第9章

"WhenLordSaltire’sdisappearancewasdiscoveredIatoncecalledarollofthewholeestablishment，boys，masters，andservants。ItwasthenthatweascertainedthatLordSaltirehadnotbeenaloneinhisflight。Heidegger，theGermanmaster，wasmissing。Hisroomwasonthesecondfloor，atthefartherendofthebuilding，facingthesamewayasLordSaltire’s。

Hisbedhadalsobeensleptin；buthehadapparentlygoneawaypartlydressed，sincehisshirtandsockswerelyingonthefloor。

Hehadundoubtedlylethimselfdownbytheivy，forwecouldseethemarksofhisfeetwherehehadlandedonthelawn。

Hisbicyclewaskeptinasmallshedbesidethislawn，anditalsowasgone。

"Hehadbeenwithmefortwoyears，andcamewiththebestreferences；buthewasasilent，moroseman，notverypopulareitherwithmastersorboys。Notracecouldbefoundofthefugitives，andnowonThursdaymorningweareasignorantaswewereonTuesday。Inquirywas，ofcourse，madeatonceatHoldernesseHall。Itisonlyafewmilesaway，andweimaginedthatinsomesuddenattackofhome—sicknesshehadgonebacktohisfather；butnothinghadbeenheardofhim。TheDukeisgreatlyagitated——andastome，youhaveseenyourselvesthestateofnervousprostrationtowhichthesuspenseandtheresponsibilityhavereducedme。Mr。Holmes，ifeveryouputforwardyourfullpowers，Iimploreyoutodosonow，forneverinyourlifecouldyouhaveacasewhichismoreworthyofthem。"

SherlockHolmeshadlistenedwiththeutmostintentnesstothestatementoftheunhappyschoolmaster。Hisdrawnbrowsandthedeepfurrowbetweenthemshowedthatheneedednoexhortationtoconcentrateallhisattentionuponaproblemwhich，apartfromthetremendousinterestsinvolved，mustappealsodirectlytohisloveofthecomplexandtheunusual。Henowdrewouthisnote—bookandjotteddownoneortwomemoranda。

"Youhavebeenveryremissinnotcomingtomesooner，"saidhe，severely。"Youstartmeonmyinvestigationwithaveryserioushandicap。Itisinconceivable，forexample，thatthisivyandthislawnwouldhaveyieldednothingtoanexpertobserver。"

"Iamnottoblame，Mr。Holmes。HisGracewasextremelydesiroustoavoidallpublicscandal。Hewasafraidofhisfamilyunhappinessbeingdraggedbeforetheworld。

Hehasadeephorrorofanythingofthekind。"

"Buttherehasbeensomeofficialinvestigation？"

"Yes，sir，andithasprovedmostdisappointing。Anapparentcluewasatonceobtained，sinceaboyandayoungmanwerereportedtohavebeenseenleavinganeighbouringstationbyanearlytrain。OnlylastnightwehadnewsthatthecouplehadbeenhunteddowninLiverpool，andtheyprovetohavenoconnectionwhateverwiththematterinhand。Thenitwasthatinmydespairanddisappointment，afterasleeplessnight，Icamestraighttoyoubytheearlytrain。"

"Isupposethelocalinvestigationwasrelaxedwhilethisfalsecluewasbeingfollowedup？"

"Itwasentirelydropped。"

"Sothatthreedayshavebeenwasted。Theaffairhasbeenmostdeplorablyhandled。"

"Ifeelit，andadmitit。"

"Andyettheproblemshouldbecapableofultimatesolution。

Ishallbeveryhappytolookintoit。HaveyoubeenabletotraceanyconnectionbetweenthemissingboyandthisGermanmaster？"

"Noneatall。"

"Washeinthemaster’sclass？"

"No；heneverexchangedawordwithhimsofarasIknow。"

"Thatiscertainlyverysingular。Hadtheboyabicycle？"

"No。"

"Wasanyotherbicyclemissing？"

"No。"

"Isthatcertain？"

"Quite。"

"Well，now，youdonotmeantoseriouslysuggestthatthisGermanrodeoffuponabicycleinthedeadofthenightbearingtheboyinhisarms？"

