No. 5 The Adventure of the Priory School by Arthur Conan Doyle
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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 anote asking Arthur to meet him in alittle 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 aman with ahorse, who_would take him to her .Poor Arthur fell into_the trap . he_came to_the appointment and found this fellow Hayes with aled 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 akindly 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 adeed .I answer that there_was agreat 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 adefinite 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 abargain 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 abargain 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 atelegram .James was so overwhelmed with grief and agitation that my suspicions, which had never been entirely absent, rose instantly to acertainty, and I taxed him with_the deed . he_made acomplete voluntary confession .Then he implored me to_keep his secret for three days longer, so as to_give his wretched accomplice achance 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 amost serious position in_the eyes of_the law . you_have condoned afelony and you_have aided the escape of amurderer; 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 amost 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 amost 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 aword the Duke pressed the electric bell .aservant 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 abroader 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 for ever 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 adevice ? "

The Duke stood in thought for amoment, with alook of intense surprise on_his face .Then he opened adoor and showed us into alarge room furnished as amuseum .He led the way to aglass case in acorner, 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 acloven 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 .athin film of recent mud was left upon his skin .

" thank_you," said he, as he replaced the glass ." it_is_the second most interesting object that I_have_seen in_the North ."

" and_the first ? "

Holmes folded up his Cheque and placed it carefully in_his note-book ." I_am apoor man," said he, as he patted it affectionately and thrust it into_the depths of_his inner pocket .

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