第11章

"Exactly，"saidHolmes。"Ithink，yourGrace，thatthiscanonlybedonebyabsoluteandcompletefranknessbetweenus。

IamdisposedtohelpyourGracetothebestofmyability；butinordertodosoImustunderstandtothelastdetailhowthematterstands。IrealizethatyourwordsappliedtoMr。JamesWilder，andthatheisnotthemurderer。"

"No；themurdererhasescaped。"

SherlockHolmessmileddemurely。

"YourGracecanhardlyhaveheardofanysmallreputationwhichIpossess，oryouwouldnotimaginethatitissoeasytoescapeme。

Mr。ReubenHayeswasarrestedatChesterfieldonmyinformationateleveno’clocklastnight。IhadatelegramfromtheheadofthelocalpolicebeforeIlefttheschoolthismorning。"

TheDukeleanedbackinhischairandstaredwithamazementatmyfriend。

"Youseemtohavepowersthatarehardlyhuman，"saidhe。

"SoReubenHayesistaken？Iamrightgladtohearit，ifitwillnotreactuponthefateofJames。"

"Yoursecretary？"

"No，sir；myson。"

ItwasHolmes’sturntolookastonished。

"Iconfessthatthisisentirelynewtome，yourGrace。

Imustbegyoutobemoreexplicit。"

"Iwillconcealnothingfromyou。Iagreewithyouthatcompletefrankness，howeverpainfulitmaybetome，isthebestpolicyinthisdesperatesituationtowhichJames’sfollyandjealousyhavereducedus。WhenIwasaveryyoungman，Mr。Holmes，Ilovedwithsuchaloveascomesonlyonceinalifetime。Iofferedtheladymarriage，butsherefuseditonthegroundsthatsuchamatchmightmarmycareer。

HadshelivedIwouldcertainlyneverhavemarriedanyoneelse。

Shedied，andleftthisonechild，whomforhersakeIhavecherishedandcaredfor。Icouldnotacknowledgethepaternitytotheworld；butIgavehimthebestofeducations，andsincehecametomanhoodIhavekepthimnearmyperson。Hesurprisedmysecret，andhaspresumedeversinceupontheclaimwhichhehasuponmeanduponhispowerofprovokingascandal，whichwouldbeabhorrenttome。Hispresencehadsomethingtodowiththeunhappyissueofmymarriage。Aboveall，hehatedmyyounglegitimateheirfromthefirstwithapersistenthatred。

Youmaywellaskmewhy，underthesecircumstances，IstillkeptJamesundermyroof。IanswerthatitwasbecauseIcouldseehismother’sfaceinhis，andthatforherdearsaketherewasnoendtomylong—suffering。Allherprettyways，too——therewasnotoneofthemwhichhecouldnotsuggestandbringbacktomymemory。ICOULDnotsendhimaway。ButIfearedsomuchlestheshoulddoArthur——thatis，LordSaltire——amischiefthatIdispatchedhimforsafetytoDr。Huxtable’sschool。

"JamescameintocontactwiththisfellowHayesbecausethemanwasatenantofmine，andJamesactedasagent。Thefellowwasarascalfromthebeginning；butinsomeextraordinarywayJamesbecameintimatewithhim。Hehadalwaysatasteforlowcompany。WhenJamesdeterminedtokidnapLordSaltireitwasofthisman’sservicethatheavailedhimself。YourememberthatIwrotetoArthuruponthatlastday。Well，JamesopenedtheletterandinsertedanoteaskingArthurtomeethiminalittlewoodcalledtheRaggedShaw，whichisneartotheschool。

HeusedtheDuchess’sname，andinthatwaygottheboytocome。

ThateveningJamesbicycledover——Iamtellingyouwhathehashimselfconfessedtome——andhetoldArthur，whomhemetinthewood，thathismotherlongedtoseehim，thatshewasawaitinghimonthemoor，andthatifhewouldcomebackintothewoodatmidnighthewouldfindamanwithahorse，whowouldtakehimtoher。PoorArthurfellintothetrap。HecametotheappointmentandfoundthisfellowHayeswithaledpony。