"Certainlynot。"

"Thenwhatisthetheoryinyourmind？"

"Thebicyclemayhavebeenablind。Itmayhavebeenhiddensomewhereandthepairgoneoffonfoot。"

"Quiteso；butitseemsratheranabsurdblind，doesitnot？

Werethereotherbicyclesinthisshed？"

"Several。"

"WouldhenothavehiddenACOUPLEhadhedesiredtogivetheideathattheyhadgoneoffuponthem？"

"Isupposehewould。"

"Ofcoursehewould。Theblindtheorywon’tdo。Buttheincidentisanadmirablestarting—pointforaninvestigation。

Afterall，abicycleisnotaneasythingtoconcealortodestroy。

Oneotherquestion。Didanyonecalltoseetheboyonthedaybeforehedisappeared？"

"No。"

"Didhegetanyletters？"

"Yes；oneletter。"

"Fromwhom？"

"Fromhisfather。"

"Doyouopentheboys’letters？"

"No。"

"Howdoyouknowitwasfromthefather？"

"Thecoatofarmswasontheenvelope，anditwasaddressedintheDuke’speculiarstiffhand。Besides，theDukeremembershavingwritten。"

"Whenhadhealetterbeforethat？"

"Notforseveraldays。"

"HadheeveronefromFrance？"

"No；never。

"Youseethepointofmyquestions，ofcourse。Eithertheboywascarriedoffbyforceorhewentofhisownfreewill。

Inthelattercaseyouwouldexpectthatsomepromptingfromoutsidewouldbeneededtomakesoyoungaladdosuchathing。

Ifhehashadnovisitors，thatpromptingmusthavecomeinletters。HenceItrytofindoutwhowerehiscorrespondents。"

"IfearIcannothelpyoumuch。Hisonlycorrespondent，sofarasIknow，washisownfather。"

"Whowrotetohimontheverydayofhisdisappearance。

Weretherelationsbetweenfatherandsonveryfriendly？"

"HisGraceisneververyfriendlywithanyone。Heiscompletelyimmersedinlargepublicquestions，andisratherinaccessibletoallordinaryemotions。Buthewasalwayskindtotheboyinhisownway。"

"Butthesympathiesofthelatterwerewiththemother？"

"Yes。"

"Didhesayso？"

"No。"

"TheDuke，then？"

"Goodheavens，no！"

"Thenhowcouldyouknow？"

"IhavehadsomeconfidentialtalkswithMr。JamesWilder，hisGrace’ssecretary。ItwashewhogavemetheinformationaboutLordSaltire’sfeelings。"

"Isee。Bytheway，thatlastletteroftheDuke’s——wasitfoundintheboy’sroomafterhewasgone？"

"No；hehadtakenitwithhim。Ithink，Mr。Holmes，itistimethatwewereleavingforEuston。"

"Iwillorderafour—wheeler。Inaquarterofanhourweshallbeatyourservice。Ifyouaretelegraphinghome，Mr。Huxtable，itwouldbewelltoallowthepeopleinyourneighbourhoodtoimaginethattheinquiryisstillgoingoninLiverpool，orwhereverelsethatredherringledyourpack。InthemeantimeIwilldoalittlequietworkatyourowndoors，andperhapsthescentisnotsocoldbutthattwooldhoundslikeWatsonandmyselfmaygetasniffofit。"

Thateveningfoundusinthecold，bracingatmosphereofthePeakcountry，inwhichDr。Huxtable’sfamousschoolissituated。

Itwasalreadydarkwhenwereachedit。Acardwaslyingonthehalltable，andthebutlerwhisperedsomethingtohismaster，whoturnedtouswithagitationineveryheavyfeature。

"TheDukeishere，"saidhe。"TheDukeandMr。Wilderareinthestudy。Come，gentlemen，andIwillintroduceyou。"

Iwas，ofcourse，familiarwiththepicturesofthefamousstatesman，butthemanhimselfwasverydifferentfromhisrepresentation。Hewasatallandstatelyperson，scrupulouslydressed，withadrawn，thinface，andanosewhichwasgrotesquelycurvedandlong。Hiscomplexionwasofadeadpallor，whichwasmorestartlingbycontrastwithalong，dwindlingbeardofvividred，whichfloweddownoverhiswhitewaistcoat，withhiswatch—chaingleamingthroughitsfringe。

