Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 102 The Return (13)
"Let's go ahead and assume the scenario: He was ambushed within five miles of the school, and he wasn't shot, he was hit by a strong arm. I think the kid was running away Definitely not alone. Examining the scene, we found nothing. Except for a few hoof prints of cows and sheep. There was no trail at all within fifty yards of our detour. Another cyclist may have It doesn't matter, besides, there are no human footprints there."

"That's absolutely impossible, Holmes," I cried.

He said: "Great! Your point of view is very correct. Things are not like what I said. I must be wrong in some respects. You have already noticed that. Can you point out other mistakes?
"Maybe he fell and shattered his skull?"

"Do you think it's possible for this to happen in wetlands?"

"I really don't know what to do."

"Don't think like this. A case that is many times more difficult than this, we can still solve it? So far, we have mastered a lot of information. The question is whether we will make good use of it. Just now we Have made good use of the information provided by the bike with the Palmer tires. Now we better find something out of the bike with the thicker Dunlop tires."

We found the track of the bicycle and followed it for a short distance, and the moors then rose to slopes, overgrown with heath.We walked through a waterway, and the trajectory didn't give much more information at all.Where the Dunlop's tire tracks ended, a road led from the boy's home to a low-lying village that loomed in and out.This is the Chesterfield Parkway marked on the map.

We arrived at an ugly and dingy hotel with a sign over the door showing a picture of a fighting rooster.At this moment, Holmes suddenly groaned. He hastily supported my shoulders, or I almost fell down.He twisted his foot, which had happened once before.He jumped with difficulty to the door, where squatting a swarthy old man with a black clay pipe dangling from his mouth.

"Good day, Mr. Reuben Hayes," said Holmes.

The old man raised his sly eyes and cast a puzzled look.He said, "Who are you and why do you know my name?"

"Your sign tells me you must be the head of the family. I suppose you don't have a carriage in your stable?"

"Yes, not at all."

"Now my heels can't touch the ground."

"Then don't touch the ground first."

"But now I can't walk."

"Then you just jump forward."

Mr. Reuben Hayes, though impolite in his manner, was very amiable in conversation with my companion.

He said, "Dear friend, you see I'm having a really hard time right now. I don't mind at all what it takes as long as I can move forward."

"I don't mind either," said the eccentric shopkeeper.

"I have very important business to do. I would be glad if you would lend us a car, and I would give you a pound in guinea."

The innkeeper pricked up his ears and said, "Where are you going?"

"To Holderness House!"

The innkeeper looked at our muddy clothes with his ironic eyes and said: "Are you the Duke's guests?"

Holmes smiled and said: "Anyway, he would like to see us."

"why?"

"We have found some information related to his son's disappearance."

After hearing this, the shopkeeper asked in surprise: "What? Did you really find the trace of his son's escape?"

"Someone said he might be in Liverpool and the police could find the kid anytime."

The expression on the shopkeeper's unshaven face changed rapidly, and his blunt demeanor softened a lot.He said: "I will not congratulate him like ordinary people. I used to be the head of his groom, but he treated me badly and fired me without saying a word. Even so, I heard Liverpool is very happy to have found the little duke, and I am willing to send a message to the duke's mansion for you."

"We would like to have something to eat," said Holmes, "and then I beg you to give us a bicycle."

"I don't have that."

Holmes immediately took out a pound coin.

"As I told you, I don't have a bicycle. I'll give you two horses, and ride them."

Holmes said: "Very well, that is all right. Let us discuss this matter after dinner."

The kitchen was made of slate, and when we were alone in the room, his sprained foot healed immediately.It's evening, and we haven't eaten since morning.Therefore, we took a long time to eat.Then he fell into thought again, and once or twice he went to the window and looked out without moving.And facing the window is a messy courtyard.In a not-so-far corner was a blacksmith's furnace, where a dirty boy worked.On the other side are the stables.Once he just walked over from the window and sat down, suddenly got up from the chair and shouted:

"My God! I think it through! Yes, absolutely. Watson, do you remember the hoof prints we saw today?"

"Yes, there are some."

"where is it?"

"In many places, in the wetlands, on the trails, and near the place where poor Heidegger was in danger.

"Yes, that's it. Well, Watson, have you seen any cows in the moor?"

"I never saw a cow."

"That's strange, Watson. We always see the hooves of cows along the way, but it's strange that there is no cow at all in the whole moor?"

"Yes."

"Now, Watson, think about it carefully. Have you ever seen this mark on the path?"

"Yes, I have."

"Do you think that traces may be like this?" He arranged the breadcrumbs like this—:::::, "And sometimes, it will be like that—∴∴∴∴, maybe occasionally it will be like that—— ::::.do you remember?"

"Can not remember."

"But I can remember. We will only be able to verify it when we have time. I was too reckless to think of it at the time."

"What do you want to tell me?"

