第10章

Lookatthisimpression，whereyougetbothtyresclear。

Theoneisasdeepastheother。Thatcanonlymeanthattherideristhrowinghisweightontothehandle—bar，asamandoeswhenheissprinting。ByJove！hehashadafall。"

Therewasabroad，irregularsmudgecoveringsomeyardsofthetrack。Thentherewereafewfootmarks，andthetyrereappearedoncemore。

"Aside—slip，"Isuggested。

Holmesheldupacrumpledbranchoffloweringgorse。TomyhorrorIperceivedthattheyellowblossomswerealldabbledwithcrimson。Onthepath，too，andamongtheheatherweredarkstainsofclottedblood。

"Bad！"saidHolmes。"Bad！Standclear，Watson！Notanunnecessaryfootstep！WhatdoIreadhere？Hefellwounded，hestoodup，heremounted，heproceeded。Butthereisnoothertrack。Cattleonthissidepath。Hewassurelynotgoredbyabull？Impossible！ButIseenotracesofanyoneelse。Wemustpushon，Watson。Surelywithstainsaswellasthetracktoguideushecannotescapeusnow。"

Oursearchwasnotaverylongone。Thetracksofthetyrebegantocurvefantasticallyuponthewetandshiningpath。

Suddenly，asIlookedahead，thegleamofmetalcaughtmyeyefromamidthethickgorsebushes。Outofthemwedraggedabicycle，Palmer—tyred，onepedalbent，andthewholefrontofithorriblysmearedandslobberedwithblood。Ontheothersideofthebushesashoewasprojecting。Weranround，andtherelaytheunfortunaterider。Hewasatallman，fullbearded，withspectacles，oneglassofwhichhadbeenknockedout。Thecauseofhisdeathwasafrightfulblowuponthehead，whichhadcrushedinpartofhisskull。Thathecouldhavegoneonafterreceivingsuchaninjurysaidmuchforthevitalityandcourageoftheman。Heworeshoes，butnosocks，andhisopencoatdisclosedanight—shirtbeneathit。ItwasundoubtedlytheGermanmaster。

Holmesturnedthebodyoverreverently，andexamineditwithgreatattention。Hethensatindeepthoughtforatime，andI

couldseebyhisruffledbrowthatthisgrimdiscoveryhadnot，inhisopinion，advancedusmuchinourinquiry。

"Itisalittledifficulttoknowwhattodo，Watson，"saidhe，atlast。"Myowninclinationsaretopushthisinquiryon，forwehavealreadylostsomuchtimethatwecannotaffordtowasteanotherhour。Ontheotherhand，weareboundtoinformthepoliceofthediscovery，andtoseethatthispoorfellow’sbodyislookedafter。"

"Icouldtakeanoteback。"

"ButIneedyourcompanyandassistance。Waitabit！

Thereisafellowcuttingpeatupyonder。Bringhimoverhere，andhewillguidethepolice。"

Ibroughtthepeasantacross，andHolmesdispatchedthefrightenedmanwithanotetoDr。Huxtable。

"Now，Watson，"saidhe，"wehavepickeduptwocluesthismorning。

OneisthebicyclewiththePalmertyre，andweseewhatthathasledto。TheotheristhebicyclewiththepatchedDunlop。

Beforewestarttoinvestigatethat，letustrytorealizewhatweDOknowsoastomakethemostofit，andtoseparatetheessentialfromtheaccidental。"

"FirstofallIwishtoimpressuponyouthattheboycertainlyleftofhisownfreewill。Hegotdownfromhiswindowandhewentoff，eitheraloneorwithsomeone。Thatissure。"

Iassented。

"Well，now，letusturntothisunfortunateGermanmaster。

Theboywasfullydressedwhenhefled。Therefore，heforesawwhathewoulddo。ButtheGermanwentwithouthissocks。

Hecertainlyactedonveryshortnotice。"

"Undoubtedly。"

"Whydidhego？Because，fromhisbedroomwindow，hesawtheflightoftheboy。Becausehewishedtoovertakehimandbringhimback。Heseizedhisbicycle，pursuedthelad，andinpursuinghimmethisdeath。"

"Soitwouldseem。"

