The Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 99 The Return (14)
Holmes called: "It's the Duke's secretary! Watson, let's see what he's up to."

We hurried over stone after stone, and presently we came to a place where we could see the gate of the inn.Wilde's bicycle leaned against the wall by the door.No one moved about in the hotel, no faces could be seen in the windows.The sun was setting behind the high spire of the Ducal Palace, and evening was coming on.Dimly we saw two connected gas lamps hanging in the stables of the inn.After a while I heard the clatter of hooves, the sound turned to the road, and then galloped swiftly along Chesterfield Road.

"What do you think, Watson?" said Holmes in a low voice.

"Like running away."

"I saw a man in a carriage. Certainly not Mr. Wilde. He's still in the door."

Suddenly a red light appeared in the darkness.The figure of the secretary appeared in the light, and he peeked into the darkness with his head. He was obviously waiting for someone.After a while, we heard footsteps on the road, and we saw a second figure flash by the light, the door closed, and we fell into darkness again. Five minutes later, a light came on in a room downstairs.

"The 'Gamecock' Inn is a curious habit," said Holmes.

"The bar is on the other side."

"Yes, these are what people call private lodgers. What the hell is Mr. Wilder doing in that dark den so late at night? And who is it that has come to meet him there? We must take the risk, Watson, to get the matter out of the way." Investigate more clearly."

The two of us sneaked down the hillside, came to the main road, and stooped to the door of the hotel.The bike is still leaning against the wall.Holmes struck a match and struck the rear wheel.I heard him smile slightly as the firelight illuminated the thicker Dunlop tires.Over our heads are lighted windows.

"Watson, I must see what's going on in there. If you stoop down and hold yourself against the wall, I think I can see."

After a while his feet were on my shoulders, but he came down before he could straighten up.

He said, "We've had enough work in the day, my friend. I think we've got as much as we can. It's a long way from school here, and we've got to get going."

He barely spoke as we wearily walked across the moor.At school he was in no hurry to go in, but made his way to Macleton Station, where he sent several telegrams.On his return he went to comfort Dr. Huxtable, who was mourning the death of the German teacher.When he came into my house afterwards, he was as vigorous and alert as when he set off early in the morning."Everything is going well, my friend, and I promise to solve this mysterious case by tomorrow night," he said.

At eleven o'clock the next morning my friend and I were on the famous yew-lined avenue at Holderez Hall.A servant guides us through an Elizabethan hall and into the duke's study.When we saw Mr. Wilde, he was still polite, but his eyes were secretive and his expression was a little unnatural, as if there were traces of the extreme fear of last night.

"You have come to see the Duke? Unfortunately, the Duke is very ill and has been troubled by sad news. We had a telegram from Dr. Huxtable yesterday afternoon, and we are aware of what you have discovered."

"Mr. Wilde, I must see the Duke."

"But he's in the bedroom."

"I'm going to see him in the bedroom."

With cool resoluteness Holmes showed the secretary that it was useless to dissuade him.

"Well, Mr. Holmes, I tell him you are here."

After waiting for an hour, the big man appeared.With a haggard face and hunched shoulders, he looked much older than the morning before.After greeting us solemnly, he sat down at the desk, his red beard hanging over it.

But my friend's eyes were fixed on the secretary, who was standing by the duke's chair.

"Duke, I think if Mr. Wilde can back away, I can talk more casually."

The secretary grew paler, and gave Holmes a stern look.

"If the Duke is willing..."

"Yes, yes, you'd better avoid it. Mr. Holmes, what do you want to say?"

My friend waited for the exiting secretary to close the door completely, and then said: "Duke, the thing is, my colleague Dr. Watson and I have been promised by Dr. Huxtable that there will be a reward for solving this case." Yes. I wish to hear your promise with my own ears."

"Certainly, Mr. Holmes."

"If he is right, tell you where your son is, and you will get five thousand pounds."

"correct."

"Another thousand pounds for the name of the man who detains your son."

"correct."

"This entry includes not only the names of those who took your son, but also those who conspired to hold him?"

The Duke said impatiently: "Yes, yes, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, if your investigation is done well, you have no reason to complain of low pay."

My friend rubbed his hands together with a greedy look on his face, because I knew he was always charging so little and this time surprised me.

He said: "Duke, I think your check-book is on the table, and I'd be very glad if you could write me a check for six thousand pounds. You'd better have it back signed. My correspondent bank is Town and Country Bank Oxford Street Branch'."

The Duke sat sternly and stiffly in his chair, looking at my friend indifferently.

"Are you joking? It is no joke, Mr. Holmes."

"Duke, it's not a joke at all. I can't be more serious now."

"Then what do you mean?"

"I mean I've earned that payment. I've detected where your son is, and I know at least a few of the people who held him back."

