Lookatthisimpression，whereyougetbothtyresclear。
　　Theoneisasdeepastheother。Thatcanonlymeanthattherideristhrowinghisweightontothehandle—bar，asamandoeswhenheissprinting。ByJove！hehashadafall。"
　　Therewasabroad，irregularsmudgecoveringsomeyardsofthetrack。Thentherewereafewfootmarks，andthetyrereappearedoncemore。
　　"Aside—slip，"Isuggested。
　　Holmesheldupacrumpledbranchoffloweringgorse。TomyhorrorIperceivedthattheyellowblossomswerealldabbledwithcrimson。Onthepath，too，andamongtheheatherweredarkstainsofclottedblood。
　　"Bad！"saidHolmes。"Bad！Standclear，Watson！Notanunnecessaryfootstep！WhatdoIreadhere？Hefellwounded，hestoodup，heremounted，heproceeded。Butthereisnoothertrack。Cattleonthissidepath。Hewassurelynotgoredbyabull？Impossible！ButIseenotracesofanyoneelse。Wemustpushon，Watson。Surelywithstainsaswellasthetracktoguideushecannotescapeusnow。"
　　Oursearchwasnotaverylongone。Thetracksofthetyrebegantocurvefantasticallyuponthewetandshiningpath。
　　Suddenly，asIlookedahead，thegleamofmetalcaughtmyeyefromamidthethickgorsebushes。Outofthemwedraggedabicycle，Palmer—tyred，onepedalbent，andthewholefrontofithorriblysmearedandslobberedwithblood。Ontheothersideofthebushesashoewasprojecting。Weranround，andtherelaytheunfortunaterider。Hewasatallman，fullbearded，withspectacles，oneglassofwhichhadbeenknockedout。Thecauseofhisdeathwasafrightfulblowuponthehead，whichhadcrushedinpartofhisskull。Thathecouldhavegoneonafterreceivingsuchaninjurysaidmuchforthevitalityandcourageoftheman。Heworeshoes，butnosocks，andhisopencoatdisclosedanight—shirtbeneathit。ItwasundoubtedlytheGermanmaster。
　　Holmesturnedthebodyoverreverently，andexamineditwithgreatattention。Hethensatindeepthoughtforatime，andI
　　couldseebyhisruffledbrowthatthisgrimdiscoveryhadnot，inhisopinion，advancedusmuchinourinquiry。
　　"Itisalittledifficulttoknowwhattodo，Watson，"saidhe，atlast。"Myowninclinationsaretopushthisinquiryon，forwehavealreadylostsomuchtimethatwecannotaffordtowasteanotherhour。Ontheotherhand，weareboundtoinformthepoliceofthediscovery，andtoseethatthispoorfellow’sbodyislookedafter。"
　　"Icouldtakeanoteback。"
　　"ButIneedyourcompanyandassistance。Waitabit！
　　Thereisafellowcuttingpeatupyonder。Bringhimoverhere，andhewillguidethepolice。"
　　Ibroughtthepeasantacross，andHolmesdispatchedthefrightenedmanwithanotetoDr。Huxtable。
　　"Now，Watson，"saidhe，"wehavepickeduptwocluesthismorning。
　　OneisthebicyclewiththePalmertyre，andweseewhatthathasledto。TheotheristhebicyclewiththepatchedDunlop。
　　Beforewestarttoinvestigatethat，letustrytorealizewhatweDOknowsoastomakethemostofit，andtoseparatetheessentialfromtheaccidental。"
　　"FirstofallIwishtoimpressuponyouthattheboycertainlyleftofhisownfreewill。Hegotdownfromhiswindowandhewentoff，eitheraloneorwithsomeone。Thatissure。"
　　Iassented。
　　"Well，now，letusturntothisunfortunateGermanmaster。
　　Theboywasfullydressedwhenhefled。Therefore，heforesawwhathewoulddo。ButtheGermanwentwithouthissocks。
　　Hecertainlyactedonveryshortnotice。"
　　"Undoubtedly。"
　　"Whydidhego？Because，fromhisbedroomwindow，hesawtheflightoftheboy。Becausehewishedtoovertakehimandbringhimback。Heseizedhisbicycle，pursuedthelad，andinpursuinghimmethisdeath。"
