The Hound of the Baskervilles Chapter 6 : Qs. & Ans.

The Hound of the Baskervilles  Chapter 6

Topic 1

Instruction given to Watson by Sherlock Holmes

ü  Sherlock Holmes is a shrewd investigator who studies the situation very minutely to reach some logical conclusion.

ü  Therefore he does not allow Sir Henry to go to Baskerville Hall unguarded. He deputes Watson to accompany him and also remain there with Sir Henry for a few days.

ü  Sherlock Holmes issues some instructions to Watson. He advises him to remain vigilant and cautious about Mr. and Mrs. Barrymore. He also adds some more names like Stapleton and his wife, Dr. Mortimer and his wife, Mr. Frankland of Lafter Hall and also the servants of the Baskerville Hall.

ü  Surprisingly, he ignores Mr. James Desmond, the next heir to the Baskerville Estate.

ü  Finally, he advises him to keep his revolver with him for 24 hours.

ü  Sherlock Holmes tells Watson to send him the updates of the present situation in real terms and the rest he would efficiently handle.

ü  In this way Sherlock proves to be very vigilant professional in the field of crime investigation. He foresees the coming dangers to  Sir Henry Baskerville and does everything  to provide him protection.

Topic 2 The description of the Baskerville Hall

ü  Baskerville Hall is a huge mansion, giving shade of gloom and somber atmosphere around itself.

ü  It has big iron gates with massive pillars on both sides. The heads of boars are placed on the pillars. Some portion of the building is in bad shape. That’s why Sir Charles had ordered construction work on it.

ü  The passage that led to the main part has old trees on both sides. They make a canopy-like look above the passage that looks like a tunnel.

ü  The inside of the building seems to be fine but not so much modern. There is a fire-place of the ancient type in there.

ü  Sir Henry also notices high windows fitted with old stained glass. The arms and the heads of the hunted animals like stags were beautifully fixed to beautify the walls.

ü  The central part of the house is not so much decorated as the bedrooms are. The portraits hung on the walls of the dining room cast a shadow of gloom over living beings of the house.

Topic 3 Reasons given by Barrymore for leaving Baskerville Hall

ü  We know that Sherlock Holmes has already some reasons for doubting Barrymore as he has some resemblance with the person who was tracking Sir Henry while sitting in a cab.

ü  So Barrymore’s decision to leave Baskerville Hall increases doubt in the minds of Sherlock Holmes, Watson, Sir Henry and the reader also.

ü  He puts forward some reasons for it.

ü  He says that Sir Henry is a young man and would like to enjoy the company of his people. So he might like to keep new servants in the house, suiting to his lifestyle.

ü  The death of Sir Charles seemed to give them a shock as they were very much attached to him. Sir Charles had also allotted them some amount in his will. They feel very much obliged to him.

ü  He says that his old master lived a very simple life and they would also prefer such life to live in some solitude and peaceful atmosphere.

ü  There may be another reason that Barrymore could not explain. He was worried about the way and the conditions under which Sir Charles had died.

ü  His own brother-in-law Seldom might be the cause of the Barrymore couple.