\"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。
