"ThereisArthurH。Staunton，therisingyoungforger，"
　　saidhe，"andtherewasHenryStaunton，whomIhelpedtohang，butGodfreyStauntonisanewnametome。"
　　Itwasourvisitor’sturntolooksurprised。
　　"Why，Mr。Holmes，Ithoughtyouknewthings，"saidhe。
　　"Isuppose，then，ifyouhaveneverheardofGodfreyStauntonyoudon’tknowCyrilOvertoneither？"
　　Holmesshookhisheadgood—humouredly。
　　"GreatScot！"criedtheathlete。"Why，IwasfirstreserveforEnglandagainstWales，andI’veskipperedthe’Varsityallthisyear。Butthat’snothing！Ididn’tthinktherewasasoulinEnglandwhodidn’tknowGodfreyStaunton，thecrackthree—quarter，Cambridge，Blackheath，andfiveInternationals。
　　GoodLord！Mr。Holmes，whereHAVEyoulived？"
　　Holmeslaughedattheyounggiant’snaiveastonishment。
　　"Youliveinadifferentworldtome，Mr。Overton，asweeterandhealthierone。Myramificationsstretchoutintomanysectionsofsociety，butnever，Iamhappytosay，intoamateursport，whichisthebestandsoundestthinginEngland。However，yourunexpectedvisitthismorningshowsmethateveninthatworldoffreshairandfairplaytheremaybeworkformetodo；
　　sonow，mygoodsir，Ibegyoutositdownandtotellmeslowlyandquietlyexactlywhatitisthathasoccurred，andhowyoudesirethatIshouldhelpyou。"
　　YoungOverton’sfaceassumedthebotheredlookofthemanwhoismoreaccustomedtousinghismusclesthanhiswits；butbydegrees，withmanyrepetitionsandobscuritieswhichImayomitfromhisnarrative，helaidhisstrangestorybeforeus。
　　"It’sthisway，Mr。Holmes。AsIhavesaid，IamtheskipperoftheRuggerteamofCambridge’Varsity，andGodfreyStauntonismybestman。To—morrowweplayOxford。YesterdayweallcameupandwesettledatBentley’sprivatehotel。Atteno’clockIwentroundandsawthatallthefellowshadgonetoroost，forIbelieveinstricttrainingandplentyofsleeptokeepateamfit。IhadawordortwowithGodfreybeforeheturnedin。Heseemedtometobepaleandbothered。Iaskedhimwhatwasthematter。Hesaidhewasallright——justatouchofheadache。Ibadehimgood—nightandlefthim。Halfanhourlatertheportertellsmethatarough—lookingmanwithabeardcalledwithanoteforGodfrey。Hehadnotgonetobedandthenotewastakentohisroom。Godfreyreaditandfellbackinachairasifhehadbeenpole—axed。Theporterwassoscaredthathewasgoingtofetchme，butGodfreystoppedhim，hadadrinkofwater，andpulledhimselftogether。Thenhewentdownstairs，saidafewwordstothemanwhowaswaitinginthehall，andthetwoofthemwentofftogether。Thelastthattheportersawofthem，theywerealmostrunningdownthestreetinthedirectionoftheStrand。ThismorningGodfrey’sroomwasempty，hisbedhadneverbeensleptin，andhisthingswerealljustasIhadseenthemthenightbefore。Hehadgoneoffatamoment’snoticewiththisstranger，andnowordhascomefromhimsince。Idon’tbelievehewillevercomeback。Hewasasportsman，wasGodfrey，downtohismarrow，andhewouldn’thavestoppedhistrainingandletinhisskipperifitwerenotforsomecausethatwastoostrongforhim。No；Ifeelasifheweregoneforgoodandweshouldneverseehimagain。"
　　SherlockHolmeslistenedwiththedeepestattentiontothissingularnarrative。
　　"Whatdidyoudo？"heasked。
　　"IwiredtoCambridgetolearnifanythinghadbeenheardofhimthere。Ihavehadananswer。Noonehasseenhim。"
　　"CouldhehavegotbacktoCambridge？"
　　"Yes，thereisalatetrain——quarter—pasteleven。"
　　"Butsofarasyoucanascertainhedidnottakeit？"
　　"No，hehasnotbeenseen。"
　　"Whatdidyoudonext？"
　　"IwiredtoLordMount—James。"
　　"WhytoLordMount—James？"
　　"Godfreyisanorphan，andLordMount—Jamesishisnearestrelative——hisuncle，Ibelieve。"
