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statement of the unhappy schoolmaster。 His drawn brows and the deep
furrow between them showed that he needed no exhortation to
concentrate all his attention upon a problem which； apart from the
tremendous interests involved must appeal so directly to his love of
the complex and the unusual。 He now drew out his notebook and jotted
down one or two memoranda。
〃You have been very remiss in not coming to me sooner；〃 said he；
severely。 〃You start me on my investigation with a very serious
handicap。 It is inconceivable； for example； that this ivy and this
lawn would have yielded nothing to an expert observer。〃
〃I am not to blame； Mr。 Holmes。 His Grace was extremely desirous
to avoid all public scandal。 He was afraid of his family unhappiness
being dragged before the world。 He has a deep horror of anything of
the kind。〃
〃But there has been some official investigation？〃
〃Yes； sir； and it has proved most disappointing。 An apparent clue
was at once obtained； since a boy and a young man were reported to
have been seen leaving a neighbouring station by an early train。
Only last night we had news that the couple had been hunted down in
Liverpool； and they prove to have no connection whatever with the
matter in hand。 Then it was that in my despair and disappointment；
after a sleepless night； I came straight to you by the early train。〃
〃I suppose the local investigation was relaxed while this false clue
was being followed up？〃
〃It was entirely dropped。〃
〃So that three days have been wasted。 The affair has been most
deplorably handled。〃
〃I feel it and admit it。〃
〃And yet the problem should be capable of ultimate solution。 I shall
be very happy to look into it。 Have you been able to trace any
connection between the missing boy and this German master？〃
〃None at all。〃
〃Was he in the master's class？〃
〃No； he never exchanged a word with him； so far as I know。〃
〃That is certainly very singular。 Had the boy a bicycle？〃
〃No。〃
〃Was any other bicycle missing？〃
〃No。〃
〃Is that certain？〃
〃Quite。〃
〃Well； now； you do not mean to seriously suggest that this German
rode off upon a bicycle in the dead of the night； bearing the boy in
his arms？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃Then what is the theory in your mind？〃
〃The bicycle may have been a blind。 It may have been hidden
somewhere； and the pair gone off on foot。〃
〃Quite so； but it seems rather an absurd blind； does it not？ Were
there other bicycles in this shed？〃
〃Several。〃
〃Would he not have hidden a couple； had he desired to give the
idea that they had gone off upon them？〃
〃I suppose he would。〃
〃Of course he would。 The blind theory won't do。 But the incident
is an admirable starting…point for an investigation。 After all； a
bicycle is not an easy thing to conceal or to destroy。 One other
question。 Did anyone call to see the boy on the day before he
disappeared？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did he get any letters？〃
〃Yes； one letter。〃
〃From whom？〃
〃From his father。〃
〃Do you open the boys' letters？〃
〃No。〃
〃How do you know it was from the father？〃
〃The coat of arms was on the envelope； and it was addressed in the
Duke's peculiar stiff hand。 Besides； the Duke remembers having
written。〃
〃When had he a letter before that？〃
〃Not for several days。〃
〃Had he ever one from France？〃
〃No； never。
〃You see the point of my questions； of course。 Either the boy was
carried off by force or he went of his own free will。 In the latter
case； you would expect that some prompting from outside would be
needed to make so young a lad do such a thing。 If he has had no
visitors； that prompting must have come in letters； hence I try to
find out who were his correspondents。〃
〃I fear I cannot help you much。 His only correspondent； so far as
I know； was his own father。〃
〃Who wrote to him on the very day of his disappearance。 Were the
relations between father and son very friendly？〃
〃His Grace is never very friendly with anyone。 He is completely
immersed in large public questions； and is rather inaccessible to
all ordinary emotions。 But he was always kind to the boy in his own
way。〃
〃But the of the latter were with the mother？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Did he say so？〃
〃No。〃
〃The Duke； then？〃
〃Good heaven； no！〃
〃Then how could you know？〃
〃I have had some confidential talks with Mr。 James Wilder； his
Graces secretary。 It was he who gave me the information about Lord
Saltire's feelings。〃
〃I see。 By the way； that last letter of the Dukes… was it found in