"NowIcometothecriticalpartofmyargument。Thenaturalactionofamaninpursuingalittleboywouldbetorunafterhim。

Hewouldknowthathecouldovertakehim。ButtheGermandoesnotdoso。Heturnstohisbicycle。Iamtoldthathewasanexcellentcyclist。Hewouldnotdothisifhedidnotseethattheboyhadsomeswiftmeansofescape。"

"Theotherbicycle。"

"Letuscontinueourreconstruction。Hemeetshisdeathfivemilesfromtheschool——notbyabullet，markyou，whichevenaladmightconceivablydischarge，butbyasavageblowdealtbyavigorousarm。Thelad，then，HADacompanioninhisflight。

Andtheflightwasaswiftone，sinceittookfivemilesbeforeanexpertcyclistcouldovertakethem。Yetwesurveythegroundroundthesceneofthetragedy。Whatdowefind？Afewcattletracks，nothingmore。Itookawidesweepround，andthereisnopathwithinfiftyyards。Anothercyclistcouldhavehadnothingtodowiththeactualmurder。Norwerethereanyhumanfootmarks。"

"Holmes，"Icried，"thisisimpossible。"

"Admirable！"hesaid。"Amostilluminatingremark。

ItISimpossibleasIstateit，andthereforeImustinsomerespecthavestateditwrong。Yetyousawforyourself。

Canyousuggestanyfallacy？"

"Hecouldnothavefracturedhisskullinafall？"

"Inamorass，Watson？"

"Iamatmywit’send。"

"Tut，tut；wehavesolvedsomeworseproblems。Atleastwehaveplentyofmaterial，ifwecanonlyuseit。Come，then，and，havingexhaustedthePalmer，letusseewhattheDunlopwiththepatchedcoverhastoofferus。"

Wepickedupthetrackandfolloweditonwardsforsomedistance；

butsoonthemoorroseintoalong，heather—tuftedcurve，andweleftthewatercoursebehindus。Nofurtherhelpfromtrackscouldbehopedfor。AtthespotwherewesawthelastoftheDunloptyreitmightequallyhaveledtoHoldernesseHall，thestatelytowersofwhichrosesomemilestoourleft，ortoalow，greyvillagewhichlayinfrontofus，andmarkedthepositionoftheChesterfieldhighroad。

Asweapproachedtheforbiddingandsqualidinn，withthesignofagame—cockabovethedoor，Holmesgaveasuddengroanandclutchedmebytheshouldertosavehimselffromfalling。

Hehadhadoneofthoseviolentstrainsoftheanklewhichleaveamanhelpless。Withdifficultyhelimpeduptothedoor，whereasquat，dark，elderlymanwassmokingablackclaypipe。

"Howareyou，Mr。ReubenHayes？"saidHolmes。

"Whoareyou，andhowdoyougetmynamesopat？"thecountrymananswered，withasuspiciousflashofapairofcunningeyes。

"Well，it’sprintedontheboardaboveyourhead。It’seasytoseeamanwhoismasterofhisownhouse。Isupposeyouhaven’tsuchathingasacarriageinyourstables？"

"No；Ihavenot。"

"Icanhardlyputmyfoottotheground。"

"Don’tputittotheground。"

"ButIcan’twalk。"

"Well，then，hop。"

Mr。ReubenHayes’smannerwasfarfromgracious，butHolmestookitwithadmirablegood—humour。

"Lookhere，myman，"saidhe。"Thisisreallyratheranawkwardfixforme。Idon’tmindhowIgeton。"

"NeitherdoI，"saidthemoroselandlord。

"Thematterisveryimportant。Iwouldofferyouasovereignfortheuseofabicycle。"

Thelandlordprickeduphisears。

"Wheredoyouwanttogo？"

"ToHoldernesseHall。"

"PalsoftheDook，Isuppose？"saidthelandlord，surveyingourmud—stainedgarmentswithironicaleyes。

Holmeslaughedgood—naturedly。

"He’llbegladtoseeus，anyhow。"

"Why？"

"Becausewebringhimnewsofhislostson。"

Thelandlordgaveaveryvisiblestart。

"What，you’reonhistrack？"

