\"WhenLordSaltire’sdisappearancewasdiscoveredIatoncecalledarollofthewholeestablishment，boys，masters，andservants。ItwasthenthatweascertainedthatLordSaltirehadnotbeenaloneinhisflight。Heidegger，theGermanmaster，wasmissing。Hisroomwasonthesecondfloor，atthefartherendofthebuilding，facingthesamewayasLordSaltire’s。
Hisbedhadalsobeensleptin；buthehadapparentlygoneawaypartlydressed，sincehisshirtandsockswerelyingonthefloor。
Hehadundoubtedlylethimselfdownbytheivy，forwecouldseethemarksofhisfeetwherehehadlandedonthelawn。
Hisbicyclewaskeptinasmallshedbesidethislawn，anditalsowasgone。
\"Hehadbeenwithmefortwoyears，andcamewiththebestreferences；buthewasasilent，moroseman，notverypopulareitherwithmastersorboys。Notracecouldbefoundofthefugitives，andnowonThursdaymorningweareasignorantaswewereonTuesday。Inquirywas，ofcourse，madeatonceatHoldernesseHall。Itisonlyafewmilesaway，andweimaginedthatinsomesuddenattackofhome—sicknesshehadgonebacktohisfather；butnothinghadbeenheardofhim。TheDukeisgreatlyagitated——andastome，youhaveseenyourselvesthestateofnervousprostrationtowhichthesuspenseandtheresponsibilityhavereducedme。Mr。Holmes，ifeveryouputforwardyourfullpowers，Iimploreyoutodosonow，forneverinyourlifecouldyouhaveacasewhichismoreworthyofthem。\"
SherlockHolmeshadlistenedwiththeutmostintentnesstothestatementoftheunhappyschoolmaster。Hisdrawnbrowsandthedeepfurrowbetweenthemshowedthatheneedednoexhortationtoconcentrateallhisattentionuponaproblemwhich，apartfromthetremendousinterestsinvolved，mustappealsodirectlytohisloveofthecomplexandtheunusual。Henowdrewouthisnote—bookandjotteddownoneortwomemoranda。
\"Youhavebeenveryremissinnotcomingtomesooner，\"saidhe，severely。\"Youstartmeonmyinvestigationwithaveryserioushandicap。Itisinconceivable，forexample，thatthisivyandthislawnwouldhaveyieldednothingtoanexpertobserver。\"
\"Iamnottoblame，Mr。Holmes。HisGracewasextremelydesiroustoavoidallpublicscandal。Hewasafraidofhisfamilyunhappinessbeingdraggedbeforetheworld。
Hehasadeephorrorofanythingofthekind。\"
\"Buttherehasbeensomeofficialinvestigation？\"
\"Yes，sir，andithasprovedmostdisappointing。Anapparentcluewasatonceobtained，sinceaboyandayoungmanwerereportedtohavebeenseenleavinganeighbouringstationbyanearlytrain。OnlylastnightwehadnewsthatthecouplehadbeenhunteddowninLiverpool，andtheyprovetohavenoconnectionwhateverwiththematterinhand。Thenitwasthatinmydespairanddisappointment，afterasleeplessnight，Icamestraighttoyoubytheearlytrain。\"
\"Isupposethelocalinvestigationwasrelaxedwhilethisfalsecluewasbeingfollowedup？\"
\"Itwasentirelydropped。\"
\"Sothatthreedayshavebeenwasted。Theaffairhasbeenmostdeplorablyhandled。\"
\"Ifeelit，andadmitit。\"
\"Andyettheproblemshouldbecapableofultimatesolution。
Ishallbeveryhappytolookintoit。HaveyoubeenabletotraceanyconnectionbetweenthemissingboyandthisGermanmaster？\"
\"Noneatall。\"
\"Washeinthemaster’sclass？\"
\"No；heneverexchangedawordwithhimsofarasIknow。\"
\"Thatiscertainlyverysingular。Hadtheboyabicycle？\"
\"No。\"
\"Wasanyotherbicyclemissing？\"
\"No。\"
\"Isthatcertain？\"
\"Quite。\"
\"Well，now，youdonotmeantoseriouslysuggestthatthisGermanrodeoffuponabicycleinthedeadofthenightbearingtheboyinhisarms？\"