SuchwasthestatelypresencewholookedstonilyatusfromthecentreofDr。Huxtable’shearthrug。Besidehimstoodaveryyoungman，whomIunderstoodtobeWilder，theprivatesecretary。Hewassmall，nervous，alert，withintelligent，light—blueeyesandmobilefeatures。Itwashewhoatonce，inanincisiveandpositivetone，openedtheconversation。

"Icalledthismorning，Dr。Huxtable，toolatetopreventyoufromstartingforLondon。IlearnedthatyourobjectwastoinviteMr。SherlockHolmestoundertaketheconductofthiscase。HisGraceissurprised，Dr。Huxtable，thatyoushouldhavetakensuchastepwithoutconsultinghim。"

"WhenIlearnedthatthepolicehadfailed————"

"HisGraceisbynomeansconvincedthatthepolicehavefailed。"

"Butsurely，Mr。Wilder————"

"Youarewellaware，Dr。Huxtable，thathisGraceisparticularlyanxioustoavoidallpublicscandal。Hepreferstotakeasfewpeopleaspossibleintohisconfidence。"

"Themattercanbeeasilyremedied，"saidthebrow—beatendoctor；

"Mr。SherlockHolmescanreturntoLondonbythemorningtrain。"

"Hardlythat，Doctor，hardlythat，"saidHolmes，inhisblandestvoice。"Thisnorthernairisinvigoratingandpleasant，soIproposetospendafewdaysuponyourmoors，andtooccupymymindasbestImay。WhetherIhavetheshelterofyourrooforofthevillageinnis，ofcourse，foryoutodecide。"

Icouldseethattheunfortunatedoctorwasinthelaststageofindecision，fromwhichhewasrescuedbythedeep，sonorousvoiceofthered—beardedDuke，whichboomedoutlikeadinner—gong。

"IagreewithMr。Wilder，Dr。Huxtable，thatyouwouldhavedonewiselytoconsultme。ButsinceMr。Holmeshasalreadybeentakenintoyourconfidence，itwouldindeedbeabsurdthatweshouldnotavailourselvesofhisservices。Farfromgoingtotheinn，Mr。Holmes，IshouldbepleasedifyouwouldcomeandstaywithmeatHoldernesseHall。"

"IthankyourGrace。ForthepurposesofmyinvestigationIthinkthatitwouldbewiserformetoremainatthesceneofthemystery。"

"Justasyoulike，Mr。Holmes。AnyinformationwhichMr。WilderorIcangiveyouis，ofcourse，atyourdisposal。"

"ItwillprobablybenecessaryformetoseeyouattheHall，"

saidHolmes。"Iwouldonlyaskyounow，sir，whetheryouhaveformedanyexplanationinyourownmindastothemysteriousdisappearanceofyourson？"

"No，sir，Ihavenot。"

"ExcusemeifIalludetothatwhichispainfultoyou，butIhavenoalternative。DoyouthinkthattheDuchesshadanythingtodowiththematter？"

ThegreatMinistershowedperceptiblehesitation。

"Idonotthinkso，"hesaid，atlast。

"Theothermostobviousexplanationisthatthechildhasbeenkidnappedforthepurposeoflevyingransom。

Youhavenothadanydemandofthesort？"

"No，sir。"

"Onemorequestion，yourGrace。Iunderstandthatyouwrotetoyoursonuponthedaywhenthisincidentoccurred。"

"No；Iwroteuponthedaybefore。"

"Exactly。Buthereceiveditonthatday？"

"Yes。"

"Wasthereanythinginyourletterwhichmighthaveunbalancedhimorinducedhimtotakesuchastep？"

"No，sir，certainlynot。"

"Didyoupostthatletteryourself？"

Thenobleman’sreplywasinterruptedbyhissecretary，whobrokeinwithsomeheat。

"HisGraceisnotinthehabitofpostinglettershimself，"

saidhe。"Thisletterwaslaidwithothersuponthestudytable，andImyselfputtheminthepost—bag。"