Arthurmounted，andtheysetofftogether。Itappears——thoughthisJamesonlyheardyesterday——thattheywerepursued，thatHayesstruckthepursuerwithhisstick，andthatthemandiedofhisinjuries。HayesbroughtArthurtohispublic—house，theFightingCock，wherehewasconfinedinanupperroom，underthecareofMrs。Hayes，whoisakindlywoman，butentirelyunderthecontrolofherbrutalhusband。

"Well，Mr。Holmes，thatwasthestateofaffairswhenIfirstsawyoutwodaysago。Ihadnomoreideaofthetruththanyou。

YouwillaskmewhatwasJames’smotiveindoingsuchadeed。

Ianswerthattherewasagreatdealwhichwasunreasoningandfanaticalinthehatredwhichheboremyheir。Inhisviewheshouldhimselfhavebeenheirofallmyestates，andhedeeplyresentedthosesociallawswhichmadeitimpossible。Atthesametimehehadadefinitemotivealso。HewaseagerthatIshouldbreaktheentail，andhewasofopinionthatitlayinmypowertodoso。Heintendedtomakeabargainwithme——

torestoreArthurifIwouldbreaktheentail，andsomakeitpossiblefortheestatetobelefttohimbywill。HeknewwellthatIshouldneverwillinglyinvoketheaidofthepoliceagainsthim。Isaythathewouldhaveproposedsuchabargaintome，buthedidnotactuallydoso，foreventsmovedtooquicklyforhim，andhehadnottimetoputhisplansintopractice。

"WhatbroughtallhiswickedschemetowreckwasyourdiscoveryofthismanHeidegger’sdeadbody。Jameswasseizedwithhorroratthenews。Itcametousyesterdayaswesattogetherinthisstudy。Dr。Huxtablehadsentatelegram。Jameswassooverwhelmedwithgriefandagitationthatmysuspicions，whichhadneverbeenentirelyabsent，roseinstantlytoacertainty，andItaxedhimwiththedeed。Hemadeacompletevoluntaryconfession。Thenheimploredmetokeephissecretforthreedayslonger，soastogivehiswretchedaccompliceachanceofsavinghisguiltylife。Iyielded——asIhavealwaysyielded——tohisprayers，andinstantlyJameshurriedofftotheFightingCocktowarnHayesandgivehimthemeansofflight。

Icouldnotgotherebydaylightwithoutprovokingcomment，butassoonasnightfellIhurriedofftoseemydearArthur。

Ifoundhimsafeandwell，buthorrifiedbeyondexpressionbythedreadfuldeedhehadwitnessed。Indeferencetomypromise，andmuchagainstmywill，IconsentedtoleavehimthereforthreedaysunderthechargeofMrs。Hayes，sinceitwasevidentthatitwasimpossibletoinformthepolicewherehewaswithouttellingthemalsowhowasthemurderer，andIcouldnotseehowthatmurderercouldbepunishedwithoutruintomyunfortunateJames。Youaskedforfrankness，Mr。Holmes，andIhavetakenyouatyourword，forIhavenowtoldyoueverythingwithoutanattemptatcircumlocutionorconcealment。Doyouinturnbeasfrankwithme。"

"Iwill，"saidHolmes。"Inthefirstplace，yourGrace，Iamboundtotellyouthatyouhaveplacedyourselfinamostseriouspositionintheeyesofthelaw。Youhavecondonedafelonyandyouhaveaidedtheescapeofamurderer；forIcannotdoubtthatanymoneywhichwastakenbyJamesWildertoaidhisaccompliceinhisflightcamefromyourGrace’spurse。"

TheDukebowedhisassent。

"Thisisindeedamostseriousmatter。Evenmoreculpableinmyopinion，yourGrace，isyourattitudetowardsyouryoungerson。

Youleavehiminthisdenforthreedays。"

"Undersolemnpromises————"

"Whatarepromisestosuchpeopleasthese？Youhavenoguaranteethathewillnotbespiritedawayagain。Tohumouryourguiltyeldersonyouhaveexposedyourinnocentyoungersontoimminentandunnecessarydanger。Itwasamostunjustifiableaction。"

