the adventure of the priory school-第1章

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SHERLOCK　HOLMES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　PRIORY　SCHOOL

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Sir　Arthur　Conan　Doyle

　　THE　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　PRIORY　SCHOOL



　　We　have　had　some　dramatic　entrances　and　exits　upon　our　small　stage

at　Baker　Street；　but　I　cannot　recollect　anything　more　sudden　and

startling　than　the　first　appearance　of　Thorneycroft　Huxtable；　M。A。；

Ph。D。；　etc。　His　card；　which　seemed　too　small　to　carry　the　weight　of

his　academic　distinctions；　preceded　him　by　a　few　seconds；　and　then

he　entered　himself…　so　large；　so　pompous；　and　so　dignified　that　he　was

the　very　embodiment　of　self…possession　and　solidity。　And　yet　his　first

action；　when　the　door　had　closed　behind　him；　was　to　stagger　against

the　table；　whence　he　slipped　down　upon　the　floor；　and　there　was　that

majestic　figure　prostrate　and　insensible　upon　our　bearskin　hearthrug。

　　We　had　sprung　to　our　feet；　and　for　a　few　moments　we　stared　in　silent

amazement　at　this　ponderous　piece　of　wreckage；　which　told　of　some

sudden　and　fatal　storm　far　out　on　the　ocean　of　life。　Then　Holmes

hurried　with　a　cushion　for　his　head；　and　I　with　brandy　for　his　lips。

The　heavy；　white　face　was　seamed　with　lines　of　trouble；　the　hanging

pouches　under　the　closed　eyes　were　leaden　in　colour；　the　loose　mouth

drooped　dolorously　at　the　corners；　the　rolling　chins　were　unshaven。

Collar　and　shirt　bore　the　grime　of　a　long　journey；　and　the　hair

bristled　unkempt　from　the　well…shaped　head。　It　was　a　sorely　stricken

man　who　lay　before　us。

　　〃What　is　it；　Watson？〃　asked　Holmes。

　　〃Absolute　exhaustion…　possibly　mere　hunger　and　fatigue；〃　said　I；

with　my　finger　on　the　thready　pulse；　where　the　stream　of　life　trickled

thin　and　small。

　　〃Return　ticket　from　Mackleton；　in　the　north　of　England；〃　said

Holmes；　drawing　it　from　the　watch…pocket。　〃It　is　not　twelve　o'clock

yet　He　has　certainly　been　an　early　starter。〃

　　The　puckered　eyelids　had　begun　to　quiver；　and　now　a　pair　of　vacant

gray　eyes　looked　up　at　us。　An　instant　later　the　man　had　scrambled　on

to　his　feet；　his　face　crimson　with　shame。

　　〃Forgive　this　weakness；　Mr。　Holmes；　I　have　been　a　little

overwrought。　Thank　you；　if　I　might　have　a　glass　of　milk　and　a　biscuit；

I　have　no　doubt　that　I　should　be　better。　I　came　personally；　Mr。

Holmes；　in　order　to　insure　that　you　would　return　with　me。　I　feared

that　no　telegram　would　convince　you　of　the　absolute　urgency　of　the

case。〃

　　〃When　you　are　quite　restored…〃

　　〃I　am　quite　well　again。　I　cannot　imagine　how　I　came　to　be　so　weak。　I

wish　you；　Mr。　Holmes；　to　come　to　Mackleton　with　me　by　the　next　train。〃

　　My　friend　shook　his　head。

　　〃My　colleague；　Dr。　Watson；　could　tell　you　that　we　are　very　busy　at

present。　I　am　retained　in　this　case　of　the　Ferrers　Documents；　and

the　Abergavenny　murder　is　coming　up　for　trial。　Only　a　very　important

issue　could　call　me　from　London　at　present。〃

　　〃Important！〃　Our　visitor　threw　up　his　hands。　〃Have　you　heard　nothing