"Youaresurethisonewasamongthem？"

"Yes；Iobservedit。"

"HowmanylettersdidyourGracewritethatday？"

"Twentyorthirty。Ihavealargecorrespondence。

Butsurelythisissomewhatirrelevant？"

"Notentirely，"saidHolmes。

"Formyownpart，"theDukecontinued，"IhaveadvisedthepolicetoturntheirattentiontotheSouthofFrance。

IhavealreadysaidthatIdonotbelievethattheDuchesswouldencouragesomonstrousanaction，buttheladhadthemostwrong—headedopinions，anditispossiblethathemayhavefledtoher，aidedandabettedbythisGerman。Ithink，Dr。Huxtable，thatwewillnowreturntotheHall。"

IcouldseethattherewereotherquestionswhichHolmeswouldhavewishedtoput；butthenobleman’sabruptmannershowedthattheinterviewwasatanend。Itwasevidentthattohisintenselyaristocraticnaturethisdiscussionofhisintimatefamilyaffairswithastrangerwasmostabhorrent，andthathefearedlesteveryfreshquestionwouldthrowafiercerlightintothediscreetlyshadowedcornersofhisducalhistory。

Whenthenoblemanandhissecretaryhadleft，myfriendflunghimselfatoncewithcharacteristiceagernessintotheinvestigation。

Theboy’schamberwascarefullyexamined，andyieldednothingsavetheabsoluteconvictionthatitwasonlythroughthewindowthathecouldhaveescaped。TheGermanmaster’sroomandeffectsgavenofurtherclue。Inhiscaseatrailerofivyhadgivenwayunderhisweight，andwesawbythelightofalanternthemarkonthelawnwherehisheelshadcomedown。Thatonedintintheshortgreengrasswastheonlymaterialwitnessleftofthisinexplicablenocturnalflight。

SherlockHolmesleftthehousealone，andonlyreturnedaftereleven。Hehadobtainedalargeordnancemapoftheneighbourhood，andthishebroughtintomyroom，wherehelaiditoutonthebed，and，havingbalancedthelampinthemiddleofit，hebegantosmokeoverit，andoccasionallytopointoutobjectsofinterestwiththereekingamberofhispipe。

"Thiscasegrowsuponme，Watson，"saidhe。"Therearedecidedlysomepointsofinterestinconnectionwithit。InthisearlystageIwantyoutorealizethosegeographicalfeatureswhichmayhaveagooddealtodowithourinvestigation。

GRAPHIC

"Lookatthismap。ThisdarksquareisthePriorySchool。

I’llputapininit。Now，thislineisthemainroad。

Youseethatitrunseastandwestpasttheschool，andyouseealsothatthereisnosideroadforamileeitherway。

IfthesetwofolkpassedawaybyroaditwasTHISroad。"

"Exactly。"

"Byasingularandhappychanceweareabletosomeextenttocheckwhatpassedalongthisroadduringthenightinquestion。

Atthispoint，wheremypipeisnowresting，acountryconstablewasondutyfromtwelvetosix。Itis，asyouperceive，thefirstcrossroadontheeastside。Thismandeclaresthathewasnotabsentfromhispostforaninstant，andheispositivethatneitherboynormancouldhavegonethatwayunseen。

Ihavespokenwiththispolicemanto—night，andheappearstometobeaperfectlyreliableperson。Thatblocksthisend。

Wehavenowtodealwiththeother。Thereisaninnhere，theRedBull，thelandladyofwhichwasill。ShehadsenttoMackletonforadoctor，buthedidnotarriveuntilmorning，beingabsentatanothercase。Thepeopleattheinnwerealertallnight，awaitinghiscoming，andoneorotherofthemseemstohavecontinuallyhadaneyeupontheroad。Theydeclarethatnoonepassed。Iftheirevidenceisgood，thenwearefortunateenoughtobeabletoblockthewest，andalsotobeabletosaythatthefugitivesdidNOTusetheroadatall。"

