapleton, will you lead us back

to the path immediately, please?

I did warn him not to go.

You were there. You

heard me, didn't you?

- There's still a chance.

- A very good chance.

I've been waiting for you

for the last 10 minutes.

Holmes!

- Thank heaven you're safe.

- How did you get out? This is wonderful.

That's gratifying.

When the applause has died down,

I wonder if we could get back to the hall.

I've hurt my leg, I'm

cold, and I'm hungry.

Will you please stop

behaving like a maiden aunt.

If I hadn't known there were a

number of entrances to the mine...

- I'd never have gone down.

- But for a wretched old beef bone...

It is not a wretched old beef bone.

That's just the point.

It's a relatively new one.

- But I...

- No buts.

Would you mind, please,

passing me my tobacco?

Where is it?

You'll find it in the

top right-hand drawer.

An unopened tin.

- You must have put it somewhere else.

- The right-hand top drawer.

- I'm looking in the right-hand top drawer.

- Isn't it there?

I've just told you it isn't there.

Here it is.

Just a minute. I know I put

it there this morning.

Watson, the bottom drawer,

where I put the dagger...

is it still locked?

No.

Holmes, the lock's been forced!

The dagger's not there.

Watson.

How's the leg feeling now?

- Not very good.

- I'm sorry to hear that.

I wasn't able to tell you before...

but Stapleton has asked us

over for a meal tonight.

Has he?

Yes. I thought it was

a very nice gesture.

Still, I don't suppose you'll feel like

going with your leg the way it is.

No, I don't.

They'll be very disappointed, and

Cecile is waiting for me downstairs.

Of course, I wouldn't dream

of going without you.

My dear Sir Henry, if you'd

wanted us to come with you...

you'd have told us about the

invitation much sooner than this.

I beg your pardon?

You'd better be off. You mustn't

be late for your peasant friends.

I don't like that, Holmes.

I don't like the people

you're mixing with.

I thought, in your new position, you

would've cultivated worthier friends.

I hope you enjoy their rabbit pie.

Mr. Holmes, I appreciate the fact

that you are here to help me.

Nevertheless, I would remind you that

you are also a guest in my house.

- Good night!

- Good night.

- I do think you might...

- Do stop talking nonsense.

You know my methods.

Couldn't you see I was

being purposely rude?

I wanted him to go without us.

The dagger's gone.

Don't you realize what that means?

Sir Henry is to die tonight!

Are you sure your leg is all right?

It's got to be, if we're to break the

curse he laid on the Baskervilles.

- Holmes?

- Yes.

You learned something from that

portrait that I never saw.

The hands, Watson. Why do you

think this painting was stolen?

Because the artist revealed both hands.

Barrymore's confirmed what I suspected.

The fingers of Sir Hugo's

right hand were webbed.

- Stapleton.

- Exactly. Stapleton.

Illegitimate descendent of Sir Hugo,

next in line to the Baskerville fortune.

- No. This way.

- But this is the way to the farm.

Come on.

Swine!

You thought it was going to be

easy, didn't you? Didn't you?

You won't be the first of your

family who thought that...

and you won't be the first

to die because of it.

Remember the legend?

Sir Hugo died here.

His throat was torn out

because of a girl.

And Sir Charles, your dear

uncle, he died here, didn't he?

Died because he

wanted me, like you.

Died because he wanted a woman enough

to bring me here alone at night...

in spite of the hound

of the Baskervilles.

He died screaming.

I know. I watched him.

And now you are here alone...

at night.

You don't understand, do you?

Then let me explain.

I, too, am a Baskerville,

descended from Sir Hugo...

descended from those who died in

poverty while you scum ruled the moor.

We have waited and prayed for

this moment, my father and I.

Now our time has come, and yours.

The curse of the hound is on you.

No, Watson! She won't get far.

Attend to Sir Henry.

All right.

All right, Sir Henry.

The hound is dead, and

you must see it, sir.

No, I don't...

It is best that you should.

There is nothing to fear now.

There's a passage leading

from the mine to this place.

I discovered it after Stapleton

tried to kill me down there.

They used this mask to make

it look more terrifying.

He was starved for weeks, kept in

the mine till the time was ripe...

then given the scent.

They had to have something

of yours to give the hound.

We'd better get Sir Henry

back to Baskerville Hall.

Have you got your cape?

Would you get it for me?

- So the curse has claimed its last victim.

- Yes.

No more will be heard of the

hound of the Baskervilles.

I feel I have already suffered

enough from my infamous ancestor...

and so...

"And so I am sending you

the missing portrait...

"which we found at Stapleton's farm to

add to your collection of souvenirs.

"I hope you will accept it, also

the check which I enclose for..."

Very generous.

After tea, you must write to Sir

Henry that I should be pleased...

to accept both his gifts.

Tell me, Holmes...

when did you first suspect

the truth about this case?

- The truth?

- Yes, that the hound was a real dog...

and not just a legendary myth.

When Sir Henry complained

of a missing boot...

that put me on the

scent, as it were.

As early as that.

That's incredible.

It's elementary, my dear Watson.

A muffin?

Thank you.

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