[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Naturally meeting Drake in the studio, becoming kind of friends with him, getting his number and like, getting the information or new artists or cool or shit or whatever, you know, like, everyone has this crazy idea in their head like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] If I can meet that, you know, celeb, maybe I'll be friends with him or whatever, you know. For me, it's Pete Wentz from Fallout, boy, what up.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That's, that's great, and that's also like, that shows that, you know, you're not, like, just only motivated by what's gonna do the most views in a sense, but there is still that part where it's like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] This one's going to do views, you know, and like there's the, there's the, what is, uh, what does 22 want and what I like the no jumper fan base want. And sometimes a lot of times like overlap, you know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Hole's doing a whole big thing by the way, huge shout out to Lyrical Lemonade for like, getting the office space and having the whole thing in Chicago or whatever, you know? So like, he's really-


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] There's some synergies there. It's not like competition. It's like, you know, you guys don't shoot music videos yet.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I introduced him to Lil Xan, and I have it on film. Really? In the vlog? In the vlog, yea, I didn't even re-, I went back and I watched it, I was like, oh my god, that was the first night they met, because I was sitting there with Stephen Cannon and Lil Xan, and Cole was texting me,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And they're like, you know, Cole Bennett. And I was like, yeah, he's just a guy. I didn't really understand what's ever. And he was like, Oh my God. I was like, you want him to come over and like, Oh my God. Yeah. And they were like, so excited. And it was just the first time they linked or whatever. So I was like, that was like my one yams moment.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Someone, someone went back to one interview where I was talking about and I was like, oh yeaah, like peep and too poor, like, you know, uh, Kurt and Courtney, you know, and I was like, but don't die peep, like we need you or whatever. But the thing is, is like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] If, you know, if someone starts abusing drugs or, or whatever, like there could be, there is that possibility, you know? But the weird thing is that like, of the people that I was always most, uh, that I've met, that I've been the most concerned about, it was like, slug crisis at the top of the list by far.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uhm, so that's why I was so like, oh shit, like, peep died, like, I didn't really see that coming, you know, and it was just really sad.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He didn't like, he didn't kill himself and he didn't like, actively, from what I've heard, didn't like, actively go out and like, mix shit and OD.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, that's fucking, cause he had so much potential with like, kind of how he was like breaking down genres, like remember like, I mean,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Like, when you first, you first told me about it, like, with pretty much everybody and certain, like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He was like schema posse and like he was wearing like UGG boots and like a rapper and all that shit and it was just like...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, it's crazy. He's like one of those guys who came up in this kind of scene, but then was set to go way on past it into totally different, like weird, like unexplored territory and like got the credibility with the pitchfork, like top 100 songs of the year. And like everyone was kind of like looking at him and stuff.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And it's just like, you know, super sad to lose that kind of talent and dude.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That's true love. And also like kind of baller status cemented.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You're gonna get it taxidermied when it heaven forbid.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think what they do, I know with fish, they just make a recreation of it. You know what I'm saying? Like they don't like use their body, you know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It didn't seem like no jumper was for the money. It seemed, I mean, you just got a motor, you try stuff or whatever. Uhm, but yeaah, I think, well, there was,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I don't know, like, there was like probably some stuff with the bike shop or whatever that was going on, like business wise or something something.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Where's my phone? My phone's against the wall. I'm actually, I think I'm like a fairly good listener.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] My friend was trying to tell me like, you know how someone's talking to you and you're just like looking around thinking about other shit? I'm like, no, I'm normally like locked in listening to that person.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I don't know, I like cars and Nate was like really pumped and that was our last conversation.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] We don't talk outside of like sitting right here normally, you know, unless we're like at a party or something, but it's just like, it's just easier.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] To, to like, okay, I have to have this conversation and now I'm trying to expand my mind a little bit and think about different shit or whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeaah, but here, let me ask you a question, because, this is again, with Nate, I know Nate, I'm locked in, it's just locked, whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But there's guys I meet six times, still don't know their name. All the time, my whole life. I don't know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Is it, is it the guy? Is it that guy? Why, why am I not locking in that guy?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And yeah, if you start DMing with somebody and then you're like friendly or whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Right, and then you don't, you don't necessarily want it to be that sustainable. Like you want it like, you know, you want to kind of get to a thing where it's like, okay, this is the huge core audience I got and they're into it and then they spread it from there or whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Because yeaah, it is funny to think, like, how do these certain things or certain people to get a certain amount of views or whatever and all, like, what's the biggest, like, this one thing can go? And I think you're kind of realistic with yourself in thinking, like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Maybe a million, maybe two is the biggest and you know, how does it plateau or level or whatever, you know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, like you gotta have a goal and a vision, but you gotta be kinda willing to pivot based on...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Your own personal passion. If you're, if you're gonna be a business owner, I think, you know, like.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Well, I mean, there's just different routes, there's different, like, things in, in the rap that, you know, you could switch to.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, there's, there's stuff you haven't thought of that's out there. I'm just saying that like, you know, that I definitely hear what you're saying and I think that...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] A lot of what I'm interested in too is always like a number of like three or four things combined and one of them definitely is like, everyone likes to be right and like also everyone likes to kind of think they have good taste or at least knows what's going to be what. So always trying to predict, predict like what's going to be hot next, you know?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think this is gonna go, this is gonna go, this is gonna go and all of a sudden it goes and you're like, see? You know, and so that's, that's good. And then there's also the part where you're like able to monetize that or help develop, grow and nurture it where it was like I was in artist management and we were like working with pop singers. That was fun. You know, I think there's definitely a world in which I get back into artist management at some point.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, but it would have to be like now, like when I was, when I was 22, it was like, what's your vision? Like let's go execute. And now if I get with an artist and like they really want me to work with me, you know, I'm not saying anyone does.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But it's gonna be like we're working on this shit together and you're gonna listen to what I'm saying and like you need to take my advice because I've seen this and this and like done these different things that could actually help and we're gonna go after it together kind of thing.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I think that's admirable because you could also just be like, yeah, I'll manage you and then just get somebody else to do all the work and act like, you know, you're doing shit or whatever and there's a lot of bad managers out there and it's like, if I was ever


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] If I ever, if I ever like got back involved in something like, I go, I go full in, you know, so I'd be like, we need to go all in, like, I'm only working with this person, like, this is the main client, let's just fucking go for it, you know, kind of thing. Cause there's some people who, who can't commit or they're wishy washy or they're like, I'll get six different things and see which one goes and then we'll go with that one. It's like, no, I think this is going and like, let's go for it, you know,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, but it's like once you get a bunch of artists and you dilute kind of like the focus on one or whatever, then all of a sudden it's again, which one's doing well right now? Let's chase that one. This one's doing well. Let's chase that one. Oh, sorry. Well, no, we'll call you back and like keeping people on hold or whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, and that's kind of the beauty and that's not only the beauty, but also like the mentality you must have when you are.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Working with someone like that or working with some kind of thing that you intend to like go worldwide or get, you know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Like, no, like, if we looked at it worldwide, nobody knows about No Jump. There's so much room for growth worldwide. Like, and if you, if you only think about America or whatever in terms of like-


