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but she refused it on the grounds that such a match might mar my
career。 Had she lived； I would certainly never have married anyone
else。 She died； and left this one child； whom for her sake I have
cherished and cared for。 I could not acknowledge the paternity to
the world； but I gave him the best of educations； and since he came to
manhood I have kept him near my person。 He surprised my secret； and
has presumed ever since upon the claim which he has upon me； and
upon his power of provoking a scandal which would be abhorrent to
me。 His presence had something to do with the unhappy issue of my
marriage。 Above all； he hated my young legitimate heir from the
first with a persistent hatred。 You may well ask me why； under these
circumstances； I still kept James under my roof。 I answer that it
was because I could see his mother's face in his； and that for her
dear sake there was no end to my long…suffering。 All her pretty ways
too… there was not one of them which he could not suggest and bring
back to my memory。 I could not send him away。 But I feared so much
lest he should do Arthur… that is； Lord Saltire… a mischief； that I
dispatched him for safety to Dr。 Huxtable's school。
〃James came into contact with this fellow Hayes； because the man was
a tenant of mine； and James acted as agent。 The fellow was a rascal
from the beginning； but； in some extraordinary way； James became
intimate with him。 He had always a taste for low company。 When James
determined to kidnap Lord Saltire； it was of this man's service that
he availed himself。 You remember that I wrote to Arthur upon that last
day。 Well； James opened the letter and inserted a note asking Arthur
to meet him in a little wood called the Ragged Shaw； which is near
to the school。 He used the Duchess's name； and in that way got the boy
to come。 That evening James bicycled over… I am telling you what he
has himself confessed to me… and he told Arthur； whom he met in the
wood； that his mother longed to see him； that she was awaiting him
on the moor； and that if he would come back into the wood at
midnight he would find a man with a horse； who would take him to
her。 Poor Arthur fell into the trap。 He came to the appointment； and
found this fellow Hayes with a led pony。 Arthur mounted； and they
set off together。 It appears… though this James only heard
yesterday… that they were pursued； that Hayes struck the pursuer
with his stick； and that the man died of his injuries。 Hayes brought
Arthur to his public…house； the Fighting Cock； where he was confined
in an upper room； under the care of Mrs。 Hayes； who is a kindly woman；
but entirely under the control of her brutal husband。
〃Well； Mr。 Holmes； that was the state of affairs when I first saw
you two days ago。 I had no more idea of the truth than you。 You will
ask me what was James's motive in doing such a deed。 I answer that
there was a great deal which was unreasoning and fanatical in the
hatred which he bore my heir。 In his view he should himself have
been heir of all my estates； and he deeply resented those social
laws which made it impossible。 At the same time； he had a definite
motive also。 He was eager that I should break the entail； and he was
of opinion that it lay in my power to do so。 He intended to make a
bargain with me… to restore Arthur if I would break the entail； and so
make it possible for the estate to be left to him by will。 He knew
well that I should never willingly invoke the aid of the police
against him。 I say that he would have proposed such a bargain to me；
but he did not actually do so； for events moved too quickly for；
him； and he had not time to put his plans into practice。
〃What brought all his wicked scheme to wreck was your discovery of
this man Heidegger's dead body。 James was seized with horror at the
news。 It came to us yesterday； as we sat together in this study。 Dr。
Huxtable had sent a telegram。 James was so overwhelmed with grief
and agitation that my suspicions； which had never been entirely absent
rose instantly to a certainty； and I taxed him with the deed。 He
made a complete voluntary confession。 Then he implored me to keep
his secret for three days longer； so as to give his wretched
accomplice a chance of saving his guilty life。 I yielded… as I have
always yielded… to his prayers； and instantly James hurried off to the
Fighting Cock to warn Hayes and give him the means of flight。 I
could not go there by daylight without provoking comment； but as