"HehasbeenheardofinLiverpool。Theyexpecttogethimeveryhour。"

Againaswiftchangepassedovertheheavy，unshavenface。

Hismannerwassuddenlygenial。

"I’velessreasontowishtheDookwellthanmostmen，"saidhe，"forIwashisheadcoachmanonce，andcruelbadhetreatedme。

Itwashimthatsackedmewithoutacharacteronthewordofalyingcorn—chandler。ButI’mgladtohearthattheyounglordwasheardofinLiverpool，andI’llhelpyoutotakethenewstotheHall。"

"Thankyou，"saidHolmes。"We’llhavesomefoodfirst。

Thenyoucanbringroundthebicycle。"

"Ihaven’tgotabicycle。"

Holmesheldupasovereign。

"Itellyou，man，thatIhaven’tgotone。I’llletyouhavetwohorsesasfarastheHall。"

"Well，well，"saidHolmes，"we’lltalkaboutitwhenwe’vehadsomethingtoeat。"

Whenwewereleftaloneinthestone—flaggedkitchenitwasastonishinghowrapidlythatsprainedanklerecovered。Itwasnearlynightfall，andwehadeatennothingsinceearlymorning，sothatwespentsometimeoverourmeal。Holmeswaslostinthought，andonceortwicehewalkedovertothewindowandstaredearnestlyout。Itopenedontoasqualidcourtyard。

Inthefarcornerwasasmithy，whereagrimyladwasatwork。

Ontheothersidewerethestables。Holmeshadsatdownagainafteroneoftheseexcursions，whenhesuddenlysprangoutofhischairwithaloudexclamation。

"ByHeaven，Watson，IbelievethatI’vegotit！"hecried。

"Yes，yes，itmustbeso。Watson，doyourememberseeinganycow—tracksto—day？"

"Yes，several。"

"Where？"

"Well，everywhere。Theywereatthemorass，andagainonthepath，andagainnearwherepoorHeideggermethisdeath。"

"Exactly。Well，now，Watson，howmanycowsdidyouseeonthemoor？"

"Idon’trememberseeingany。"

"Strange，Watson，thatweshouldseetracksallalongourline，butneveracowonthewholemoor；verystrange，Watson，eh？"

"Yes，itisstrange。"

"Now，Watson，makeaneffort；throwyourmindback！

Canyouseethosetracksuponthepath？"

"Yes，Ican。"

"Canyourecallthatthetracksweresometimeslikethat，Watson"——hearrangedanumberofbread—crumbsinthisfashion——：：：：：——"andsometimeslikethis"——：。：。：。：。——

"andoccasionallylikethis"——。`。`。`。"Canyourememberthat？"

"No，Icannot。"

"ButIcan。Icouldsweartoit。However，wewillgobackatourleisureandverifyit。WhatablindbeetleIhavebeennottodrawmyconclusion！"

"Andwhatisyourconclusion？"

"Onlythatitisaremarkablecowwhichwalks，canters，andgallops。

ByGeorge，Watson，itwasnobrainofacountrypublicanthatthoughtoutsuchablindasthat！Thecoastseemstobeclear，saveforthatladinthesmithy。Letusslipoutandseewhatwecansee。"

Thereweretworough—haired，unkempthorsesinthetumble—downstable。Holmesraisedthehindlegofoneofthemandlaughedaloud。

"Oldshoes，butnewlyshod——oldshoes，butnewnails。Thiscasedeservestobeaclassic。Letusgoacrosstothesmithy。"

Theladcontinuedhisworkwithoutregardingus。IsawHolmes’seyedartingtorightandleftamongthelitterofironandwoodwhichwasscatteredaboutthefloor。Suddenly，however，weheardastepbehindus，andtherewasthelandlord，hisheavyeyebrowsdrawnoverhissavageeyes，hisswarthyfeaturesconvulsedwithpassion。Heheldashort，metal—headedstickinhishand，andheadvancedinsomenacingafashionthatIwasrightgladtofeeltherevolverinmypocket。

"Youinfernalspies！"themancried。"Whatareyoudoingthere？"

"Why，Mr。ReubenHayes，"saidHolmes，coolly，"onemightthinkthatyouwereafraidofourfindingsomethingout。"