"Butthebicycle？"Iobjected。

"Quiteso。Wewillcometothebicyclepresently。Tocontinueourreasoning：ifthesepeopledidnotgobytheroad，theymusthavetraversedthecountrytothenorthofthehouseortothesouthofthehouse。Thatiscertain。Letusweightheoneagainsttheother。Onthesouthofthehouseis，asyouperceive，alargedistrictofarableland，cutupintosmallfields，withstonewallsbetweenthem。There，Iadmitthatabicycleisimpossible。Wecandismisstheidea。Weturntothecountryonthenorth。Herethereliesagroveoftrees，markedasthe`RaggedShaw，’andonthefarthersidestretchesagreatrollingmoor，LowerGillMoor，extendingfortenmilesandslopinggraduallyupwards。Here，atonesideofthiswilderness，isHoldernesseHall，tenmilesbyroad，butonlysixacrossthemoor。Itisapeculiarlydesolateplain。Afewmoorfarmershavesmallholdings，wheretheyrearsheepandcattle。

Exceptthese，theploverandthecurlewaretheonlyinhabitantsuntilyoucometotheChesterfieldhighroad。Thereisachurchthere，yousee，afewcottages，andaninn。Beyondthatthehillsbecomeprecipitous。Surelyitisheretothenorththatourquestmustlie。"

"Butthebicycle？"Ipersisted。

"Well，well！"saidHolmes，impatiently。"Agoodcyclistdoesnotneedahighroad。Themoorisintersectedwithpathsandthemoonwasatthefull。Halloa！whatisthis？"

Therewasanagitatedknockatthedoor，andaninstantafterwardsDr。Huxtablewasintheroom。Inhishandheheldabluecricket—cap，withawhitechevrononthepeak。

"Atlastwehaveaclue！"hecried。"ThankHeaven！atlastweareonthedearboy’strack！Itishiscap。"

"Wherewasitfound？"

"Inthevanofthegipsieswhocampedonthemoor。

TheyleftonTuesday。To—daythepolicetracedthemdownandexaminedtheircaravan。Thiswasfound。"

"Howdotheyaccountforit？"

"Theyshuffledandlied——saidthattheyfounditonthemooronTuesdaymorning。Theyknowwhereheis，therascals！

Thankgoodness，theyareallsafeunderlockandkey。EitherthefearofthelawortheDuke’spursewillcertainlygetoutofthemallthattheyknow。"

"Sofar，sogood，"saidHolmes，whenthedoctorhadatlastlefttheroom。"ItatleastbearsoutthetheorythatitisonthesideoftheLowerGillMoorthatwemusthopeforresults。

Thepolicehavereallydonenothinglocally，savethearrestofthesegipsies。Lookhere，Watson！Thereisawatercourseacrossthemoor。Youseeitmarkedhereinthemap。Insomepartsitwidensintoamorass。ThisisparticularlysointheregionbetweenHoldernesseHallandtheschool。Itisvaintolookelsewherefortracksinthisdryweather；butatTHATpointthereiscertainlyachanceofsomerecordbeingleft。Iwillcallyouearlyto—morrowmorning，andyouandIwilltryifwecanthrowsomelittlelightuponthemystery。"

ThedaywasjustbreakingwhenIwoketofindthelong，thinformofHolmesbymybedside。Hewasfullydressed，andhadapparentlyalreadybeenout。

"Ihavedonethelawnandthebicycleshed，"saidhe。

"IhavealsohadaramblethroughtheRaggedShaw。Now，Watson，thereiscocoareadyinthenextroom。Imustbegyoutohurry，forwehaveagreatdaybeforeus。"

Hiseyesshone，andhischeekwasflushedwiththeexhilarationofthemasterworkmanwhoseeshisworkliereadybeforehim。

AverydifferentHolmes，thisactive，alertman，fromtheintrospectiveandpalliddreamerofBakerStreet。Ifelt，asIlookeduponthatsupplefigure，alivewithnervousenergy，thatitwasindeedastrenuousdaythatawaitedus。

Andyetitopenedintheblackestdisappointment。Withhighhopeswestruckacrossthepeaty，russetmoor，intersectedwithathousandsheeppaths，untilwecametothebroad，light—greenbeltwhichmarkedthemorassbetweenusandHoldernesse。