　　"Soitwouldseem。"
　　"NowIcometothecriticalpartofmyargument。Thenaturalactionofamaninpursuingalittleboywouldbetorunafterhim。
　　Hewouldknowthathecouldovertakehim。ButtheGermandoesnotdoso。Heturnstohisbicycle。Iamtoldthathewasanexcellentcyclist。Hewouldnotdothisifhedidnotseethattheboyhadsomeswiftmeansofescape。"
　　"Theotherbicycle。"
　　"Letuscontinueourreconstruction。Hemeetshisdeathfivemilesfromtheschool——notbyabullet，markyou，whichevenaladmightconceivablydischarge，butbyasavageblowdealtbyavigorousarm。Thelad，then，HADacompanioninhisflight。
　　Andtheflightwasaswiftone，sinceittookfivemilesbeforeanexpertcyclistcouldovertakethem。Yetwesurveythegroundroundthesceneofthetragedy。Whatdowefind？Afewcattletracks，nothingmore。Itookawidesweepround，andthereisnopathwithinfiftyyards。Anothercyclistcouldhavehadnothingtodowiththeactualmurder。Norwerethereanyhumanfootmarks。"
　　"Holmes，"Icried，"thisisimpossible。"
　　"Admirable！"hesaid。"Amostilluminatingremark。
　　ItISimpossibleasIstateit，andthereforeImustinsomerespecthavestateditwrong。Yetyousawforyourself。
　　Canyousuggestanyfallacy？"
　　"Hecouldnothavefracturedhisskullinafall？"
　　"Inamorass，Watson？"
　　"Iamatmywit’send。"
　　"Tut，tut；wehavesolvedsomeworseproblems。Atleastwehaveplentyofmaterial，ifwecanonlyuseit。Come，then，and，havingexhaustedthePalmer，letusseewhattheDunlopwiththepatchedcoverhastoofferus。"
　　Wepickedupthetrackandfolloweditonwardsforsomedistance；
　　butsoonthemoorroseintoalong，heather—tuftedcurve，andweleftthewatercoursebehindus。Nofurtherhelpfromtrackscouldbehopedfor。AtthespotwherewesawthelastoftheDunloptyreitmightequallyhaveledtoHoldernesseHall，thestatelytowersofwhichrosesomemilestoourleft，ortoalow，greyvillagewhichlayinfrontofus，andmarkedthepositionoftheChesterfieldhighroad。
　　Asweapproachedtheforbiddingandsqualidinn，withthesignofagame—cockabovethedoor，Holmesgaveasuddengroanandclutchedmebytheshouldertosavehimselffromfalling。
　　Hehadhadoneofthoseviolentstrainsoftheanklewhichleaveamanhelpless。Withdifficultyhelimpeduptothedoor，whereasquat，dark，elderlymanwassmokingablackclaypipe。
　　"Howareyou，Mr。ReubenHayes？"saidHolmes。
　　"Whoareyou，andhowdoyougetmynamesopat？"thecountrymananswered，withasuspiciousflashofapairofcunningeyes。
　　"Well，it’sprintedontheboardaboveyourhead。It’seasytoseeamanwhoismasterofhisownhouse。Isupposeyouhaven’tsuchathingasacarriageinyourstables？"
　　"No；Ihavenot。"
　　"Icanhardlyputmyfoottotheground。"
　　"Don’tputittotheground。"
　　"ButIcan’twalk。"
　　"Well，then，hop。"
　　Mr。ReubenHayes’smannerwasfarfromgracious，butHolmestookitwithadmirablegood—humour。
　　"Lookhere，myman，"saidhe。"Thisisreallyratheranawkwardfixforme。Idon’tmindhowIgeton。"
　　"NeitherdoI，"saidthemoroselandlord。
　　"Thematterisveryimportant。Iwouldofferyouasovereignfortheuseofabicycle。"
　　Thelandlordprickeduphisears。
　　"Wheredoyouwanttogo？"
　　"ToHoldernesseHall。"
　　"PalsoftheDook，Isuppose？"saidthelandlord，surveyingourmud—stainedgarmentswithironicaleyes。
　　Holmeslaughedgood—naturedly。
　　"He’llbegladtoseeus，anyhow。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Becausewebringhimnewsofhislostson。"
　　Thelandlordgaveaveryvisiblestart。
