第8章

"Thereissomedeepintriguegoingonroundthatlittlewoman，anditisourdutytoseethatnoonemolestsheruponthatlastjourney。Ithink，Watson，thatwemustsparetimetorundowntogetheronSaturdaymorning，andmakesurethatthiscuriousandinconclusiveinvestigationhasnountowardending。"

IconfessthatIhadnotuptonowtakenaveryseriousviewofthecase，whichhadseemedtomerathergrotesqueandbizarrethandangerous。Thatamanshouldlieinwaitforandfollowaveryhandsomewomanisnounheard—ofthing，andifhehadsolittleaudacitythathenotonlydarednotaddressher，butevenfledfromherapproach，hewasnotaveryformidableassailant。

TheruffianWoodleywasaverydifferentperson，but，exceptononeoccasion，hehadnotmolestedourclient，andnowhevisitedthehouseofCarrutherswithoutintrudinguponherpresence。

Themanonthebicyclewasdoubtlessamemberofthoseweek—endpartiesattheHallofwhichthepublicanhadspoken；butwhohewasorwhathewantedwasasobscureasever。ItwastheseverityofHolmes’smannerandthefactthatheslippedarevolverintohispocketbeforeleavingourroomswhichimpressedmewiththefeelingthattragedymightprovetolurkbehindthiscurioustrainofevents。

Arainynighthadbeenfollowedbyagloriousmorning，andtheheath—coveredcountry—sidewiththeglowingclumpsoffloweringgorseseemedallthemorebeautifultoeyeswhichwerewearyofthedunsanddrabsandslate—greysofLondon。HolmesandI

walkedalongthebroad，sandyroadinhalingthefreshmorningair，andrejoicinginthemusicofthebirdsandthefreshbreathofthespring。FromariseoftheroadontheshoulderofCrooksburyHillwecouldseethegrimHallbristlingoutfromamidsttheancientoaks，which，oldastheywere，werestillyoungerthanthebuildingwhichtheysurrounded。Holmespointeddownthelongtractofroadwhichwound，areddishyellowband，betweenthebrownoftheheathandthebuddinggreenofthewoods。Faraway，ablackdot，wecouldseeavehiclemovinginourdirection。Holmesgaveanexclamationofimpatience。

"Ihadgivenamarginofhalfanhour，"saidhe。"Ifthatishertrapshemustbemakingfortheearliertrain。Ifear，Watson，thatshewillbepastCharlingtonbeforewecanpossiblymeether。"

Fromtheinstantthatwepassedtherisewecouldnolongerseethevehicle，butwehastenedonwardsatsuchapacethatmysedentarylifebegantotelluponme，andIwascompelledtofallbehind。Holmes，however，wasalwaysintraining，forhehadinexhaustiblestoresofnervousenergyuponwhichtodraw。

Hisspringystepneversloweduntilsuddenly，whenhewasahundredyardsinfrontofme，hehalted，andIsawhimthrowuphishandwithagestureofgriefanddespair。Atthesameinstantanemptydog—cart，thehorsecantering，thereinstrailing，appearedroundthecurveoftheroadandrattledswiftlytowardsus。

"Toolate，Watson；toolate！"criedHolmes，asIranpantingtohisside。"FoolthatIwasnottoallowforthatearliertrain！

It’sabduction，Watson——abduction！Murder！Heavenknowswhat！

Blocktheroad！Stopthehorse！That’sright。Now，jumpin，andletusseeifIcanrepairtheconsequencesofmyownblunder。"

Wehadsprungintothedog—cart，andHolmes，afterturningthehorse，gaveitasharpcutwiththewhip，andweflewbackalongtheroad。AsweturnedthecurvethewholestretchofroadbetweentheHallandtheheathwasopenedup。IgraspedHolmes’sarm。

"That’stheman！"Igasped。

Asolitarycyclistwascomingtowardsus。Hisheadwasdownandhisshouldersroundedasheputeveryounceofenergythathepossessedontothepedals。Hewasflyinglikearacer。

