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。\"