\"Certainlynot。\"
\"Thenwhatisthetheoryinyourmind？\"
\"Thebicyclemayhavebeenablind。Itmayhavebeenhiddensomewhereandthepairgoneoffonfoot。\"
\"Quiteso；butitseemsratheranabsurdblind，doesitnot？
Werethereotherbicyclesinthisshed？\"
\"Several。\"
\"WouldhenothavehiddenACOUPLEhadhedesiredtogivetheideathattheyhadgoneoffuponthem？\"
\"Isupposehewould。\"
\"Ofcoursehewould。Theblindtheorywon’tdo。Buttheincidentisanadmirablestarting—pointforaninvestigation。
Afterall，abicycleisnotaneasythingtoconcealortodestroy。
Oneotherquestion。Didanyonecalltoseetheboyonthedaybeforehedisappeared？\"
\"No。\"
\"Didhegetanyletters？\"
\"Yes；oneletter。\"
\"Fromwhom？\"
\"Fromhisfather。\"
\"Doyouopentheboys’letters？\"
\"No。\"
\"Howdoyouknowitwasfromthefather？\"
\"Thecoatofarmswasontheenvelope，anditwasaddressedintheDuke’speculiarstiffhand。Besides，theDukeremembershavingwritten。\"
\"Whenhadhealetterbeforethat？\"
\"Notforseveraldays。\"
\"HadheeveronefromFrance？\"
\"No；never。
\"Youseethepointofmyquestions，ofcourse。Eithertheboywascarriedoffbyforceorhewentofhisownfreewill。
Inthelattercaseyouwouldexpectthatsomepromptingfromoutsidewouldbeneededtomakesoyoungaladdosuchathing。
Ifhehashadnovisitors，thatpromptingmusthavecomeinletters。HenceItrytofindoutwhowerehiscorrespondents。\"
\"IfearIcannothelpyoumuch。Hisonlycorrespondent，sofarasIknow，washisownfather。\"
\"Whowrotetohimontheverydayofhisdisappearance。
Weretherelationsbetweenfatherandsonveryfriendly？\"
\"HisGraceisneververyfriendlywithanyone。Heiscompletelyimmersedinlargepublicquestions，andisratherinaccessibletoallordinaryemotions。Buthewasalwayskindtotheboyinhisownway。\"
\"Butthesympathiesofthelatterwerewiththemother？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Didhesayso？\"
\"No。\"
\"TheDuke，then？\"
\"Goodheavens，no！\"
\"Thenhowcouldyouknow？\"
\"IhavehadsomeconfidentialtalkswithMr。JamesWilder，hisGrace’ssecretary。ItwashewhogavemetheinformationaboutLordSaltire’sfeelings。\"
\"Isee。Bytheway，thatlastletteroftheDuke’s——wasitfoundintheboy’sroomafterhewasgone？\"
\"No；hehadtakenitwithhim。Ithink，Mr。Holmes，itistimethatwewereleavingforEuston。\"
\"Iwillorderafour—wheeler。Inaquarterofanhourweshallbeatyourservice。Ifyouaretelegraphinghome，Mr。Huxtable，itwouldbewelltoallowthepeopleinyourneighbourhoodtoimaginethattheinquiryisstillgoingoninLiverpool，orwhereverelsethatredherringledyourpack。InthemeantimeIwilldoalittlequietworkatyourowndoors，andperhapsthescentisnotsocoldbutthattwooldhoundslikeWatsonandmyselfmaygetasniffofit。\"
Thateveningfoundusinthecold，bracingatmosphereofthePeakcountry，inwhichDr。Huxtable’sfamousschoolissituated。
Itwasalreadydarkwhenwereachedit。Acardwaslyingonthehalltable，andthebutlerwhisperedsomethingtohismaster，whoturnedtouswithagitationineveryheavyfeature。
\"TheDukeishere，\"saidhe。\"TheDukeandMr。Wilderareinthestudy。Come，gentlemen，andIwillintroduceyou。\"
Iwas，ofcourse，familiarwiththepicturesofthefamousstatesman，butthemanhimselfwasverydifferentfromhisrepresentation。Hewasatallandstatelyperson，scrupulouslydressed，withadrawn，thinface，andanosewhichwasgrotesquelycurvedandlong。Hiscomplexionwasofadeadpallor，whichwasmorestartlingbycontrastwithalong，dwindlingbeardofvividred，whichfloweddownoverhiswhitewaistcoat，withhiswatch—chaingleamingthroughitsfringe。