　　"Indeed。Thisthrowsnewlightuponthematter。
　　LordMount—JamesisoneoftherichestmeninEngland。"
　　"SoI’veheardGodfreysay。"
　　"Andyourfriendwascloselyrelated？"
　　"Yes，hewashisheir，andtheoldboyisnearlyeighty——
　　cramfullofgout，too。Theysayhecouldchalkhisbilliard—cuewithhisknuckles。HeneverallowedGodfreyashillinginhislife，forheisanabsolutemiser，butitwillallcometohimrightenough。"
　　"HaveyouheardfromLordMount—James？"
　　"No。"
　　"WhatmotivecouldyourfriendhaveingoingtoLordMount—James？"
　　"Well，somethingwasworryinghimthenightbefore，andifitwastodowithmoneyitispossiblethathewouldmakeforhisnearestrelativewhohadsomuchofit，thoughfromallIhaveheardhewouldnothavemuchchanceofgettingit。Godfreywasnotfondoftheoldman。Hewouldnotgoifhecouldhelpit。"
　　"Well，wecansoondeterminethat。Ifyourfriendwasgoingtohisrelative，LordMount—James，youhavethentoexplainthevisitofthisrough—lookingfellowatsolateanhour，andtheagitationthatwascausedbyhiscoming。"
　　CyrilOvertonpressedhishandstohishead。"Icanmakenothingofit，"saidhe。
　　"Well，well，Ihaveaclearday，andIshallbehappytolookintothematter，"saidHolmes。"Ishouldstronglyrecommendyoutomakeyourpreparationsforyourmatchwithoutreferencetothisyounggentleman。Itmust，asyousay，havebeenanoverpoweringnecessitywhichtorehimawayinsuchafashion，andthesamenecessityislikelytoholdhimaway。Letussteproundtogethertothishotel，andseeiftheportercanthrowanyfreshlightuponthematter。"
　　SherlockHolmeswasapast—masterintheartofputtingahumblewitnessathisease，andverysoon，intheprivacyofGodfreyStaunton’sabandonedroom，hehadextractedallthattheporterhadtotell。Thevisitorofthenightbeforewasnotagentleman，neitherwasheaworkingman。Hewassimplywhattheporterdescribedasa"medium—lookingchap"；amanoffifty，beardgrizzled，paleface，quietlydressed。Heseemedhimselftobeagitated。Theporterhadobservedhishandtremblingwhenhehadheldoutthenote。GodfreyStauntonhadcrammedthenoteintohispocket。Stauntonhadnotshakenhandswiththemaninthehall。Theyhadexchangedafewsentences，ofwhichtheporterhadonlydistinguishedtheoneword"time。"Thentheyhadhurriedoffinthemannerdescribed。Itwasjusthalf—pasttenbythehallclock。
　　"Letmesee，"saidHolmes，seatinghimselfonStaunton’sbed。
　　"Youarethedayporter，areyounot？"
　　"Yes，sir；Igooffdutyateleven。"
　　"Thenightportersawnothing，Isuppose？"
　　"No，sir；onetheatrepartycameinlate。Nooneelse。"
　　"Wereyouondutyalldayyesterday？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"DidyoutakeanymessagestoMr。Staunton？"
　　"Yes，sir；onetelegram。"
　　"Ah！that’sinteresting。Whato’clockwasthis？"
　　"Aboutsix。"
　　"WherewasMr。Stauntonwhenhereceivedit？"
　　"Hereinhisroom。"
　　"Wereyoupresentwhenheopenedit？"
　　"Yes，sir；Iwaitedtoseeiftherewasananswer。"
　　"Well，wasthere？"
　　"Yes，sir。Hewroteananswer。"
　　"Didyoutakeit？"
　　"No；hetookithimself。"
　　"Buthewroteitinyourpresence？"
　　"Yes，sir。Iwasstandingbythedoor，andhewithhisbackturnedatthattable。Whenhehadwrittenithesaid，`Allright，porter，Iwilltakethismyself。’"
　　"Whatdidhewriteitwith？"
　　"Apen，sir。"
　　"Wasthetelegraphicformoneoftheseonthetable？"
　　"Yes，sir；itwasthetopone。"
　　Holmesrose。Takingtheformshecarriedthemovertothewindowandcarefullyexaminedthatwhichwasuppermost。
　　"Itisapityhedidnotwriteinpencil，"saidhe，throwingthemdownagainwithashrugofdisappointment。"Asyouhavenodoubtfrequentlyobserved，Watson，theimpressionusuallygoesthrough——afactwhichhasdissolvedmanyahappymarriage。
