"No, by George, I couldn't!"
"There was a quarrel between you. He left you in a rage, and began tomake his own plans independently of you."
"It strikes me, Williamson, there isn't very much that we can tell thisgentleman," cried Carruthers, with a bitter laugh. "Yes, we quarreled,and he knocked me down. I am level with him on that, anyhow. Then I lostsight of him. That was when he picked up with this cast padre here. Ifound that they had set up house-keeping together at this place on theline that she had to pass for the station. I kept my eye on her afterthat, for I knew there was some devilry in the wind. I saw them fromtime to time, for I was anxious to know what they were after. Two daysago Woodley came up to my house with this cable, which showed that RalphSmith was dead. He asked me if I would stand by the bargain. I said Iwould not. He asked me if I would marry the girl myself and give him ashare. I said I would willingly do so, but that she would not have me.He said, 'Let us get her married first, and after a week or two shemay see things a bit different.' I said I would have nothing to do withviolence. So he went off cursing, like the foul-mouthed blackguard thathe was, and swearing that he would have her yet. She was leaving me thisweek-end, and I had got a trap to take her to the station, but I wasso uneasy in my mind that I followed her on my bicycle. She had got astart, however, and before I could catch her the mischief was done. Thefirst thing I knew about it was when I saw you two gentlemen drivingback in her dog-cart."
Holmes rose and tossed the end of his cigarette into the grate. "I havebeen very obtuse, Watson," said he. "When in your report you said thatyou had seen the cyclist as you thought arrange his necktie inthe shrubbery, that alone should have told me all. However, we maycongratulate ourselves upon a curious and in some respects a uniquecase. I perceive three of the county constabulary in the drive, and I amglad to see that the little ostler is able to keep pace with them; soit is likely that neither he nor the interesting bridegroom will bepermanently damaged by their morning's adventures. I think, Watson, thatin your medical capacity you might wait upon Miss Smith and tell herthat if she is sufficiently recovered we shall be happy to escort her toher mother's home. If she is not quite convalescent you will find thata hint that we were about to telegraph to a young electrician in theMidlands would probably complete the cure. As to you, Mr. Carruthers, Ithink that you have done what you could to make amends for your share inan evil plot. There is my card, sir, and if my evidence can be of helpto you in your trial it shall be at your disposal."
In the whirl of our incessant activity it has often been difficult forme, as the reader has probably observed, to round off my narratives, andto give those final details which the curious might expect. Each casehas been the prelude to another, and the crisis once over the actorshave passed for ever out of our busy lives. I find, however, a shortnote at the end of my manuscripts dealing with this case, in which Ihave put it upon record that Miss Violet Smith did indeed inherit alarge fortune, and that she is now the wife of Cyril Morton, the seniorpartner of Morton & Kennedy, the famous Westminster electricians.Williamson and Woodley were both tried for abduction and assault, theformer getting seven years and the latter ten. Of the fate of CarruthersI have no record, but I am sure that his assault was not viewed verygravely by the Court, since Woodley had the reputation of being a mostdangerous ruffian, and I think that a few months were sufficient tosatisfy the demands of justice.
*****
THE STRAND MAGAZINE Vol. 27 FEBRUARY, 1904 THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. By ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
V.--The Adventure of the Priory School.
WE have had some dramatic entrances and exits upon our small stage atBaker Street, but I cannot recollect anything more sudden and startlingthan the first appearance of Thorneycroft Huxtable, M.A., Ph.D., etc.His card, which seemed too small to carry the weight of his academicdistinctions, preceded him by a few seconds, and then he enteredhimself--so large, so pompous, and so dignified that he was the veryembodiment of self-possession and solidity. And yet his first actionwhen the door had closed behind him was to stagger against the table,whence he slipped down upon the floor, and there was that majesticfigure prostrate and insensible upon our bearskin hearthrug.
We had sprung to our feet, and for a few moments we stared in silentamazement at this ponderous piece of wreckage, which told of some suddenand fatal storm far out on the ocean of life. Then Holmes hurried witha cushion for his head and I with brandy for his lips. The heavy whiteface was seamed with lines of trouble, the hanging pouches under theclosed eyes were leaden in colour, the loose mouth drooped dolorously atthe corners, the rolling chins were unshaven. Collar and shirt borethe grime of a long journey, and the hair bristled unkempt from thewell-shaped head. It was a sorely-stricken man who lay before us.
"What is it, Watson?" asked Holmes.
"Absolute exhaustion--possibly mere hunger and fatigue," said I, with myfinger on the thready pulse, where the stream of life trickled thin andsmall.
