possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Still, that little

may as well be cleared up to make the case complete. You had heard, Ryder, of

this blue stone of the Countess of Morcar’s?”


“It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it,” said he in a crackling

voice.


“I see—her ladyship’s waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of

sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has been for

better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous in the means you used.

It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the making of a very pretty villain in

you. You knew that this man Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some

such matter before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him.

What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady’s

room—you and your confederate Cusack—and you managed that he should

be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the jewel-case, raised

the alarm, and had this unfortunate man arrested. You then—”


Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my

companion’s knees. “For God’s sake, have mercy!” he

shrieked. “Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts.

I never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I’ll swear it

on a Bible. Oh, don’t bring it into court! For Christ’s sake,

don’t!”


“Get back into your chair!” said Holmes sternly. “It is very

well to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this poor Horner

in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing.”


“I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the charge

against him will break down.”


“Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account of the

next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the goose into the

open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies your only hope of safety.”


Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. “I will tell you it just