Suddenlyheraisedhisbeardedface，sawusclosetohim，andpulledup，springingfromhismachine。Thatcoal—blackbeardwasinsingularcontrasttothepallorofhisface，andhiseyeswereasbrightasifhehadafever。Hestaredatusandatthedog—cart。Thenalookofamazementcameoverhisface。

"Halloa！Stopthere！"heshouted，holdinghisbicycletoblockourroad。"Wheredidyougetthatdog—cart？Pullup，man！"

heyelled，drawingapistolfromhissidepocket。"Pullup，Isay，or，byGeorge，I’llputabulletintoyourhorse。"

Holmesthrewthereinsintomylapandsprangdownfromthecart。

"You’rethemanwewanttosee。WhereisMissVioletSmith？"

hesaid，inhisquick，clearway。

"That’swhatIamaskingyou。You’reinherdog—cart。

Yououghttoknowwheresheis。"

"Wemetthedog—cartontheroad。Therewasnooneinit。

Wedrovebacktohelptheyounglady。"

"GoodLord！GoodLord！whatshallIdo？"criedthestranger，inanecstasyofdespair。"They’vegother，thathellhoundWoodleyandtheblackguardparson。Come，man，come，ifyoureallyareherfriend。Standbymeandwe’llsaveher，ifIhavetoleavemycarcassinCharlingtonWood。"

Herandistractedly，hispistolinhishand，towardsagapinthehedge。Holmesfollowedhim，andI，leavingthehorsegrazingbesidetheroad，followedHolmes。

"Thisiswheretheycamethrough，"saidhe，pointingtothemarksofseveralfeetuponthemuddypath。"Halloa！Stopaminute！

Who’sthisinthebush？"

Itwasayoungfellowaboutseventeen，dressedlikeanostler，withleathercordsandgaiters。Helayuponhisback，hiskneesdrawnup，aterriblecutuponhishead。Hewasinsensible，butalive。Aglanceathiswoundtoldmethatithadnotpenetratedthebone。

"That’sPeter，thegroom，"criedthestranger。"Hedroveher。

Thebeastshavepulledhimoffandclubbedhim。Lethimlie；

wecan’tdohimanygood，butwemaysaveherfromtheworstfatethatcanbefallawoman。"

Weranfranticallydownthepath，whichwoundamongthetrees。

WehadreachedtheshrubberywhichsurroundedthehousewhenHolmespulledup。

"Theydidn’tgotothehouse。Herearetheirmarksontheleft——here，besidethelaurelbushes！Ah，Isaidso！"

Ashespokeawoman’sshrillscream——ascreamwhichvibratedwithafrenzyofhorror——burstfromthethickgreenclumpofbushesinfrontofus。Itendedsuddenlyonitshighestnotewithachokeandagurgle。

"Thisway！Thisway！Theyareinthebowlingalley，"criedthestranger，dartingthroughthebushes。"Ah，thecowardlydogs！

Followme，gentlemen！Toolate！toolate！bythelivingJingo！"

Wehadbrokensuddenlyintoalovelygladeofgreenswardsurroundedbyancienttrees。Onthefarthersideofit，undertheshadowofamightyoak，therestoodasingulargroupofthreepeople。Onewasawoman，ourclient，droopingandfaint，ahandkerchiefroundhermouth。Oppositeherstoodabrutal，heavy—faced，red—moustachedyoungman，hisgaiteredlegspartedwide，onearmakimbo，theotherwavingariding—crop，hiswholeattitudesuggestiveoftriumphantbravado。Betweenthemanelderly，grey—beardedman，wearingashortsurpliceoveralighttweedsuit，hadevidentlyjustcompletedtheweddingservice，forhepocketedhisprayer—bookasweappearedandslappedthesinisterbridegroomuponthebackinjovialcongratulation。

"They’remarried！"Igasped。

"Comeon！"criedourguide；"comeon！"Herushedacrosstheglade，HolmesandIathisheels。Asweapproached，theladystaggeredagainstthetrunkofthetreeforsupport。

Williamson，theex—clergyman，bowedtouswithmockpoliteness，andthebullyWoodleyadvancedwithashoutofbrutalandexultantlaughter。