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, exactly. So no, nobody. No, it's fucking, it's nothing. You know? It's got so much room for growth is what I'm saying. And it's a good thing. That's a positive thing. And you can't ever think of like, that's when people start coasting or like, ah, everyone knows about him or whatever. And that's the thing with like YBN Amir.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, like, yeah, capturing the moment, like, his story is so weird. I mean, we should do the full interview with him.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Instagram kept getting hacked and kept getting hacked and kept getting hacked and then like I think like Instagram wanted to like apologize to him and kept putting him on the popular page or something like that.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And his like, just numbers went crazy. I've never seen anything else like it. I know the Cole, the Cole video.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I don't know, I think there was some other shit too with like, the...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Wait, what was I going to say? Oh yeaah, this is the thing about uhm, like, what people know and what they don't know in worlds, like people can just live in their own bubbles in a sense and it's like, what things will cross all the bubbles besides like maybe the biggest pop star, the biggest rap star and the biggest politician, you know? And that's...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] In this, like, you know, increasingly curated, like, your own feeds and all that shit kind of world, like how do you...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Become like one of those things that spreads out amongst, you know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The fucking world. I don't know, it's just like, it's very interesting, like to, to go to somebody,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And you can, you can say like, you can say like phase banks to a person like, is that a bank? Is that like a chase bank? And you could say it to somebody else and have like 25 minutes of, of like thoughts and whatever it might be, you know? And it's like, it's, it's pretty much either like, I know about it, I've seen the bunch or I like never heard of it, you know?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Speaking of Ludacris, he's an actor and a rapper. There's the crossover. That's the one guy.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] No, I totally, I totally hear what you're saying and it's funny because like I'll dabble around Netflix. I got a girlfriend, so I'm like, Netflix is a big part of my life. And I realized too like having a girlfriend and like, you know, being faithful to her.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Means that, like, my, a huge chunk of my brain that was like trying to keep track of like, I'm flirting with that girl, I know this girl, I met this girl out or whatever, it's just not dedicated to like, business. You know, it's easy, like, forget up a lot of those, like, those 150 spots or whatever, it's like, hey, let's go do more business shit and do more lunches or whatever, uhm.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But yea, it's crazy when you- I'm just like watching- I'm trying to do less lunches. I'm watching like, uh, Riverdale or some shit. And I'm like, oh, this girl's attractive. And then I like, look her up on Instagram and it's like, oh, six million.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And she's dating Travis Mills or some shit. I'm like, wait, what the fuck? How did that, what, you know, like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, like there's the guys, there's those guys who are just like, and I think it's, I think it's a lot now in the DMs really like.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Where it's like, oh shit, this guy followed me and I followed him and we DM'd. Where it used to be like, our agent set up a lunch or whatever, you know, like back in the day. But it's funny to see these crossovers that didn't really make sense, you know?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It is funny, it is funny to be like, uh, you know, someone's like, oh my god, a new picture of emrata is up, and then I go to it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Emily Radajowsky, she was in the Robin Thicke video. Okay, I do know her, she was, yes. And then I go to that picture and it shows me like my two, my two horny friends who have liked the picture and I'm just like laughing my ass off because it's like, I know that they know that she, like, they're never, like, it's not gonna work that way, but they're, they're like, they're like, what's the harm in like double clicking? Maybe she'll like their likes. There is harm.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I think that's hard too because other girls will see your likes and be like, okay, this guy is fucking just horned out.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That's, that's an interesting good point and, and whatever. But again, like, I just feel like.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Just like, so I'm just tired of it, like looking at the numbers and seeing it, okay, it went up a little bit or okay, this one did this number or whatever. It's just like fucking, it's all the same shit.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Just fuckin', Instagram is boring. I mean, I think you can agree with me, Instagram is very boring.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Maybe. Yeah, maybe I don't, maybe when you open up Instagram and you are single, you're like, there's a world of possibilities out there. Let's go to Adam Roddy's thing. Hey, great photo. Click comment. Maybe we got it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Interesting, yeaah, I guess, I guess, uh, I'm not-


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I'm not, uh, doing this at noon on a Tuesday, you know? Right. And it's like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But you, you, so, so, is everything you think you're doing basically research for this job? Yea. And that's fine. And that's, that's totally fair. And, uh,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I'm doing like a freelance job right now where I gotta help find a licensed music for a commercial, right? So I'm, I'm like during the day, you know, deep into like music research and like, you know, finding similar artists and just going as deep as possible.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And then like, you know, I feel like I can take some me time at night and watch some shit that like, well, is more fantasy or whatever. If you don't like fantasy and you don't fuck with Game of Thrones, that's fine.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I mean, I guess then like, so you, you smoke a blunt and unwind and, and watch some more rap videos and vlogs you like, and just kind of stay up on current events in terms of, you know, the scene.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yes, I watch a ton of docs. That's like me and my girl's thing is like we like to get deep into docs and it's fun.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And, uh, we definitely have deep conversations about him afterwards and stuff.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, see, that's another thing is that like, if you, if you have that common ground, like if people like rap music, they're obviously going to be in, just talking or whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, interesting, interesting, interesting. So, I guess, I guess, uh,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Is there ever a time that you're watching something for pure enjoyment and not look considering it research or work? You know, or like, do you remember?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Are you the kind of guy who's like, are you blowing up your employees at like midnight, like texting people, like, hey, fucking clean the shit or whatever?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I guess I mean like, do you ever like, do you have any hesitation at all about texting an employee on the weekend at midnight, some work type shit that you're gonna need done the next day just because you remembered at that moment?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, but I'm saying like Alfredo, an owner, like Kim, she's a hustler, like you're, you're an owner. Uh, but there are employees that like have days off and shit and like, you know, do you ever think about like-


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, right now I'm like working, working like kind of freelance. It's kind of like nine to five ish though. So like, I kind of do have a weekend or I can turn my brain off and I can just be like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Totally zoned out or totally present, like talking to my girl or like helping her with her shit and all that stuff or...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] When was your last vacation? Was it basically like Thanksgiving last year with your family?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I'm going down, I'm going to the Bahamas, uh, in two weeks.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] She's like, got some family stuff. She's family. We're good, like, don't worry.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] See yeaah, I think, I think I see where you're going, but it's like, just take it easy, live the island lifestyle, maybe like, maybe fish, maybe lay on the beach, maybe drink a margarita.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] No, it's interesting hearing you talk about like, like not differentiating between work and not work in a sense and like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know what's funny is that actually the demonetization probably helped you go super because you could have just vlogged and been that fucking guy.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Watching music videos is one of my favorite past times, like-


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's always, it's always like at my house or someone's house before we're about to go out, I'm like let's watch some videos, have a few drinks, and then all of a sudden like three hours later I'm like, I don't want to go out, I want to keep doing this because it's so much fun.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] A lot of guys, there's a lot of like, you know, every time you see any vlogger in LA or in the fucking, you know, vlog scene or whatever, there's five people behind them doing it.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] When I saw that like, uh, when I saw that one of those dudes, Jake or Logan Paul's assistant, had like, a quarter, uh, three quarters of a million, I was like, fucking hell, like.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's crazy and it's scary because it's not that good and it's causing a lot of copycats and there's a lot of bad, bad content going out there and people getting like huge egos off of it and shit.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He must be struggling, no offense, right? Cause like he kinda blew away past it and so, or, or just, he's just a savage, you know?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Well, there's like, YouTubers that exist in worlds that like, people just, I just totally forgot, I literally forgot about FouseyTube, and I haven't heard that name in so long.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Jake, I think kind of smart in making a team, you know, so hopefully maybe he can just like sit back and-


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But he was doing like pranks and like I got on a plane. Was he the plane guy?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I recently watched, uh, uh, this one dude, this happened a while back, but it was a dude at VidCon, cursing out a security guard, calling the security guard ugly.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Who, by the way, I didn't see that chick, that girlfriend he has in the videos now. He what? I love that chick.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Even him, really. She's, she's fantastic. It's so funny. But uh.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know what I think I have? PTSD from cockroaches.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Was. Okay, so that guy cursed out the people at VidCon. Then.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] H3H3 roasting him, so I started looking at this guy's social media, whatever, and there was a video of him getting his ass beat by some other guy.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] So I went to the other guy and it was like some guy who's got like 1.2 million on Instagram and 500,000 on YouTube or whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And he's like, just kind of like, just a normal ass guy, like looks, he's kind of like a thirst trap guy or whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, yeah, and it's just like, there's these kids that just exist out there. There's like, there's like a, I don't know, it would be interesting to see like how many accounts on Instagram have over a million followers or whatever, because I feel like it's just kind of risen and now it's like, is that even a lot?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's definitely a lot, but it's like if there's kids, you don't know every million account, whereas maybe you kind of.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Maybe, maybe not. I, I, I think there's a lot of similarities, but what I want to say is that I have recently looked up Damn Daniel.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] He hasn't like posted since August or whatever, you know?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But somebody like that with nothing there can actually turn it into a something a lot of times, you know, with just enough motor and enough like annoying bullshit or whatever. You can just motor your way into this success or whatever. And a lot of people want to hate on it, but there's like the tiny part of me that still has this admiration like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Jake Paul is the hardest rapper out right now. He has the Gucci Man verse. And I don't care that he paid, you know, a quarter million dollars for it. It's like, he was able to afford that. A, making him a hard rapper.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Okay, okay, yeaah, so I guess, I guess for some reason though he was able to spin it and it became this big story. Bigger story than it should have.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, I'm, I'm not like trying to stay like that. I think Keemstar is like almost like too deep for me. I don't need to know like this guy did this and this and all the drama stuff, you know? But I'm actually, uh, actively searching for like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] The channels that I actually do want to follow, like the people that actually may be interesting or whatever, and it's like, my favorite, and everyone like,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] A lot of people agree, but like my favorite platform of all time was Vine by far. And like when Viners were really going, like not the Viners that we know now, but like the Gen 1 Viners or whatever, like when like Nick Coletti was like really going on Vine, uhm, that was so much fun. And it was like, these people actually have talent. They're interesting.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] They're making these little bits and it's like, this is fun and there's gotta be.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] That kind of person on YouTube somewhere that I'm just trying to find, you know?