Themanmasteredhimselfwithaviolenteffort，andhisgrimmouthloosenedintoafalselaugh，whichwasmoremenacingthanhisfrown。

"You’rewelcometoallyoucanfindoutinmysmithy，"saidhe。

"Butlookhere，mister，Idon’tcareforfolkpokingaboutmyplacewithoutmyleave，sothesooneryoupayyourscoreandgetoutofthisthebetterIshallbepleased。"

"Allright，Mr。Hayes——noharmmeant，"saidHolmes。

"Wehavebeenhavingalookatyourhorses，butIthinkI’llwalkafterall。It’snotfar，Ibelieve。"

"NotmorethantwomilestotheHallgates。That’stheroadtotheleft。"Hewatcheduswithsulleneyesuntilwehadlefthispremises。

Wedidnotgoveryfaralongtheroad，forHolmesstoppedtheinstantthatthecurvehidusfromthelandlord’sview。

"Wewerewarm，asthechildrensay，atthatinn，"saidhe。

"IseemtogrowcoldereverystepthatItakeawayfromit。

No，no；Ican’tpossiblyleaveit。"

"Iamconvinced，"saidI，"thatthisReubenHayesknowsallaboutit。Amoreself—evidentvillainIneversaw。"

"Oh！heimpressedyouinthatway，didhe？Therearethehorses，thereisthesmithy。Yes，itisaninterestingplace，thisFightingCock。Ithinkweshallhaveanotherlookatitinanunobtrusiveway。"

Along，slopinghillside，dottedwithgreylimestoneboulders，stretchedbehindus。Wehadturnedofftheroad，andweremakingourwayupthehill，when，lookinginthedirectionofHoldernesseHall，Isawacyclistcomingswiftlyalong。

"Getdown，Watson！"criedHolmes，withaheavyhanduponmyshoulder。Wehadhardlysunkfromviewwhenthemanflewpastusontheroad。AmidarollingcloudofdustIcaughtaglimpseofapale，agitatedface——afacewithhorrorineverylineament，themouthopen，theeyesstaringwildlyinfront。

ItwaslikesomestrangecaricatureofthedapperJamesWilderwhomwehadseenthenightbefore。

"TheDuke’ssecretary！"criedHolmes。"Come，Watson，letusseewhathedoes。"

Wescrambledfromrocktorockuntilinafewmomentswehadmadeourwaytoapointfromwhichwecouldseethefrontdooroftheinn。Wilder’sbicyclewasleaningagainstthewallbesideit。Noonewasmovingaboutthehouse，norcouldwecatchaglimpseofanyfacesatthewindows。SlowlythetwilightcreptdownasthesunsankbehindthehightowersofHoldernesseHall。Theninthegloomwesawthetwoside—lampsofatraplightupinthestableyardoftheinn，andshortlyafterwardsheardtherattleofhoofs，asitwheeledoutintotheroadandtoreoffatafuriouspaceinthedirectionofChesterfield。

"Whatdoyoumakeofthat，Watson？"Holmeswhispered。

"Itlookslikeaflight。"

"Asinglemaninadog—cart，sofarasIcouldsee。Well，itcertainlywasnotMr。JamesWilder，forthereheisatthedoor。"

Aredsquareoflighthadsprungoutofthedarkness。Inthemiddleofitwastheblackfigureofthesecretary，hisheadadvanced，peeringoutintothenight。Itwasevidentthathewasexpectingsomeone。Thenatlasttherewerestepsintheroad，asecondfigurewasvisibleforaninstantagainstthelight，thedoorshut，andallwasblackoncemore。Fiveminuteslateralampwaslitinaroomuponthefirstfloor。

"ItseemstobeacuriousclassofcustomthatisdonebytheFightingCock，"saidHolmes。

"Thebarisontheotherside。"

"Quiteso。Thesearewhatonemaycalltheprivateguests。

Now，whatintheworldisMr。JamesWilderdoinginthatdenatthishourofnight，andwhoisthecompanionwhocomestomeethimthere？Come，Watson，wemustreallytakeariskandtrytoinvestigatethisalittlemoreclosely。"