TheproudlordofHoldernessewasnotaccustomedtobesoratedinhisownducalhall。Thebloodflushedintohishighforehead，buthisconscienceheldhimdumb。

"Iwillhelpyou，butononeconditiononly。ItisthatyouringforthefootmanandletmegivesuchordersasIlike。"

WithoutawordtheDukepressedtheelectricbell。

Aservantentered。

"Youwillbegladtohear，"saidHolmes，"thatyouryoungmasterisfound。ItistheDuke’sdesirethatthecarriageshallgoatoncetotheFightingCockInntobringLordSaltirehome。

"Now，"saidHolmes，whentherejoicinglackeyhaddisappeared，"havingsecuredthefuture，wecanaffordtobemorelenientwiththepast。Iamnotinanofficialposition，andthereisnoreason，solongastheendsofjusticeareserved，whyI

shoulddiscloseallthatIknow。AstoHayesIsaynothing。

Thegallowsawaitshim，andIwoulddonothingtosavehimfromit。WhathewilldivulgeIcannottell，butIhavenodoubtthatyourGracecouldmakehimunderstandthatitistohisinteresttobesilent。Fromthepolicepointofviewhewillhavekidnappedtheboyforthepurposeofransom。IftheydonotthemselvesfinditoutIseenoreasonwhyIshouldpromptthemtotakeabroaderpointofview。IwouldwarnyourGrace，however，thatthecontinuedpresenceofMr。JamesWilderinyourhouseholdcanonlyleadtomisfortune。"

"Iunderstandthat，Mr。Holmes，anditisalreadysettledthatheshallleavemeforeverandgotoseekhisfortuneinAustralia。"

"Inthatcase，yourGrace，sinceyouhaveyourselfstatedthatanyunhappinessinyourmarriedlifewascausedbyhispresence，IwouldsuggestthatyoumakesuchamendsasyoucantotheDuchess，andthatyoutrytoresumethoserelationswhichhavebeensounhappilyinterrupted。"

"ThatalsoIhavearranged，Mr。Holmes。IwrotetotheDuchessthismorning。"

"Inthatcase，"saidHolmes，rising，"IthinkthatmyfriendandIcancongratulateourselvesuponseveralmosthappyresultsfromourlittlevisittotheNorth。ThereisoneothersmallpointuponwhichIdesiresomelight。ThisfellowHayeshadshodhishorseswithshoeswhichcounterfeitedthetracksofcows。

WasitfromMr。Wilderthathelearnedsoextraordinaryadevice？"

TheDukestoodinthoughtforamoment，withalookofintensesurpriseonhisface。Thenheopenedadoorandshowedusintoalargeroomfurnishedasamuseum。Heledthewaytoaglasscaseinacorner，andpointedtotheinscription。

"Theseshoes，"itran，"weredugupinthemoatofHoldernesseHall。Theyarefortheuseofhorses；buttheyareshapedbelowwithaclovenfootofiron，soastothrowpursuersoffthetrack。TheyaresupposedtohavebelongedtosomeofthemaraudingBaronsofHoldernesseintheMiddleAges。"

Holmesopenedthecase，andmoisteninghisfingerhepasseditalongtheshoe。Athinfilmofrecentmudwasleftuponhisskin。

"Thankyou，"saidhe，ashereplacedtheglass。"ItisthesecondmostinterestingobjectthatIhaveseenintheNorth。"

"Andthefirst？"

Holmesfoldeduphischequeandplaceditcarefullyinhisnote—book。"Iamapoorman，"saidhe，ashepatteditaffectionatelyandthrustitintothedepthsofhisinnerpocket。

VI。———TheAdventureofBlackPeter。

IHAVEneverknownmyfriendtobeinbetterform，bothmentalandphysical，thanintheyear’95。Hisincreasingfamehadbroughtwithitanimmensepractice，andIshouldbeguiltyofanindiscretionifIwereeventohintattheidentityofsomeoftheillustriousclientswhocrossedourhumblethresholdinBakerStreet。Holmes，however，likeallgreatartists，livedforhisart’ssake，and，saveinthecaseoftheDukeofHoldernesse，Ihaveseldomknownhimclaimanylargerewardforhisinestimableservices。Sounworldlywashe——orsocapricious——thathefrequentlyrefusedhishelptothepowerfulandwealthywheretheproblemmadenoappealtohissympathies，whilehewoulddevoteweeksofmostintenseapplicationtotheaffairsofsomehumbleclientwhosecasepresentedthosestrangeanddramaticqualitieswhichappealedtohisimaginationandchallengedhisingenuity。