"I can only tell you that it is a strange cow, a cow that flies and runs and walks. I am sure, Watson, that no country innkeeper's mind can conceive of such a deception. The solution to the problem becomes Pretty easy, except the kid's still there at the smithy. Let's sneak out and see what we find."

In the crumbling stable over there, there were two horses.The horse's mane is dirty and unkempt, and has never been brushed.He lifted one of the horses' front hooves to look at it, and laughed aloud.

"The horseshoe is old, but it has just been nailed on, and the nails are still new. It is an interesting case. Let us go to the blacksmith's furnace."

The kid had been working as we walked past and ignored us.Holmes glanced over the rotten iron and pieces of wood scattered on the ground.Suddenly, we heard footsteps behind us. It was the owner of the shop.He frowned, his eyes were fierce, his black face was flushed with anger, and he was holding a short iron-headed stick in his hand, and he walked towards us aggressively, which made me feel for the pistol in my pocket.

He yelled, "You two bloody sleuths! What are you doing here?"

Holmes said coldly: "What is it, Mr. Reuben Hayes, you are not afraid that we may find something here?"

The shop owner tried his best to suppress his emotions, and the corners of his ferocious mouth also drooped, pretending to laugh with him, which made it even more terrifying than before.

He said: "Please check here as you please, but it is not allowed to come here without my permission. I think you should pay your bills as soon as possible, sir, and get out of here as soon as possible."

Holmes said: "Yes, Mr. Hayes, we have no malicious intentions. We just want to have a look at the horse. I think we should go on foot. I think the road is quite close."

"It's less than two miles from here to the gates of the Ducal Palace. Just take the road on the left." He looked at us with those angry eyes until we came out of his shop.

We had not gone very far, and as soon as we turned the corner and the shopkeeper was out of sight, Holmes stopped.

He said: "It's warm in the inn, as the children say. I feel like it's getting colder every step I leave it. Yes, I'm never leaving the inn."

I said, "I'm sure the shopkeeper knows about it. He's the worst villain I've ever met."

"Oh, that's your impression of him? And those horses, and that blacksmith's stove. Yes, this gamecock inn is an interesting place. I think we'll sneak a look again."

Behind us there is a slope with many big stones scattered here and there.We were walking up the hill after leaving the road, when we saw a cyclist speeding up from Holderness House.

Holmes put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Watson, squat down!" We didn't have time to dodge, this man had already passed us at a gallop.In the flying dust, I saw a face that had become pale and colorless due to excitement, with its mouth wide open, every wrinkle on its face showed surprise, and its eyes stared blankly ahead aimlessly .This man is the well-dressed Wilde we saw last night.

Holmes shouted: "That is the Duke's secretary, Watson, let us go and see what he is doing."

We hurried over those stones.After a while we came to a place where we could observe the front door of the inn.Wilde's bicycle was leaning against the wall.No one moved in the hotel.There was no one to be seen from the windows.The sun was about to set, and dusk was approaching.Faintly, we both saw two lamps hanging in the stable.After a while, the sound of horseshoes was heard, and the sound was transmitted to the road.Then galloped along the Chesterfield road.

"Do you understand, Watson?" said Holmes in a low voice.

"Looks like he's trying to escape."

"What I saw was a man on a horse. It couldn't be Wilde. He was still standing by the door."

Suddenly, a red light appeared in the darkness, and the figure of the secretary appeared under the light. He looked furtively into the darkness, as if expecting something to come.After a while, there were footsteps on the road. From the light, we saw another figure enter the hotel, and it was dark again after the door closed.About 5 minutes later, a light came on in a room downstairs.

Holmes said: "The custom of the 'fighting cock' hotel is quite new."

"The bar is on the other side."

"Yes, this may be what people call the private quarters. What on earth was Wilde doing in this dark room in the middle of the night? And who was the man who met him there? Watson, we have another adventure." Let’s investigate this matter as clearly as possible.”

The two of us carefully descended the hillside and came to the avenue. Then we lowered our heads and bowed our backs, and walked towards the hotel.The bicycle was still there, and Holmes struck a match at the rear wheel.I heard him chuckle slightly when he realized that the rear wheels were Dunlop tires.

There is a lighted window over our heads.

"Watson, I want to see what's going on in there. If you can bend over the wall, perhaps I can climb up and listen."

After a while, his feet were already on my shoulders, but he came down quickly before he could stand still.

He said: "We've worked long enough today, Watson, and I think we've got what we want. There's still a long way to go from here. Let's go now, the sooner the better. "

He didn't speak again as we wearily walked across the moor.When he came to the school, he didn't want to go in at all, but kept walking in the direction of Macleton Station.There he sent several telegrams.Back at school, he went to comfort Dr. Huxtable, who was now suffering from the tragic death of his young teacher.Then he came to my room, as energetic and alert as he had been in the morning."My dear friend," he said, "everything is ready, and I am sure the case will be brought to light before tomorrow night."