"Youcantakeyourbeardoff，Bob，"saidhe。"Iknowyourightenough。Well，youandyourpalshavejustcomeintimeformetobeabletointroduceyoutoMrs。Woodley。"

Ourguide’sanswerwasasingularone。Hesnatchedoffthedarkbeardwhichhaddisguisedhimandthrewitontheground，disclosingalong，sallow，clean—shavenfacebelowit。

Thenheraisedhisrevolverandcoveredtheyoungruffian，whowasadvancinguponhimwithhisdangerousriding—cropswinginginhishand。

"Yes，"saidourally，"IAMBobCarruthers，andI’llseethiswomanrightedifIhavetoswingforit。ItoldyouwhatI’ddoifyoumolestedher，and，bytheLord，I’llbeasgoodasmyword！"

"You’retoolate。She’smywife！"

"No，she’syourwidow。"

Hisrevolvercracked，andIsawthebloodspurtfromthefrontofWoodley’swaistcoat。Hespunroundwithascreamandfelluponhisback，hishideousredfaceturningsuddenlytoadreadfulmottledpallor。Theoldman，stillcladinhissurplice，burstintosuchastringoffouloathsasIhaveneverheard，andpulledoutarevolverofhisown，butbeforehecouldraiseithewaslookingdownthebarrelofHolmes’sweapon。

"Enoughofthis，"saidmyfriend，coldly。"Dropthatpistol！

Watson，pickitup！Holdittohishead！Thankyou。You，Carruthers，givemethatrevolver。We’llhavenomoreviolence。

Come，handitover！"

"Whoareyou，then？"

"MynameisSherlockHolmes。"

"GoodLord！"

"Youhaveheardofme，Isee。Iwillrepresenttheofficialpoliceuntiltheirarrival。Here，you！"heshoutedtoafrightenedgroomwhohadappearedattheedgeoftheglade。

"Comehere。TakethisnoteashardasyoucanridetoFarnham。"

Hescribbledafewwordsuponaleaffromhisnote—book。"Giveittothesuperintendentatthepolice—station。UntilhecomesImustdetainyouallundermypersonalcustody。"

Thestrong，masterfulpersonalityofHolmesdominatedthetragicscene，andallwereequallypuppetsinhishands。WilliamsonandCarruthersfoundthemselvescarryingthewoundedWoodleyintothehouse，andIgavemyarmtothefrightenedgirl。

Theinjuredmanwaslaidonhisbed，andatHolmes’srequestI

examinedhim。Icarriedmyreporttowherehesatintheoldtapestry—hungdining—roomwithhistwoprisonersbeforehim。

"Hewilllive，"saidI。

"What！"criedCarruthers，springingoutofhischair。"I’llgoupstairsandfinishhimfirst。Doyoutellmethatthatgirl，thatangel，istobetiedtoRoaringJackWoodleyforlife？"

"Youneednotconcernyourselfaboutthat，"saidHolmes。

"Therearetwoverygoodreasonswhysheshouldundernocircumstancesbehiswife。Inthefirstplace，weareverysafeinquestioningMr。Williamson’srighttosolemnizeamarriage。"

"Ihavebeenordained，"criedtheoldrascal。

"Andalsounfrocked。"

"Onceaclergyman，alwaysaclergyman。"

"Ithinknot。Howaboutthelicense？"

"Wehadalicenseforthemarriage。Ihaveithereinmypocket。"

"Thenyougotitbyatrick。Butinanycaseaforcedmarriageisnomarriage，butitisaveryseriousfelony，asyouwilldiscoverbeforeyouhavefinished。You’llhavetimetothinkthepointoutduringthenexttenyearsorso，unlessIammistaken。Astoyou，Carruthers，youwouldhavedonebettertokeepyourpistolinyourpocket。"