SuchwasthestatelypresencewholookedstonilyatusfromthecentreofDr。Huxtable’shearthrug。Besidehimstoodaveryyoungman，whomIunderstoodtobeWilder，theprivatesecretary。Hewassmall，nervous，alert，withintelligent，light—blueeyesandmobilefeatures。Itwashewhoatonce，inanincisiveandpositivetone，openedtheconversation。
\"Icalledthismorning，Dr。Huxtable，toolatetopreventyoufromstartingforLondon。IlearnedthatyourobjectwastoinviteMr。SherlockHolmestoundertaketheconductofthiscase。HisGraceissurprised，Dr。Huxtable，thatyoushouldhavetakensuchastepwithoutconsultinghim。\"
\"WhenIlearnedthatthepolicehadfailed————\"
\"HisGraceisbynomeansconvincedthatthepolicehavefailed。\"
\"Butsurely，Mr。Wilder————\"
\"Youarewellaware，Dr。Huxtable，thathisGraceisparticularlyanxioustoavoidallpublicscandal。Hepreferstotakeasfewpeopleaspossibleintohisconfidence。\"
\"Themattercanbeeasilyremedied，\"saidthebrow—beatendoctor；
\"Mr。SherlockHolmescanreturntoLondonbythemorningtrain。\"
\"Hardlythat，Doctor，hardlythat，\"saidHolmes，inhisblandestvoice。\"Thisnorthernairisinvigoratingandpleasant，soIproposetospendafewdaysuponyourmoors，andtooccupymymindasbestImay。WhetherIhavetheshelterofyourrooforofthevillageinnis，ofcourse，foryoutodecide。\"
Icouldseethattheunfortunatedoctorwasinthelaststageofindecision，fromwhichhewasrescuedbythedeep，sonorousvoiceofthered—beardedDuke，whichboomedoutlikeadinner—gong。
\"IagreewithMr。Wilder，Dr。Huxtable，thatyouwouldhavedonewiselytoconsultme。ButsinceMr。Holmeshasalreadybeentakenintoyourconfidence，itwouldindeedbeabsurdthatweshouldnotavailourselvesofhisservices。Farfromgoingtotheinn，Mr。Holmes，IshouldbepleasedifyouwouldcomeandstaywithmeatHoldernesseHall。\"
\"IthankyourGrace。ForthepurposesofmyinvestigationIthinkthatitwouldbewiserformetoremainatthesceneofthemystery。\"
\"Justasyoulike，Mr。Holmes。AnyinformationwhichMr。WilderorIcangiveyouis，ofcourse，atyourdisposal。\"
\"ItwillprobablybenecessaryformetoseeyouattheHall，\"
saidHolmes。\"Iwouldonlyaskyounow，sir，whetheryouhaveformedanyexplanationinyourownmindastothemysteriousdisappearanceofyourson？\"
\"No，sir，Ihavenot。\"
\"ExcusemeifIalludetothatwhichispainfultoyou，butIhavenoalternative。DoyouthinkthattheDuchesshadanythingtodowiththematter？\"
ThegreatMinistershowedperceptiblehesitation。
\"Idonotthinkso，\"hesaid，atlast。
\"Theothermostobviousexplanationisthatthechildhasbeenkidnappedforthepurposeoflevyingransom。
Youhavenothadanydemandofthesort？\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"Onemorequestion，yourGrace。Iunderstandthatyouwrotetoyoursonuponthedaywhenthisincidentoccurred。\"
\"No；Iwroteuponthedaybefore。\"
\"Exactly。Buthereceiveditonthatday？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Wasthereanythinginyourletterwhichmighthaveunbalancedhimorinducedhimtotakesuchastep？\"
\"No，sir，certainlynot。\"
\"Didyoupostthatletteryourself？\"
Thenobleman’sreplywasinterruptedbyhissecretary，whobrokeinwithsomeheat。
\"HisGraceisnotinthehabitofpostinglettershimself，\"
saidhe。\"Thisletterwaslaidwithothersuponthestudytable，andImyselfputtheminthepost—bag。\"
\"Youaresurethisonewasamongthem？\"