　　However，Icanfindnotracehere。Irejoice，however，toperceivethathewrotewithabroad—pointedquillpen，andIcanhardlydoubtthatwewillfindsomeimpressionuponthisblotting—pad。Ah，yes，surelythisistheverything！"
　　Hetoreoffastripoftheblotting—paperandturnedtowardsusthefollowinghieroglyphic：——
　　GRAPHIC
　　CyrilOvertonwasmuchexcited。"Holdittotheglass！"hecried。
　　"Thatisunnecessary，"saidHolmes。"Thepaperisthin，andthereversewillgivethemessage。Hereitis。"
　　Heturneditoverandweread：——
　　GRAPHIC
　　"SothatisthetailendofthetelegramwhichGodfreyStauntondispatchedwithinafewhoursofhisdisappearance。
　　Thereareatleastsixwordsofthemessagewhichhaveescapedus；
　　butwhatremains——`StandbyusforGod’ssake！’——provesthatthisyoungmansawaformidabledangerwhichapproachedhim，andfromwhichsomeoneelsecouldprotecthim。`US，’markyou！
　　Anotherpersonwasinvolved。Whoshoulditbebutthepale—faced，beardedman，whoseemedhimselfinsonervousastate？
　　What，then，istheconnectionbetweenGodfreyStauntonandthebeardedman？Andwhatisthethirdsourcefromwhicheachofthemsoughtforhelpagainstpressingdanger？Ourinquiryhasalreadynarroweddowntothat。"
　　"Wehaveonlytofindtowhomthattelegramisaddressed，"
　　Isuggested。
　　"Exactly，mydearWatson。Yourreflection，thoughprofound，hadalreadycrossedmymind。ButIdaresayitmayhavecometoyournoticethatifyouwalkintoapost—officeanddemandtoseethecounterfoilofanotherman’smessagetheremaybesomedisinclinationonthepartoftheofficialstoobligeyou。Thereissomuchredtapeinthesematters！However，Ihavenodoubtthatwithalittledelicacyandfinessetheendmaybeattained。
　　Meanwhile，Ishouldlikeinyourpresence，Mr。Overton，togothroughthesepaperswhichhavebeenleftuponthetable。"
　　Therewereanumberofletters，bills，andnote—books，whichHolmesturnedoverandexaminedwithquick，nervousfingersanddarting，penetratingeyes。"Nothinghere，"hesaid，atlast。
　　"Bytheway，Isupposeyourfriendwasahealthyyoungfellow——
　　nothingamisswithhim？"
　　"Soundasabell。"
　　"Haveyoueverknownhimill？"
　　"Notaday。Hehasbeenlaidupwithahack，andonceheslippedhisknee—cap，butthatwasnothing。"
　　"Perhapshewasnotsostrongasyousuppose。Ishouldthinkhemayhavehadsomesecrettrouble。WithyourassentIwillputoneortwoofthesepapersinmypocket，incasetheyshouldbearuponourfutureinquiry。"
　　"Onemoment！onemoment！"criedaquerulousvoice，andwelookeduptofindaqueerlittleoldman，jerkingandtwitchinginthedoorway。Hewasdressedinrustyblack，withaverybroadbrimmedtop—hatandaloosewhitenecktie——thewholeeffectbeingthatofaveryrusticparsonorofanundertaker’smute。Yet，inspiteofhisshabbyandevenabsurdappearance，hisvoicehadasharpcrackle，andhismanneraquickintensitywhichcommandedattention。
　　"Whoareyou，sir，andbywhatrightdoyoutouchthisgentleman’spapers？"heasked。
　　"Iamaprivatedetective，andIamendeavouringtoexplainhisdisappearance。"
　　"Oh，youare，areyou？Andwhoinstructedyou，eh？"
　　"Thisgentleman，Mr。Staunton’sfriend，wasreferredtomebyScotlandYard。"
　　"Whoareyou，sir？"
　　"IamCyrilOverton。"
　　"Thenitisyouwhosentmeatelegram。MynameisLordMount—James。
　　IcameroundasquicklyastheBayswater’buswouldbringme。
　　Soyouhaveinstructedadetective？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Andareyoupreparedtomeetthecost？"
　　"Ihavenodoubt，sir，thatmyfriendGodfrey，whenwefindhim，willbepreparedtodothat。"