of　the　abduction　of　the　only　son　of　the　Duke　of　Holdernesse？〃

　　〃What！　the　late　Cabinet　Minister？〃

　　〃Exactly。　We　had　tried　to　keep　it　out　of　the　papers；　but　there　was

some　rumor　in　the　Globe　last　night。　I　thought　it　might　have　reached

your　ears。〃

　　Holmes　shot　out　his　long；　thin　arm　and　picked　out　Volume　〃H〃　in

his　encyclopaedia　of　reference。

　　〃‘Holdernesse；　6th　Duke；　K。G。；　P。C。'…　half　the　alphabet！　'Baron

Beverley；　Earl　of　Carston'…　dear　me；　what　a　list！　'Lord　Lieutenant

of　Hallamshire　since　1900。　Married　Edith；　daughter　of　Sir　Charles

Appledore；　1888。　Heir　and　only　child；　Lord　Saltire。　Owns　about　two

hundred　and　fifty　thousand　acres。　Minerals　in　Lancashire　and　Wales。

Address：　Carlton　House　Terrace；　Holdernesse　Hall；　Hallamshire；　Carston

Castle；　Bangor；　Wales。　Lord　of　the　Admiralty；　1872；　Chief　Secretary　of

State　for…'　Well；　well；　this　man　is　certainly　one　of　the　greatest

subjects　of　the　Crown！〃

　　〃The　greatest　and　perhaps　the　wealthiest。　I　am　aware；　Mr。　Holmes；

that　you　take　a　very　high　line　in　professional　matters；　and　that　you

are　prepared　to　work　for　the　work's　sake。　I　may　tell　you；　however；

that　his　Grace　has　already　intimated　that　a　check　for　five　thousand

pounds　will　be　handed　over　to　the　person　who　can　tell　him　where　his

son　is；　and　another　thousand　to　him　who　can　name　the　man　or　men　who

have　taken　him。〃

　　〃It　is　a　princely　offer；〃　said　Holmes。　〃Watson；　I　think　that　we

shall　accompany　Dr。　Huxtable　back　to　the　north　of　England。　And　now；

Dr。　Huxtable；　when　you　have　consumed　that　milk；　you　will　kindly　tell

me　what　has　happened；　when　it　happened；　how　it　happened；　and；　finally；

what　Dr。　Thorneycroft　Huxtable；　of　the　Priory　School；　near

Mackleton；　has　to　do　with　the　matter；　and　why　he　comes　three　days

after　an　event…　the　state　of　your　chin　gives　the　date…　to　ask　for　my

humble　services。〃

　　Our　visitor　had　consumed　his　milk　and　biscuits。　The　light　had　come

back　to　his　eyes　and　the　colour　to　his　cheeks；　as　he　set　himself

with　great　vigour　and　lucidity　to　explain　the　situation。

　　〃I　must　inform　you；　gentlemen；　that　the　Priory　is　a　preparatory

school；　of　which　I　am　the　founder　and　principal。　Huxtable's　Sidelights

on　Horace　may　possibly　recall　my　name　to　your　memories。　The　Priory　is；

without　exception；　the　best　and　most　select　preparatory　school　in

England。　Lord　Leverstoke；　the　Earl　of　Blackwater；　Sir　Cathcart　Soames…

they　all　have　intrusted　their　sons　to　me。　But　I　felt　that　my　school

had　reached　its　zenith　when；　weeks　ago；　the　Duke　of　Holdernesse　sent

Mr。　James　Wilder；　his　secretary；　with　intimation　that　young　Lord

Saltire；　ten　years　old；　his　only　son　and　heir；　was　about　to　be

committed　to　my　charge。　Little　did　I　think　that　this　would　be　the

prelude　to　the　most　crushing　misfortune　of　my　life。

　　〃On　May　1st　the　boy　arrived；　that　being　the　beginning　of　the

summer　term。　He　was　a　charming　youth；　and　he　soon　fell　into　our

ways。　I　may　tell　you…　I　trust　that　I　am　not　indiscreet；　but

half…confidences　are　absurd　in　such　a　case…　that　he　was　not　entirely

