the adventure of the priory school-第2章

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　　〃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　upon　the　day　before。〃

　　〃Exactly。　But　he　received　it　on　that　day？〃

　　〃Yes。〃

　　〃Was　there　anything　in　your　letter　which　might　have　unbalanced　him

or　induced　him　to　take　such　a　step？〃

　　〃No；　sir；　certainly　not。〃

　　〃Did　you　post　that　letter　yourself？〃

　　The　nobleman's　reply　was　interrupted　by　his　secretary；　who　broke

in　with　some　heat。

　　〃His　Grace　is　not　in　the　habit　of　posting　letters　himself；〃　said　he。

〃This　letter　was　laid　with　others　upon　the　study　table；　and　I　myself

put　them　in　the　post…bag。〃

　　〃You　are　sure　this　one　was　among　them？〃

　　〃Yes；　I　observed　it。〃

　　〃How　many　letters　did　your　Grace　write　that　day？〃

　　〃Twenty　or　thirty。　I　have　a　large　correspondence。　But　surely　this　is

somewhat　irrelevant？〃

　　〃Not　entirely；〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃For　my　own　part；〃　the　Duke　continued；　〃I　have　advised　the　police　to

turn　their　attention　to　the　south　of　France。　I　have　already　said

that　I　do　not　believe　that　the　Duchess　would　encourage　so　monstrous　an

action；　but　the　lad　had　the　most　wrongheaded　opinions；　and　it　is

possible　that　he　may　have　fled　to　her；　aided　and　abetted　by　this

German。　I　think；　Dr。　Huxtable；　that　we　will　now　return　to　the　Hall。〃

　　I　could　see　that　there　were　other　questions　which　Holmes　would

have　wished　to　put；　but　the　nobleman's　abrupt　manner　showed　that　the

interview　was　at　an　end。　It　was　evident　that　to　his　intensely

aristocratic　nature　this　discussion　of　his　intimate　family　affairs

with　a　stranger　was　most　abhorrent；　and　that　he　feared　lest　every

fresh　question　would　throw　a　fiercer　light　into　the　discreetly

shadowed　corners　of　his　ducal　history。

　　When　the　nobleman　and　his　secretary　had　left；　my　friend　flung

himself　at　once　with　characteristic　eagerness　into　the　investigation。

　　The　boy's　chamber　was　carefully　examined；　and　yielded　nothing　save

the　absolute　conviction　that　it　was　only　through　the　window　that　he

could　have　escaped。　The　German　master's　room　and　effects　gave　no

further　clue。　In　his　case　a　trailer　of　ivy　had　given　way　under　his

weight；　and　we　saw　by　the　light　of　a　lantern　the　mark　on　the　lawn

where　his　heels　had　come　down。　That　one　dint　in　the　short；　green　grass

was　the　only　material　witness　left　of　this　inexplicable　nocturnal

flight。

　　Sherlock　Holmes　left　the　house　alone；　and　only　returned　after

eleven。　He　had　obtained　a　large　ordnance　map　of　the　neighbourhood；　and

this　he　brought　into　my　room；　where　he　laid　it　out　on　the　bed；　and；

having　balanced　the　lamp　in　the　middle　of　it；　he　began　to　smoke　over

it；　and　occasionally　to　point　out　objects　of　interest　with　the　reeking

amber　of　his　pipe。

　　〃This　case　grows　upon　me；　Watson；〃　said　he。　〃There　are　decidedly

some　points　of　interest　in　connection　with　it。　In　this　early　stage；

I　want　you　to　realize　those　geographical　features　which　may　have　a

good　deal　to　do　with　our　investigation。

　　〃Look　at　this　map。　This　dark　square　is　the　Priory　School。　I'll　put　a

pin　in　it。　Now；　this　line　is　the　main　road。　You　see　that　it　runs

east　and　west　past　the　school；　and　you　see　also　that　there　is　no

side　road　for　a　mile　either　way。　If　these　two　folk　passed　away　by

road；　it　was　this　road。〃　（See　illustration。）

　　〃Exactly。〃

　　〃By　a　singular　and　happy　chance；　we　are　able　to　some　extent　to　check

what　passed　along　this　road　during　the　night　in　question。　At　this

point；　where　my　pipe　is　now　resting；　a　county　constable　was　on　duty

from　twelve　to　six。　It　is；　as　you　perceive；　the　first　cross…road　on

the　east　side。　This　man　declares　that　he　was　not　absent　from　his

post　for　an　instant；　and　he　is　positive　that　neither　boy　nor　man　could

have　gone　that　way　unseen。　I　have　spoken　with　this　policeman

to…night　and　he　appears　to　me　to　be　a　perfectly　reliable　person。

That　blocks　this　end。　We　have　now　to　deal　with　the　other。　There　is

an　inn　here；　the　Red　Bull；　the　landlady　of　which　was　ill。　She　had　sent

to　Mackleton　for　a　doctor；　but　he　did　not　arrive　until　morning；

being　absent　at　another　case。　The　people　at　the　inn　were　alert　all

night；　aw