the boy's room after he was gone？〃
〃No； he had taken it with him。 I think； Mr。 Holmes； it is time
that we were leaving for Euston。〃
〃I will order a four…wheeler。 In a quarter of an hour； we shall be
at your service。 If you are telegraphing home； Mr。 Huxtable； it
would be well to allow the people in your neighbourhood to imagine
that the inquiry is still going on in Liverpool； or wherever else that
red herring led your pack。 In the meantime I will do a little quiet
work at your own doors； and perhaps the scent is not so cold but
that two old hounds like Watson and myself may get a sniff of it。〃
That evening found us in the cold； bracing atmosphere of the Peak
country； in which Dr。 Huxtable's famous school is situated。 It was
already dark when we reached it。 A card was lying on the hall table；
and the butler whispered something to his master； who turned to us
with agitation in every heavy feature。
〃The Duke is here；〃 said he。 〃The Duke and Mr。 Wilder are in the
study。 Come； gentlemen； and I will introduce you。〃
I was； of course； familiar with the pictures of the famous
statesman； but the man himself was very different from his
representation。 He was a tall and stately person； scrupulously
dressed； with a drawn； thin face； and a nose which was grotesquely
curved and long。 His complexion was of a dead pallor； which was more
startling by contrast with a long； dwindling beard of vivid red； which
flowed down over his white waistcoat with his watch…chain gleaming
through its fringe。 Such was the stately presence who looked stonily
at us from the centre of Dr。 Huxtable's hearthrug。 Beside him stood
a very young man； whom I understood to be Wilder； the private
secretary。 He was small； nervous； alert with intelligent light…blue
eyes and mobile features。 It was he who at once； in an incisive and
positive tone； opened the conversation。
〃I called this morning； Dr。 Huxtable； too late to prevent you from
starting for London。 I learned that your object was to invite Mr。
Sherlock Holmes to undertake the conduct of this case。 His Grace is
surprised； Dr。 Huxtable； that you should have taken such a step
without consulting him。〃
〃When I learned that the police had failed…〃
〃His Grace is by no means convinced that the police have failed。〃
〃But surely； Mr。 Wilder…〃
〃You are well aware； Dr。 Huxtable； that his Grace is particularly
anxious to avoid all public scandal。 He prefers to take as few
people as possible into his confidence。〃
〃The matter can be easily remedied；〃 said the browbeaten doctor；
〃Mr。 Sherlock Holmes can return to London by the morning train。〃
〃Hardly that； Doctor； hardly that；〃 said Holmes； in his blandest
voice。 〃This northern air is invigorating and pleasant； so I propose
to spend a few days upon your moors； and to occupy my mind as best I
may。 Whether I have the shelter of your roof or of the village inn is；
of course； for you to decide。〃
I could see that the unfortunate doctor was in the last stage of
indecision； from which he was rescued by the deep； sonorous voice of
the red…bearded Duke； which boomed out like a dinner…gong。
〃I agree with Mr。 Wilder； Dr。 Huxtable； that you would have done
wisely to consult me。 But since Mr。 Holmes has already been taken into
your confidence； it would indeed be absurd that we should not avail
ourselves of his services。 Far from going to the inn； Mr。 Holmes； I
should be pleased if you would come and stay with me at Holdernesse
Hall。〃
〃I thank your Grace。 For the purposes of my investigation； I think
that it would be wiser for me to remain at the scene of the mystery。〃
〃Just as you like； Mr。 Holmes。 Any information which Mr。 Wilder or I
can give you is； of course； at your disposal。〃
〃It will probably be necessary for me to see you at the Hall；〃
said Holmes。 〃I would only ask you now； sir； whether you have formed
any explanation in your own mind as to the mysterious disappearance of
your son？〃
〃No sir I have not。〃
〃Excuse me if I allude to that which is painful to you； but I have
no alternative。 Do you think that the Duchess had anything to do
with the matter？〃
The great minister showed perceptible hesitation。
〃I do not think so；〃 he said； at last。
〃The other most obvious explanation is that the child has been
kidnapped for the purpose of levying ransom。 You have not had any
demand of the sort？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃One more question； your Grace。 I understand that you wrote to
your son upon the day when this incident occurred。〃
〃No； I wrote u