"Ibegintothinkso，Mr。Holmes；butwhenIthoughtofalltheprecautionIhadtakentoshieldthisgirl——forIlovedher，Mr。Holmes，anditistheonlytimethateverIknewwhatlovewas——itfairlydrovememadtothinkthatshewasinthepowerofthegreatestbruteandbullyinSouthAfrica，amanwhosenameisaholyterrorfromKimberleytoJohannesburg。Why，Mr。

Holmes，you’llhardlybelieveit，buteversincethatgirlhasbeeninmyemploymentIneveroncelethergopastthishouse，whereIknewtheserascalswerelurking，withoutfollowingheronmybicyclejusttoseethatshecametonoharm。Ikeptmydistancefromher，andIworeabeardsothatsheshouldnotrecogniseme，forsheisagoodandhigh—spiritedgirl，andshewouldn’thavestayedinmyemploymentlongifshehadthoughtthatIwasfollowingheraboutthecountryroads。"

"Whydidn’tyoutellherofherdanger？"

"Becausethen，again，shewouldhaveleftme，andIcouldn’tbeartofacethat。Evenifshecouldn’tlovemeitwasagreatdealtomejusttoseeherdaintyformaboutthehouse，andtohearthesoundofhervoice。"

"Well，"saidI，"youcallthatlove，Mr。Carruthers，butIshouldcallitselfishness。"

"Maybethetwothingsgotogether。Anyhow，Icouldn’tlethergo。Besides，withthiscrowdabout，itwaswellthatsheshouldhavesomeoneneartolookafterher。ThenwhenthecablecameIknewtheywereboundtomakeamove。"

"Whatcable？"

Carrutherstookatelegramfromhispocket。

"That’sit，"saidhe。

Itwasshortandconcise：——

"Theoldmanisdead。"

"Hum！"saidHolmes。"IthinkIseehowthingsworked，andIcanunderstandhowthismessagewould，asyousay，bringthemtoahead。Butwhilewewaityoumighttellmewhatyoucan。"

Theoldreprobatewiththesurpliceburstintoavolleyofbadlanguage。

"ByHeaven，"saidhe，"ifyousquealonus，BobCarruthers，I’llserveyouasyouservedJackWoodley。Youcanbleataboutthegirltoyourheart’scontent，forthat’syourownaffair，butifyouroundonyourpalstothisplain—clothescopperitwillbetheworstday’sworkthateveryoudid。"

"Yourreverenceneednotbeexcited，"saidHolmes，lightingacigarette。"Thecaseisclearenoughagainstyou，andallIaskisafewdetailsformyprivatecuriosity。However，ifthere’sanydifficultyinyourtellingmeI’lldothetalking，andthenyouwillseehowfaryouhaveachanceofholdingbackyoursecrets。

Inthefirstplace，threeofyoucamefromSouthAfricaonthisgame——youWilliamson，youCarruthers，andWoodley。"

"Lienumberone，"saidtheoldman；"Ineversaweitherofthemuntiltwomonthsago，andIhaveneverbeeninAfricainmylife，soyoucanputthatinyourpipeandsmokeit，Mr。BusybodyHolmes！"

"Whathesaysistrue，"saidCarruthers。

"Well，well，twoofyoucameover。Hisreverenceisourownhome—madearticle。YouhadknownRalphSmithinSouthAfrica。

Youhadreasontobelievehewouldnotlivelong。Youfoundoutthathisniecewouldinherithisfortune。How’sthat——eh？"

CarruthersnoddedandWilliamsonswore。

"Shewasnext—of—kin，nodoubt，andyouwereawarethattheoldfellowwouldmakenowill。"

"Couldn’treadorwrite，"saidCarruthers。

"Soyoucameover，thetwoofyou，andhuntedupthegirl。

Theideawasthatoneofyouwastomarryherandtheotherhaveashareoftheplunder。ForsomereasonWoodleywaschosenasthehusband。Whywasthat？"

"Weplayedcardsforheronthevoyage。Hewon。"

"Isee。Yougottheyoungladyintoyourservice，andthereWoodleywastodothecourting。Sherecognisedthedrunkenbrutethathewas，andwouldhavenothingtodowithhim。

