"The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes." In this case, the hound is the obvious thing. But it is not supernatural nor devilish nor vengeful. Instead of indicating a connection with the family curse supposedly set in motion by the original founder of the estate in the middle ages, Sir Hugo Baskerville, the attachment is directly established through servants and relatives already present on the scene. The story begins with the death of Sir Charles Baskerville near a moor in Devonshire, England. A close friend and associate, Dr. Mortimer, was present for the autopsy and discovered Sir Charles died of a heart attack caused by a dreadful fright. Dr. Mortimer contacts Sherlock Holmes not for assistance in solving the matter of the death but for advice on how to handle the upcoming arrival of the only remaining heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, who will be coming from the United States to oversee the distribution of the inheritance. Holmes is unable to personally investigate this particular case because his attention is already employed elsewhere, so he sends his partner, Dr. Watson, to learn the details and be a bodyguard for Sir Henry while he stays in Baskerville Hall. Evidence of footprints, toothmarks, hair, blood is available on all sides, but it is Dr. Watson's questioning that helps Holmes uncover the reasons for the murders. The existence of a monstrous black beast with glistening fangs and a ghastly howl has a perfectly scientific justification after Holmes researches the reticent servant Barrymore, the history-empassioned Dr. Frankland, an escaped convict found on the moor. When the case is finally brought to an end, Watson gratefully acknowledges Holmes as "the most perfect reasoning and observing machine the world has ever seen."