The Missing Boot

Chapter 6
The Missing Boot
We got to the Northumberland Hotel at two o'clock that afternoon.
"Sir Henry Baskerville is upstairs waiting for you," said the clerk. "I'll take you to his room."
Sir Henry was in the hall, his face red with anger, holding an old, dusty boot in his hand.
"They're plating tricks on me in this hotel," he shouted. "There'll be trouble if that man can't find my missing boot."
"Still looking for your boot?" asked Holmes.
"Yes,sir, and plan to find it."
"But surely you said that it was a new brown boot?"
"So it was, sir, And now it's an old black one."
"What! someone stole another boot?"
"Exactly. Last night they took one of my brown boots, and today they stole a black one." He turned to a nervous German waiter who had come along.
"Well, do you have it? speak up, man!"
"No, sir. I asked everybody but no one knows anything about it."
"Well, either that boot comes back before morning or I see the manager and walk out of this hotel."
"It shall be found, sir. I promise that if you will have a little patience we will find it."
"Make sure you do. This place is full of thieves. Sorry, Mr. Holmes, for troubling you about this..."
"I think we should take it seriously. How do you explain it, sir Henry?"
"I can't. It seems the craziest thing, What do you think about it, Mr. Holmes?"
"Your case isn't an easy one, Sir Henry. But we have some information already, and will find out the truth sooner or later."
We had a pleasant lunch and spoke little about the business that had brought us together. Afterwards, in the private sitting-room Holmes asked sir Henry about his plans.
"I'll go to Baskerville Hall at the end of the week."
"I think you're right," said Holmes, " I have proof that someone is following you in London. There are millions of people in this city and it is hard to protect you here. Did sir Charles leave a lot of money in his will?"
"Yes. Most of the money went to sir Henry," said Dr Mortimer, "Seven hundred and forty thousand pounds. Sir Charles also left small amounts to different people and larger amounts to charities."
Holmes looked surprised,"Goodness, that's a large amount of money indeed - very tempting for a criminal. Tell me, Dr. Mortimer, if anything happened to Sir Henry, excuse my asking, who inherits the estate?"
"Because Rodger Baskerville - Sir charles's younger brother - died unmarried, the estate would go to the Desmonds, relatives from Westmorland. They are very fine people and quite old. I met them once when they came to visit Sir Charles."
"And this man Desmond would get Sir Charles's fortune?"
"He would inherit Baskerville Hall, but not the money. Sir Henry can do what he wants with that."
"And have you made your will, Sir Henry?"
"No, Mr. Holmes, not yet. But I feel that the money should go with the estate. My uncle also had that idea. The owner of the estate needs money to take care of the house and the land. House, land and money must go together."
"Well, Sir Henry, I agree that you should go down to Devonshire soon, but you certainly mustn't go alone."
"Dr. Mortimer comes back with me."
"But Dr. Mortimer is a busy doctor, and his house is far from yours. He may not be able to help you. No, sir Henry, you need a man you can trust, who will always be by your side."
"Is it possible you can come yourself, Mr. Holmes?"
"I'll try to get down there later, but am too busy with my work in London right now."
"Who do you suggest then?"
"If my friend Dr. Watson agrees to go, he'd be the right man."
This came as a big surprise to me, but before I could reply, Sir Henry eagerly shook my hand.
"Well now, that's very good of you, Dr, Watson," he said. "If you'll come with me to Baskercille Hall, I'd be glad of your help."
"With pleasure," I said, happy at the promise of an adventure.
"And you'll report everything to me," said Holmes. "When something happens, and I'm sure it will, I'll tell you what to do. How about leaving on Saturday?"
We both agreed, and then Holmes said, "Let's meet on Saturday morning at Paddington station. The train's at 10:30." Suddenly Baskerville cried out, and pulled out a brown boot from under a cabinet.
"My missing boot!" he shouted.
"May all out problems be solved like that!" said Sherlock Holmes.