“Of the origin of the Hound of the Baskervilles there

      have been many statements, yet as I come in a direct

      line from Hugo Baskerville, and as I had the story from

      my father, who also had it from his, I have set it down

      with all belief that it occurred even as is here set

      forth. And I would have you believe, my sons, that the

      same Justice which punishes sin may also most graciously

      forgive it, and that no ban is so heavy but that by prayer

      and repentance it may be removed. Learn then from this

      story not to fear the fruits of the past, but rather to

      be circumspect in the future, that those foul passions

      whereby our family has suffered so grievously may not

      again be loosed to our undoing.

      “Know then that in the time of the Great Rebellion (the

      history of which by the learned Lord Clarendon I most

      earnestly commend to your attention) this Manor of

      Baskerville was held by Hugo of that name, nor can it be

      gainsaid that he was a most wild, profane, and godless

      man. This, in truth, his neighbours might have pardoned,

      seeing that saints have never flourished in those parts,

      but there was in him a certain wanton and cruel humour

      which made his name a by-word through the West. It

      chanced that this Hugo came to love (if, indeed, so dark

      a passion may be known under so bright a name) the daughter

      of a yeoman who held lands near the Baskerville estate.

      But the young maiden, being discreet and of good repute,

      would ever avoid him, for she feared his evil name. So

      it came to pass that one Michaelmas this Hugo, with five

      or six of his idle and wicked companions, stole down upon

      the farm and carried off the maiden, her father and

      brothers being from home, as he well knew. When they had

      brought her to the Hall the maiden was placed in an upper

      chamber, while Hugo and his friends sat down to a long

      carouse, as was their nightly custom. Now, the poor lass

      upstairs was like to have her wits turned at the singing

      and shouting and terrible oaths which came up to her from

      below, for they say that the words used by Hugo Baskerville,

      when he was in wine, were such as might blast the man who

      said them. At last in the stress of her fear she did that

      which might have daunted the bravest or most active man,

      for by the aid of the growth of ivy which covered (and

      still covers) the south wall she came down from under the

      eaves, and so homeward across the moor, there being three

      leagues betwixt the Hall and her father’s farm.

      “It chanced that some little time later Hugo left his

      guests to carry food and drink—with other worse things,

      perchance—to his captive, and so found the cage empty

      and the bird escaped. Then, as it would seem, he became

      as one that hath a devil, for, rushing down the stairs

      into the dining-hall, he sprang upon the great table,

      flagons and trenchers flying before him, and he cried

      aloud before all the company that he would that very

      night render his body and soul to the Powers of Evil if

      he might but overtake the wench. And while the revellers

      stood aghast at the fury of the man, one more wicked or,

      it may be, more drunken than the rest, cried out that

      they should put the