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And I click and I click, you know, like I don't sit there and I like no, no offense. I don't have like 10, 12 minutes just to, and I know I was talking about Netflix shows, but those are like produced whatever. And it's like, if your vlog is a very interesting topic or subject or whatever, you know, or like special, like a lot of you talking to people.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Or you're like breaking down an important thing, you know? That's why the clickbait shit thing happens or whatever. Then it's like, okay, I gotta watch this because...


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] You know, something important is being said or whatever, but like, I know what happens with you on a day to day basis. And I know basically.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's weird if you get even the smallest vlog audiences, they just want more and they ask for more and they hit you up and whatever and it's like, you know, I have no subscribers and but there's still like three or four people are like, do a vlog man.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, you just want to go feed it every day and like, that's I think the one thing about Jake Paul that he's, he does something wild every day, like fantasy factory style or whatever, like today we're, you know.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] But they're all about the, like the comedy edits or whatever, the whoosh and the quick, like sound effects and like the quick cuts. None of that.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] It's comedy for 11 year olds. It's comedy that would make you laugh when you're 11 and that's it. And, uh,


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] And, and, and whatever, but like, I'm just thinking like, they're constantly upping the stakes in terms of like, I'm vlogging, which made me rich, and now I have to flaunt my richness to do crazier shit, to like, buy this bigger house, buy this bigger thing. I wanna see how far that goes, and that's kinda maybe the interesting thing is like, are they gonna buy a yacht and just set it on fire? You know, hopefully, or some stupid shit or whatever.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] I want to see how far that goes. That's interesting to me. And then I also want to see like someone who actually comes out and like is like, here's quality. Good. And most of that stuff is actually


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Because he's very, like, social commentary on, like, what's going on. And he'll, like, make fun of some shit or whatever. And, uh, yeaah, I really like his stuff.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Yeah, really good, really good. So, I don't know, it's a whole bunch of weird shit, but... You cold? Nah man, I'm good.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] Uhm, I'm drawing a blank. I tell you who I love, who I worked with very recently was Jeff Goldblum in Thor Ragnarok, who plays the Grandmaster. And uhm, I just think he created such a fascinating and hilarious character. So, yea. I'm so good at that film now.


[User] Please transcribe this text

[Assistant] We now realize that all experience comes from brain activity or even religious experiences.


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[Assistant] Are a product of a certain pattern of brain stimulation.


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[Assistant] There is a distribution of cult leaders which are convinced that they are doing this by cosmic consent and almost invariably they have to proselytize. They have to spread the word.


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[Assistant] In terms of children and seniors and the number of people that were injected were over 600 people. How many people, uhm, drank


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[Assistant] Poison because they thought that what Jones was saying was the truth. You know, I think this is a much smaller number. Even though it should have been


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[Assistant] Absolutely obvious to me what was going on. It wasn't. Because the party was going, no, no, this can't be happening. This isn't real. This doesn't make any sense. This doesn't compute on any level. You do not kill everybody because some people wanted to leave this community.


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[Assistant] And I chose to rationalize and ignore those red flags, which is very painful for me to live with. Uhm.


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[Assistant] We have had some dramatic entrances and exits upon our small stage at Baker Street.


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[Assistant] But I cannot recollect anything more sudden and startling


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[Assistant] His card, which seemed too small to carry the weight of his academic distinctions, preceded him by a few seconds, and then he entered himself. So large, so pompous, and so dignified,


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[Assistant] And for a few moments we stared in silent amazement at this ponderous piece of wreckage.


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[Assistant] Which told of some sudden and fatal storm far out on the ocean of life. Then Holmes hurried with a cushion for his head, and I with brandy for his lips.


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[Assistant] The heavy white face was seamed with lines of trouble.


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[Assistant] The hanging pouches under the closed eyes were leaden in colour, the loose mouth drooped dolorously at the corners, the rolling chins were unshaven. Collar and shirt bore the grime of a long journey, and the hair bristled unkempt from the well-shaped head. It was a sorely stricken man who lay before us. What is it, Watson? asked Holmes. Absolute exhaustion. Possibly mere hunger and fatigue, said I.


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[Assistant] With my finger on the thready pulse, where the stream of life trickled thin and small.


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[Assistant] Return ticket from Mackelton in the north of England," said Holmes, drawing it from the watch-pocket. It is not twelve o'clock yet. He has certainly been an early starter. The puckered eyelids had begun to quiver, and now a pair of vacant grey eyes looked up at us. An instant later the man had scrambled on to his feet, his face crimson with shame. Forgive this weakness, Mr. Holmes. I've been a little overwrought. Thank you.


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[Assistant] If I might have a glass of milk and a biscuit, I have no doubt that I should be better. I came personally, Mr. Holmes, in order to ensure that you would return with me.


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[Assistant] I feared that no telegram would convince you of the absolute urgency of the case. When you are quite restored, I am quite well again. I cannot imagine how I came to be so weak.


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[Assistant] I wish you, Mr. Holmes, to come to Mackelton with me by the next train." My friend shook his head.


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[Assistant] My colleague, Dr. Watson, could tell you that we are very busy at present. I am retained in this case of the Ferrah's documents, and the Abagaveni murder is coming up for trial.


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[Assistant] Have you heard nothing of the abduction of the only son of the Duke of Holderness? What? The late cabinet minister? Exactly. We had tried to keep it out of the papers, but there was some rumor in the Globe last night. I thought it might have reached your ears.


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[Assistant] Holmes shot out his long, thin arm and picked out Volume H in his Encyclopedia of Reference. Holderness, Sixth Duke. K.G. P.C. Half the Alphabet. Baron Beverly, Earl of Carston. Dear me, what a list! Lord Lieutenant of Hallamshire since 1900.


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[Assistant] Married Edith, daughter of Sir Charles Appledore, 1888. Heir and only child, Lord Saltire. Owns about 250,000 acres. Minerals in Lancashire and Wales. Address, Carlton House Terrace, Holderness Hall, Hallamshire. Carston Castle, Bangor, Wales. Lord of the Admiralty, 1872. Chief Secretary of State for


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[Assistant] Well, well, this man is certainly one of the greatest subjects of the Crown. The greatest and perhaps the wealthiest.


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[Assistant] I'm aware, Mr. Holmes, that you take a very high line in professional matters and that you are prepared to work for the work's sake.


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[Assistant] I may tell you, however, that his grace has already intimated that a cheque for five thousand pounds will be handed over to the person who could tell him where his son is.


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[Assistant] And another thousand to him who can name the man or men who have taken him. It is a princely offer, said Holmes.


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[Assistant] Watson, I think that we shall accompany Dr. Huxtable back to the north of England.


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[Assistant] And now, Dr. Huxtable, when you have consumed that milk, you will kindly tell me what has happened.


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[Assistant] When it happened, how it happened, and finally what Dr. Thornycroft Huxtable of the Priory School near Mackelton has to do with the matter, and why he comes three days after an event


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[Assistant] The state of your chin gives the date to ask for my humble services. Our visitor had consumed his milk and biscuits.


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[Assistant] The light had come back to his eyes and the colour to his cheeks.


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[Assistant] As he set himself with great vigor and lucidity to explain the situation.


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[Assistant] I must inform you gentlemen that the Priory is a preparatory school of which I am the founder and principal.


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[Assistant] Huxtable Sidelights on Horace may possibly recall my name to your memories.


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[Assistant] The Priory is, without exception, the best and most select preparatory school in England.


