Dr Wanson tells me that you are going to dinner at Merripit House on the moor. I believe the Stapletons have invited you.'
'Yes,' Sir Henry said. 'And has Dr Wanson told you that I want to marry Miss Stapleton?'
'Yes, he has,' said Holmes. 'Now I would like to ask Barrymore some questions.,
sir Henry called for his servant, Barrymore. Barrymore came and stood in front of us. Sherlock Holmes looked at him carefully. Was this the man with the black beard we had seen in London?
'Tell me about Sir Charles Baskerville,' Holmes said to Barrymore. 'Did he often go for a walk at night?'
'No,' sir,' said Barrymore, 'Sir Charles did not often leave the house at night.'
'But, on the night he died, he went for a walk on the edge of the moor for about ten minutes. Was he waiting for someone?'
'I'm not sure, sir,' said Barrymore. 'I remember that Sir Charles received a letter that day.'
'A letter?' Holmes asked. 'Why do you remember this letter? Did you read it?'
'No, sir,' Barrymore said. 'I never read Sir Charles' letters. But Sir Charles usually kept his letters on his desk. This letter was unusual. He read it. Then he put it on the fire.'
'Oh, so he burnt it,' Holmes said. 'Perhaps this letter asked him to meet someone. Perhaps he went to this meeting and met someone - or something.'