The Hound of the Baskervilles Chapter Three; Qs. & Ans.

The Hound of the Baskervilles Chapter Three

Q1. Why does Sherlock Holmes quiz Dr. Mortimer about the Yew Alley?

Ans. Dr. Mortimer reports to Sherlock Holmes about the death of Sir Charles under unusual conditions. Sherlock Holmes feels very much interested in the case and asks him several questions  to reach the right conclusion. He comes to know from Dr. Mortimer that the Yew hedge was twelve feet high and there was no chance for anyone to penetrate it. The space in the centre was eight feet wide. There was a strip of grass about six feet broad. There was only a small gate in the hedge leading to the moor. Dr. Mortimer also tells Holmes that there was another entry to the Yew Alley and that was through a summer house at the far end. Sir Charles’s body lay 50 yards away from it. Sherlock Holmes asked Dr. Mortimer as to why he had not called him on the day when the tragedy occurred. Mortimer replies that he did not want to tell the whole world about the supernatural elements attached to the death. Sherlock Holmes rejects all details about the supernatural reasons about Sir Charles’s death.

Q2. “There is a realm in which the most astute and most experienced of detectives is helpless.” What does Mortimer mean by this statement?

                                                       Or

What is the probable cause of Sir Charles’s death, according to Mortimer? How does he substantiate it?

Ans. Dr. Mortimer tells Sherlock Holmes that there is a hidden reality in this world that cannot be explained by reason and logic. So, even the most acute and experienced of detectives is helpless to solve the cases related to it. He also knew very well that Sherlock Holmes is not going to believe in the supernatural cause of the Sir Charles’s death. Therefore, he tries his level best to convince Holmes about the mystery that surrounded Sir Charles death.

He says that he himself had noticed the marks of a hound like beast, 20 yards away from the dead body. No one, except he, noticed them. He also adds that he had enquired from certain people (a farmer and a blacksmith) of that area, about the haunting of the beast and they confirmed it.

Sherlock Holmes disagrees with Dr. Mortimer and also chides him for believing in illogical things in spite of being a man of science.

Q3. Who is Henry Baskervilles? Why is Dr. Mortimer concerned about his utmost safety?

Ans. Sir Henry had two more brothers. He himself was the elder one. The other two brothers had died. Sir Henry was the son of Sir Charles’s second brother and, therefore, is the only surviving kinsman of the Baskervilles.

Dr. Mortimer is very much concerned about the safety of Sir Henry because Sir Charles had appointed him the trustee of the whole property of the Baskervilles. He is worried about the safety of Sir Henry because of the diabolic presence haunting near the Baskervilles’ estate. He also regrets the negligence shown by Sir Charles. If he knew the presence of the demon, it must have talked to him.

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Therefore, Dr. Mortimer seeks the help and good advice from Holmes about what should be done at the very moment when Sir Henry is approaching there from Canada after an hour and a quarter.

Sherlock Holmes advised Mortimer to take Sir Henry to Devonshire and not to reveal anything about the facts.

Q4. Sherlock Holmes remarks, “The devil’s agents may be of flesh and blood.” What does this remark suggest?

Ans. It has already been cleared by the text of the novel that Sherlock Holmes is not an ordinary detective. He does not believe in supernatural powers as Dr. Mortimer and some residents at the moor believe in. Dr. Watson also asks him if he also believes in what Dr. Mortimer says about the supernatural power operating at the Baskervilles. Sherlock Holmes refuses believing so and thinks upon two possible reasons about Sir Charles’s death. One reason is that Sir Charles might have died a natural death by cardiac arrest. The second possibility may be that any person might have a hand in Sir Charles death. He believes that sometimes human vices also assume the level of devilish activities. In that case, ordinary people fail to apply their reasoning to reach a logical conclusion. So they start believing in supernatural powers. He decides to exhaust all the possibilities in that case. If there is a human being behind the crime, then, he would try to find out the motive behind it.