The duke's red beard was terribly redder on his terribly pale face.

He said out of breath, "Where is he?"

"He was, or was last night at the Gamecock Inn, two miles from your garden gate."

The Duke leaned back in his chair.

"Whom do you want to accuse?"

Sherlock Holmes stepped forward quickly and pressed the Duke on the shoulder. His answer surprised everyone: "It is you who I am accusing. Please write a check, Duke!"

The Duke jumped up from his chair, clenched his hands into fists, like a man who has fallen into an abyss.Then he sat down again with the great self-control of a nobleman, covered his face with his hands, and did not speak for several minutes.I will never forget what the Duke did at that time.

He finally spoke, but didn't look up: "Do you know everything?"

"I saw you with them last night."

"Does anyone else know besides your friend?"

"I haven't told anyone."

Trembling, the Duke picked up the pen and opened the checkbook tremblingly.

"Mr. Holmes, I keep my word. Notwithstanding the circumstances which you have detected against me, I shall write you a check. When the payment was first proposed, I did not expect it to turn out in this way. You and yours, Mr. Holmes. Friends are prudent people, aren't they?"

"I don't understand what the duke means."

"Mr. Holmes, let me just say that there is no need to spread the matter if you two are the only ones who know about it. I think the total amount to be paid to you should be twelve thousand pounds, is it not?"

Holmes smiled and shook his head: "Duke, I don't think the matter can be settled so easily. There must be a reasonable explanation for the death of the school teacher."

"But James didn't know it. He can't be held responsible, can he? It was the murderous villain who did it. James unfortunately hired this person."

"That's how I see it, duke. When a man commits a crime, he also has an inescapable moral responsibility for another crime that arose from it."

"Mr. Holmes, you are undoubtedly right morally, but you are not absolutely right legally. An alibi should not be punished in a murder, let alone an alibi. He hated and abhorred murder very much. As soon as Wilde heard of it, he made a full confession to me, and he regretted it. Within an hour, he cut off all communication with the murderer. Oh, Mr. Holmes, you must Save him, save him! I tell you, you must save him!" The prince could no longer control himself, his face convulsed, and he paced up and down the room, waving his fists in the air. .Finally he calmed down and sat down at the desk."I appreciate that you didn't talk to anyone about it, but you came here first. At least we can discuss how to stop the rumors," he said.

"Yes," said Holmes. "My lord, I think this can only be done if there is an openness between you and me. I want to do my best to help you, but if I can do this, I must carefully understand the circumstances of the matter." .I know you mean Mr. Wilde, and know that he is not a murderer."

"The murderer has escaped."

Sherlock Holmes smiled primly.

"Duke, you may not have heard of my little fame, or you would not have thought so easily of concealing it from me. According to my report, Mr. Reuben Hayes was arrested at eleven o'clock last night. To-day The local sheriff sent me a telegram before I left school in the morning."

The Duke leaned back in his chair and looked at my friend in amazement.

He said: "You seem to have supernatural powers. Has Rubin Hayes been arrested? I am glad to hear that. I hope it will not affect the fate of James."

"Your secretary?"

"No, sir, my son."

Now it was Holmes' turn to be surprised: "To be honest, I am completely ignorant of this matter. Please explain clearly."

"I have nothing to hide from you. I agree with you that in such a desperate situation, no matter how painful it may be for me, the best thing to do is to tell everything frankly. It is James's stupidity and jealousy. , have brought me into such a desperate situation. Mr. Holmes, when I was very young, I was in love with the passion of once in a lifetime. I proposed to this lady, but she refused, she was afraid that this kind of marriage would do to us. The future is in the way. If she was alive, I would never marry anyone. But, she died, leaving this child, for her, I raised and raised this child. I can't admit our father and son relationship to people , but I wanted him to have the best education, and to keep him with him when he was a man. It did not occur to me that he learned the truth when I was not looking, and that he has been abusing the power I have given him ever since, and He creates gossip as much as he can, which I loathe. My present unhappy marriage has something to do with his staying in the house. Especially since he has always hated my young legal heir. You must ask why Under such circumstances, I still keep James in my house. That is because in his face I saw his mother's image, for whose mother, I have suffered endlessly. All her loveliness - there is nothing that James cannot bring to mind or recall to me. I simply cannot let him leave me. I am afraid he will hurt Arthur, Lord Salter, and for safety I put Arthur To Dr. Huxtable's school.