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[Assistant] Lord Leverstoke, the Earl of Blackwater, Sir Cathcart, Soames, they all have entrusted their sons to me.


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[Assistant] But I felt that my school had reached its zenith when, weeks ago, the Duke of Holderness sent Mr. James Wilder, his secretary, with intimation that young Lord Saltire, ten years old, his only son and heir, was about to be committed to my charge.


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[Assistant] Little did I think that this would be the prelude to the most crushing misfortune of my life. On May 1st the boy arrived, that being the beginning of the summer term. He was a charming youth, and he soon fell into our ways.


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[Assistant] I may tell you, I trust that I am not indiscreet, but half-confidences are absurd in such a case, that he was not entirely happy at home.


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[Assistant] It is an open secret that the Duke's married life had not been a peaceful one.


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[Assistant] And it was for this reason that the duke desired to send him to my establishment. In a fortnight the boy was quite at home with us, and was apparently absolutely happy. He was last seen on the night of May the 13th, that is, the night of last Monday. His room was on the second floor, and was approached through another larger room in which two boys were sleeping. These boys saw and heard nothing.


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[Assistant] So that it is certain that young Saltire did not pass out that way. His window was open,


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[Assistant] There is a stout ivy plant leading to the ground. We could trace no footmarks below, but it is sure that this is the only possible exit.


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[Assistant] His absence was discovered at seven o'clock on Tuesday morning. His bed had been slept


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[Assistant] And it is quite certain that anything in the nature of cries or struggle would have been heard.


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[Assistant] Since Cornter, the elder boy in the inner room, is a very light sleeper. When Lord Saltyer's disappearance was discovered,


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[Assistant] I at once called a role of the whole establishment, boys, masters, and servants.


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[Assistant] It was then that we ascertained that Lord Saltire had not been alone in his flight. Heidegger, the German master, was missing. His room was on the second floor, at the farther end of the building, facing the same way as Lord Saltire's. His bed had also been slept in, but he had apparently gone away partly dressed, since his shirt and socks were lying on the floor. He had undoubtedly let himself down by the ivy,


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[Assistant] But we could see the marks of his feet where he had landed on the lawn.


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[Assistant] His bicycle was kept in a small shed beside this lawn, and it also was gone.


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[Assistant] He'd been with me for two years and came with the best references, but he was a silent morose man, not very popular either with masters or boys. No trace could be found of the fugitives, and now on Thursday morning we are as ignorant as we were on Tuesday. Inquiry was, of course, made at once at Holderness Hall. It is only a few miles away, and we imagined that


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[Assistant] And as to me, you have seen yourselves the state of nervous prostration.


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[Assistant] If ever you put forward your full powers, I implore you to do so now.


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[Assistant] For never in your life could you have a case which is more worthy of them.


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[Assistant] Sherlock Holmes had listened with the utmost intentness to the statement of the unhappy schoolmaster. His drawn brows and the deep furrow between them


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[Assistant] Must appeal so directly to his love of the complex and the unusual.


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[Assistant] He now drew out his notebook and jotted down one or two memoranda. You have been very remiss in not coming to me sooner, said he severely.


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[Assistant] You start me on my investigation with a very serious handicap.


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[Assistant] It is inconceivable for example that this ivy and this lawn would have yielded nothing to an expert observer. I am not to blame, Mr. Holmes.


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[Assistant] His grace was extremely desirous to avoid all public scandal.


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[Assistant] He was afraid of his family unhappiness being dragged before the world. He has a deep horror of anything of the kind. But there has been some official investigation, yes sir, and it has proved most disappointing. An apparent clue was at once obtained


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[Assistant] Since a boy and a young man were reported to have been seen leaving a neighboring station by an early train


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[Assistant] Only last night we had news that the couple had been hunted down in Liverpool.


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[Assistant] And they proved to have no connection whatever with the matter in hand. Then it was that in my despair and disappointment, after a sleepless night, I came straight to you by the early train.


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[Assistant] I suppose the local investigation was relaxed while this false clue was being followed up. It was entirely dropped. So the three days have been wasted. The affair has been most deplorably handled. I feel it and admit it. And yet the problem should be capable of ultimate solution. I shall be very happy to look into it.


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[Assistant] Have you been able to trace any connection between the missing boy and this German master? None at all. Was he in the master's class?


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[Assistant] No, he never exchanged a word with him so far as I know. That is certainly very singular. Had the boy a bicycle? No. Was any other bicycle missing? No. Is that certain? Quite.


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[Assistant] Well now, you do not mean to seriously suggest that this German rode off upon a bicycle in the dead of night, bearing the boy in his arms? Certainly not. Then what is the theory in your mind? The bicycle may have been a blind, it may have been hidden somewhere, and the pair gone off on foot. Quite so. But it seems rather an absurd blind, does it not? Were there other bicycles in this shed?


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[Assistant] Several. Would he not have hidden a couple?


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[Assistant] But the incident is an admirable starting point for an investigation.


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[Assistant] After all, a bicycle is not an easy thing to conceal or to destroy. One other question.


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[Assistant] Did anyone call to see the boy on the day before he disappeared? No. Did he get any letters? Yes, one letter. From whom? From his father. Do you open the boy's letters? No. How do you know it was from the father? The coat of arms was on the envelope, and it was addressed in the Duke's peculiar stiff hand. Besides, the Duke remembers having written. When had he a letter before that?


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[Assistant] Not for several days. Had he ever won from France? No, never. You see the point of my questions of course.


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[Assistant] Either the boy was carried off by force, or he went of his own free will.


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[Assistant] In the latter case you would expect that some prompting from outside would be needed to make so young a lad do such a thing.


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[Assistant] If he has had no visitors, that prompting must have come in letters.


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[Assistant] Hence I try to find out who were his correspondents. I fear I cannot help you much.


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[Assistant] His only correspondent, so far as I know, was his own father, who wrote to him on the very day of his disappearance. Were the relations between father and son very friendly? His Grace is never very friendly with anyone. He is completely immersed in large public questions.


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[Assistant] And is rather inaccessible to all ordinary emotions. He was always kind to the boy, in his own way. But the sympathies of the latter were with the mother. Yes. Did he say so? No. The duke, then? Could ever know. Then how could you know?


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[Assistant] I've had some confidential talks with Mr. James Wilder, his Grace's secretary.


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[Assistant] It was he who gave me the information about Lord Saltire's feelings. I see. By the way, that last letter of the dukes, was it found in the boy's room after he was gone? No, he had taken it with him, I think. Mr. Holmes, it is time that we were leaving for Euston. I will order a four-wheeler. In a quarter of an hour we shall be at your service.


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[Assistant] If you are telegraphing home, Mr. Huxtable, it would be well to allow the people in your neighborhood


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[Assistant] To imagine that the inquiry is still going on in Liverpool, or wherever else that red herring led your pack.


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[Assistant] In the meantime I will do a little quiet work at your own doors.


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[Assistant] And perhaps the scent is not so cold, but the two old hounds, like Watson and myself, may get a sniff at it.


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[Assistant] That evening found us in the cold, embracing atmosphere of the Peak Country, in which Dr. Huxtable's famous school is situated. It was already dark when we reached it. A card was lying on the hall table, and the butler whispered something to his master


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[Assistant] Who turned to us with agitation in every heavy feature. The Duke is here, said he. The Duke and Mr Wilder are in the study. Come, gentlemen, and I will introduce you.


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[Assistant] I was of course familiar with the pictures of the famous statesman.


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[Assistant] But the man himself was very different from his representation.


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[Assistant] He was a tall and stately person scrupulously dressed with a drawn thin face.


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[Assistant] Which flowed down over his white waistcoat with his watch chain gleaming through its fringe.


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[Assistant] Such was the stately presence who looked stonily at us from the centre of Dr. Huxtable's hearth-rug. Beside him stood a very young man, whom I understood to be Wilder, the private secretary.


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[Assistant] He was small, nervous, alert, with intelligent light blue eyes and mobile features.


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[Assistant] It was he who at once in an incisive and positive tone opened the conversation.


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[Assistant] I called this morning, Doctor Huxtable, too late to prevent you from starting for London.


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[Assistant] I learned that your object was to invite Mr. Sherlock Holmes to undertake the conduct of this case.


