"James came into contact with this fellow Hayes because the man was a tenant of mine, and James acted as agent.The fellow was a rascal from the beginning; 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 and inserted a note asking Arthur to meet him in a little wood called the Ragged Shaw, 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 am 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, 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 led pony.
Arthur mounted, and they set off together.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.