　　"What，you’reonhistrack？"
　　"HehasbeenheardofinLiverpool。Theyexpecttogethimeveryhour。"
　　Againaswiftchangepassedovertheheavy，unshavenface。
　　Hismannerwassuddenlygenial。
　　"I’velessreasontowishtheDookwellthanmostmen，"saidhe，"forIwashisheadcoachmanonce，andcruelbadhetreatedme。
　　Itwashimthatsackedmewithoutacharacteronthewordofalyingcorn—chandler。ButI’mgladtohearthattheyounglordwasheardofinLiverpool，andI’llhelpyoutotakethenewstotheHall。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidHolmes。"We’llhavesomefoodfirst。
　　Thenyoucanbringroundthebicycle。"
　　"Ihaven’tgotabicycle。"
　　Holmesheldupasovereign。
　　"Itellyou，man，thatIhaven’tgotone。I’llletyouhavetwohorsesasfarastheHall。"
　　"Well，well，"saidHolmes，"we’lltalkaboutitwhenwe’vehadsomethingtoeat。"
　　Whenwewereleftaloneinthestone—flaggedkitchenitwasastonishinghowrapidlythatsprainedanklerecovered。Itwasnearlynightfall，andwehadeatennothingsinceearlymorning，sothatwespentsometimeoverourmeal。Holmeswaslostinthought，andonceortwicehewalkedovertothewindowandstaredearnestlyout。Itopenedontoasqualidcourtyard。
　　Inthefarcornerwasasmithy，whereagrimyladwasatwork。
　　Ontheothersidewerethestables。Holmeshadsatdownagainafteroneoftheseexcursions，whenhesuddenlysprangoutofhischairwithaloudexclamation。
　　"ByHeaven，Watson，IbelievethatI’vegotit！"hecried。
　　"Yes，yes，itmustbeso。Watson，doyourememberseeinganycow—tracksto—day？"
　　"Yes，several。"
　　"Where？"
　　"Well，everywhere。Theywereatthemorass，andagainonthepath，andagainnearwherepoorHeideggermethisdeath。"
　　"Exactly。Well，now，Watson，howmanycowsdidyouseeonthemoor？"
　　"Idon’trememberseeingany。"
　　"Strange，Watson，thatweshouldseetracksallalongourline，butneveracowonthewholemoor；verystrange，Watson，eh？"
　　"Yes，itisstrange。"
　　"Now，Watson，makeaneffort；throwyourmindback！
　　Canyouseethosetracksuponthepath？"
　　"Yes，Ican。"
　　"Canyourecallthatthetracksweresometimeslikethat，Watson"——hearrangedanumberofbread—crumbsinthisfashion——：：：：：——"andsometimeslikethis"——：。：。：。：。——
　　"andoccasionallylikethis"——。`。`。`。"Canyourememberthat？"
　　"No，Icannot。"
　　"ButIcan。Icouldsweartoit。However，wewillgobackatourleisureandverifyit。WhatablindbeetleIhavebeennottodrawmyconclusion！"
　　"Andwhatisyourconclusion？"
　　"Onlythatitisaremarkablecowwhichwalks，canters，andgallops。
　　ByGeorge，Watson，itwasnobrainofacountrypublicanthatthoughtoutsuchablindasthat！Thecoastseemstobeclear，saveforthatladinthesmithy。Letusslipoutandseewhatwecansee。"
　　Thereweretworough—haired，unkempthorsesinthetumble—downstable。Holmesraisedthehindlegofoneofthemandlaughedaloud。
　　"Oldshoes，butnewlyshod——oldshoes，butnewnails。Thiscasedeservestobeaclassic。Letusgoacrosstothesmithy。"
　　Theladcontinuedhisworkwithoutregardingus。IsawHolmes’seyedartingtorightandleftamongthelitterofironandwoodwhichwasscatteredaboutthefloor。Suddenly，however，weheardastepbehindus，andtherewasthelandlord，hisheavyeyebrowsdrawnoverhissavageeyes，hisswarthyfeaturesconvulsedwithpassion。Heheldashort，metal—headedstickinhishand，andheadvancedinsomenacingafashionthatIwasrightgladtofeeltherevolverinmypocket。
　　"Youinfernalspies！"themancried。"Whatareyoudoingthere？"
