45924    More wise than those who go on until the wheel turns against them, he realized his gains and returned to England with them.

45925    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.

45926    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.

45927    His generous donations to local and county charities have been frequently chronicled in these columns.

45928    '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.

45929    There is no reason whatever to suspect foul play, or to imagine that death could be from any but natural causes.

45930    Sir Charles was a widower, and a man who may be said to have been in some ways of an eccentric habit of mind.

45931    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.

45932    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.

45933    Dr James Mortimer, the friend and medical attendant of the deceased, has given evidence to the same effect.

45934    'The facts of the case are simple.

45935    Sir Charles Baskerville was in the habit every night before going to bed of walking down the famous Yew Alley of Baskerville Hall.

45936    The evidence of the Barrymores shows that this had been his custom.

45937    On the 4th of June Sir Charles had declared his intention of starting next day for London, and had ordered Barrymore to prepare his luggage.

45938    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.