About eleven o'clock next morning we were walking down the Yew-lined Road to Holderness Hall.We were led by servants through the Elizabethan hall and into the Sir's study.There we both saw Wilde, who looked so refined and polite.However, in his surprised eyes and trembling face, traces of the panic from last night still appeared.

"Have you come to see the Duke? I am sorry that the Duke is not well at the moment and the sad news is disturbing. We received a call yesterday afternoon from Dr. discovered."

"Mr. Wilde, I think I must see the Duke at once."

"Sorry, he's resting in the bedroom."

"Well, I'll go see him there."

Holmes expressed his attitude calmly and calmly, no matter what kind of dissuading he was, it was ineffective.

"Okay, Mr. Holmes, let me report to your excellency that you sit here first."

After about an hour, the honorable master came out.He was dead now, looking much older than the day before, his shoulders hunched.After he had a serious talk with us, he sat down at the desk, brushing the table with his rosy beard.

But my friend's eyes are always fixed on the secretary Wilde.

"My lord, our conversation would be easier if Mr. Wilde were not present."

The secretary's face became even more ugly, and he gave Holmes a look with his vicious eyes.

"If you are willing, Duke..."

"Well, you'd better get out of here now, Wilde. Mr. Holmes, say what you have to say."

My friend waited for the secretary to leave, closed the door, and said: "My lord, the thing is that we both heard Dr. Huxtable's promise. It is said that the case is paid. I hope you will admit it yourself. it."

"Yes, Mr. Holmes."

"According to him, if anyone can tell where Mr. Ling is, there will be a reward of five thousand pounds."

"Yes."

"Another thousand pounds for telling by whom your son has been held hostage."

"Yes."

"That means not only the person who took your son is arrested, but also his henchmen, is it not?"

The Duke said impatiently: "Yes, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, if you had done your investigation earlier, you would have no reason to complain about it."

My friend showed a very greedy look, rubbing his hands back and forth.I was surprised at this, because as far as I know he charges very little.

He said: "My lord, I think your checkbook is on the table. I am very glad that you can write me a check for six thousand pounds. You'd better back it again. City and Country Bank, Oxford Street Branch is my agent." bank."

The Duke sat gravely and stiffly in his chair, looking at my friend icily.

"Mr. Holmes, are you joking? This is not a joke."

"My lord, not at all, I am very serious now."

"Then what do you mean?"

"I want to say that now that we've got the fee, I know where your son is and who's holding him back."

The duke's red beard looked even more terrifying compared to his pale face.

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

"To be exact, he was last night at the Gamecock Inn, about two miles from your place."

The duke slumped in his chair and asked: "Whom do you want to accuse?"

Sherlock Holmes' answer was very surprising, and he quickly stepped forward and pressed the Duke's shoulder.

He said: "It is you, my lord, who I want to sue. Now write a check!"

I will never forget the duke's uncharacteristic behavior at that time.He almost jumped up from the chair, his hands clenched into fists, like a person who fell into the abyss.Later, he tried his best to control himself and sat back where he was, put his face in his hands, and didn't speak for a long time.

He finally opened his mouth, but never raised his head: "Then you know everything, right?"

"I saw you with them last night."

"Does anyone else know besides the two of you?"

"I haven't spoken to anyone yet."

With trembling hands, the Duke picked up the pen and wrote the check.

"Mr. Holmes, I will obey what I say, and I will write you a check, even though you have a lot of circumstances against me. When the fee was fixed, I never thought that things would take such a turn. Mr. Holmes, you A very careful person, right?"

"I do not understand what you mean."

"Mr. Holmes, to be clear, since you already know the matter, there is nothing else you can do. You must keep it a secret. I will pay you twelve thousand pounds, will you?"

Holmes smiled and shook his head.

"Duke, this matter is not that simple. You must think about the death of the school teacher."

"But James doesn't know about it, and he's not responsible for it. It's the villain who did it. It's just bad luck that he hired him."

"My lord, I think that if a person commits a crime, he should be morally responsible for the other crimes caused by it."

"Mr. Holmes, you are perfectly right morally, but not legally. In a murder case, no one is punished at all in the absence of a murderer, and he hates killing very much. As soon as Wilde learned The matter was made clear to me, and he regretted it very much. Within an hour, he cut off all communication with the murderer. Mr. Holmes, you must save him, save him!" The duke couldn't help it. His face kept twitching, he walked back and forth in the room, and clenched his fists, waving them in the air, and finally calmed down.He said: "I appreciate your actions. Are you sure you didn't tell anyone about this and came here first? The only thing we can do now is to reduce gossip."

Holmes said: "Yes, Your Excellency. I think it is possible to resolve this matter only by reaching an agreement between you and me. I will do my best to help you, but in order to solve the case better, I need to know the true situation of the matter. I know you're talking about Mr Wilde, and I know he's not a murderer."

"The murderer has escaped."

(End of this chapter)