45902    One, it is said, died that very night of what he had seen, and the other twain were but broken men for the rest of their days.

45903    'Such is the tale, my sons, of the coming of the hound which is said to have plagued the family so sorely ever since.

45904    If I have set it down it is because that which is clearly known hath less terror than that which is but hinted at and guessed.

45905    Nor can it be denied that many of the family have been unhappy in their deaths, which have been sudden, bloody, and mysterious.

45906    Yet may we shelter ourselves in the infinite goodness of Providence, which would not for ever punish the innocent beyond that third or fourth generation which is threatened in Holy Writ.

45907    To that Providence, my sons, I hereby commend you, and I counsel you by way of caution to forbear from crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted.

45908    'This from Hugo Baskerville to his sons Rodger and John, with instructions that they say nothing thereof to their sister Elizabeth.'

45909    When Dr Mortimer had finished reading this singular narrative he pushed his spectacles up on his forehead and stared across at Mr Sherlock Holmes.

45910    The latter yawned and tossed the end of his cigarette into the fire.

45911    'Well?' said he.

45912    'Do you find it interesting?'

45913    'To a collector of fairy-tales.'

45914    Dr Mortimer drew a folded newspaper out of his pocket.

45915    'Now, Mr Holmes, we will give you something a little more recent.

45916    This is the Devon County Chronicle of June 14th of this year.