Certainly，iftheladhadgonehomewards，hemusthavepassedthis，andhecouldnotpassitwithoutleavinghistraces。

ButnosignofhimortheGermancouldbeseen。Withadarkeningfacemyfriendstrodealongthemargin，eagerlyobservantofeverymuddystainuponthemossysurface。Sheep—markstherewereinprofusion，andatoneplace，somemilesdown，cowshadlefttheirtracks。Nothingmore。

"Checknumberone，"saidHolmes，lookinggloomilyovertherollingexpanseofthemoor。"Thereisanothermorassdownyonderandanarrowneckbetween。Halloa！halloa！halloa！

whathavewehere？"

Wehadcomeonasmallblackribbonofpathway。Inthemiddleofit，clearlymarkedonthesoddensoil，wasthetrackofabicycle。

"Hurrah！"Icried。"Wehaveit。"

ButHolmeswasshakinghishead，andhisfacewaspuzzledandexpectantratherthanjoyous。

"Abicycle，certainly，butnotTHEbicycle，"saidhe。

"Iamfamiliarwithforty—twodifferentimpressionsleftbytyres。

This，asyouperceive，isaDunlop，withapatchupontheoutercover。

Heidegger’styreswerePalmer’s，leavinglongitudinalstripes。

Aveling，themathematicalmaster，wassureuponthepoint。

Therefore，itisnotHeidegger’strack。"

"Theboy’s，then？"

"Possibly，ifwecouldproveabicycletohavebeeninhispossession。Butthiswehaveutterlyfailedtodo。Thistrack，asyouperceive，wasmadebyariderwhowasgoingfromthedirectionoftheschool。"

"Ortowardsit？"

"No，no，mydearWatson。Themoredeeplysunkimpressionis，ofcourse，thehindwheel，uponwhichtheweightrests。

Youperceiveseveralplaceswhereithaspassedacrossandobliteratedthemoreshallowmarkofthefrontone。Itwasundoubtedlyheadingawayfromtheschool。Itmayormaynotbeconnectedwithourinquiry，butwewillfollowitbackwardsbeforewegoanyfarther。"

Wedidso，andattheendofafewhundredyardslostthetracksasweemergedfromtheboggyportionofthemoor。Followingthepathbackwards，wepickedoutanotherspot，whereaspringtrickledacrossit。Here，onceagain，wasthemarkofthebicycle，thoughnearlyobliteratedbythehoofsofcows。Afterthattherewasnosign，butthepathranrightonintoRaggedShaw，thewoodwhichbackedontotheschool。Fromthiswoodthecyclemusthaveemerged。Holmessatdownonaboulderandrestedhischininhishands。Ihadsmokedtwocigarettesbeforehemoved。

"Well，well，"saidhe，atlast。"Itis，ofcourse，possiblethatacunningmanmightchangethetyreofhisbicycleinordertoleaveunfamiliartracks。AcriminalwhowascapableofsuchathoughtisamanwhomIshouldbeproudtodobusinesswith。

Wewillleavethisquestionundecidedandharkbacktoourmorassagain，forwehaveleftagooddealunexplored。"

Wecontinuedoursystematicsurveyoftheedgeofthesoddenportionofthemoor，andsoonourperseverancewasgloriouslyrewarded。Rightacrossthelowerpartoftheboglayamirypath。Holmesgaveacryofdelightasheapproachedit。

Animpressionlikeafinebundleoftelegraphwiresrandownthecentreofit。ItwasthePalmertyre。

"HereisHerrHeidegger，sureenough！"criedHolmes，exultantly。

"Myreasoningseemstohavebeenprettysound，Watson。"

"Icongratulateyou。"

"Butwehavealongwaystilltogo。Kindlywalkclearofthepath。Nowletusfollowthetrail。Ifearthatitwillnotleadveryfar。"

Wefound，however，asweadvancedthatthisportionofthemoorisintersectedwithsoftpatches，and，thoughwefrequentlylostsightofthetrack，wealwayssucceededinpickingituponcemore。

"Doyouobserve，"saidHolmes，"thattheriderisnowundoubtedlyforcingthepace？Therecanbenodoubtofit。