Inthismemorableyear’95acuriousandincongruoussuccessionofcaseshadengagedhisattention，rangingfromhisfamousinvestigationofthesuddendeathofCardinalTosca——aninquirywhichwascarriedoutbyhimattheexpressdesireofHisHolinessthePope——downtohisarrestofWilson，thenotoriouscanary—trainer，whichremovedaplague—spotfromtheEast—EndofLondon。CloseontheheelsofthesetwofamouscasescamethetragedyofWoodman’sLee，andtheveryobscurecircumstanceswhichsurroundedthedeathofCaptainPeterCarey。

NorecordofthedoingsofMr。SherlockHolmeswouldbecompletewhichdidnotincludesomeaccountofthisveryunusualaffair。

DuringthefirstweekofJulymyfriendhadbeenabsentsooftenandsolongfromourlodgingsthatIknewhehadsomethingonhand。Thefactthatseveralrough—lookingmencalledduringthattimeandinquiredforCaptainBasilmademeunderstandthatHolmeswasworkingsomewhereunderoneofthenumerousdisguisesandnameswithwhichheconcealedhisownformidableidentity。

HehadatleastfivesmallrefugesindifferentpartsofLondoninwhichhewasabletochangehispersonality。Hesaidnothingofhisbusinesstome，anditwasnotmyhabittoforceaconfidence。

Thefirstpositivesignwhichhegavemeofthedirectionwhichhisinvestigationwastakingwasanextraordinaryone。

Hehadgoneoutbeforebreakfast，andIhadsatdowntomine，whenhestrodeintotheroom，hishatuponhisheadandahugebarbed—headedspeartuckedlikeanumbrellaunderhisarm。

"Goodgracious，Holmes！"Icried。"Youdon’tmeantosaythatyouhavebeenwalkingaboutLondonwiththatthing？"

"Idrovetothebutcher’sandback。"

"Thebutcher’s？"

"AndIreturnwithanexcellentappetite。Therecanbenoquestion，mydearWatson，ofthevalueofexercisebeforebreakfast。ButIampreparedtobetthatyouwillnotguesstheformthatmyexercisehastaken。"

"Iwillnotattemptit。"

Hechuckledashepouredoutthecoffee。

"IfyoucouldhavelookedintoAllardyce’sbackshopyouwouldhaveseenadeadpigswungfromahookintheceiling，andagentlemaninhisshirt—sleevesfuriouslystabbingatitwiththisweapon。Iwasthatenergeticperson，andIhavesatisfiedmyselfthatbynoexertionofmystrengthcanItransfixthepigwithasingleblow。Perhapsyouwouldcaretotry？"

"Notforworlds。Butwhywereyoudoingthis？"

"BecauseitseemedtometohaveanindirectbearinguponthemysteryofWoodman’sLee。Ah，Hopkins，Igotyourwirelastnight，andIhavebeenexpectingyou。Comeandjoinus。"

Ourvisitorwasanexceedinglyalertman，thirtyyearsofage，dressedinaquiettweedsuit，butretainingtheerectbearingofonewhowasaccustomedtoofficialuniform。IrecognisedhimatonceasStanleyHopkins，ayoungpoliceinspectorforwhosefutureHolmeshadhighhopes，whileheinturnprofessedtheadmirationandrespectofapupilforthescientificmethodsofthefamousamateur。Hopkins’sbrowwasclouded，andhesatdownwithanairofdeepdejection。

"No，thankyou，sir。IbreakfastedbeforeIcameround。

Ispentthenightintown，forIcameupyesterdaytoreport。"

"Andwhathadyoutoreport？"

"Failure，sir；absolutefailure。"

"Youhavemadenoprogress？"

"None。"

"Dearme！Imusthavealookatthematter。"

