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. 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,
but entirely under the control of her brutal husband.
"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.
I answer that there was a great deal which was unreasoning and
fanatical in the hatred which he bore my heir. 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. He was eager that
I should break the entail, and he was of opinion that it lay
in my power to do so. He intended to make a bargain with me --
to restore Arthur if I would break the entail, and so make it
possible for the estate to be left to him by will. He knew well
that I should never willingly invoke the aid of the police
against him.
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