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[Assistant] His Grace is surprised, Dr. Huxtable, that you should have taken such a step without consulting him.


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[Assistant] When I learned that the police had failed, his grace is by no means convinced that the police have failed. But surely, Mr. Wilder,


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[Assistant] You are well aware, Dr. Huxtable, that His Grace is particularly anxious to avoid all public scandal.


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[Assistant] Mr. Sherlock Holmes can return to London by the morning train.


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[Assistant] Hardly that, Doctor, hardly that," said Holmes in his blandest voice. This northern air is invigorating and pleasant, so I propose to spend a few days upon your moors and to occupy my mind as best I may.


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[Assistant] Whether I have the shelter of your roof or of the village inn is of course for you to decide.


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[Assistant] I could see that the unfortunate doctor was in the last stage of indecision.


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[Assistant] I agree with Mr. Wilder, Doctor Huxtable, that you would have done wisely to consult me, but since Mr. Holmes has already been taken into your confidence, it would indeed be absurd that we should not avail ourselves of his services.


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[Assistant] Far from going to the inn, Mr. Holmes. I should be pleased if you would come and stay with me at Holderness Hall. I thank your grace.


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[Assistant] For the purposes of my investigation, I think that it would be wiser for me to remain at the scene of the mystery.


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[Assistant] Any information which Mr. Wilder or I can give you is of course at your disposal.


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[Assistant] It will probably be necessary for me to see you at the hall, said Holmes. I would only ask you now, sir.


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[Assistant] Whether you have formed any explanation in your own mind as to the mysterious disappearance of your son? No, sir, I have not. Excuse me if I allude to that which is painful to you, but I have no alternative. Do you think that the Duchess had anything to do with the matter? The great minister showed perceptible hesitation. I do not think so, he said at last.


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[Assistant] I understand that you wrote to your son upon the day when this incident occurred? No, I wrote upon the day before. Exactly, but he received it on that day? Yes. Was there anything in your letter which might have unbalanced him, or induced him to take such a step? No, sir, certainly not. Did you post that letter yourself?


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[Assistant] The nobleman's reply was interrupted by his secretary, who broke in with some heat.


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[Assistant] His grace is not in the habit of posting letters himself, said he.


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[Assistant] Twenty or thirty, I have a large correspondence, but surely this is somewhat irrelevant. Not entirely, said Holmes. For my own part, said the Duke.


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[Assistant] I have advised the police to turn their attention to the south of France.


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[Assistant] I have already said that I do not believe that the Duchess would encourage so monstrous an action, that the lad had the most wrong-headed opinions, and it is possible that he may have fled there, aided and abetted by this German. I think


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[Assistant] Dr. Huxtable, that we will now return to the hall.


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[Assistant] I could see that there were other questions which Holmes would have wished to put.


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[Assistant] But the nobleman's abrupt manner showed that the interview was at an end.


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[Assistant] It was evident that his intensely aristocratic nature


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[Assistant] This discussion of his intimate family affairs with a stranger was most abhorrent.


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[Assistant] And that he feared lest every fresh question would throw a fiercer light into the discreetly shadowed corners of his ducal history. When the nobleman and his secretary had left,


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[Assistant] My friend flung himself at once with characteristic eagerness into the investigation. The boys chamber was carefully examined


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[Assistant] And yielded nothing save the absolute conviction that it was only through the window that he could have escaped.


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[Assistant] The German master's room and effects gave no further clue.


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[Assistant] In his case, a trailer of Ivy had given way under his weight.


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[Assistant] And we saw by the light of a lantern the mark on the lawn where his heels had come down, that one dint in the short green grass.


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[Assistant] Was the only material witness left of this inexplicable nocturnal flight. Sherlock Holmes left the house alone, and only returned after eleven. He had obtained a large ordnance map of the neighborhood, and this he brought into my room, where he laid it out on the bed.


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[Assistant] And having balanced the lamp in the middle of it he began to smoke over it.


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[Assistant] There are decidedly some points of interest in connection with it.


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[Assistant] In this early stage I want you to realize those geographical features which may have a good deal to do with our investigation. Look at this map. This dark square is the Priory School. I'll put a pin in it. Now this line is the main road. You see that it runs east and west past the school.


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[Assistant] And you see also that there is no side road for a mile either way. If these two folk passed away by road, it was this road. Exactly.


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[Assistant] By a singular and happy chance we are able, to some extent, to check what passed along this road during the night in question.


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[Assistant] At this point where my pipe is now resting, a county constable was on duty from twelve to six.


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[Assistant] It is, as you perceive, the first cross-road on the east side.


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[Assistant] This man declares that he was not absent from his post for an instant


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[Assistant] He is positive that neither boy nor man could have gone that way unseen. I have spoken with this policeman tonight, and he appears to me to be a perfectly reliable person. That blocks this end. We have now to deal with the other. There is an inn here, the Red Bull, the landlady of which was ill,


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[Assistant] She had sent to Mackelton for a doctor, but he did not arrive until morning, being absent at another case.


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[Assistant] The people at the inn were alert all night, awaiting his coming.


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[Assistant] And one or other of them seems to have continually had an eye upon the road. They declare that no one passed


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[Assistant] If their evidence is good, then we are fortunate enough to be able to block the West.


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[Assistant] They must have traversed the country to the north of the house, or to the south of the house, that is certain. Let us weigh the one against the other.


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[Assistant] On the south of the house is, as you perceive, a large district of arable land cut up into small fields, with stone walls between them. There I admit that a bicycle is impossible. We can dismiss the idea. We turn to the country on the north.


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[Assistant] Here there lies a grove of trees marked as the Ragged Shore, and on the farther side stretches a great rolling moor, Lower Gilmore.


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[Assistant] Extending for ten miles and sloping gradually upward.


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[Assistant] Here at one side of this wilderness is Holderness Hall, ten miles by road, but only six across the moor. It is a peculiarly desolate plain.


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[Assistant] A few more farmers have small holdings where they rear sheep and cattle. Except these, the plover and the curlew.


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[Assistant] Now the only inhabitants until you come to the Chesterfield High Road. There is a church there, you see, a few cottages, and an inn. Beyond that the hills become precipitous.


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[Assistant] Surely it is here to the north that our quest must lie. But the bicycle I persisted. Well, well, said Holmes impatiently. A good cyclist does not need a high road.


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[Assistant] And an instant afterwards Dr. Huxtable was in the room.


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[Assistant] In his hand he held a blue cricket cap with a white chevron on the peak. At last we have a clue! he cried. Thank Heaven!


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[Assistant] At last we are on the dear boy's track. It is his cap. Where was it found? In the van of the gypsies who camped on the moor. They left on Tuesday.


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[Assistant] Today the police traced them down and examined their caravan. This was found. How do they account for it?


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[Assistant] They shuffled and lied, said that they found it on the moor on Tuesday morning. They know where he is, the rascals. Thank goodness, they're all safe under lock and key.


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[Assistant] Look here, Watson. There is a water course across the moor. You see it marked here in the map. In some parts, it widens into a morass.


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[Assistant] It is vain to look elsewhere for tracks in this dry weather, but at that point there is certainly a chance of some record being left. I will call you early tomorrow morning


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[Assistant] And you and I will try if we can throw some little light upon the mystery.


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[Assistant] The day was just breaking when I woke to find the long, thin form of homes by my bedside. He was fully dressed and had apparently already been out. I have done the lawn and the bicycle shed, said he. I have also had a rumble through the ragged shore. Now, Watson, there is cocoa ready in the next room. I must beg you to hurry, for we have a great day before us.


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[Assistant] His eyes shone, and his cheek was flushed with the exhilaration of the master workman, who sees his work lie ready before him.


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[Assistant] Very different homes, this active, alert man, from the introspective and pallid dreamer of Baker Street.


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[Assistant] I felt as I looked upon that supple figure, alive with nervous energy, that it was indeed a strenuous day that awaited us. And yet it opened in the blackest disappointment.


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[Assistant] With high hopes we struck across the P.T. russet moor, Intersected with a thousand sheep paths.


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[Assistant] Until we came to the broad light-green belt which marked the morass between us and Holderness. Certainly if the lad had gone homeward, he must have passed this, and he could not pass it without leaving his traces. But no sign of him or the German could be seen. With a darkening face my friend strode along the margins.


