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1"One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six
2troopers and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our
3boys were killed, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the wagon-driver, who was this very
4man McCarthy. I wish to the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his wicked little eyes fixed
5on my face, as though to remember every feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made our way over to
6England without being suspected. There I parted from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and
7respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my
8money, to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, and though my wife died young she left me my
9dear little Alice. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down the right path as nothing else had
10ever done. In a word, I turned over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was going well when McCarthy
11laid his grip upon me. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Regent Street with hardly a coat to
12his back or a boot to his foot. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be as good as a family to
13you. There's two of us, me and my son, and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, law-abiding
14country is England, and there's always a policeman within hail.' "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no
15shaking them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no
16forgetfulness; turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for
17he soon saw I was more afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he wanted he must have, and whatever
18it was I gave him without question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing which I could not give. He asked
19for Alice. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was known to be in weak health, it seemed a
20fine stroke to him that his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was firm. I would not have his cursed
21stock mixed with mine; not that I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that was enough. I stood
22firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses to talk
23it over. "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he
24should be alone. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in me seemed to come uppermost. He was
25urging his son to marry my daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she were a slut from off the
26streets. It drove me mad to think that I and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a man as this.
27Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, I
28knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul
29tongue. I did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for
30it. But that my girl should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more than I could suffer. I struck him
31down with no more compunction than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought back his son; but I had
32gained the cover of the wood, though I was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in my flight. That
33is the true story, gentlemen, of all that occurred." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man
34signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we may never be exposed to such a temptation." "I pray not,
35sir. And what do you intend to do?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you will soon have to
36answer for your deed at a higher court than the Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is condemned I
37shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or dead,
38shall be safe with us." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, when they come, will be the
39easier for the thought of the peace which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his giant frame, he
40stumbled slowly from the room. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate play such tricks with
41poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, 'There, but
42for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a number of
43objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven months
44after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily
45together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their past.
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