　　"Butifheisneverfound，eh？Answermethat！"
　　"Inthatcasenodoubthisfamily————"
　　"Nothingofthesort，sir！"screamedthelittleman。
　　"Don’tlooktomeforapenny——notapenny！Youunderstandthat，Mr。Detective！Iamallthefamilythatthisyoungmanhasgot，andItellyouthatIamnotresponsible。IfhehasanyexpectationsitisduetothefactthatIhaveneverwastedmoney，andIdonotproposetobegintodosonow。Astothosepaperswithwhichyouaremakingsofree，Imaytellyouthatincasethereshouldbeanythingofanyvalueamongthemyouwillbeheldstrictlytoaccountforwhatyoudowiththem。"
　　"Verygood，sir，"saidSherlockHolmes。"MayIaskinthemeanwhilewhetheryouhaveyourselfanytheorytoaccountforthisyoungman’sdisappearance？"
　　"No，sir，Ihavenot。Heisbigenoughandoldenoughtolookafterhimself，andifheissofoolishastolosehimselfI
　　entirelyrefusetoaccepttheresponsibilityofhuntingforhim。"
　　"Iquiteunderstandyourposition，"saidHolmes，withamischievoustwinkleinhiseyes。"Perhapsyoudon’tquiteunderstandmine。GodfreyStauntonappearstohavebeenapoorman。Ifhehasbeenkidnappeditcouldnothavebeenforanythingwhichhehimselfpossesses。Thefameofyourwealthhasgoneabroad，LordMount—James，anditisentirelypossiblethatagangofthieveshavesecuredyournephewinordertogainfromhimsomeinformationastoyourhouse，yourhabits，andyourtreasure。"
　　Thefaceofourunpleasantlittlevisitorturnedaswhiteashisneckcloth。
　　"Heavens，sir，whatanidea！Ineverthoughtofsuchvillainy！
　　Whatinhumanroguesthereareintheworld！ButGodfreyisafinelad——astaunchlad。Nothingwouldinducehimtogivehisolduncleaway。I’llhavetheplatemovedovertothebankthisevening。Inthemeantimesparenopains，Mr。Detective！
　　Ibegyoutoleavenostoneunturnedtobringhimsafelyback。
　　Astomoney，well，sofarasafiver，orevenatenner，goes，youcanalwayslooktome。"
　　Eveninhischastenedframeofmindthenoblemisercouldgiveusnoinformationwhichcouldhelpus，forheknewlittleoftheprivatelifeofhisnephew。Ouronlycluelayinthetruncatedtelegram，andwithacopyofthisinhishandHolmessetforthtofindasecondlinkforhischain。WehadshakenoffLordMount—James，andOvertonhadgonetoconsultwiththeothermembersofhisteamoverthemisfortunewhichhadbefallenthem。
　　Therewasatelegraph—officeatashortdistancefromthehotel。
　　Wehaltedoutsideit。
　　"It’sworthtrying，Watson，"saidHolmes。"Ofcourse，withawarrantwecoulddemandtoseethecounterfoils，butwehavenotreachedthatstageyet。Idon’tsupposetheyrememberfacesinsobusyaplace。Letusventureit。"
　　"Iamsorrytotroubleyou，"saidhe，inhisblandestmanner，totheyoungwomanbehindthegrating；"thereissomesmallmistakeaboutatelegramIsentyesterday。Ihavehadnoanswer，andIverymuchfearthatImusthaveomittedtoputmynameattheend。Couldyoutellmeifthiswasso？"
　　Theyoungwomanturnedoverasheafofcounterfoils。
　　"Whato’clockwasit？"sheasked。
　　"Alittleaftersix。"
　　"Whomwasitto？"
　　Holmesputhisfingertohislipsandglancedatme。
　　"Thelastwordsinitwere`forGod’ssake，’"hewhispered，confidentially；"Iamveryanxiousatgettingnoanswer。"
　　Theyoungwomanseparatedoneoftheforms。
　　"Thisisit。Thereisnoname，"saidshe，smoothingitoutuponthecounter。
　　"Thenthat，ofcourse，accountsformygettingnoanswer，"
　　saidHolmes。"Dearme，howverystupidofme，tobesure！
　　Goodmorning，miss，andmanythanksforhavingrelievedmymind。"
　　Hechuckledandrubbedhishandswhenwefoundourselvesinthestreetoncemore。
　　"Well？"Iasked。