\"Yes；Iobservedit。\"
\"HowmanylettersdidyourGracewritethatday？\"
\"Twentyorthirty。Ihavealargecorrespondence。
Butsurelythisissomewhatirrelevant？\"
\"Notentirely，\"saidHolmes。
\"Formyownpart，\"theDukecontinued，\"IhaveadvisedthepolicetoturntheirattentiontotheSouthofFrance。
IhavealreadysaidthatIdonotbelievethattheDuchesswouldencouragesomonstrousanaction，buttheladhadthemostwrong—headedopinions，anditispossiblethathemayhavefledtoher，aidedandabettedbythisGerman。Ithink，Dr。Huxtable，thatwewillnowreturntotheHall。\"
IcouldseethattherewereotherquestionswhichHolmeswouldhavewishedtoput；butthenobleman’sabruptmannershowedthattheinterviewwasatanend。Itwasevidentthattohisintenselyaristocraticnaturethisdiscussionofhisintimatefamilyaffairswithastrangerwasmostabhorrent，andthathefearedlesteveryfreshquestionwouldthrowafiercerlightintothediscreetlyshadowedcornersofhisducalhistory。
Whenthenoblemanandhissecretaryhadleft，myfriendflunghimselfatoncewithcharacteristiceagernessintotheinvestigation。
Theboy’schamberwascarefullyexamined，andyieldednothingsavetheabsoluteconvictionthatitwasonlythroughthewindowthathecouldhaveescaped。TheGermanmaster’sroomandeffectsgavenofurtherclue。Inhiscaseatrailerofivyhadgivenwayunderhisweight，andwesawbythelightofalanternthemarkonthelawnwherehisheelshadcomedown。Thatonedintintheshortgreengrasswastheonlymaterialwitnessleftofthisinexplicablenocturnalflight。
SherlockHolmesleftthehousealone，andonlyreturnedaftereleven。Hehadobtainedalargeordnancemapoftheneighbourhood，andthishebroughtintomyroom，wherehelaiditoutonthebed，and，havingbalancedthelampinthemiddleofit，hebegantosmokeoverit，andoccasionallytopointoutobjectsofinterestwiththereekingamberofhispipe。
\"Thiscasegrowsuponme，Watson，\"saidhe。\"Therearedecidedlysomepointsofinterestinconnectionwithit。InthisearlystageIwantyoutorealizethosegeographicalfeatureswhichmayhaveagooddealtodowithourinvestigation。
GRAPHIC
\"Lookatthismap。ThisdarksquareisthePriorySchool。
I’llputapininit。Now，thislineisthemainroad。
Youseethatitrunseastandwestpasttheschool，andyouseealsothatthereisnosideroadforamileeitherway。
IfthesetwofolkpassedawaybyroaditwasTHISroad。\"
\"Exactly。\"
\"Byasingularandhappychanceweareabletosomeextenttocheckwhatpassedalongthisroadduringthenightinquestion。
Atthispoint，wheremypipeisnowresting，acountryconstablewasondutyfromtwelvetosix。Itis，asyouperceive，thefirstcrossroadontheeastside。Thismandeclaresthathewasnotabsentfromhispostforaninstant，andheispositivethatneitherboynormancouldhavegonethatwayunseen。
Ihavespokenwiththispolicemanto—night，andheappearstometobeaperfectlyreliableperson。Thatblocksthisend。
Wehavenowtodealwiththeother。Thereisaninnhere，theRedBull，thelandladyofwhichwasill。ShehadsenttoMackletonforadoctor，buthedidnotarriveuntilmorning，beingabsentatanothercase。Thepeopleattheinnwerealertallnight，awaitinghiscoming，andoneorotherofthemseemstohavecontinuallyhadaneyeupontheroad。Theydeclarethatnoonepassed。Iftheirevidenceisgood，thenwearefortunateenoughtobeabletoblockthewest，andalsotobeabletosaythatthefugitivesdidNOTusetheroadatall。\"
\"Butthebicycle？\"Iobjected。