happy　at　home。　It　is　an　open　secret　that　the　Duke's　married　life　had

not　been　a　peaceful　one；　and　the　matter　had　ended　in　a　separation　by

mutual　consent；　the　Duchess　taking　up　her　residence　in　the　south　of

France。　This　had　occurred　very　shortly　before；　and　the　boy's

sympathies　are　known　to　have　been　strongly　with　his　mother。　He　moped

after　her　departure　from　Holdernesse　Hall；　and　it　was　for　this

reason　that　the　Duke　desired　to　send　him　to　my　establishment。　In　a

fortnight　the　boy　was　quite　at　home　with　us　and　was　apparently

absolutely　happy。

　　〃He　was　last　seen　on　the　night　of　May　13th…　that　is；　the　night　of

last　Monday。　His　room　was　on　the　second　floor　and　was　approached

through　another　larger　room；　in　which　two　boys　were　sleeping。　These

boys　saw　and　heard　nothing；　so　that　it　is　certain　that　young　Saltire

did　not　pass　out　that　way。　His　window　was　open；　and　there　is　a　stout

ivy　plant　leading　to　the　ground。　We　could　trace　no　footmarks　below；

but　it　is　sure　that　this　is　the　only　possible　exit。

　　〃His　absence　was　discovered　at　seven　o'clock　on　Tuesday　morning。　His

bed　had　been　slept　in。　He　had　dressed　himself　fully；　before　going　off；

in　his　usual　school　suit　of　black　Eton　jacket　and　dark　gray

trousers。　There　were　no　signs　that　anyone　had　entered　the　room；　and　it

is　quite　certain　that　anything　in　the　nature　of　cries　or　ones　struggle

would　have　been　heard；　since　Caunter；　the　elder　boy　in　the　inner　room；

is　a　very　light　sleeper。

　　〃When　Lord　Saltire's　disappearance　was　discovered；　I　at　once

called　a　roll　of　the　whole　establishment…　boys；　masters；　and　servants。

It　was　then　that　we　ascertained　that　Lord　Saltire　had　not　been　alone

in　his　flight。　Heidegger；　the　German　master；　was　missing。　His　room　was

on　the　second　floor；　at　the　farther　end　of　the　building；　facing　the

same　way　as　Lord　Saltire's。　His　bed　had　also　been　slept　in；　but　he　had

apparently　gone　away　partly　dressed；　since　his　shirt　and　socks　were

lying　on　the　floor。　He　had　undoubtedly　let　himself　down　by　the　ivy；

for　we　could　see　the　marks　of　his　feet　where　he　had　landed　on　the

lawn。　His　bicycle　was　kept　in　a　small　shed　beside　this　lawn；　and　it

also　was　gone。

　　〃He　had　been　with　me　for　two　years；　and　came　with　the　best

references；　but　he　was　a　silent；　morose　man；　not　very　popular　either

with　masters　or　boys。　No　trace　could　be　found　of　the　fugitives；　and

now；　on　Thursday　morning；　we　are　as　ignorant　as　we　were　on　Tuesday。

Inquiry　was；　of　course；　made　at　once　at　Holdernesse　Hall。　It　is　only　a

few　miles　away；　and　we　imagined　that；　in　some　sudden　attack　of

homesickness；　he　had　gone　back　to　his　father；　but　nothing　had　been

heard　of　him。　The　Duke　is　greatly　agitated；　and；　as　to　me；　you　have

seen　yourselves　the　state　of　nervous　prostration　to　which　the　suspense

and　the　responsibility　have　reduced　me。　Mr。　Holmes；　if　ever　you　put

forward　your　full　powers；　I　implore　you　to　do　so　now；　for　never　in

your　life　could　you　have　a　case　which　is　more　worthy　of　them。〃

　　Sherlock　Holmes　had　listened　with　the　utmost　intentness　to　the

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