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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