"Iwishtoheavensthatyouwould，Mr。Holmes。It’smyfirstbigchance，andIamatmywit’send。Forgoodness’sakecomedownandlendmeahand。"

"Well，well，itjusthappensthatIhavealreadyreadalltheavailableevidence，includingthereportoftheinquest，withsomecare。Bytheway，whatdoyoumakeofthattobacco—pouchfoundonthesceneofthecrime？Istherenocluethere？"

Hopkinslookedsurprised。

"Itwastheman’sownpouch，sir。Hisinitialswereinsideit。

Anditwasofseal—skin——andheanoldsealer。"

"Buthehadnopipe。"

"No，sir，wecouldfindnopipe；indeed，hesmokedverylittle。

Andyethemighthavekeptsometobaccoforhisfriends。"

"Nodoubt。IonlymentionitbecauseifIhadbeenhandlingthecaseIshouldhavebeeninclinedtomakethatthestarting—pointofmyinvestigation。However，myfriendDr。Watsonknowsnothingofthismatter，andIshouldbenonetheworseforhearingthesequenceofeventsoncemore。Justgiveussomeshortsketchoftheessentials。"

StanleyHopkinsdrewaslipofpaperfromhispocket。

"Ihaveafewdatesherewhichwillgiveyouthecareerofthedeadman，CaptainPeterCarey。Hewasbornin’45——fiftyyearsofage。Hewasamostdaringandsuccessfulsealandwhalefisher。In1883hecommandedthesteamsealerSEAUNICORN，ofDundee。Hehadthenhadseveralsuccessfulvoyagesinsuccession，andinthefollowingyear，1884，heretired。

Afterthathetravelledforsomeyears，andfinallyheboughtasmallplacecalledWoodman’sLee，nearForestRow，inSussex。

Therehehaslivedforsixyears，andtherehediedjustaweekagoto—day。

"Thereweresomemostsingularpointsabouttheman。

InordinarylifehewasastrictPuritan——asilent，gloomyfellow。Hishouseholdconsistedofhiswife，hisdaughter，agedtwenty，andtwofemaleservants。Theselastwerecontinuallychanging，foritwasneveraverycheerysituation，andsometimesitbecamepastallbearing。Themanwasanintermittentdrunkard，andwhenhehadthefitonhimhewasaperfectfiend。

Hehasbeenknowntodrivehiswifeandhisdaughteroutofdoorsinthemiddleofthenight，andflogthemthroughtheparkuntilthewholevillageoutsidethegateswasarousedbytheirscreams。

"Hewassummonedonceforasavageassaultupontheoldvicar，whohadcalleduponhimtoremonstratewithhimuponhisconduct。Inshort，Mr。Holmes，youwouldgofarbeforeyoufoundamoredangerousmanthanPeterCarey，andIhaveheardthatheborethesamecharacterwhenhecommandedhisship。

HewasknowninthetradeasBlackPeter，andthenamewasgivenhim，notonlyonaccountofhisswarthyfeaturesandthecolourofhishugebeard，butforthehumourswhichweretheterrorofallaroundhim。Ineednotsaythathewasloathedandavoidedbyeveryoneofhisneighbours，andthatIhavenotheardonesinglewordofsorrowabouthisterribleend。

"Youmusthavereadintheaccountoftheinquestabouttheman’scabin，Mr。Holmes；butperhapsyourfriendherehasnotheardofit。Hehadbuilthimselfawoodenouthouse——healwayscalledit`thecabin’——afewhundredyardsfromhishouse，anditwasherethatheslepteverynight。Itwasalittle，single—roomedhut，sixteenfeetbyten。Hekeptthekeyinhispocket，madehisownbed，cleanedithimself，andallowednootherfoottocrossthethreshold。Therearesmallwindowsoneachside，whichwerecoveredbycurtainsandneveropened。

Oneofthesewindowswasturnedtowardsthehighroad，andwhenthelightburnedinitatnightthefolkusedtopointitouttoeachotherandwonderwhatBlackPeterwasdoinginthere。

That’sthewindow，Mr。Holmes，whichgaveusoneofthefewbitsofpositiveevidencethatcameoutattheinquest。

