ee your grace's cheque-book upon the

table," said he. "i should be glad if you would make me

out a cheque for six thousand pounds. it would be as well,

perhaps, for you to cross it. the capital and counties

bank, oxford street branch, are my agents."

his grace sat very stern and upright in his chair,

and looked stonily at my friend.

"is this a joke, mr. holmes? it is hardly a subject for

pleasantry."

"not at all, your grace. i was never more earnest in my life."

"what do you mean, then?"

"i mean that i have earned the reward. i know where your son

is, and i know some, at least, of those who are holding him."

the duke's beard had turned more aggressively red than ever

against his ghastly white face.

"where is he?" he gasped.

"he is, or was last night, at the fighting cock inn,

about two miles from your park gate."

the duke fell back in his chair.

"and whom do you accuse?"

sherlock holmes's answer was an astounding one. he stepped

swiftly forward and touched the duke upon the shoulder.

"i accuse _you_," said he. "and now, your grace,

i'll trouble you for that cheque."

never shall i forget the duke's appearance as he sprang up

and clawed with his hands like one who is sinking into an

abyss. then, with an extraordinary effort of aristocratic

self-command, he sat down and sank his face in his hands.

it was some minutes before he spoke.

"how much do you know?" he asked at last, without raising

his head.

"i saw you together last night."

"does anyone else besides your friend know?"

"i have spoken to no one."

the duke took a pen in his quivering fingers and opened his

cheque-book.

"i shall be as good as my word, mr. holmes. i am about to

write your cheque, however unwelcome the information which

you have gained may be to me. when the offer was first

made i little thought the turn which events might take.

but you and your friend are men of discretion, mr. holmes?"

"i hardly understand your grace."

"i must put it plainly, mr. holmes. if only you two know

of this incident, there is no reason why it should go any

farther. i think twelve thousand pounds is the sum that i

owe you, is it not?"

but holmes smiled and shook his head.

"i fear, your grace, that matters can hardly be arranged so

easily. there is the death of this schoolmaster to be

accounted for."

"but james knew nothing of that. you cannot hold him

responsible for that. it was the work of this brutal

ruffian whom he had the misfortune to employ."

"i must take the view, your grace, that when a man embarks

upon a crime he is morally guilty of any other crime which

may spring from it."

"morally, mr. holmes. no doubt you are right. but surely

not in the eyes of the law. a man cannot be condemned for

a murder at which he was not present, and which he loathes

and abhors as much as you do. the instant that he heard of

it he made a complete confession to me, so filled was he

with horror and remorse. he lost not an hour in breaking

entirely with the murderer. oh, mr. holmes, you must save

him -- you must save him! i tell you that you must save him!"

the duke had dropped the last attempt at self-command,

and was pacing the room with a convulsed face and with his

clenched hands raving in the air. at last he mastered himself

and sat down once more at his desk. "i appreciate your conduct

in coming here before you spoke to anyone else," said he.

"at least we may take counsel how far we can minimize this

hideous scandal."

"exactly," said holmes. "i think, your grace, that this can

only be done by absolute and complete frankness between us.

i am disposed to help your grace to the best of my ability;

but in order to do so i must understand to the last detail

how the matter stands. i realize that your words applied

to mr. james wilder, and that he is not the murderer."

"no; the murderer has escaped."

sherlock holmes smiled demurely.

"your grace can hardly have heard of any small reputation

which i possess, or you would not imagine that it is so

easy to escape me. mr. reuben hayes was arrested at

chesterfield on my information at eleven o'clock last night.

i had a telegram from the head of the local police before

i left the school this morning."

the duke leaned back in his chair and stared with amazement

at my friend.

"you seem to have powers that are hardly human," said he.

"so reuben hayes is taken? i am right glad to hear it,

if it will not react upon the fate of james."

"your secretary?"

"no, sir; my son."

it was holmes's turn to look astonished.

"i confess that this is entirely new to me, your grace.

i must beg you to be more explicit."

"i will conceal nothing from you. i agree with you that

complete frankness, however painful it may be to me, is the

best policy in this desperate situation to which james's

fol