\"Quiteso。Wewillcometothebicyclepresently。Tocontinueourreasoning：ifthesepeopledidnotgobytheroad，theymusthavetraversedthecountrytothenorthofthehouseortothesouthofthehouse。Thatiscertain。Letusweightheoneagainsttheother。Onthesouthofthehouseis，asyouperceive，alargedistrictofarableland，cutupintosmallfields，withstonewallsbetweenthem。There，Iadmitthatabicycleisimpossible。Wecandismisstheidea。Weturntothecountryonthenorth。Herethereliesagroveoftrees，markedasthe`RaggedShaw，’andonthefarthersidestretchesagreatrollingmoor，LowerGillMoor，extendingfortenmilesandslopinggraduallyupwards。Here，atonesideofthiswilderness，isHoldernesseHall，tenmilesbyroad，butonlysixacrossthemoor。Itisapeculiarlydesolateplain。Afewmoorfarmershavesmallholdings，wheretheyrearsheepandcattle。
Exceptthese，theploverandthecurlewaretheonlyinhabitantsuntilyoucometotheChesterfieldhighroad。Thereisachurchthere，yousee，afewcottages，andaninn。Beyondthatthehillsbecomeprecipitous。Surelyitisheretothenorththatourquestmustlie。\"
\"Butthebicycle？\"Ipersisted。
\"Well，well！\"saidHolmes，impatiently。\"Agoodcyclistdoesnotneedahighroad。Themoorisintersectedwithpathsandthemoonwasatthefull。Halloa！whatisthis？\"
Therewasanagitatedknockatthedoor，andaninstantafterwardsDr。Huxtablewasintheroom。Inhishandheheldabluecricket—cap，withawhitechevrononthepeak。
\"Atlastwehaveaclue！\"hecried。\"ThankHeaven！atlastweareonthedearboy’strack！Itishiscap。\"
\"Wherewasitfound？\"
\"Inthevanofthegipsieswhocampedonthemoor。
TheyleftonTuesday。To—daythepolicetracedthemdownandexaminedtheircaravan。Thiswasfound。\"
\"Howdotheyaccountforit？\"
\"Theyshuffledandlied——saidthattheyfounditonthemooronTuesdaymorning。Theyknowwhereheis，therascals！
Thankgoodness，theyareallsafeunderlockandkey。EitherthefearofthelawortheDuke’spursewillcertainlygetoutofthemallthattheyknow。\"
\"Sofar，sogood，\"saidHolmes，whenthedoctorhadatlastlefttheroom。\"ItatleastbearsoutthetheorythatitisonthesideoftheLowerGillMoorthatwemusthopeforresults。
Thepolicehavereallydonenothinglocally，savethearrestofthesegipsies。Lookhere，Watson！Thereisawatercourseacrossthemoor。Youseeitmarkedhereinthemap。Insomepartsitwidensintoamorass。ThisisparticularlysointheregionbetweenHoldernesseHallandtheschool。Itisvaintolookelsewherefortracksinthisdryweather；butatTHATpointthereiscertainlyachanceofsomerecordbeingleft。Iwillcallyouearlyto—morrowmorning，andyouandIwilltryifwecanthrowsomelittlelightuponthemystery。\"
ThedaywasjustbreakingwhenIwoketofindthelong，thinformofHolmesbymybedside。Hewasfullydressed，andhadapparentlyalreadybeenout。
\"Ihavedonethelawnandthebicycleshed，\"saidhe。
\"IhavealsohadaramblethroughtheRaggedShaw。Now，Watson，thereiscocoareadyinthenextroom。Imustbegyoutohurry，forwehaveagreatdaybeforeus。\"
Hiseyesshone，andhischeekwasflushedwiththeexhilarationofthemasterworkmanwhoseeshisworkliereadybeforehim。
AverydifferentHolmes，thisactive，alertman，fromtheintrospectiveandpalliddreamerofBakerStreet。Ifelt，asIlookeduponthatsupplefigure，alivewithnervousenergy，thatitwasindeedastrenuousdaythatawaitedus。
Andyetitopenedintheblackestdisappointment。Withhighhopeswestruckacrossthepeaty，russetmoor，intersectedwithathousandsheeppaths，untilwecametothebroad，light—greenbeltwhichmarkedthemorassbetweenusandHoldernesse。
