"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。