　　"Why，Mr。ReubenHayes，"saidHolmes，coolly，"onemightthinkthatyouwereafraidofourfindingsomethingout。"
　　Themanmasteredhimselfwithaviolenteffort，andhisgrimmouthloosenedintoafalselaugh，whichwasmoremenacingthanhisfrown。
　　"You’rewelcometoallyoucanfindoutinmysmithy，"saidhe。
　　"Butlookhere，mister，Idon’tcareforfolkpokingaboutmyplacewithoutmyleave，sothesooneryoupayyourscoreandgetoutofthisthebetterIshallbepleased。"
　　"Allright，Mr。Hayes——noharmmeant，"saidHolmes。
　　"Wehavebeenhavingalookatyourhorses，butIthinkI’llwalkafterall。It’snotfar，Ibelieve。"
　　"NotmorethantwomilestotheHallgates。That’stheroadtotheleft。"Hewatcheduswithsulleneyesuntilwehadlefthispremises。
　　Wedidnotgoveryfaralongtheroad，forHolmesstoppedtheinstantthatthecurvehidusfromthelandlord’sview。
　　"Wewerewarm，asthechildrensay，atthatinn，"saidhe。
　　"IseemtogrowcoldereverystepthatItakeawayfromit。
　　No，no；Ican’tpossiblyleaveit。"
　　"Iamconvinced，"saidI，"thatthisReubenHayesknowsallaboutit。Amoreself—evidentvillainIneversaw。"
　　"Oh！heimpressedyouinthatway，didhe？Therearethehorses，thereisthesmithy。Yes，itisaninterestingplace，thisFightingCock。Ithinkweshallhaveanotherlookatitinanunobtrusiveway。"
　　Along，slopinghillside，dottedwithgreylimestoneboulders，stretchedbehindus。Wehadturnedofftheroad，andweremakingourwayupthehill，when，lookinginthedirectionofHoldernesseHall，Isawacyclistcomingswiftlyalong。
　　"Getdown，Watson！"criedHolmes，withaheavyhanduponmyshoulder。Wehadhardlysunkfromviewwhenthemanflewpastusontheroad。AmidarollingcloudofdustIcaughtaglimpseofapale，agitatedface——afacewithhorrorineverylineament，themouthopen，theeyesstaringwildlyinfront。
　　ItwaslikesomestrangecaricatureofthedapperJamesWilderwhomwehadseenthenightbefore。
　　"TheDuke’ssecretary！"criedHolmes。"Come，Watson，letusseewhathedoes。"
　　Wescrambledfromrocktorockuntilinafewmomentswehadmadeourwaytoapointfromwhichwecouldseethefrontdooroftheinn。Wilder’sbicyclewasleaningagainstthewallbesideit。Noonewasmovingaboutthehouse，norcouldwecatchaglimpseofanyfacesatthewindows。SlowlythetwilightcreptdownasthesunsankbehindthehightowersofHoldernesseHall。Theninthegloomwesawthetwoside—lampsofatraplightupinthestableyardoftheinn，andshortlyafterwardsheardtherattleofhoofs，asitwheeledoutintotheroadandtoreoffatafuriouspaceinthedirectionofChesterfield。
　　"Whatdoyoumakeofthat，Watson？"Holmeswhispered。
　　"Itlookslikeaflight。"
　　"Asinglemaninadog—cart，sofarasIcouldsee。Well，itcertainlywasnotMr。JamesWilder，forthereheisatthedoor。"
　　Aredsquareoflighthadsprungoutofthedarkness。Inthemiddleofitwastheblackfigureofthesecretary，hisheadadvanced，peeringoutintothenight。Itwasevidentthathewasexpectingsomeone。Thenatlasttherewerestepsintheroad，asecondfigurewasvisibleforaninstantagainstthelight，thedoorshut，andallwasblackoncemore。Fiveminuteslateralampwaslitinaroomuponthefirstfloor。
　　"ItseemstobeacuriousclassofcustomthatisdonebytheFightingCock，"saidHolmes。
　　"Thebarisontheotherside。"
　　"Quiteso。Thesearewhatonemaycalltheprivateguests。
　　Now，whatintheworldisMr。JamesWilderdoinginthatdenatthishourofnight，andwhoisthecompanionwhocomestomeethimthere？Come，Watson，wemustreallytakeariskandtrytoinvestigatethisalittlemoreclosely。"