Meanwhile，yourarrangementwasratherupsetbythefactthatyouhadyourselffalleninlovewiththelady。Youcouldnolongerbeartheideaofthisruffianowningher。"

"No，byGeorge，Icouldn’t！"

"Therewasaquarrelbetweenyou。Heleftyouinarage，andbegantomakehisownplansindependentlyofyou。"

"Itstrikesme，Williamson，thereisn’tverymuchthatwecantellthisgentleman，"criedCarruthers，withabitterlaugh。

"Yes，wequarreled，andheknockedmedown。Iamlevelwithhimonthat，anyhow。ThenIlostsightofhim。Thatwaswhenhepickedupwiththiscastpadrehere。Ifoundthattheyhadsetuphouse—keepingtogetheratthisplaceonthelinethatshehadtopassforthestation。Ikeptmyeyeonherafterthat，forIknewtherewassomedevilryinthewind。Isawthemfromtimetotime，forIwasanxioustoknowwhattheywereafter。

TwodaysagoWoodleycameuptomyhousewiththiscable，whichshowedthatRalphSmithwasdead。HeaskedmeifIwouldstandbythebargain。IsaidIwouldnot。HeaskedmeifIwouldmarrythegirlmyselfandgivehimashare。IsaidIwouldwillinglydoso，butthatshewouldnothaveme。Hesaid，`Letusgethermarriedfirst，andafteraweekortwoshemayseethingsabitdifferent。’IsaidIwouldhavenothingtodowithviolence。Sohewentoffcursing，likethefoul—mouthedblackguardthathewas，andswearingthathewouldhaveheryet。

Shewasleavingmethisweek—end，andIhadgotatraptotakehertothestation，butIwassouneasyinmymindthatI

followedheronmybicycle。Shehadgotastart，however，andbeforeIcouldcatchherthemischiefwasdone。ThefirstthingIknewaboutitwaswhenIsawyoutwogentlemendrivingbackinherdog—cart。"

Holmesroseandtossedtheendofhiscigaretteintothegrate。

"Ihavebeenveryobtuse，Watson，"saidhe。"Wheninyourreportyousaidthatyouhadseenthecyclistasyouthoughtarrangehisnecktieintheshrubbery，thataloneshouldhavetoldmeall。However，wemaycongratulateourselvesuponacuriousandinsomerespectsauniquecase。Iperceivethreeofthecountyconstabularyinthedrive，andIamgladtoseethatthelittleostlerisabletokeeppacewiththem；soitislikelythatneitherhenortheinterestingbridegroomwillbepermanentlydamagedbytheirmorning’sadventures。Ithink，Watson，thatinyourmedicalcapacityyoumightwaituponMissSmithandtellherthatifsheissufficientlyrecoveredweshallbehappytoescorthertohermother’shome。IfsheisnotquiteconvalescentyouwillfindthatahintthatwewereabouttotelegraphtoayoungelectricianintheMidlandswouldprobablycompletethecure。Astoyou，Mr。Carruthers，Ithinkthatyouhavedonewhatyoucouldtomakeamendsforyourshareinanevilplot。Thereismycard，sir，andifmyevidencecanbeofhelptoyouinyourtrialitshallbeatyourdisposal。"

Inthewhirlofourincessantactivityithasoftenbeendifficultforme，asthereaderhasprobablyobserved，toroundoffmynarratives，andtogivethosefinaldetailswhichthecuriousmightexpect。Eachcasehasbeenthepreludetoanother，andthecrisisonceovertheactorshavepassedforeveroutofourbusylives。Ifind，however，ashortnoteattheendofmymanuscriptsdealingwiththiscase，inwhichIhaveputituponrecordthatMissVioletSmithdidindeedinheritalargefortune，andthatsheisnowthewifeofCyrilMorton，theseniorpartnerofMorton&Kennedy，thefamousWestminsterelectricians。WilliamsonandWoodleywerebothtriedforabductionandassault，theformergettingsevenyearsandthelatterten。OfthefateofCarruthersIhavenorecord，butIamsurethathisassaultwasnotviewedverygravelybytheCourt，sinceWoodleyhadthereputationofbeingamostdangerousruffian，andIthinkthatafewmonthsweresufficienttosatisfythedemandsofjustice。

