"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。