"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。’