V。———TheAdventureofthePriorySchool。

WEhavehadsomedramaticentrancesandexitsuponoursmallstageatBakerStreet，butIcannotrecollectanythingmoresuddenandstartlingthanthefirstappearanceofThorneycroftHuxtable，M。A。，Ph。D。，etc。Hiscard，whichseemedtoosmalltocarrytheweightofhisacademicdistinctions，precededhimbyafewseconds，andthenheenteredhimself——solarge，sopompous，andsodignifiedthathewastheveryembodimentofself—possessionandsolidity。Andyethisfirstactionwhenthedoorhadclosedbehindhimwastostaggeragainstthetable，whenceheslippeddownuponthefloor，andtherewasthatmajesticfigureprostrateandinsensibleuponourbearskinhearthrug。

Wehadsprungtoourfeet，andforafewmomentswestaredinsilentamazementatthisponderouspieceofwreckage，whichtoldofsomesuddenandfatalstormfaroutontheoceanoflife。

ThenHolmeshurriedwithacushionforhisheadandIwithbrandyforhislips。Theheavywhitefacewasseamedwithlinesoftrouble，thehangingpouchesundertheclosedeyeswereleadenincolour，theloosemouthdroopeddolorouslyatthecorners，therollingchinswereunshaven。Collarandshirtborethegrimeofalongjourney，andthehairbristledunkemptfromthewell—shapedhead。Itwasasorely—strickenmanwholaybeforeus。

"Whatisit，Watson？"askedHolmes。

"Absoluteexhaustion——possiblymerehungerandfatigue，"saidI，withmyfingeronthethreadypulse，wherethestreamoflifetrickledthinandsmall。

"ReturnticketfromMackleton，intheNorthofEngland，"saidHolmes，drawingitfromthewatch—pocket。"Itisnottwelveo’clockyet。

Hehascertainlybeenanearlystarter。"

Thepuckeredeyelidshadbeguntoquiver，andnowapairofvacant，greyeyeslookedupatus。Aninstantlaterthemanhadscrambledontohisfeet，hisfacecrimsonwithshame。

"Forgivethisweakness，Mr。Holmes；Ihavebeenalittleoverwrought。Thankyou，ifImighthaveaglassofmilkandabiscuitIhavenodoubtthatIshouldbebetter。Icamepersonally，Mr。Holmes，inordertoensurethatyouwouldreturnwithme。Ifearedthatnotelegramwouldconvinceyouoftheabsoluteurgencyofthecase。"

"Whenyouarequiterestored————"

"Iamquitewellagain。IcannotimaginehowIcametobesoweak。

Iwishyou，Mr。Holmes，tocometoMackletonwithmebythenexttrain。"

Myfriendshookhishead。

"Mycolleague，Dr。Watson，couldtellyouthatweareverybusyatpresent。IamretainedinthiscaseoftheFerrersDocuments，andtheAbergavennymurderiscomingupfortrial。OnlyaveryimportantissuecouldcallmefromLondonatpresent。"

"Important！"Ourvisitorthrewuphishands。"HaveyouheardnothingoftheabductionoftheonlysonoftheDukeofHoldernesse？"

"What！thelateCabinetMinister？"

"Exactly。Wehadtriedtokeepitoutofthepapers，buttherewassomerumourintheGLOBElastnight。Ithoughtitmighthavereachedyourears。"

Holmesshotouthislong，thinarmandpickedoutVolume"H"

inhisencyclopaediaofreference。

"`Holdernesse，6thDuke，K。G。，P。C。’——halfthealphabet！

`BaronBeverley，EarlofCarston’——dearme，whatalist！

`LordLieutenantofHallamshiresince1900。MarriedEdith，daughterofSirCharlesAppledore，1888。Heirandonlychild，LordSaltire。Ownsabouttwohundredandfiftythousandacres。