　　"Weprogress，mydearWatson，weprogress。Ihadsevendifferentschemesforgettingaglimpseofthattelegram，butIcouldhardlyhopetosucceedtheveryfirsttime。"
　　"Andwhathaveyougained？"
　　"Astarting—pointforourinvestigation。"Hehailedacab。
　　"King’sCrossStation，"saidhe。
　　"Wehaveajourney，then？"
　　"Yes；IthinkwemustrundowntoCambridgetogether。
　　Alltheindicationsseemtometopointinthatdirection。"
　　"Tellme，"Iasked，aswerattledupGray’sInnRoad，"haveyouanysuspicionyetastothecauseofthedisappearance？
　　Idon’tthinkthatamongallourcasesIhaveknownonewherethemotivesaremoreobscure。Surelyyoudon’treallyimaginethathemaybekidnappedinordertogiveinformationagainsthiswealthyuncle？"
　　"Iconfess，mydearWatson，thatthatdoesnotappealtomeasaveryprobableexplanation。Itstruckme，however，asbeingtheonewhichwasmostlikelytointerestthatexceedinglyunpleasantoldperson。"
　　"Itcertainlydidthat。Butwhatareyouralternatives？"
　　"Icouldmentionseveral。Youmustadmitthatitiscuriousandsuggestivethatthisincidentshouldoccurontheeveofthisimportantmatch，andshouldinvolvetheonlymanwhosepresenceseemsessentialtothesuccessoftheside。Itmay，ofcourse，becoincidence，butitisinteresting。Amateursportisfreefrombetting，butagooddealofoutsidebettinggoesonamongthepublic，anditispossiblethatitmightbeworthsomeone’swhiletogetataplayerastheruffiansoftheturfgetatarace—horse。Thereisoneexplanation。Asecondveryobviousoneisthatthisyoungmanreallyistheheirofagreatproperty，howevermodesthismeansmayatpresentbe，anditisnotimpossiblethataplottoholdhimforransommightbeconcocted。"
　　"Thesetheoriestakenoaccountofthetelegram。"
　　"Quitetrue，Watson。Thetelegramstillremainstheonlysolidthingwithwhichwehavetodeal，andwemustnotpermitourattentiontowanderawayfromit。ItistogainlightuponthepurposeofthistelegramthatwearenowuponourwaytoCambridge。Thepathofourinvestigationisatpresentobscure，butIshallbeverymuchsurprisedifbeforeeveningwehavenotcleareditupormadeaconsiderableadvancealongit。"
　　ItwasalreadydarkwhenwereachedtheoldUniversitycity。
　　Holmestookacabatthestation，andorderedthemantodrivetothehouseofDr。LeslieArmstrong。Afewminuteslaterwehadstoppedatalargemansioninthebusiestthoroughfare。Wewereshownin，andafteralongwaitwereatlastadmittedintotheconsulting—room，wherewefoundthedoctorseatedbehindhistable。
　　ItarguesthedegreeinwhichIhadlosttouchwithmyprofessionthatthenameofLeslieArmstrongwasunknowntome。
　　NowIamawarethatheisnotonlyoneoftheheadsofthemedicalschooloftheUniversity，butathinkerofEuropeanreputationinmorethanonebranchofscience。Yetevenwithoutknowinghisbrilliantrecordonecouldnotfailtobeimpressedbyamereglanceattheman，thesquare，massiveface，thebroodingeyesunderthethatchedbrows，andthegranitemouldingoftheinflexiblejaw。Amanofdeepcharacter，amanwithanalertmind，grim，ascetic，self—contained，formidable——soIreadDr。LeslieArmstrong。Heheldmyfriend’scardinhishand，andhelookedupwithnoverypleasedexpressionuponhisdourfeatures。
　　"Ihaveheardyourname，Mr。SherlockHolmes，andIamawareofyourprofession，oneofwhichIbynomeansapprove。"
　　"Inthat，doctor，youwillfindyourselfinagreementwitheverycriminalinthecountry，"saidmyfriend，quietly。
