\"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。\"