　　Togetherwestoledowntotheroadandcreptacrosstothedooroftheinn。Thebicyclestillleanedagainstthewall。
　　Holmesstruckamatchandheldittothebackwheel，andI
　　heardhimchuckleasthelightfelluponapatchedDunloptyre。
　　Upaboveuswasthelightedwindow。
　　"Imusthaveapeepthroughthat，Watson。Ifyoubendyourbackandsupportyourselfuponthewall，IthinkthatIcanmanage。"
　　Aninstantlaterhisfeetwereonmyshoulders。
　　Buthewashardlyupbeforehewasdownagain。
　　"Come，myfriend，"saidhe，"ourday’sworkhasbeenquitelongenough。Ithinkthatwehavegatheredallthatwecan。It’salongwalktotheschool，andthesoonerwegetstartedthebetter。"
　　Hehardlyopenedhislipsduringthatwearytrudgeacrossthemoor，norwouldheentertheschoolwhenhereachedit，butwentontoMackletonStation，whencehecouldsendsometelegrams。
　　LateatnightIheardhimconsolingDr。Huxtable，prostratedbythetragedyofhismaster’sdeath，andlaterstillheenteredmyroomasalertandvigorousashehadbeenwhenhestartedinthemorning。
　　"Allgoeswell，myfriend，"saidhe。"Ipromisethatbeforeto—morroweveningweshallhavereachedthesolutionofthemystery。"
　　Ateleveno’clocknextmorningmyfriendandIwerewalkingupthefamousyewavenueofHoldernesseHall。WewereusheredthroughthemagnificentElizabethandoorwayandintohisGrace’sstudy。TherewefoundMr。JamesWilder，demureandcourtly，butwithsometraceofthatwildterrorofthenightbeforestilllurkinginhisfurtiveeyesandinhistwitchingfeatures。
　　"YouhavecometoseehisGrace？Iamsorry；butthefactisthattheDukeisfarfromwell。Hehasbeenverymuchupsetbythetragicnews。WereceivedatelegramfromDr。Huxtableyesterdayafternoon，whichtoldusofyourdiscovery。"
　　"ImustseetheDuke，Mr。Wilder。"
　　"Butheisinhisroom。"
　　"ThenImustgotohisroom。"
　　"Ibelieveheisinhisbed。"
　　"Iwillseehimthere。"
　　Holmes’scoldandinexorablemannershowedthesecretarythatitwasuselesstoarguewithhim。
　　"Verygood，Mr。Holmes；Iwilltellhimthatyouarehere。"
　　Afterhalfanhour’sdelaythegreatnoblemanappeared。
　　Hisfacewasmorecadaverousthanever，hisshouldershadrounded，andheseemedtometobeanaltogetheroldermanthanhehadbeenthemorningbefore。Hegreeteduswithastatelycourtesyandseatedhimselfathisdesk，hisredbeardstreamingdownontothetable。
　　"Well，Mr。Holmes？"saidhe。
　　Butmyfriend’seyeswerefixeduponthesecretary，whostoodbyhismaster’schair。
　　"Ithink，yourGrace，thatIcouldspeakmorefreelyinMr。Wilder’sabsence。"
　　ThemanturnedashadepalerandcastamalignantglanceatHolmes。
　　"IfyourGracewishes————"
　　"Yes，yes；youhadbettergo。Now，Mr。Holmes，whathaveyoutosay？"
　　Myfriendwaiteduntilthedoorhadclosedbehindtheretreatingsecretary。
　　"Thefactis，yourGrace，"saidhe，"thatmycolleague，Dr。Watson，andmyselfhadanassurancefromDr。Huxtablethatarewardhadbeenofferedinthiscase。Ishouldliketohavethisconfirmedfromyourownlips。"
　　"Certainly，Mr。Holmes。"
　　"Itamounted，ifIamcorrectlyinformed，tofivethousandpoundstoanyonewhowilltellyouwhereyoursonis？"
　　"Exactly。"
　　"Andanotherthousandtothemanwhowillnamethepersonorpersonswhokeephimincustody？"
　　"Exactly。"
　　"Underthelatterheadingisincluded，nodoubt，notonlythosewhomayhavetakenhimaway，butalsothosewhoconspiretokeephiminhispresentposition？"
