\"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。’