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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.

β€œHe 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 home-sickness he had gone back to his father; but nothing had been heard of him. The Duke is greatly agitatedβ€”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 note-book and jotted down one or two memoranda.

β€œYou have been very remiss in not coming to me sooner,” said he, severely. β€œYou 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.”

β€œI 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.”

β€œBut there has been some official investigation?”

β€œYes, 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.”

β€œI suppose the local investigation was relaxed while this false clue was being followed up?”

β€œIt was entirely dropped.”

β€œSo that three days have been wasted. The affair has been most deplorably handled.”

β€œI feel it, and admit it.”

β€œAnd 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?”

β€œNone at all.”

β€œWas he in the master's class?”

β€œNo; he never exchanged a word with him so far as I know.”

β€œThat is certainly very singular. Had the boy a bicycle?”

β€œNo.”

β€œWas any other bicycle missing?”

β€œNo.”

β€œIs that certain?”

β€œQuite.”

β€œWell, 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?”

β€œCertainly not.”

β€œThen what is the theory in your mind?”

β€œThe bicycle may have been a blind. It may have been hidden somewhere and the pair gone off on foot.”

β€œQuite so; but it seems rather an absurd blind, does it not? Were there other bicycles in this shed?”

β€œSeveral.”

β€œWould he not have hidden A COUPLE had he desired to give the idea that they had gone off upon them?”

β€œI suppose he would.”

β€œOf 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?”

β€œNo.”

β€œDid he get any letters?”

β€œYes; one letter.”

β€œFrom whom?”

β€œFrom his father.”

β€œDo you open the boys' letters?”

β€œNo.”

β€œHow do you know it was from the father?”

β€œThe coat of arms was on the envelope, and it was addressed in the Duke's peculiar stiff hand. Besides, the Duke remembers having written.”

β€œWhen had he a letter before that?”

β€œNot for several days.”

β€œHad he ever one from France?”

β€œNo; never.

β€œYou 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.”

β€œI fear I cannot help you much. His only correspondent, so far as I know, was his own father.”

β€œWho wrote to him on the very day of his disappearance. Were the relations between father and son very friendly?”

β€œHis 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.”

β€œBut the sympathies of the latter were with the mother?”

β€œYes.”

β€œDid he say so?”

β€œNo.”

β€œThe Duke, then?”

β€œGood heavens, no!”

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