soon as night fell I hurried off to see my dear Arthur。 I found him
safe and well； but horrified beyond expression by the dreadful deed he
had witnessed。 In deference to my promise； and much against my will； I
consented to leave him there for three days； under the charge of
Mrs。 Hayes； since it was evident that it was impossible to inform
the police where he was without telling them also who was the
murderer； and I could not see how that murderer could be punished
without ruin to my unfortunate James。 You asked for frankness； Mr。
Holmes； and I have taken you at your word； for I have now told you
everything without an attempt at circumlocution or concealment。 Do you
in turn be as frank with me。〃
〃I will；〃 said Holmes。 〃In the first place； your Grace； I am bound
to tell you that you have placed yourself in a most serious position
in the eyes of the law。 You have condoned a felony； and you have aided
the escape of a murderer； for I cannot doubt that any money which
was taken by James Wilder to aid his accomplice in his flight came
from your Grace's purse。〃
The Duke bowed his assent。
〃This is； indeed； a most serious matter。 Even more culpable in my
opinion； your Grace； is your attitude towards your younger son。 You
leave him in this den for three days。〃
〃Under solemn promises…〃
〃What are promises to such people as these？ You have no guarantee
that he will not be spirited away again。 To humour your guilty elder
son； you have exposed your innocent younger son to imminent and
unnecessary danger。 It was a most unjustifiable action。〃
The proud lord of Holdernesse was not accustomed to be so rated in
his own ducal hall。 The blood flushed into his high forehead； but
his conscience held him dumb。
〃I will help you； but on one condition only。 It is that you ring for
the footman and let me give such orders as I like。〃
Without a word； the Duke pressed the electric bell。 A servant
entered。
〃You will be glad to hear；〃 said Holmes； 〃that your young master
is found。 It is the Duke's desire that the carriage shall go at once
to the Fighting Cock Inn to bring Lord Saltire home。
〃Now；〃 said Holmes； when the rejoicing lackey had disappeared；
〃having secured the future； we can afford to be more lenient with
the past。 I am not in an official position； and there is no reason； so
long as the ends of justice are served； why I should disclose all that
I know。 As to Hayes； I say nothing。 The gallows awaits him； and I
would do nothing to save him from it。 What he will divulge I cannot
tell； but I have no doubt that your Grace could make him understand
that it is to his interest to be silent。 From the police point of view
he will have kidnapped the boy for the purpose of ransom。 If they do
not themselves find it out； I see no reason why I should prompt them
to take a broader point of view。 I would warn your Grace； however；
that the continued presence of Mr。 James Wilder in your household
can only lead to misfortune。〃
〃I understand that； Mr。 Holmes； and it is already settled that he
shall leave me forever； and go to seek his fortune in Australia。〃
〃In that case； your Grace； since you have yourself stated that any
unhappiness in your married life was caused by his presence I would
suggest that you make such amends as you can to the Duchess； and
that you try to resume those relations which have been so unhappily
interrupted。〃
〃That also I have arranged； Mr。 Holmes。 I wrote to the Duchess
this morning。〃
〃In that case；〃 said Holmes； rising； 〃I think that my friend and I
can congratulate ourselves upon several most happy results from our
little visit to the North。 There is one other small point upon which I
desire some light。 This fellow Hayes had shod his horses with shoes
which counterfeited the tracks of cows。 Was it from Mr。 Wilder that he
learned so extraordinary a device？〃
The Duke stood in thought for a moment； with a look of intense
surprise on his face。 Then he opened a door and showed us into a large
room furnished as a museum。 He led the way to a glass case in a
corner； and pointed to the inscription。
〃These shoes；〃 it ran； 〃were dug up in the moat of Holdernesse Hall。
They are for the use of horses； but they are shaped below with a
cloven foot of iron； so as to throw pursuers off the track。 They are
supposed to have belonged to some of the marauding Barons of
Holdernesse in the Middle Ages。〃
Holmes opened the case； and moistening his finger he passed it along
the shoe。 A thin film of recent mud was left upon his skin。
〃Thank you；〃 said he； as he replaced the glass。 〃It is the se