Certainly，iftheladhadgonehomewards，hemusthavepassedthis，andhecouldnotpassitwithoutleavinghistraces。
ButnosignofhimortheGermancouldbeseen。Withadarkeningfacemyfriendstrodealongthemargin，eagerlyobservantofeverymuddystainuponthemossysurface。Sheep—markstherewereinprofusion，andatoneplace，somemilesdown，cowshadlefttheirtracks。Nothingmore。
\"Checknumberone，\"saidHolmes，lookinggloomilyovertherollingexpanseofthemoor。\"Thereisanothermorassdownyonderandanarrowneckbetween。Halloa！halloa！halloa！
whathavewehere？\"
Wehadcomeonasmallblackribbonofpathway。Inthemiddleofit，clearlymarkedonthesoddensoil，wasthetrackofabicycle。
\"Hurrah！\"Icried。\"Wehaveit。\"
ButHolmeswasshakinghishead，andhisfacewaspuzzledandexpectantratherthanjoyous。
\"Abicycle，certainly，butnotTHEbicycle，\"saidhe。
\"Iamfamiliarwithforty—twodifferentimpressionsleftbytyres。
This，asyouperceive，isaDunlop，withapatchupontheoutercover。
Heidegger’styreswerePalmer’s，leavinglongitudinalstripes。
Aveling，themathematicalmaster，wassureuponthepoint。
Therefore，itisnotHeidegger’strack。\"
\"Theboy’s，then？\"
\"Possibly，ifwecouldproveabicycletohavebeeninhispossession。Butthiswehaveutterlyfailedtodo。Thistrack，asyouperceive，wasmadebyariderwhowasgoingfromthedirectionoftheschool。\"
\"Ortowardsit？\"
\"No，no，mydearWatson。Themoredeeplysunkimpressionis，ofcourse，thehindwheel，uponwhichtheweightrests。
Youperceiveseveralplaceswhereithaspassedacrossandobliteratedthemoreshallowmarkofthefrontone。Itwasundoubtedlyheadingawayfromtheschool。Itmayormaynotbeconnectedwithourinquiry，butwewillfollowitbackwardsbeforewegoanyfarther。\"
Wedidso，andattheendofafewhundredyardslostthetracksasweemergedfromtheboggyportionofthemoor。Followingthepathbackwards，wepickedoutanotherspot，whereaspringtrickledacrossit。Here，onceagain，wasthemarkofthebicycle，thoughnearlyobliteratedbythehoofsofcows。Afterthattherewasnosign，butthepathranrightonintoRaggedShaw，thewoodwhichbackedontotheschool。Fromthiswoodthecyclemusthaveemerged。Holmessatdownonaboulderandrestedhischininhishands。Ihadsmokedtwocigarettesbeforehemoved。
\"Well，well，\"saidhe，atlast。\"Itis，ofcourse，possiblethatacunningmanmightchangethetyreofhisbicycleinordertoleaveunfamiliartracks。AcriminalwhowascapableofsuchathoughtisamanwhomIshouldbeproudtodobusinesswith。
Wewillleavethisquestionundecidedandharkbacktoourmorassagain，forwehaveleftagooddealunexplored。\"
Wecontinuedoursystematicsurveyoftheedgeofthesoddenportionofthemoor，andsoonourperseverancewasgloriouslyrewarded。Rightacrossthelowerpartoftheboglayamirypath。Holmesgaveacryofdelightasheapproachedit。
Animpressionlikeafinebundleoftelegraphwiresrandownthecentreofit。ItwasthePalmertyre。
\"HereisHerrHeidegger，sureenough！\"criedHolmes，exultantly。
\"Myreasoningseemstohavebeenprettysound，Watson。\"
\"Icongratulateyou。\"
\"Butwehavealongwaystilltogo。Kindlywalkclearofthepath。Nowletusfollowthetrail。Ifearthatitwillnotleadveryfar。\"
Wefound，however，asweadvancedthatthisportionofthemoorisintersectedwithsoftpatches，and，thoughwefrequentlylostsightofthetrack，wealwayssucceededinpickingituponcemore。
\"Doyouobserve，\"saidHolmes，\"thattheriderisnowundoubtedlyforcingthepace？Therecanbenodoubtofit。