MineralsinLancashireandWales。Address：CarltonHouseTerrace；HoldernesseHall，Hallamshire；CarstonCastle，Bangor，Wales。LordoftheAdmiralty，1872；ChiefSecretaryofStatefor——’Well，well，thismaniscertainlyoneofthegreatestsubjectsoftheCrown！"

"Thegreatestandperhapsthewealthiest。Iamaware，Mr。Holmes，thatyoutakeaveryhighlineinprofessionalmatters，andthatyouarepreparedtoworkforthework’ssake。Imaytellyou，however，thathisGracehasalreadyintimatedthatachequeforfivethousandpoundswillbehandedovertothepersonwhocantellhimwherehissonis，andanotherthousandtohimwhocannametheman，ormen，whohavetakenhim。"

"Itisaprincelyoffer，"saidHolmes。"Watson，IthinkthatweshallaccompanyDr。HuxtablebacktotheNorthofEngland。

Andnow，Dr。Huxtable，whenyouhaveconsumedthatmilkyouwillkindlytellmewhathashappened，whenithappened，howithappened，and，finally，whatDr。ThorneycroftHuxtable，ofthePriorySchool，nearMackleton，hastodowiththematter，andwhyhecomesthreedaysafteranevent——thestateofyourchingivesthedate——toaskformyhumbleservices。"

Ourvisitorhadconsumedhismilkandbiscuits。Thelighthadcomebacktohiseyesandthecolourtohischeeksashesethimselfwithgreatvigourandluciditytoexplainthesituation。

"Imustinformyou，gentlemen，thatthePrioryisapreparatoryschool，ofwhichIamthefounderandprincipal。`Huxtable’sSidelightsonHorace’maypossiblyrecallmynametoyourmemories。ThePrioryis，withoutexception，thebestandmostselectpreparatoryschoolinEngland。LordLeverstoke，theEarlofBlackwater，SirCathcartSoames——theyallhaveentrustedtheirsonstome。ButIfeltthatmyschoolhadreacheditszenithwhen，threeweeksago，theDukeofHoldernessesentMr。JamesWilder，hissecretary，withtheintimationthatyoungLordSaltire，tenyearsold，hisonlysonandheir，wasabouttobecommittedtomycharge。LittledidIthinkthatthiswouldbethepreludetothemostcrushingmisfortuneofmylife。

"OnMay1sttheboyarrived，thatbeingthebeginningofthesummerterm。Hewasacharmingyouth，andhesoonfellintoourways。Imaytellyou——ItrustthatIamnotindiscreet，buthalf—confidencesareabsurdinsuchacase——thathewasnotentirelyhappyathome。ItisanopensecretthattheDuke’smarriedlifehadnotbeenapeacefulone，andthematterhadendedinaseparationbymutualconsent，theDuchesstakingupherresidenceintheSouthofFrance。Thishadoccurredveryshortlybefore，andtheboy’ssympathiesareknowntohavebeenstronglywithhismother。HemopedafterherdeparturefromHoldernesseHall，anditwasforthisreasonthattheDukedesiredtosendhimtomyestablishment。Inafortnighttheboywasquiteathomewithus，andwasapparentlyabsolutelyhappy。

"HewaslastseenonthenightofMay13th——thatis，thenightoflastMonday。Hisroomwasonthesecondfloor，andwasapproachedthroughanotherlargerroominwhichtwoboysweresleeping。Theseboyssawandheardnothing，sothatitiscertainthatyoungSaltiredidnotpassoutthatway。

Hiswindowwasopen，andthereisastoutivyplantleadingtotheground。Wecouldtracenofootmarksbelow，butitissurethatthisistheonlypossibleexit。

"Hisabsencewasdiscoveredatseveno’clockonTuesdaymorning。

Hisbedhadbeensleptin。HehaddressedhimselffullybeforegoingoffinhisusualschoolsuitofblackEtonjacketanddarkgreytrousers。Therewerenosignsthatanyonehadenteredtheroom，anditisquitecertainthatanythinginthenatureofcries，orastruggle，wouldhavebeenheard，sinceCaunter，theelderboyintheinnerroom，isaverylightsleeper。