"James and Hayes knew each other because Hayes was my tenant and James was the rent-collector. Hayes was a heinous wretch, but somehow James and he became close friends. James Sirs always liked dirty friends. When James decided to kidnap Lord Salter, he took advantage of him. You remember I wrote to Arthur the day before the accident. James read the letter , and slipped a note in the Duchess's name asking Arthur to meet him at 'Show Hill', a grove near the school, so the boy came. James rode his bicycle that evening--I tell you All these things were confessed by him himself - seeing Arthur in the grove. He told Arthur that his mother wanted to see him very much and was waiting for him on the moor. As long as he went to the grove in the middle of the night, there would be someone Riding him to his mother. Poor Arthur was caught. He was on time for his appointment and saw this fellow Hayes leading a pony. Arthur got on the horse and they set off together. Somebody actually Chasing them, which James had only heard of yesterday, Hess struck the pursuer with his club, and the man died of his wounds. Hess took Arthur to his inn, and shut him up in the One house, tended by Mrs. Hayes, a kind woman, but completely controlled by her murderous husband.

"Mr. Holmes, that was the case when I first saw you two days ago. I knew no more than you did. You will ask James what his motives are. I can only say that in James Much of James's hatred of my heir is inexplicable and inconceivable. In his opinion he should be the heir of all my property, and he has a deep resentment of the law which prevents him from inheriting. .At the same time he had a definite purpose. He was eager to have me break the law, and he thought it my right to do so. He tried every means to keep me from making Arthur his heir, and in the The will said the property went to him. He knew very well that I would never let the police deal with him. I mean he would blackmail me like this, but in fact he didn't because things moved quickly and he didn't have time to make it happen his plan.

"What put an end to his evil plans was your discovery of the body of Heidigar. James was horrified at the news. The two of us were sitting in this study yesterday, and Dr. Huxtable sent A telegram. James was so distressed and agitated that it confirmed my suspicions and I blamed him for what he had done. He confessed everything. Then he begged me to keep the secret for another three days so that Give his criminal accomplice a chance to save his life. I made a concession, as I always do to him. He rushed to the inn immediately to warn Hayes, and paid him the fare of his escape. My going there in the daytime will certainly cause discussion, So as soon as the night came, I hurried to see my dear Arthur. He was all right, but he was still horrified by the violence he had experienced. In keeping with my promise, but also against my will, I agreed to send the child back Stayed there for three days, in the care of Mrs. Hayes. Obviously, the police must be suspicious of reporting the child there without saying who the murderer is, and I can see clearly that the murderer is punished. Poor James will not be free from entanglements. You demand frankness, Mr. Holmes, and I take your word for it, and I have told you everything without concealment or reservation. Will you be as frank as I am? ?”

"Yes," said Holmes, "I must first tell you, my lord, that you are at a great disadvantage before the law. You have pardoned felons and assisted the escape of murderers, for I cannot help suspecting that Wilde financed his accomplices." The escape money came from you."

The Duke nodded in acknowledgment.

"This matter is indeed very serious. In my opinion, what is more to blame is your attitude towards your youngest son. You actually allowed him to stay in the tiger's den for three days."

"They solemnly pledged..."

"What is such a guarantee to them?! You can't guarantee that your youngest son will not be abducted again. In order to accommodate your criminal eldest son, you put your innocent youngest son in danger at any time. This is Very unfair behaviour."

The proud Duke Holderez was not used to such accusations in his own palace.His face was completely red from his high forehead to his chin, and he made no rebuttal from the condemnation of his conscience.

"I will help you, but on one condition. This is that you call your servant, and I will give orders as I wish."

The duke said nothing, but rang the bell.A servant came in.

Holmes said: "Your little master has been found. You must be very happy. The Duke hopes that you will drive the carriage to the 'Gamecock' Inn immediately to bring Lord Salter back home."

After the happy servant went out, Holmes said: "Now that we are sure of the future, we can be tolerant of the past. I can't represent the official. As long as justice is done, I have no reason to say what I know. .As for Hess, I have nothing to say, the gallows awaits him, and I will not save him. I don't know what he will say, but no doubt, Duke, you can make him understand that silence is for him It's good. From the cop's point of view, he's holding the kid for ransom. If the cops can't find more problems themselves, I don't need them to complicate the problem. I warn you, however, Duke, the continued presence of Mr James Wilde in your household will only bring misfortune."

"Mr. Holmes, I understand that very well. We have agreed that he will leave me for good and go to Australia to fend for himself."

"Duke, if this is the case, I suggest that you reconcile with the Duchess as soon as possible and restore your relationship, because you have said yourself that your unfortunate marriage was caused by James."

"I have made arrangements for this, Mr. Holmes, and I wrote to the Duchess this morning."

Mr. Holmes rose and said: "If that is the case, I think my friend and I should be thankful that we have achieved good results in our short three days here. There is one more little matter which I would like to understand. This guy Hess nailed iron paws that pretended to be cow hoof prints on the horse, did he learn such a clever trick from Wilde?"

(End of this chapter)