"Return ticket from Mackleton, in the North of England," said Holmes,drawing it from the watch-pocket. "It is not twelve o'clock yet. He hascertainly been an early starter."
The puckered eyelids had begun to quiver, and now a pair of vacant, greyeyes looked up at us. An instant later the man had scrambled on to hisfeet, his face crimson with shame.
"Forgive this weakness, Mr. Holmes; I have been a little overwrought.Thank you, if I might have a glass of milk and a biscuit I have no doubtthat I should be better. I came personally, Mr. Holmes, in order toensure that you would return with me. I feared that no telegram wouldconvince you of the absolute urgency of the case."
"When you are quite restored---"
"I am quite well again. I cannot imagine how I came to be so weak. Iwish you, Mr. Holmes, to come to Mackleton with me by the next train."
My friend shook his head.
"My colleague, Dr. Watson, could tell you that we are very busy atpresent. I am retained in this case of the Ferrers Documents, and theAbergavenny murder is coming up for trial. Only a very important issuecould call me from London at present."
"Important!" Our visitor threw up his hands. "Have you heard nothing ofthe abduction of the only son of the Duke of Holdernesse?"
"What! the late Cabinet Minister?"
"Exactly. We had tried to keep it out of the papers, but there was somerumour in the GLOBE last night. I thought it might have reached yourears."
Holmes shot out his long, thin arm and picked out Volume "H" in hisencyclopaedia of reference.
"'Holdernesse, 6th Duke, K.G., P.C.'--half the alphabet! 'BaronBeverley, Earl of Carston'--dear me, what a list! 'Lord Lieutenantof Hallamshire since 1900. Married Edith, daughter of Sir CharlesAppledore, 1888. Heir and only child, Lord Saltire. Owns about twohundred and fifty thousand acres. Minerals in Lancashire and Wales.Address: Carlton House Terrace; Holdernesse Hall, Hallamshire; CarstonCastle, Bangor, Wales. Lord of the Admiralty, 1872; Chief Secretaryof State for--' Well, well, this man is certainly one of the greatestsubjects of the Crown!"
"The greatest and perhaps the wealthiest. I am aware, Mr. Holmes, thatyou take a very high line in professional matters, and that you areprepared to work for the work's sake. I may tell you, however, that hisGrace has already intimated that a cheque for five thousand pounds willbe handed over to the person who can tell him where his son is, andanother thousand to him who can name the man, or men, who have takenhim."
"It is a princely offer," said Holmes. "Watson, I think that we shallaccompany Dr. Huxtable back to the North of England. And now, Dr.Huxtable, when you have consumed that milk you will kindly tell me whathas happened, when it happened, how it happened, and, finally, what Dr.Thorneycroft Huxtable, of the Priory School, near Mackleton, has to dowith the matter, and why he comes three days after an event--the stateof your chin gives the date--to ask for my humble services."
Our visitor had consumed his milk and biscuits. The light had come backto his eyes and the colour to his cheeks as he set himself with greatvigour and lucidity to explain the situation.
"I must inform you, gentlemen, that the Priory is a preparatory school,of which I am the founder and principal. 'Huxtable's Sidelights onHorace' may possibly recall my name to your memories. The Priory is,without exception, the best and most select preparatory schoolin England. Lord Leverstoke, the Earl of Blackwater, Sir CathcartSoames--they all have entrusted their sons to me. But I felt thatmy school had reached its zenith when, three weeks ago, the Duke ofHoldernesse sent Mr. James Wilder, his secretary, with the intimationthat young Lord Saltire, ten years old, his only son and heir, was aboutto be committed to my charge. Little did I think that this would be theprelude to the most crushing misfortune of my life.
"On May 1st the boy arrived, that being the beginning of the summerterm. He was a charming youth, and he soon fell into our ways. I maytell you--I trust that I am not indiscreet, but half-confidences areabsurd in such a case--that he was not entirely happy at home. It is anopen secret that the Duke's married life had not been a peaceful one,and the matter had ended in a separation by mutual consent, the Duchesstaking up her residence in the South of France. This had occurred veryshortly before, and the boy's sympathies are known to have been stronglywith his mother. He moped after her departure from Holdernesse Hall,and it was for this reason that the Duke desired to send him to myestablishment. In a fortnight the boy was quite at home with us, and wasapparently absolutely happy.
"He was last seen on the night of May 13th--that is, the night of lastMonday. His room was on the second floor, and was approached throughanother larger room in which two boys were sleeping. These boys saw andheard nothing, so that it is certain that young Saltire did not pass outthat way. His window was open, and there is a stout ivy plant leading tothe ground. We could trace no footmarks below, but it is sure that thisis the only possible exit.