Togetherwestoledowntotheroadandcreptacrosstothedooroftheinn。Thebicyclestillleanedagainstthewall。

Holmesstruckamatchandheldittothebackwheel，andI

heardhimchuckleasthelightfelluponapatchedDunloptyre。

Upaboveuswasthelightedwindow。

"Imusthaveapeepthroughthat，Watson。Ifyoubendyourbackandsupportyourselfuponthewall，IthinkthatIcanmanage。"

Aninstantlaterhisfeetwereonmyshoulders。

Buthewashardlyupbeforehewasdownagain。

"Come，myfriend，"saidhe，"ourday’sworkhasbeenquitelongenough。Ithinkthatwehavegatheredallthatwecan。It’salongwalktotheschool，andthesoonerwegetstartedthebetter。"

Hehardlyopenedhislipsduringthatwearytrudgeacrossthemoor，norwouldheentertheschoolwhenhereachedit，butwentontoMackletonStation，whencehecouldsendsometelegrams。

LateatnightIheardhimconsolingDr。Huxtable，prostratedbythetragedyofhismaster’sdeath，andlaterstillheenteredmyroomasalertandvigorousashehadbeenwhenhestartedinthemorning。

"Allgoeswell，myfriend，"saidhe。"Ipromisethatbeforeto—morroweveningweshallhavereachedthesolutionofthemystery。"

Ateleveno’clocknextmorningmyfriendandIwerewalkingupthefamousyewavenueofHoldernesseHall。WewereusheredthroughthemagnificentElizabethandoorwayandintohisGrace’sstudy。TherewefoundMr。JamesWilder，demureandcourtly，butwithsometraceofthatwildterrorofthenightbeforestilllurkinginhisfurtiveeyesandinhistwitchingfeatures。

"YouhavecometoseehisGrace？Iamsorry；butthefactisthattheDukeisfarfromwell。Hehasbeenverymuchupsetbythetragicnews。WereceivedatelegramfromDr。Huxtableyesterdayafternoon，whichtoldusofyourdiscovery。"

"ImustseetheDuke，Mr。Wilder。"

"Butheisinhisroom。"

"ThenImustgotohisroom。"

"Ibelieveheisinhisbed。"

"Iwillseehimthere。"

Holmes’scoldandinexorablemannershowedthesecretarythatitwasuselesstoarguewithhim。

"Verygood，Mr。Holmes；Iwilltellhimthatyouarehere。"

Afterhalfanhour’sdelaythegreatnoblemanappeared。

Hisfacewasmorecadaverousthanever，hisshouldershadrounded，andheseemedtometobeanaltogetheroldermanthanhehadbeenthemorningbefore。Hegreeteduswithastatelycourtesyandseatedhimselfathisdesk，hisredbeardstreamingdownontothetable。

"Well，Mr。Holmes？"saidhe。

Butmyfriend’seyeswerefixeduponthesecretary，whostoodbyhismaster’schair。

"Ithink，yourGrace，thatIcouldspeakmorefreelyinMr。Wilder’sabsence。"

ThemanturnedashadepalerandcastamalignantglanceatHolmes。

"IfyourGracewishes————"

"Yes，yes；youhadbettergo。Now，Mr。Holmes，whathaveyoutosay？"

Myfriendwaiteduntilthedoorhadclosedbehindtheretreatingsecretary。

"Thefactis，yourGrace，"saidhe，"thatmycolleague，Dr。Watson，andmyselfhadanassurancefromDr。Huxtablethatarewardhadbeenofferedinthiscase。Ishouldliketohavethisconfirmedfromyourownlips。"

"Certainly，Mr。Holmes。"

"Itamounted，ifIamcorrectlyinformed，tofivethousandpoundstoanyonewhowilltellyouwhereyoursonis？"

"Exactly。"

"Andanotherthousandtothemanwhowillnamethepersonorpersonswhokeephimincustody？"

"Exactly。"

"Underthelatterheadingisincluded，nodoubt，notonlythosewhomayhavetakenhimaway，butalsothosewhoconspiretokeephiminhispresentposition？"

"Yes，yes，"criedtheDuke，impatiently。"Ifyoudoyourworkwell，Mr。SherlockHolmes，youwillhavenoreasontocomplainofniggardlytreatment。"