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[Assistant] Said Holmes, looking gloomily over the rolling expanse of the moor.


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[Assistant] There is another morass down yonder, and a narrow neck between. Hello, hello, what have we here? We had come on a small black ribbon of pathway.


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[Assistant] In the middle of it, clearly marked on the sodden soil, was the track of a bicycle.


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[Assistant] But Holmes was shaking his head and his face was puzzled and expectant rather than joyous.


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[Assistant] A bicycle, certainly, but not THE bicycle, said he.


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[Assistant] I am familiar with forty-two different impressions left by tires. This, as you perceive, is a Dunlop, with a patch upon the outer cover.


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[Assistant] Heidegger's tires were Palmer's, leaving longitudinal stripes. Eveling, the mathematical master, was sure upon the point. Therefore it is not Heidegger's track. The boys then?


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[Assistant] Possibly if we could prove a bicycle to have been in his possession. But this we have utterly failed to do.


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[Assistant] This track, as you perceive, was made by a rider who was going from the direction of the school. Or towards it. No, no, my dear Watson.


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[Assistant] The more deeply sunk impression is of course the hind-wheel upon which the weight rests.


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[Assistant] But we will follow it backwards before we go any farther.


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[Assistant] We did so, and at the end of a few hundred yards lost the tracks, as we emerged from the boggy portion of the moor. Following the path backwards we picked out another spot, where a spring trickled across it. Here, once again, was the mark of the bicycle, though nearly obliterated by the hoofs of cows. After that there was no sign, but the path ran right on into ragged shore, the wood which backed on to the school.


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[Assistant] Holmes sat down on a boulder and rested his chin in his hands. I had smoked two cigarettes before he moved. Well, well, said he at last.


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[Assistant] It is, of course, possible that a cunning man might change the tires of his bicycle in order to leave unfamiliar tracks. A criminal who was capable of such a thought is a man whom I should be proud to do business with. We will leave this question undecided and hark back to our morass again, for we have left a good deal unexplored.


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[Assistant] We continued our systematic survey of the edge of the sodden portion of the moor.


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[Assistant] And soon our perseverance was gloriously rewarded. Right across the lower part of the bog lay a miry path. Holmes gave a cry of delight as he approached it.


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[Assistant] An impression like a fine bundle of telegraph wires ran down the centre of it. It was the Palmer tyres.


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[Assistant] Here is Herr Heidegger, sure enough," cried Holmes exultantly. My reasoning seems to have been pretty sound, Watson. I congratulate you.


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[Assistant] But we have a long way still to go, kindly walk clear of the path. Now let us follow the trail. I fear that it will not lead very far.


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[Assistant] We found, however, as we advanced, that this portion of the moor is intersected with soft patches, and, though we frequently lost sight of the track, we always succeeded in picking it up once more.


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[Assistant] Do you observe, said Holmes, that the rider is now undoubtedly forcing the pace? There can be no doubt of it. Look at this impression, where you get both tyres clear. The one is as deep as the other.


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[Assistant] That can only mean that the rider is throwing his weight onto the handlebar, as a man does when he is sprinting. By Jove, he has had a fall.


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[Assistant] There was a broad irregular smudge covering some yards of the track. Then there were a few footmarks, and the tyre reappeared once more. A side-slip, I suggested. Holmes held up a crumpled branch of flowering gorse.


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[Assistant] To my horror I perceived that the yellow blossoms were all dabbled with crimson. On the path to and among the heather were dark stains of clotted blood. Bad, said Holmes. Bad. Stand clear, Watson. Not an unnecessary footstep. What do I read here? He fell wounded. He stood up. He remounted. He proceeded. But there is no other track.


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[Assistant] Cattle on this side path. He was surely not gored by a bull. Impossible. But I see no traces of anyone else. We must push on Watson. Surely with stains as well as the track to guide us. He cannot escape us now. Our search was not a very long one.


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[Assistant] The tracks of the tyre began to curve fantastically upon the wet and shining path.


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[Assistant] Suddenly as I looked ahead the gleam of metal caught my eye from amid the thick gorse bushes. Out of them we dragged a bicycle, Palmer tired, one pedal bent.


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[Assistant] And the whole front of it horribly smeared and slobbered with blood. On the other side of the bushes, a shoe was projecting. We ran round, and there lay the unfortunate rider. He was a tall man, full bearded, with spectacles, one glass of which had been knocked out. The cause of his death was a frightful blow upon the head, which had crushed in part of his skull.


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[Assistant] That he could have gone on after receiving such an injury said much for the vitality and courage of the man. He wore shoes but no socks, and his open coat disclosed a night-shirt beneath it. It was undoubtedly the German master. Holmes turned the body over reverently and examined it with great attention. He then sat in deep thought for a time.


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[Assistant] And I could see by his ruffled brow that this grim discovery had not, in his opinion, advanced us much in our inquiry.


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[Assistant] It is difficult to know what to do, Watson, said he at last. My own inclinations are to push this inquiry on.


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[Assistant] For we have already lost so much time that we cannot afford to waste another hour.


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[Assistant] On the other hand, we are bound to inform the police of the discovery, and to see that this poor fellow's body is looked after. I could take a note back, but I need your company and assistance. Wait a bit, there is a fellow cutting Pete up yonder. Bring him over here, and he will guide the police.


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[Assistant] I brought the peasant across, and Holmes dispatched the frightened man with a note to Dr. Huxtable. Now, Watson, said he, we have picked up two clues this morning. One is the bicycle with the palmatire, and we see what that has led to. The other is the bicycle with the patched dunlon. Before we start to investigate that, let us try to realize what we do know, so as to make the most of it, and to separate the essential


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[Assistant] From the Accidental. First of all, I wish to impress upon you that the boy is certainly left of his own free will. He got down from his window and he went off, either alone or with someone, that is sure. I assented. Well, now, let us turn to this unfortunate German master. The boy was fully dressed when he fled. Therefore he foresaw what he would do.


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[Assistant] But the German went without his socks. He certainly acted on very short notice, undoubtedly. Why did he go?


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[Assistant] Because from his bedroom window he saw the flight of the boy, because he wished to overtake him and bring him back.


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[Assistant] He seized his bicycle, pursued the lad and in pursuing him met his death, so it would seem. Now I come to the critical part of my argument.


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[Assistant] You would not do this if he did not see that the boy had some swift means of escape. The other bicycle. Let us continue our reconstruction.


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[Assistant] He meets his death five miles from the school, not by a bullet marquee, which even a lad might conceivably discharge.


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[Assistant] Since it took five miles before an expert cyclist could overtake them.


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[Assistant] Yet we survey the ground round the scene of the tragedy. What do we find? A few cattle tracks, nothing more.


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[Assistant] I took a wide sweep round and there is no path within fifty yards.


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[Assistant] Another cyclist could have had nothing to do with the actual murder, nor were there any human footmarks. Holmes, I cried, this is impossible. Admirable, he said.


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[Assistant] A most illuminating remark. It is impossible, as I stated.


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[Assistant] And therefore I must in some respect have stated it wrong. Yet you saw for yourself. Can you suggest any fallacy? He could not have fractured his skull in a fall. In a morass, Watson. I'm at my wit's end. Tut, tut, we have solved some worse problems.


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[Assistant] At least we have plenty of material if we can only use it. Come then.


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[Assistant] And having exhausted the Palmer, let us see what the Dunlop with the patched cover has to offer us.


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[Assistant] We picked up the track and followed it onward for some distance.


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[Assistant] But soon the moor rose into a long, heather-tufted curve, and we left the water-course behind us. No further help from tracks could be hoped for.


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[Assistant] At the spot where we saw the last of the Dunlop tyre it might equally have led to Holderness Hall.


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[Assistant] The stately towers of which rose some miles to our left, or to a low grey village which lay in front of us, and marked the position of the Chesterfield High Road. As we approached the forbidding and squalid inn, with the sign of a gamecock above the door, Holmes gave a sudden groan, and clutched me by the shoulder to save himself from falling.


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[Assistant] He had had one of those violent strains of the ankle which leave a man helpless. With


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[Assistant] The countryman answered with a suspicious flash of a pair of cunning eyes. Well, it's printed on the board above your head. It's easy to see a man who is master of his own house.