　　"Sofarasyoureffortsaredirectedtowardsthesuppressionofcrime，sir，theymusthavethesupportofeveryreasonablememberofthecommunity，thoughIcannotdoubtthattheofficialmachineryisamplysufficientforthepurpose。Whereyourcallingismoreopentocriticismiswhenyoupryintothesecretsofprivateindividuals，whenyourakeupfamilymatterswhicharebetterhidden，andwhenyouincidentallywastethetimeofmenwhoaremorebusythanyourself。Atthepresentmoment，forexample，Ishouldbewritingatreatiseinsteadofconversingwithyou。"
　　"Nodoubt，doctor；andyettheconversationmayprovemoreimportantthanthetreatise。IncidentallyImaytellyouthatwearedoingthereverseofwhatyouveryjustlyblame，andthatweareendeavouringtopreventanythinglikepublicexposureofprivatematterswhichmustnecessarilyfollowwhenoncethecaseisfairlyinthehandsoftheofficialpolice。Youmaylookuponmesimplyasanirregularpioneerwhogoesinfrontoftheregularforcesofthecountry。IhavecometoaskyouaboutMr。GodfreyStaunton。"
　　"Whatabouthim？"
　　"Youknowhim，doyounot？"
　　"Heisanintimatefriendofmine。"
　　"Youareawarethathehasdisappeared？"
　　"Ah，indeed！"Therewasnochangeofexpressionintheruggedfeaturesofthedoctor。
　　"Helefthishotellastnight。Hehasnotbeenheardof。"
　　"Nodoubthewillreturn。"
　　"To—morrowisthe’Varsityfootballmatch。"
　　"Ihavenosympathywiththesechildishgames。Theyoungman’sfateinterestsmedeeply，sinceIknowhimandlikehim。
　　Thefootballmatchdoesnotcomewithinmyhorizonatall。"
　　"Iclaimyoursympathy，then，inmyinvestigationofMr。
　　Staunton’sfate。Doyouknowwhereheis？"
　　"Certainlynot。"
　　"Youhavenotseenhimsinceyesterday？"
　　"No，Ihavenot。"
　　"WasMr。Stauntonahealthyman？"
　　"Absolutely。"
　　"Didyoueverknowhimill？"
　　"Never。"
　　Holmespoppedasheetofpaperbeforethedoctor’seyes。
　　"Thenperhapsyouwillexplainthisreceiptedbillforthirteenguineas，paidbyMr。GodfreyStauntonlastmonthtoDr。LeslieArmstrongofCambridge。Ipickeditoutfromamongthepapersuponhisdesk。"
　　Thedoctorflushedwithanger。
　　"IdonotfeelthatthereisanyreasonwhyIshouldrenderanexplanationtoyou，Mr。Holmes。"
　　Holmesreplacedthebillinhisnote—book。"Ifyoupreferapublicexplanationitmustcomesoonerorlater，"saidhe。
　　"IhavealreadytoldyouthatIcanhushupthatwhichotherswillbeboundtopublish，andyouwouldreallybewisertotakemeintoyourcompleteconfidence。"
　　"Iknownothingaboutit。"
　　"DidyouhearfromMr。StauntoninLondon？"
　　"Certainlynot。"
　　"Dearme，dearme；thepost—officeagain！"Holmessighed，wearily。"AmosturgenttelegramwasdispatchedtoyoufromLondonbyGodfreyStauntonatsix—fifteenyesterdayevening——
　　atelegramwhichisundoubtedlyassociatedwithhisdisappearance——andyetyouhavenothadit。Itismostculpable。Ishallcertainlygodowntotheofficehereandregisteracomplaint。"
　　Dr。LeslieArmstrongsprangupfrombehindhisdesk，andhisdarkfacewascrimsonwithfury。
　　"I’lltroubleyoutowalkoutofmyhouse，sir，"saidhe。
　　"Youcantellyouremployer，LordMount—James，thatIdonotwishtohaveanythingtodoeitherwithhimorwithhisagents。
　　No，sir，notanotherword！"Herangthebellfuriously。
　　"John，showthesegentlemenout！"Apompousbutlerusheredusseverelytothedoor，andwefoundourselvesinthestreet。
　　Holmesburstoutlaughing。
　　"Dr。LeslieArmstrongiscertainlyamanofenergyandcharacter，"saidhe。"Ihavenotseenamanwho，ifheturnedhistalentsthatway，wasmorecalculatedtofillthegapleftbytheillustriousMoriarty。Andnow，mypoorWatson，hereweare，strandedandfriendlessinthisinhospitabletown，whichwecannotleavewithoutabandoningourcase。ThislittleinnjustoppositeArmstrong’shouseissingularlyadaptedtoourneeds。
　　Ifyouwouldengageafrontroomandpurchasethenecessariesforthenight，Imayhavetimetomakeafewinquiries。"