"Yourememberthatastonemason，namedSlater，walkingfromForestRowaboutoneo’clockinthemorning——twodaysbeforethemurder——stoppedashepassedthegroundsandlookedatthesquareoflightstillshiningamongthetrees。Heswearsthattheshadowofaman’sheadturnedsidewayswasclearlyvisibleontheblind，andthatthisshadowwascertainlynotthatofPeterCarey，whomheknewwell。Itwasthatofabeardedman，butthebeardwasshortandbristledforwardsinawayverydifferentfromthatofthecaptain。Sohesays，buthehadbeentwohoursinthepublic—house，anditissomedistancefromtheroadtothewindow。Besides，thisreferstotheMonday，andthecrimewasdoneupontheWednesday。

"OntheTuesdayPeterCareywasinoneofhisblackestmoods，flushedwithdrinkandassavageasadangerouswildbeast。

Heroamedaboutthehouse，andthewomenranforitwhentheyheardhimcoming。Lateintheeveninghewentdowntohisownhut。

Abouttwoo’clockthefollowingmorninghisdaughter，whosleptwithherwindowopen，heardamostfearfulyellfromthatdirection，butitwasnounusualthingforhimtobawlandshoutwhenhewasindrink，sononoticewastaken。Onrisingatsevenoneofthemaidsnoticedthatthedoorofthehutwasopen，butsogreatwastheterrorwhichthemancausedthatitwasmiddaybeforeanyonewouldventuredowntoseewhathadbecomeofhim。Peepingintotheopendoortheysawasightwhichsentthemflyingwithwhitefacesintothevillage。

WithinanhourIwasonthespotandhadtakenoverthecase。

"Well，Ihavefairlysteadynerves，asyouknow，Mr。Holmes，butIgiveyoumywordthatIgotashakewhenIputmyheadintothatlittlehouse。Itwasdroninglikeaharmoniumwiththefliesandbluebottles，andthefloorandwallswerelikeaslaughter—house。Hehadcalleditacabin，andacabinitwassureenough，foryouwouldhavethoughtthatyouwereinaship。

Therewasabunkatoneend，asea—chest，mapsandcharts，apictureoftheSEAUNICORN，alineoflog—booksonashelf，allexactlyasonewouldexpecttofinditinacaptain’sroom。

Andthereinthemiddleofitwasthemanhimself，hisfacetwistedlikealostsoulintorment，andhisgreatbrindledbeardstuckupwardsinhisagony。Rightthroughhisbroadbreastasteelharpoonhadbeendriven，andithadsunkdeepintothewoodofthewallbehindhim。Hewaspinnedlikeabeetleonacard。

Ofcourse，hewasquitedead，andhadbeensofromtheinstantthathehadutteredthatlastyellofagony。

"Iknowyourmethods，sir，andIappliedthem。

BeforeIpermittedanythingtobemovedIexaminedmostcarefullythegroundoutside，andalsotheflooroftheroom。

Therewerenofootmarks。"

"Meaningthatyousawnone？"

"Iassureyou，sir，thattherewerenone。"

"MygoodHopkins，Ihaveinvestigatedmanycrimes，butIhaveneveryetseenonewhichwascommittedbyaflyingcreature。

Aslongasthecriminalremainsupontwolegssolongmusttherebesomeindentation，someabrasion，sometriflingdisplacementwhichcanbedetectedbythescientificsearcher。Itisincrediblethatthisblood—bespatteredroomcontainednotracewhichcouldhaveaidedus。Iunderstand，however，fromtheinquestthatthereweresomeobjectswhichyoufailedtooverlook？"

Theyounginspectorwincedatmycompanion’sironicalcomments。

"Iwasafoolnottocallyouinatthetime，Mr。Holmes。

However，that’spastprayingfornow。Yes，therewereseveralobjectsintheroomwhichcalledforspecialattention。

Onewastheharpoonwithwhichthedeedwascommitted。

Ithadbeensnatcheddownfromarackonthewall。

Twoothersremainedthere，andtherewasavacantplaceforthethird。Onthestockwasengraved`Ss。SEAUNICORN，Dundee。’