49394    In that gloomy tunnel it must indeed have been a dreadful sight to see that huge black creature, with its flaming jaws and blazing eyes, bounding after its victim.

49395    He fell dead at the end of the alley from heart disease and terror.

49396    The hound had kept upon the grassy border while the baronet had run down the path, so that no track but the man's was visible.

49397    On seeing him lying still the creature had probably approached to sniff at him, but, finding him dead, had turned away again.

49398    It was then that it left the print which was actually observed by Dr Mortimer.

49399    The hound was called off and hurried away to its lair in the Grimpen Mire, and a mystery was left which puzzled the authorities, alarmed the country-side, and finally brought the case within the scope of our observation.

49400    'So much for the death of Sir Charles Baskerville.

49401    You perceive the devilish cunning of it, for really it would be almost impossible to make a case against the real murderer.

49402    His only accomplice was one who could never give him away, and the grotesque, inconceivable nature of the device only served to make it more effective.

49403    Both of the women concerned in the case, Mrs Stapleton and Mrs Laura Lyons, were left with a strong suspicion against Stapleton.

49404    Mrs Stapleton knew that he had designs upon the old man, and also of the existence of the hound.

49405    Mrs Lyons knew neither of these things, but had been impressed by the death occurring at the time of an uncancelled appointment which was only known to him.

49406    However, both of them were under his influence, and he had nothing to fear from them.

49407    The first half of his task was successfully accomplished, but the more difficult still remained.

49408    'It is possible that Stapleton did not know of the existence of an heir in Canada.