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no marriage； but it is a very serious felony； as you will discover
before you have finished。 You'll have time to think the point out
during the next ten years or so； unless I am mistaken。 As to you；
Carruthers； you would have done better to keep your pistol in your
pocket。〃
〃I begin to think so； Mr。 Holmes； but when I thought of all the
precaution I had taken to shield this girl… for I loved her； Mr。
Holmes； and it is the only time that ever I knew what love was… it
fairly drove me mad to think that she was in the power of the greatest
brute and bully in South Africa… a man whose name is a holy terror
from Kimberley to Johannesburg。 Why； Mr。 Holmes； you'll hardly believe
it； but ever since that girl has been in my employment I never once
let her go past this house； where I knew rascals were lurking； without
following her on my bicycle； to see that she came to no harm。 I kept
my distance from her； and I wore a beard； so that she should not
recognize me； for she is a good and high…spirited girl； and she
wouldn't have stayed in my employment long if she had thought that I
was following her about the country roads。〃
〃Why didn't you tell her of her danger？〃
〃Because then； again； she would have left me； and I couldn't bear to
face that。 Even if she couldn't love me； it was a great deal to me
just to see her dainty form about the house； and to hear the sound
of her voice。〃
〃Well；〃 said I； 〃you call that love； Mr。 Carruthers； but I should
call it selfishness。〃
〃Maybe the two things go together。 Anyhow； I couldn't let her go。
Besides； with this crowd about； it was well that she should have
someone near to look after her。 Then； when the cable came； I knew they
were bound to make a move。〃
〃What cable？〃
Carruthers took a telegram from his pocket 〃That's it；〃 said he。
It was short and concise：
THE OLD MAN IS DEAD。
〃Hum！〃 said Holmes。 〃I think I see how things worked； and I can
understand how this message would； as you say； bring them to a head。
But while you wait； you might tell me what you can。
The old reprobate with the surplice burst into a volley of bad
language。
〃By heaven！〃 said he； 〃if you squeal on us； Bob Carruthers； I'll
serve you as you served Jack Woodley。 You can bleat about the girl
to your heart's content； for that's your own affair； but if you
round on your pals to this plain…clothes copper； it will be the
worst day's work that ever you did。〃
〃Your reverence need not be excited；〃 said Holmes； lighting a
cigarette。 〃The case is clear enough against you； and all I ask is a
few details for my private curiosity。 However； if there's any
difficulty in your telling me； I'll do the talking； and then you
will see how far you have a chance of holding back your secrets。 In
the first place； three of you came from South Africa on this game… you
Williamson； you Carruthers； and Woodley。〃
〃Lie number one；〃 said the old man； 〃I never saw either of them
until two months ago； and I have never been in Africa in my life； so
you can put that in your pipe and smoke it； Mr。 Busybody Holmes！〃
〃What he says is true；〃 said Carruthers。
〃Well； well； two of you came over。 His reverence is our own homemade
article。 You had known Ralph Smith in South Africa。 You had reason
to believe he would not live long。 You found out that his niece
would inherit his fortune。 How's that… eh？〃
Carruthers nodded and Williamson swore。
〃She was next of kin； no doubt； and you were aware that the old
fellow would make no will。〃
〃Couldn't read or write；〃 said Carruthers。
〃So you came over； the two of you； and hunted up the girl。 The
idea was that one of you was to marry her； and the other have a
share of the plunder。 For some reason； Woodley was chosen as the
husband。 Why was that？〃
〃We played cards for her on the voyage。 He won。〃
〃I see。 You got the young lady into your service； and there
Woodley was to do the courting。 She recognized the drunken brute
that he was； and would have nothing to do with him。 Meanwhile； your
arrangement was rather upset by the fact that you had yourself
fallen in love with the lady。 You could no longer bear the idea of
this ruffian owning her？〃
〃No； by George； I couldn't！〃
〃There was a quarrel between you。 He left you in a rage； and began
to make his own plans independently of you。〃
〃It strikes me； Williamson； there isn't very much that we can tell
this gentleman；〃 cried Carruthers； with a bitter laugh。 〃Yes； we
quarreled； and he knocked me down。 I am level with him on that；
anyhow。 Then I lost sight of him。 That was when he picked up with this
outcast padre here。 I found that they had set up housekeeping together
at this place on the line that she had to pass for the station。 I kept
my eye on her after that； for I knew there was some devilry in the
wind。 I saw them from time to time； for I was anxious to know what
they were after。 Two days ago Woodley came up to my house with this
cable； which showed that Ralph Smith was dead。 He asked me if I
would stand by the bargain。 I said I would not。 He asked me if I would
marry the girl myself and give him a share。 I said I would willingly
do so； but that she would not have me。 He said； ‘Let us get her
married first and after a week or two she may see things a bit
different。' I said I would have nothing to do with violence。 So he
went off cursing； like the foul…mouthed blackguard that he was； and
swearing that he would have her yet。 She was leaving me this week…end；
and I had got a trap to take her to the station； but I was so uneasy
in my mind that I followed her on my bicycle。 She had got a start；
however； and before I could catch her； the mischief was done。 The
first thing I knew about it was when I saw you two gentlemen driving
back in her dog…cart〃
Holmes rose and tossed the end of his cigarette into the grate。 〃I
have been very obtuse； Watson；〃 said he。 〃When in your report you said
that you had seen the cyclist as you thought arrange his necktie in
the shrubbery； that alone should have told me all。 However； we may
congratulate ourselves upon a curious and； in some respects； a
unique case。 I perceive three of the county constabulary in the drive；
and I am glad to see that the little ostler is able to keep pace
with them； so it is likely that neither he nor the interesting
bridegroom will be permanently damaged by their morning's
adventures。 I think； Watson； that in your medical capacity； you
might wait upon Miss Smith and tell her that if she is sufficiently
recovered； we shall be happy to escort her to her mother's home。 If
she is not quite convalescent you will find that a hint that we were
about to telegraph to a young electrician in the Midlands would
probably complete the cure。 As to you； Mr。 Carruthers； I think that
you have done what you could to make amends for your share in an
evil plot。 There is my card； sir； and if my evidence can be of help in
your trial； it shall be at your disposal。〃
In the whirl of our incessant activity； it has often been
difficult for me； as the reader has pro