the adventure of the priory school-第1章
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SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE ADVENTURE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOL
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
THE ADVENTURE OF THE PRIORY SCHOOL
We have had some dramatic entrances and exits upon our small stage
at Baker Street； but I cannot recollect anything more sudden and
startling than the first appearance of Thorneycroft Huxtable； M。A。；
Ph。D。； etc。 His card； which seemed too small to carry the weight of
his academic distinctions； preceded him by a few seconds； and then
he entered himself… so large； so pompous； and so dignified that he was
the very embodiment of self…possession and solidity。 And yet his first
action； when the door had closed behind him； was to stagger against
the table； whence he slipped down upon the floor； and there was that
majestic figure prostrate and insensible upon our bearskin hearthrug。
We had sprung to our feet； and for a few moments we stared in silent
amazement at this ponderous piece of wreckage； which told of some
sudden and fatal storm far out on the ocean of life。 Then Holmes
hurried with a cushion for his head； and I with brandy for his lips。
The heavy； white face was seamed with lines of trouble； the hanging
pouches under the closed eyes were leaden in colour； the loose mouth
drooped dolorously at the corners； the rolling chins were unshaven。
Collar and shirt bore the grime of a long journey； and the hair
bristled unkempt from the well…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 my finger on the thready pulse； where the stream of life trickled
thin and small。
〃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 has certainly been an early starter。〃
The puckered eyelids had begun to quiver； and now a pair of vacant
gray eyes looked up at us。 An instant later the man had scrambled on
to his feet； 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 doubt that I should be better。 I came personally； Mr。
Holmes； in order to insure that you would return with me。 I feared
that no telegram would convince 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。 I
wish 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 at
present。 I am retained in this case of the Ferrers Documents； and
the Abergavenny murder is coming up for trial。 Only a very important
issue could call me from London at present。〃
〃Important！〃 Our visitor threw up his hands。 〃Have you heard nothing
of the 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
some rumor in the Globe last night。 I thought it might have reached
your ears。〃
Holmes shot out his long； thin arm and picked out Volume 〃H〃 in
his encyclopaedia of reference。
〃‘Holdernesse； 6th Duke； K。G。； P。C。'… half the alphabet！ 'Baron
Beverley； Earl of Carston'… dear me； what a list！ 'Lord Lieutenant
of Hallamshire since 1900。 Married Edith； daughter of Sir Charles
Appledore； 1888。 Heir and only child； Lord Saltire。 Owns about two
hundred and fifty thousand acres。 Minerals in Lancashire and Wales。
Address： Carlton House Terrace； Holdernesse Hall； Hallamshire； Carston
Castle； Bangor； Wales。 Lord of the Admiralty； 1872； Chief Secretary of
State for…' Well； well； this man is certainly one of the greatest
subjects of the Crown！〃
〃The greatest and perhaps the wealthiest。 I am aware； Mr。 Holmes；
that you take a very high line in professional matters； and that you
are prepared to work for the work's sake。 I may tell you； however；
that his Grace has already intimated that a check for five thousand
pounds will be handed over to the person who can tell him where his
son is； and another thousand to him who can name the man or men who
have taken him。〃
〃It is a princely offer；〃 said Holmes。 〃Watson； I think that we
shall accompany Dr。 Huxtable back to the north of England。 And now；
Dr。 Huxtable； when you have consumed that milk； you will kindly tell
me what has happened； when it happened； how it happened； and； finally；
what Dr。 Thorneycroft Huxtable； of the Priory School； near
Mackleton； has to do with the matter； and why he comes three days
after an event… the state of your chin gives the date… to ask for my
humble services。〃
Our visitor had consumed his milk and biscuits。 The light had come
back to his eyes and the colour to his cheeks； as he set himself
with great vigour 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
on Horace may possibly recall my name to your memories。 The Priory is；
without exception； the best and most select preparatory school in
England。 Lord Leverstoke； the Earl of Blackwater； Sir Cathcart Soames…
they all have intrusted their sons to me。 But I felt that my school
had reached its zenith when； weeks ago； the Duke of Holdernesse sent
Mr。 James Wilder； his secretary； with intimation that young Lord
Saltire； ten years old； his only son and heir； was about to be
committed to my charge。 Little did I think that this would be the
prelude to the most crushing misfortune of my life。
〃On May 1st the boy arrived； that being the beginning of the
summer term。 He was a charming youth； and he soon fell into our
ways。 I may tell you… I trust that I am not indiscreet； but
half…confidences are absurd in such a case… that he was not entirely
happy at home。 It is an open 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 Duchess taking up her residence in the south of
France。 This had occurred very shortly before； and the boy's
sympathies are known to have been strongly with his mother。 He moped
after her departure from Holdernesse Hall； and it was for this
reason that the Duke desired to send him to my establishment。 In a
fortnight the boy was quite at home with us and was apparently
absolutely happy。
〃He was last seen on the night of May 13th… that is； the night of
last Monday。 His room was on the second floor and was approached
through another larger room； in which two boys were sleeping。 These
boys saw and heard nothing； so that it is certain that young Saltire
did not pass out that way。 His window was open； and there is a stout
ivy plant leading to the ground。 We could trace no footmarks below；
but it is sure that this is the only possible exit。
〃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