Myfriendrubbedhisthinhandstogetherwithanappearanceofaviditywhichwasasurprisetome，whoknewhisfrugaltastes。

"IfancythatIseeyourGrace’scheque—bookuponthetable，"

saidhe。"Ishouldbegladifyouwouldmakemeoutachequeforsixthousandpounds。Itwouldbeaswell，perhaps，foryoutocrossit。TheCapitalandCountiesBank，OxfordStreetbranch，aremyagents。"

HisGracesatverysternanduprightinhischair，andlookedstonilyatmyfriend。

"Isthisajoke，Mr。Holmes？Itishardlyasubjectforpleasantry。"

"Notatall，yourGrace。Iwasnevermoreearnestinmylife。"

"Whatdoyoumean，then？"

"ImeanthatIhaveearnedthereward。Iknowwhereyoursonis，andIknowsome，atleast，ofthosewhoareholdinghim。"

TheDuke’sbeardhadturnedmoreaggressivelyredthaneveragainsthisghastlywhiteface。

"Whereishe？"hegasped。

"Heis，orwaslastnight，attheFightingCockInn，abouttwomilesfromyourparkgate。"

TheDukefellbackinhischair。

"Andwhomdoyouaccuse？"

SherlockHolmes’sanswerwasanastoundingone。HesteppedswiftlyforwardandtouchedtheDukeupontheshoulder。

"IaccuseYOU，"saidhe。"Andnow，yourGrace，I’lltroubleyouforthatcheque。"

NevershallIforgettheDuke’sappearanceashesprangupandclawedwithhishandslikeonewhoissinkingintoanabyss。

Then，withanextraordinaryeffortofaristocraticself—command，hesatdownandsankhisfaceinhishands。Itwassomeminutesbeforehespoke。

"Howmuchdoyouknow？"heaskedatlast，withoutraisinghishead。

"Isawyoutogetherlastnight。"

"Doesanyoneelsebesidesyourfriendknow？"

"Ihavespokentonoone。"

TheDuketookapeninhisquiveringfingersandopenedhischeque—book。

"Ishallbeasgoodasmyword，Mr。Holmes。Iamabouttowriteyourcheque，howeverunwelcometheinformationwhichyouhavegainedmaybetome。WhentheofferwasfirstmadeIlittlethoughttheturnwhicheventsmighttake。Butyouandyourfriendaremenofdiscretion，Mr。Holmes？"

"IhardlyunderstandyourGrace。"

"Imustputitplainly，Mr。Holmes。Ifonlyyoutwoknowofthisincident，thereisnoreasonwhyitshouldgoanyfarther。

IthinktwelvethousandpoundsisthesumthatIoweyou，isitnot？"

ButHolmessmiledandshookhishead。

"Ifear，yourGrace，thatmatterscanhardlybearrangedsoeasily。

Thereisthedeathofthisschoolmastertobeaccountedfor。"

"ButJamesknewnothingofthat。Youcannotholdhimresponsibleforthat。Itwastheworkofthisbrutalruffianwhomhehadthemisfortunetoemploy。"

"Imusttaketheview，yourGrace，thatwhenamanembarksuponacrimeheismorallyguiltyofanyothercrimewhichmayspringfromit。"

"Morally，Mr。Holmes。Nodoubtyouareright。Butsurelynotintheeyesofthelaw。Amancannotbecondemnedforamurderatwhichhewasnotpresent，andwhichheloathesandabhorsasmuchasyoudo。Theinstantthatheheardofithemadeacompleteconfessiontome，sofilledwashewithhorrorandremorse。Helostnotanhourinbreakingentirelywiththemurderer。Oh，Mr。Holmes，youmustsavehim——youmustsavehim！Itellyouthatyoumustsavehim！"TheDukehaddroppedthelastattemptatself—command，andwaspacingtheroomwithaconvulsedfaceandwithhisclenchedhandsravingintheair。

Atlasthemasteredhimselfandsatdownoncemoreathisdesk。

"Iappreciateyourconductincomingherebeforeyouspoketoanyoneelse，"saidhe。"Atleast，wemaytakecounselhowfarwecanminimizethishideousscandal。"