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[Assistant] I suppose you haven't such a thing as a carriage in your stables. No, I have not. I can hardly put my foot to the ground. Don't put it to the ground. But I can't walk. Well then, hop." Mr. Ruben Hayes's manner was far from gracious, but Holmes took it with admirable good humor. "'Look here, my man,' said he. "'This is really rather an awkward fix for me. I don't mind how I get on.' "'Neither do I.'


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[Assistant] Said the morose landlord. The matter is very important. I would offer you a sovereign for the use of a bicycle. The landlord pricked up his ears. Where do you want to go? To Holderness Hall. Fowls of the Duke, I suppose.


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[Assistant] Said the landlord, surveying our mud-stained garments with ironical eyes.


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[Assistant] Holmes laughed good-naturedly. He'll be glad to see us anyhow. Why? Because we bring him news of his lost son. The landlord gave a very visible start. What? You're on his track? He has been heard of in Liverpool. They expect to get him every hour.


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[Assistant] Again a swift change passed over the heavy unshaven face. His manner was suddenly genial. I've less reason to wish the Duke well than most men, said he, for I was head coachman once, and cruel baddie treated me. It was him that sacked me without a character on the word of a lying cornchandler. But I'm glad to hear that the young lord was heard of in Liverpool, and I'll help you to take the news to the Hall. Thank you, said Holmes.


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[Assistant] We'll have some food first. Then you can bring round the bicycle. I haven't got a bicycle. Holmes held up a sovereign. I tell you, man, that I haven't got one. I'll let you have two horses as far as the hall. Well, well, said Holmes. We'll talk about it when we've had something to eat.


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[Assistant] It was astonishing how rapidly that sprained ankle recovered.


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[Assistant] It was nearly nightfall and we had eaten nothing since early morning, so that we spent some time over our meal. Holmes was lost in thought.


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[Assistant] Holmes had sat down again after one of these excursions.


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[Assistant] When he suddenly sprang out of his chair with a loud exclamation.


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[Assistant] By heavens, Watson, I believe that I've got it, he cried. Yes, yes, it must be so.


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[Assistant] Watson, do you remember seeing any cow tracks today? Yes, several. Where?


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[Assistant] Well, everywhere they were at the morass and again on the path, and again near where poor Heidegger met his death. Exactly. Well now, Watson, how many cows did you see on the moor?


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[Assistant] I don't remember seeing any. Strange, Watson, that we should see tracks all along our line, but never a cow on the whole moor. Very strange, Watson, eh? Yes, it is strange. Now, Watson, make an effort. Throw your mind back. Can you see those tracks upon the path? Yes, I can.


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[Assistant] Can you recall that the tracks were sometimes like that, Watson?


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[Assistant] However, we will go back at our leisure and verify it. What a blind beetle I have been, not to draw my conclusion. And what is your conclusion?


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[Assistant] Only that it is a remarkable cow which walks, cantors, and gallops. By George! Watson, it was no brain of a country publican that thought I'd such a blind as that.


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[Assistant] The coast seems to be clear save for that lad in the Smithy. Let us slip out and see what we can see.


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[Assistant] There were two rough-haired, unkempt horses in the tumbledown stable.


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[Assistant] Holmes raised the hind leg of one of them and laughed aloud. Old shoes, but newly shod. Old shoes, but new nails. This case deserves to be a classic. Let us go across to the smithy." The lad continued his work without regarding us.


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[Assistant] I saw Holmes's eye darting to right and left among the litter of iron and wood which was scattered about the floor.


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[Assistant] Suddenly, however, we heard a step behind us, and there was the Landlord, his heavy eyebrows drawn over his savage eyes, his swarthy features convulsed with passion. He held a short, metal-headed stick in his hand, and he advanced in so menacing a fashion


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[Assistant] That I was right glad to feel the revolver in my pocket. You infernal spies! the man cried. What are you doing there? Why, Mr. Ruben Hayes, said Holmes coolly.


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[Assistant] One might think that you were afraid of our finding something out. The man mastered himself with a violent effort, and his grim mouth loosened into a false laugh, which was more menacing than his frown. You're welcome to all you can find out in my smithy, said he, but look here, mister. I don't care for folk poking about my place without my leave.


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[Assistant] So the sooner you pay your score and get out of this the better I shall be pleased. All right, Mr. Hayes, no harm meant," said Holmes. We have been having a look at your horses, but I think I'll walk after all. It's not far, I believe. Not more than two miles to the hall gates. That's the road to the left.


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[Assistant] For Holmes stopped the instant that the curve hid us from the landlord's view. We were warm, as the children say at that inn, said he.


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[Assistant] I'm convinced, said I, that this Ruben Hayes knows all about it, a more self-evident villain I never saw. Oh, he impressed you in that way, did he? There are the horses, there is the smithy. Yes, it is an interesting place, this fighting cock.


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[Assistant] I think we shall have another look at it in an unobtrusive way.


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[Assistant] A long sloping hillside dotted with grey limestone boulders stretched behind us.


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[Assistant] We had turned off the road and were making our way up the hill when, looking in the direction of Holderness Hall, I saw a cyclist coming swiftly along. Get down, Watson! cried Holmes, with a heavy hand upon my shoulder. We had hardly sunk from view when the man flew past us on the road.


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[Assistant] Amid a rolling cloud of dust, I caught a glimpse of a pale, agitated face, a face with horror in every lineament, the mouth open, the eyes staring wildly in front.


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[Assistant] It was like some strange caricature of the dapper James Wilder whom we had seen the night before.


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[Assistant] The Duke's secretary! cried Holmes. Come, Watson, let us see what he does. We scrambled from rock to rock.


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[Assistant] Until in a few moments we had made our way to a point from which we could see the front door of the inn. Wilder's bicycle was leaning against the wall beside it. No one was moving about the house.


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[Assistant] Nor could we catch a glimpse of any faces at the windows.


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[Assistant] We saw the two side lamps of a trap light up in the stable-yard of the inn, and shortly afterwards heard the rattle of hoofs as it wheeled out into the road.


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[Assistant] Well, it certainly was not Mr. James Wilder, for there he is at the door. A red square of light had sprung out of the darkness. In the middle of it was the black figure of the secretary, his head advanced, peering out into the night. It was evident that he was expecting someone. Then at last there were steps in the


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[Assistant] A second figure was visible for an instant against the light, the door shut, and all was black once more.


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[Assistant] Five minutes later, a lamp was lit in a room upon the first floor.


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[Assistant] Seems to be a curious class of custom that is done by the fighting cock, said Holmes. The bar is on the other side, quite so. These are what one may call the private guests.


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[Assistant] Now what in the world is Mr. James Wilder doing in that den at this hour of night? And who is the companion who comes to meet him there? Come, Watson.


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[Assistant] We must really take a risk and try to investigate this a little more closely.


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[Assistant] Together we stalled down to the road and crept across to the door of the inn. The bicycle still leaned against the wall. Home struck a match and he held it to the back wheel.


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[Assistant] And I heard him chuckle as the light fell upon the patched Dunlop tire. Up above us was the lighted window. I must have a peep through that, Watson.


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[Assistant] If you bend your back and support yourself upon the wall, I think that I can manage. An instant later his feet were on my shoulders, but he was hardly up before he was down again. Come, my friend, said he, our day's work has been quite long enough. I think that we have gathered all that we can. It's a long walk to the school, and the sooner we get started the better.


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[Assistant] He hardly opened his lips during that weary trudge across the moor, nor would he enter the school when he reached it, but went on to Mackelton Station whence he could send some telegrams. Late at night I heard him consoling Dr. Huxtable, prostrated by the tragedy of his master's death.


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[Assistant] And later still he entered my room as alert and vigorous as he had been when he started in the morning. All goes well, my friend, said he. I promise that before tomorrow evening we shall have reached the solution of the mystery.


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[Assistant] We're walking up the famous U Avenue of Holderness Hall.


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[Assistant] We were ushered through the magnificent Elizabethan doorway and into his gracious study. There we found Mr. James Wilder.


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[Assistant] Demure and courtly, but with some trace of that wild terror of the night before, still lurking in his furtive eyes and in his twitching features.


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[Assistant] You have come to see his great. I am sorry, but the fact is that the duke is far from well.


