"I have spoken to no one."

　　The Duke took a pen in his quivering fingers and opened hischeck-book.

　　"I shall be as good as my word, Mr. Holmes. I am about to write yourcheck, however unwelcome the information which you have gained maybe to me. When the offer was first made, I little thought the turnwhich events might take. But you and your friend are men ofdiscretion, Mr. Holmes?"

　　"I hardly understand your Grace."

　　"I must put it plainly, Mr. Holmes. If only you two know of thisincident, there is no reason why it should go any farther. I thinktwelve 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 soeasily. There is the death of this schoolmaster to be accounted for.""But James knew nothing of that. You cannot hold him responsible forthat. It was the work of this brutal ruffian whom he had themisfortune to employ."

　　"I must take the view, your Grace, that when a man embarks upon acrime, he is morally guilty of any other crime which may spring fromit."

　　"Morally, Mr. Holmes. No doubt you are right. But surely not inthe eyes of the law. A man cannot be condemned for a murder at whichhe 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 inbreaking entirely with the murderer. Oh, Mr. Holmes, you must savehim- you must save him! I tell you that you must save him!" The Dukehad dropped the last attempt at self-command, and was pacing theroom with a convulsed face and with his clenched hands raving in theair. At last he mastered himself and sat down once more at his desk."I appreciate your conduct in coming here before you spoke to anyoneelse," said he. "At least, we may take counsel how far we can minimizethis hideous scandal."

　　"Exactly," said Holmes. "I think, your Grace, that this can onlybe done by absolute frankness between us. I am disposed to help yourGrace to the best of my ability, but, in order to do so, I mustunderstand to the last detail how the matter stands. I realize thatyour words applied to Mr. James Wilder, and that he is not themurderer."

　　"No, the murderer has escaped."