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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."