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A solitary cyclist was coming towards us。 His head was down and his
shoulders rounded； as he put every ounce of energy that he possessed
on to the pedals。 He was flying like a racer。 Suddenly he raised his
bearded face； saw us close to him； and pulled up； springing from his
machine。 That coal…black beard was in singular contrast to eyes were
as bright as if he had a fever。 He stared at us and at the dog…cart。
Then a look of amazement came over his face。
〃Halloa！ Stop there！〃 he shouted； holding his bicycle to block our
road。 〃Where did you get that dog…cart？ Pull up； man！〃 he yelled；
drawing a pistol from his side 〃Pull up； I say； or； by George； I'll
put a bullet into your horse。〃
Holmes threw the reins into my lap and sprang down from the cart。
〃You're the man we want to see。 Where is Miss Violet Smith？〃 he
said； in his quick； clear way。
〃That's what I'm asking you。 You're in her dog…cart。 You ought to
know where she is。〃
〃We met the dog…cart on the road。 There was no one in it。 We drove
back to help the young lady。〃
〃Good Lord！ Good Lord！ What shall I do？〃 cried the stranger； in an
ecstasy of despair。 〃They've got her； that hell…hound Woodley and
the blackguard parson。 Come； man； come； if you really are her
friend。 Stand by me and we'll save her； if I have to leave my
carcass in Charlington Wood。〃
He ran distractedly； his pistol in his hand； towards a gap in the
hedge。 Holmes followed him； and I； leaving the horse grazing beside
the road； followed Holmes。
〃This is where they came through；〃 said he； pointing to the marks of
several feet upon the muddy path。 〃Halloa！ Stop a minute！ Who's this
in the bush？〃
It was a young fellow about seventeen； dressed like an ostler；
with leather cords and gaiters。 He lay upon his back； his knees
drawn up； a terrible cut upon his head。 He was insensible； but
alive。 A glance at his wound told me that it had not penetrated the
bone。
〃That's Peter； the groom；〃 cried the stranger。 〃He drove her。 The
beasts have pulled him off and clubbed him。 Let him lie； we can't do
him any good； but we may save her from the worst fate that can
befall a woman。〃
We ran frantically down the path； which wound among the trees。 We
had reached the shrubbery which surrounded the house when Holmes
pulled up。
〃They didn't go to the house。 Here are their marks on the left…
here； beside the laurel bushes。 Ah！ I said so。〃
As he spoke； a woman's shrill scream… a scream which vibrated with a
frenzy of horror… burst from the thick； green clump of bushes in front
of us。 It ended suddenly on its highest note with a choke and a
gurgle。
〃This way！ This way！ They are in the bowling…alley；〃 cried the
stranger； darting through the bushes。 〃Ah； the cowardly dogs！ Follow
me； gentlemen！ Too late！ too late！ by the living Jingo！〃
We had broken suddenly into a lovely glade of greensward
surrounded by ancient trees。 On the farther side of it； under the
shadow of a mighty oak； there stood a singular group of three
people。 One was a woman； our client； drooping and faint； a
handkerchief round her mouth。 Opposite her stood a brutal；
heavy…faced； redmoustached young man； his gaitered legs parted wide；
one arm akimbo； the other waving a riding crop； his whole attitude
suggestive of triumphant bravado。 Between them an elderly；
gray…bearded man； wearing a short surplice over a light tweed suit；
had evidently just completed the wedding service； for he pocketed
his prayer…book as we appeared； and slapped the sinister bridegroom
upon the back in jovial congratulation。
〃They're married？〃 I gasped。
〃Come on！〃 cried our guide； 〃come on！〃 He rushed across the glade；
Holmes and I at his heels。 As we approached； the lady staggered
against the trunk of the tree for support。 Williamson； the
ex…clergyman； bowed to us with mock politeness； and the bully；
Woodley； advanced with a shout of brutal and exultant laughter。
〃You can take your beard off； Bob；〃 said he。 〃I know you； right
enough。 Well； you and your pals have just come in time for me to be
able to introduce you to Mrs。 Woodley。〃
Our guide's answer was a singular one。 He snatched off the dark
beard which had disguised him and threw it on the ground； disclosing a
long； sallow； clean…shaven face below it。 Then he raised his
revolver and covered the young ruffian； who was advancing upon him
with his dangerous riding crop swinging in his hand。
〃Yes；〃 said our ally； 〃I am Bob Carruthers； and I'll see this
woman righted； if I have to swing for it。 I told you what I'd do if
you molested her； and； by the Lord！ I'll be as good as my word。〃
〃You're too late。 She's my wife。〃
〃No； she's your widow。〃
His revolver cracked； and I saw the blood spurt from the front of
Woodley's waistcoat。 He spun round with a scream and fell upon his
back； his hideous red face turning suddenly to a dreadful mottled
pallor。 The old man； still clad in his surplice； burst into such a
string of foul oaths as I have never heard； and pulled out a
revolver of his own； but； before he could raise it； he was looking
down the barrel of Holmes's weapon。
〃Enough of this；〃 said my friend； coldly。 〃Drop that pistol！ Watson；
pick it up！ Hold it to his head。 Thank you。 You； Carruthers； give me
that revolver。 We'll have no more violence。 Come； hand it over！〃
〃Who are you； then？〃
〃My name is Sherlock Holmes。〃
〃Good Lord！〃
〃You have heard of me； I see。 I will represent the official police
until their arrival。 Here； you！〃 he shouted to a frightened groom； who
had appeared at the edge of the glade。 〃Come here。 Take this note as
hard as you can ride to Farnham。〃 He scribbled a few words upon a leaf
from his notebook。 〃Give it to the superintendent at the
police…station。 Until he comes； I must detain you all under my
personal custody。〃
The strong； masterful personality of Holmes dominated the tragic
scene； and all were equally puppets in his hands。 Williamson and
Carruthers found themselves carrying the wounded Woodley into the
house； and I gave my arm to the frightened girl。 The injured man was
laid on his bed； and at Holmes's request I examined him。 I carried
my report to where he sat in the old tapestry…hung dining…room with
his two prisoners before him。
〃He will live；〃 said I。
〃What！〃 cried Carruthers； springing out of his chair。 〃I'll go
upstairs and finish him first。 Do you tell me that that angel； is to
be tied to Roaring Jack Woodley for life？〃
〃You need not concern yourself about that；〃 said Holmes。 〃There
are two very good reasons why she should； under no circumstances； be
his wife。 In the first place； we are very safe in questioning Mr。
Williamson's right to solemnize a marriage。〃
〃I have been ordained；〃 cried the old rascal。
〃And also unfrocked。〃
〃Once a clergyman； always a clergyman。〃
〃I think not。 How about the license？〃
〃We had a license for the marriage。 I have it here in my pocket。〃
〃Then you got it by trick。 But； in any case a forced marriage is
no marriage； but it is a very serious felony； as you will discover
before you have fin