　　"Yes，yes，"criedtheDuke，impatiently。"Ifyoudoyourworkwell，Mr。SherlockHolmes，youwillhavenoreasontocomplainofniggardlytreatment。"
　　Myfriendrubbedhisthinhandstogetherwithanappearanceofaviditywhichwasasurprisetome，whoknewhisfrugaltastes。
　　"IfancythatIseeyourGrace’scheque—bookuponthetable，"
　　saidhe。"Ishouldbegladifyouwouldmakemeoutachequeforsixthousandpounds。Itwouldbeaswell，perhaps，foryoutocrossit。TheCapitalandCountiesBank，OxfordStreetbranch，aremyagents。"
　　HisGracesatverysternanduprightinhischair，andlookedstonilyatmyfriend。
　　"Isthisajoke，Mr。Holmes？Itishardlyasubjectforpleasantry。"
　　"Notatall，yourGrace。Iwasnevermoreearnestinmylife。"
　　"Whatdoyoumean，then？"
　　"ImeanthatIhaveearnedthereward。Iknowwhereyoursonis，andIknowsome，atleast，ofthosewhoareholdinghim。"
　　TheDuke’sbeardhadturnedmoreaggressivelyredthaneveragainsthisghastlywhiteface。
　　"Whereishe？"hegasped。
　　"Heis，orwaslastnight，attheFightingCockInn，abouttwomilesfromyourparkgate。"
　　TheDukefellbackinhischair。
　　"Andwhomdoyouaccuse？"
　　SherlockHolmes’sanswerwasanastoundingone。HesteppedswiftlyforwardandtouchedtheDukeupontheshoulder。
　　"IaccuseYOU，"saidhe。"Andnow，yourGrace，I’lltroubleyouforthatcheque。"
　　NevershallIforgettheDuke’sappearanceashesprangupandclawedwithhishandslikeonewhoissinkingintoanabyss。
　　Then，withanextraordinaryeffortofaristocraticself—command，hesatdownandsankhisfaceinhishands。Itwassomeminutesbeforehespoke。
　　"Howmuchdoyouknow？"heaskedatlast，withoutraisinghishead。
　　"Isawyoutogetherlastnight。"
　　"Doesanyoneelsebesidesyourfriendknow？"
　　"Ihavespokentonoone。"
　　TheDuketookapeninhisquiveringfingersandopenedhischeque—book。
　　"Ishallbeasgoodasmyword，Mr。Holmes。Iamabouttowriteyourcheque，howeverunwelcometheinformationwhichyouhavegainedmaybetome。WhentheofferwasfirstmadeIlittlethoughttheturnwhicheventsmighttake。Butyouandyourfriendaremenofdiscretion，Mr。Holmes？"
　　"IhardlyunderstandyourGrace。"
　　"Imustputitplainly，Mr。Holmes。Ifonlyyoutwoknowofthisincident，thereisnoreasonwhyitshouldgoanyfarther。
　　IthinktwelvethousandpoundsisthesumthatIoweyou，isitnot？"
　　ButHolmessmiledandshookhishead。
　　"Ifear，yourGrace，thatmatterscanhardlybearrangedsoeasily。
　　Thereisthedeathofthisschoolmastertobeaccountedfor。"
　　"ButJamesknewnothingofthat。Youcannotholdhimresponsibleforthat。Itwastheworkofthisbrutalruffianwhomhehadthemisfortunetoemploy。"
　　"Imusttaketheview，yourGrace，thatwhenamanembarksuponacrimeheismorallyguiltyofanyothercrimewhichmayspringfromit。"
　　"Morally，Mr。Holmes。Nodoubtyouareright。Butsurelynotintheeyesofthelaw。Amancannotbecondemnedforamurderatwhichhewasnotpresent，andwhichheloathesandabhorsasmuchasyoudo。Theinstantthatheheardofithemadeacompleteconfessiontome，sofilledwashewithhorrorandremorse。Helostnotanhourinbreakingentirelywiththemurderer。Oh，Mr。Holmes，youmustsavehim——youmustsavehim！Itellyouthatyoumustsavehim！"TheDukehaddroppedthelastattemptatself—command，andwaspacingtheroomwithaconvulsedfaceandwithhisclenchedhandsravingintheair。
　　Atlasthemasteredhimselfandsatdownoncemoreathisdesk。
　　"Iappreciateyourconductincomingherebeforeyouspoketoanyoneelse，"saidhe。"Atleast，wemaytakecounselhowfarwecanminimizethishideousscandal。"