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〃His absence was discovered at seven o'clock on Tuesday morning。 His
bed had been slept in。 He had dressed himself fully； before going off；
in his usual school suit of black Eton jacket and dark gray
trousers。 There were no signs that anyone had entered the room； and it
is quite certain that anything in the nature of cries or ones struggle
would have been heard； since Caunter； the elder boy in the inner room；
is a very light sleeper。
〃When Lord Saltire's disappearance was discovered； I at once
called a roll of the whole establishment… boys； masters； and servants。
It was then that we ascertained that Lord Saltire had not been alone
in his flight。 Heidegger； the German master； was missing。 His room was
on the second floor； at the farther end of the building； facing the
same way as Lord Saltire's。 His bed had also been slept in； but he had
apparently gone away partly dressed； since his shirt and socks were
lying on the floor。 He had undoubtedly let himself down by the ivy；
for we could see the marks of his feet where he had landed on the
lawn。 His bicycle was kept in a small shed beside this lawn； and it
also was gone。
〃He had been with me for two years； and came with the best
references； but he was a silent； morose man； not very popular either
with masters or boys。 No trace could be found of the fugitives； and
now； on Thursday morning； we are as ignorant as we were on Tuesday。
Inquiry was； of course； made at once at Holdernesse Hall。 It is only a
few miles away； and we imagined that； in some sudden attack of
homesickness； he had gone back to his father； but nothing had been
heard of him。 The Duke is greatly agitated； and； as to me； you have
seen yourselves the state of nervous prostration to which the suspense
and the responsibility have reduced me。 Mr。 Holmes； if ever you put
forward your full powers； I implore you to do so now； for never in
your life could you have a case which is more worthy of them。〃
Sherlock Holmes had listened with the utmost intentness to the
statement of the unhappy schoolmaster。 His drawn brows and the deep
furrow between them showed that he needed no exhortation to
concentrate all his attention upon a problem which； apart from the
tremendous interests involved must appeal so directly to his love of
the complex and the unusual。 He now drew out his notebook and jotted
down one or two memoranda。
〃You have been very remiss in not coming to me sooner；〃 said he；
severely。 〃You start me on my investigation with a very serious
handicap。 It is inconceivable； for example； that this ivy and this
lawn would have yielded nothing to an expert observer。〃
〃I am not to blame； Mr。 Holmes。 His Grace was extremely desirous
to avoid all public scandal。 He was afraid of his family unhappiness
being dragged before the world。 He has a deep horror of anything of
the kind。〃
〃But there has been some official investigation？〃
〃Yes； sir； and it has proved most disappointing。 An apparent clue
was at once obtained； since a boy and a young man were reported to
have been seen leaving a neighbouring station by an early train。
Only last night we had news that the couple had been hunted down in
Liverpool； and they prove to have no connection whatever with the
matter in hand。 Then it was that in my despair and disappointment；
after a sleepless night； I came straight to you by the early train。〃
〃I suppose the local investigation was relaxed while this false clue
was being followed up？〃
〃It was entirely dropped。〃
〃So that three days have been wasted。 The affair has been most
deplorably handled。〃
〃I feel it and admit it。〃
〃And yet the problem should be capable of ultimate solution。 I shall
be very happy to look into it。 Have you been able to trace any
connection between the missing boy and this German master？〃
〃None at all。〃
〃Was he in the master's class？〃
〃No； he never exchanged a word with him； so far as I know。〃
〃That is certainly very singular。 Had the boy a bicycle？〃
〃No。〃
〃Was any other bicycle missing？〃
〃No。〃
〃Is that certain？〃
〃Quite。〃
〃Well； now； you do not mean to seriously suggest that this German
rode off upon a bicycle in the dead of the night； bearing the boy in
his arms？〃
〃Certainly not。〃
〃Then what is the theory in your mind？〃
〃The bicycle may have been a blind。 It may have been hidden
somewhere； and the pair gone off on foot。〃
〃Quite so； but it seems rather an absurd blind； does it not？ Were
there other bicycles in this shed？〃
〃Several。〃
〃Would he not have hidden a couple； had he desired to give the
idea that they had gone off upon them？〃
〃I suppose he would。〃
〃Of course he would。 The blind theory won't do。 But the incident
is an admirable starting…point for an investigation。 After all； a
bicycle is not an easy thing to conceal or to destroy。 One other
question。 Did anyone call to see the boy on the day before he
disappeared？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did he get any letters？〃
〃Yes； one letter。〃
〃From whom？〃
〃From his father。〃
〃Do you open the boys' letters？〃
〃No。〃
〃How do you know it was from the father？〃
〃The coat of arms was on the envelope； and it was addressed in the
Duke's peculiar stiff hand。 Besides； the Duke remembers having
written。〃
〃When had he a letter before that？〃
〃Not for several days。〃
〃Had he ever one from France？〃
〃No； never。
〃You see the point of my questions； of course。 Either the boy was
carried off by force or he went of his own free will。 In the latter
case； you would expect that some prompting from outside would be
needed to make so young a lad do such a thing。 If he has had no
visitors； that prompting must have come in letters； hence I try to
find out who were his correspondents。〃
〃I fear I cannot help you much。 His only correspondent； so far as
I know； was his own father。〃
〃Who wrote to him on the very day of his disappearance。 Were the
relations between father and son very friendly？〃
〃His Grace is never very friendly with anyone。 He is completely
immersed in large public questions； and is rather inaccessible to
all ordinary emotions。 But he was always kind to the boy in his own
way。〃
〃But the of the latter were with the mother？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Did he say so？〃
〃No。〃
〃The Duke； then？〃
〃Good heaven； no！〃
〃Then how could you know？〃
〃I have had some confidential talks with Mr。 James Wilder； his
Graces secretary。 It was he who gave me the information about Lord
Saltire's feelings。〃
〃I see。 By the way； that last letter of the Dukes… was it found in
the boy's room after he was gone？〃
〃No； he had taken it with him。 I think； Mr。 Holmes； it is time
that we were leaving for Euston。〃
〃I will order a four…wheeler。 In a quarter of an hour； we shall be
at your service。 If you are telegraphing home； Mr。 Huxtable； it
would be well to allow the people in your neighbourhood to imagine
that the inquiry is still going on in Liverpool； or wherever else that
red herring led your pack。 In the meantime I will do a little quiet
work at your own doors； and perhaps the sc