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[Assistant] He has been very much upset by the tragic news. We received a telegram from Dr. Huxtable yesterday afternoon, which told us of your discovery. I must see the Duke, Mr. Wilder. But he is in his room. Then I must go to his room. I believe he is in his bed. I will see him there.


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[Assistant] Holmes' cold and inexorable manner showed the secretary that it was useless to argue with him. Very good, Mr. Holmes. I will tell him that you are here. After an hour's delay the great nobleman appeared. His face was more cadaverous than ever. His shoulders had rounded.


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[Assistant] I think, Your Grace, that I could speak more freely in Mr. Wilder's absence. The man turned a shade paler and cast a malignant glance at Holmes. If Your Grace wishes— Yes, yes, you'd better go. Now, Mr. Holmes, what have you to say?


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[Assistant] It amounted, if I'm correctly informed, to five thousand pounds to anyone who will tell you where your son is. Exactly.


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[Assistant] And another thousand to the man who will name the person, or persons, who keep him in custody. Exactly. Under the latter heading is included, no doubt, not only those who may have taken him away.


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[Assistant] But also those who conspire to keep him in his present position.


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[Assistant] Yes, yes, cried the duke impatiently. If you do your work well, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, you will have no reason to complain of niggardly treatment. My friend rubbed his thin hands together


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[Assistant] With an appearance of avidity, which was a surprise to me, who knew his frugal tastes.


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[Assistant] I fancy that I see your Grace's cheque-book upon the table, said he.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] The Capital and Counties Bank, Oxford Street branch are my agents.


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[Assistant] His grace sat very stern and upright in his chair, and looked stonily at my friend.


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[Assistant] Is this a joke, Mr. Holmes? It is hardly a subject for pleasantry.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] And I know some, at least, of those who are holding him.


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[Assistant] The duke's beard had turned more aggressively red than ever against his ghastly white face.


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[Assistant] He is or was last night at the Fighting Cock Inn, about two miles from your park gate.


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[Assistant] The Duke fell back in his chair. And whom do you accuse? Sherlock Holmes' answer was an astounding one.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] 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 beside your friend know? I have spoken to no one.


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[Assistant] The Duke took a pen in his quivering fingers and opened his checkbook. I shall be as good as my word, Mr. Holmes. I am about to write your check.


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[Assistant] However unwelcome the information which you have gained may be to me.


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[Assistant] When the offer was first made, I little thought the turn which events might take.


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[Assistant] But you and your friend are men of discretion, Mr. Holmes. I hardly understand your grace.


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[Assistant] 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


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[Assistant] 12,000 pounds is the sum that I owe you, is it not? But Holmes smiled and shook his head.


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[Assistant] I fear your grace that matters can hardly be arranged so easily.


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[Assistant] There is the death of this schoolmaster to be accounted for.


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[Assistant] You cannot hold him responsible for that. It was the work of this brutal ruffian whom he had the misfortune to employ.


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[Assistant] I must take the view, Your Grace, that when a man embarks upon a crime,


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[Assistant] 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


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[Assistant] 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


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] I appreciate your conduct in coming here before you spoke to anyone else," said he.


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[Assistant] At least we may take counsel how far we can minimize this hideous scandal. Exactly, said Holmes.


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[Assistant] That this can only be done by absolute frankness between us.


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[Assistant] I must understand to the last detail how the matter stands.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] Your grace can hardly have heard of any small reputation which I possess.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] 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 Ruben Hayes is taken. I'm right glad to hear of it. If it will not react upon the fate of James. Your secretary? No, sir. My son.


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[Assistant] 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.


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[Assistant] 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 folly and jealousy have reduced us.


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[Assistant] When I was a very young man, Mr. Holmes, I loved with such a love as comes only once in a lifetime.


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[Assistant] I offered the lady marriage, but she refused it on the grounds that such a match might mar my career. Had she lived, I would certainly never have married anyone else. She died and left this one child, whom for her sake I have cherished and cared for. I could not acknowledge the paternity to the world, but I gave him the best of educations, and since he came to manhood, I have kept him near my person. He surmised my secret,


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[Assistant] And has presumed ever since upon the claim which he has upon me.


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[Assistant] And upon his power of provoking a scandal which would be abhorrent to me.


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[Assistant] His presence had something to do with the unhappy issue of my marriage.


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[Assistant] Above all, he hated my young, legitimate heir from the first, with a persistent hatred.


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[Assistant] You may well ask me why under these circumstances I still kept James under my roof.


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[Assistant] I answer that it was because I could see his mother's face in his.


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[Assistant] And that for her dear sake there was no end to my long suffering. All her pretty ways, too.


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[Assistant] There was not one of them which he could not suggest and bring back to my memory. I could not send him away.


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[Assistant] But in some extraordinary way James became intimate with him. He had always a taste for low company. When James determined to kidnap Lord Saltire, it was of this man's service that he availed himself. You remember that I wrote to Arthur upon that last day? Well, James opened the letter.


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[Assistant] And inserted a note asking Arthur to meet him in a little wood called the Ragged Shore, which is near to the school. He used the Duchess's name, and in that way got the boy to come. That evening James bicycled over. I'm telling you what he has himself confessed to me, and he told Arthur, whom he met in the wood, that his mother longed to see him, that she was awaiting him on the moor.


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[Assistant] And that if he would come back into the wood at midnight he would find a man with a horse who would take him to her. Poor Arthur fell into the trap. He came to the appointment and found this fellow Hayes with a lead pony. Arthur mounted and they set off together.


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[Assistant] It appears, though this James only heard yesterday, that they were pursued, that Hayes struck the pursuer with his stick, and that the man died of his injuries.


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[Assistant] Hayes brought Arthur to his public house, the fighting cock, where he was confined in an upper room, under the care of Mrs. Hayes, who is a kindly woman,


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[Assistant] But entirely under the control of her brutal husband.


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[Assistant] Well, Mr. Holmes, that was the state of affairs when I first saw you two days ago. I had no more idea of the truth than you. You will ask me what was James's motive in doing such a deed?


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[Assistant] I answer that there was a great deal which was unreasoning and fanatical in the hatred which he bore my air.


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[Assistant] In his view he should himself have been heir of all my estates, and he deeply resented those social laws which made it impossible. At the same time he had a definite motive also.


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[Assistant] To restore Arthur if I would break the entail, and so make it possible for the estate to be left to him by will.


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[Assistant] He knew well that I should never willingly invoke the aid of the police against him. I say that he would have proposed such a bargain to me, but he did not actually do so, for events moved too quickly for him, and he had not time to put his plans into practice. What brought all this wicked scheme to wreck?


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[Assistant] Was your discovery of this man Heidegger's dead body. James was seized with horror at the news. It came to us yesterday as we sat together in this study. Dr. Huxtable had sent a telegram.


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[Assistant] Then he implored me to keep his secret for three days longer so as to give his wretched accomplice a chance of saving his guilty life. I yielded, as I have always yielded, to his prayers.


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[Assistant] And instantly James hurried off to the fighting cock to warn Hayes and give him the means of flight.


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[Assistant] I could not go there by daylight without provoking comment.


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[Assistant] But as soon as night fell, I hurried off to see my dear Arthur.


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[Assistant] I found him safe and well but horrified beyond expression by the dreadful deed he had witnessed.


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[Assistant] In deference to my promise and much against my will, I consented to leave him there for three days under the charge of Mrs. Hayes, since it was evident that it was impossible to inform the police where he was without telling them also who was the murderer. And I could not see how that murderer could be punished without ruin to my unfortunate James.


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[Assistant] You asked for frankness, Mr. Holmes and I have taken you at your word.


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[Assistant] In the first place, Your Grace, I am bound to tell you that you have placed yourself in a most serious position in the eyes of the law. You have condoned a felony, and you have aided the escape of a murderer.


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[Assistant] For I cannot doubt that any money which was taken by James Wilder to aid his accomplice in his flight came from your Grace's purse. The Duke bowed his assent. This is indeed a most serious matter.


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[Assistant] Even more culpable, in my opinion, your grace, is your attitude towards your younger son. You leave him in this den for three days, under solemn promises. What are promises to such people as these?


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[Assistant] You have no guarantee that he will not be spirited away again. To humor your guilty elder son.


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[Assistant] You have exposed your innocent younger son to imminent and unnecessary danger. It was a most unjustifiable action.