"How much do you know?" he asked at last, without raising his head.
"I saw you together last night."
"Does anyone else besides your friend know?"
"I have spoken to no one."
The Duke took a pen in his quivering fingers and opened
his cheque-book.
"I shall be as good as my word, Mr. Holmes. I am about to write
your cheque, however unwelcome the information which you have
gained may be to me. When the offer was first made I little
thought the turn which events might take. But you and your
friend are men of discretion, Mr. Holmes?"
"I hardly understand your Grace."
"I must put it plainly, Mr. Holmes. If only you two know of
this incident, there is no reason why it should go any farther.
I think twelve thousand pounds is the sum that I owe you, is it not?"
But Holmes smiled and shook his head.
"I fear, your Grace, that matters can hardly be arranged so easily.
There is the death of this schoolmaster to be accounted for."
"But James knew nothing of that. You cannot hold him
responsible for that. It was the work of this brutal ruffian
whom he had the misfortune to employ."
"I must take the view, your Grace, that when a man embarks
upon a crime he is morally guilty of any other crime which
may spring from it.
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