"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。’