"Then that, of course, accounts for my getting no answer," said Holmes."Dear me, how very stupid of me, to be sure! Good morning, miss, andmany thanks for having relieved my mind." He chuckled and rubbed hishands when we found ourselves in the street once more.
"Well?" I asked.
"We progress, my dear Watson, we progress. I had seven different schemesfor getting a glimpse of that telegram, but I could hardly hope tosucceed the very first time."
"And what have you gained?"
"A starting-point for our investigation." He hailed a cab. "King's CrossStation," said he.
"We have a journey, then?"
"Yes; I think we must run down to Cambridge together. All theindications seem to me to point in that direction."
"Tell me," I asked, as we rattled up Gray's Inn Road, "have you anysuspicion yet as to the cause of the disappearance? I don't think thatamong all our cases I have known one where the motives are more obscure.Surely you don't really imagine that he may be kidnapped in order togive information against his wealthy uncle?"
"I confess, my dear Watson, that that does not appeal to me as a veryprobable explanation. It struck me, however, as being the one which wasmost likely to interest that exceedingly unpleasant old person."
"It certainly did that. But what are your alternatives?"
"I could mention several. You must admit that it is curious andsuggestive that this incident should occur on the eve of this importantmatch, and should involve the only man whose presence seems essentialto the success of the side. It may, of course, be coincidence, but itis interesting. Amateur sport is free from betting, but a good deal ofoutside betting goes on among the public, and it is possible that itmight be worth someone's while to get at a player as the ruffians ofthe turf get at a race-horse. There is one explanation. A secondvery obvious one is that this young man really is the heir of a greatproperty, however modest his means may at present be, and it is notimpossible that a plot to hold him for ransom might be concocted."
"These theories take no account of the telegram."
"Quite true, Watson. The telegram still remains the only solid thingwith which we have to deal, and we must not permit our attention towander away from it. It is to gain light upon the purpose of thistelegram that we are now upon our way to Cambridge. The path of ourinvestigation is at present obscure, but I shall be very much surprisedif before evening we have not cleared it up or made a considerableadvance along it."
It was already dark when we reached the old University city. Holmes tooka cab at the station, and ordered the man to drive to the house of Dr.Leslie Armstrong. A few minutes later we had stopped at a large mansionin the busiest thoroughfare. We were shown in, and after a long waitwere at last admitted into the consulting-room, where we found thedoctor seated behind his table.
It argues the degree in which I had lost touch with my profession thatthe name of Leslie Armstrong was unknown to me. Now I am aware that heis not only one of the heads of the medical school of the University,but a thinker of European reputation in more than one branch of science.Yet even without knowing his brilliant record one could not fail to beimpressed by a mere glance at the man, the square, massive face, thebrooding eyes under the thatched brows, and the granite moulding of theinflexible jaw. A man of deep character, a man with an alert mind, grim,ascetic, self-contained, formidable--so I read Dr. Leslie Armstrong. Heheld my friend's card in his hand, and he looked up with no very pleasedexpression upon his dour features.
"I have heard your name, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and I am aware of yourprofession, one of which I by no means approve."
"In that, doctor, you will find yourself in agreement with everycriminal in the country," said my friend, quietly.
"So far as your efforts are directed towards the suppression of crime,sir, they must have the support of every reasonable member of thecommunity, though I cannot doubt that the official machinery is amplysufficient for the purpose. Where your calling is more open to criticismis when you pry into the secrets of private individuals, when you rakeup family matters which are better hidden, and when you incidentallywaste the time of men who are more busy than yourself. At the presentmoment, for example, I should be writing a treatise instead ofconversing with you."
"No doubt, doctor; and yet the conversation may prove more importantthan the treatise. Incidentally I may tell you that we are doing thereverse of what you very justly blame, and that we are endeavouringto prevent anything like public exposure of private matters which mustnecessarily follow when once the case is fairly in the hands of theofficial police. You may look upon me simply as an irregular pioneer whogoes in front of the regular forces of the country. I have come to askyou about Mr. Godfrey Staunton."
"What about him?"
"You know him, do you not?"
"He is an intimate friend of mine."
"You are aware that he has disappeared?"
"Ah, indeed!" There was no change of expression in the rugged featuresof the doctor.
"He left his hotel last night. He has not been heard of."
"No doubt he will return."
"To-morrow is the 'Varsity football match."
"I have no sympathy with these childish games. The young man's fateinterests me deeply, since I know him and like him. The football matchdoes not come within my horizon at all."
"I claim your sympathy, then, in my investigation of Mr. Staunton'sfate. Do you know where he is?"
"Certainly not."