The Adventure of the

Missing Three-Quarter
Arthur Conan Doyle
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W e were fairly accustomed to receive weird
telegrams at Baker Street, but I have a par-
ticular recollection of one which reached
us on a gloomy February morning some
seven or eight years ago and gave Mr. Sherlock
Holmes a puzzled quarter of an hour. It was ad-
dressed to him, and ran thus:
come to you. He said the case, so far as he could
see, was more in your line than in that of the regular
police.”
“Pray sit down and tell me what is the matter.”
“It’s awful, Mr. Holmes, simply awful! I won-
der my hair isn’t grey. Godfrey Staunton—you’ve
heard of him, of course? He’s simply the hinge that
“Please await me. Terrible misfortune. the whole team turns on. I’d rather spare two from
Right wing three-quarter missing; indis- the pack and have Godfrey for my three-quarter line.
pensable to-morrow. Whether it’s passing, or tackling, or dribbling, there’s
no one to touch him; and then, he’s got the head and
— Overton.”
can hold us all together. What am I to do? That’s
“Strand post-mark and dispatched ten-thirty-six,” what I ask you, Mr. Holmes. There’s Moorhouse, first
said Holmes, reading it over and over. “Mr. Overton reserve, but he is trained as a half, and he always
was evidently considerably excited when he sent it, edges right in on to the scrum instead of keeping out
and somewhat incoherent in consequence. Well, well, on the touch-line. He’s a fine place-kick, it’s true, but,
he will be here, I dare say, by the time I have looked then, he has no judgment, and he can’t sprint for nuts.
through the times, and then we shall know all about Why, Morton or Johnson, the Oxford fliers, could
it. Even the most insignificant problem would be romp round him. Stevenson is fast enough, but he
welcome in these stagnant days.” couldn’t drop from the twenty-five line, and a three-
quarter who can’t either punt or drop isn’t worth a
Things had indeed been very slow with us, and I
place for pace alone. No, Mr. Holmes, we are done
had learned to dread such periods of inaction, for I
unless you can help me to find Godfrey Staunton.”
knew by experience that my companion’s brain was
so abnormally active that it was dangerous to leave My friend had listened with amused surprise to
it without material upon which to work. For years this long speech, which was poured forth with ex-
I had gradually weaned him from that drug mania traordinary vigour and earnestness, every point be-
which had threatened once to check his remarkable ing driven home by the slapping of a brawny hand
career. Now I knew that under ordinary conditions upon the speaker’s knee. When our visitor was silent
he no longer craved for this artificial stimulus, but Holmes stretched out his hand and took down letter
I was well aware that the fiend was not dead, but “S” of his commonplace book. For once he dug in
sleeping; and I have known that the sleep was a light vain into that mine of varied information.
one and the waking near when in periods of idleness “There is Arthur H. Staunton, the rising young
I have seen the drawn look upon Holmes’s ascetic forger,” said he, “and there was Henry Staunton,
face, and the brooding of his deep-set and inscrutable whom I helped to hang, but Godfrey Staunton is
eyes. Therefore I blessed this Mr. Overton, whoever a new name to me.”
he might be, since he had come with his enigmatic
It was our visitor’s turn to look surprised.
message to break that dangerous calm which brought
more peril to my friend than all the storms of his “Why, Mr. Holmes, I thought you knew things,”
tempestuous life. said he. “I suppose, then, if you have never heard
As we had expected, the telegram was soon fol- of Godfrey Staunton you don’t know Cyril Overton
lowed by its sender, and the card of Mr. Cyril Overton, either?”
of Trinity College, Cambridge, announced the arrival Holmes shook his head good-humouredly.
of an enormous young man, sixteen stone of solid “Great Scot!” cried the athlete. “Why, I was first
bone and muscle, who spanned the doorway with reserve for England against Wales, and I’ve skippered
his broad shoulders and looked from one of us to the the ’Varsity all this year. But that’s nothing! I didn’t
other with a comely face which was haggard with think there was a soul in England who didn’t know
anxiety. Godfrey Staunton, the crack three-quarter, Cambridge,
“Mr. Sherlock Holmes?” Blackheath, and five Internationals. Good Lord! Mr.
My companion bowed. Holmes, where have you lived?”
“I’ve been down to Scotland Yard, Mr. Holmes. I Holmes laughed at the young giant’s naive aston-
saw Inspector Stanley Hopkins. He advised me to ishment.

1
 “You live in a different world to me, Mr. Over- “What did you do?” he asked.
ton, a sweeter and healthier one. My ramifications “I wired to Cambridge to learn if anything had
stretch out into many sections of society, but never, been heard of him there. I have had an answer. No
I am happy to say, into amateur sport, which is the one has seen him.”
best and soundest thing in England. However, your
“Could he have got back to Cambridge?”
unexpected visit this morning shows me that even
in that world of fresh air and fair play there may be “Yes, there is a late train—quarter-past eleven.”
work for me to do; so now, my good sir, I beg you “But so far as you can ascertain he did not take
to sit down and to tell me slowly and quietly exactly it?”
what it is that has occurred, and how you desire that “No, he has not been seen.”
I should help you.”
“What did you do next?”
Young Overton’s face assumed the bothered look
“I wired to Lord Mount-James.”
of the man who is more accustomed to using his
muscles than his wits; but by degrees, with many “Why to Lord Mount-James?”
repetitions and obscurities which I may omit from his “Godfrey is an orphan, and Lord Mount-James is
narrative, he laid his strange story before us. his nearest relative—his uncle, I believe.”
“It’s this way, Mr. Holmes. As I have said, I am “Indeed. This throws new light upon the mat-
the skipper of the Rugger team of Cambridge ’Varsity, ter. Lord Mount-James is one of the richest men in
and Godfrey Staunton is my best man. To-morrow England.”
we play Oxford. Yesterday we all came up and we “So I’ve heard Godfrey say.”
settled at Bentley’s private hotel. At ten o’clock I went “And your friend was closely related?”
round and saw that all the fellows had gone to roost,
“Yes, he was his heir, and the old boy is nearly
for I believe in strict training and plenty of sleep to
eighty—cram full of gout, too. They say he could
keep a team fit. I had a word or two with Godfrey
chalk his billiard-cue with his knuckles. He never
before he turned in. He seemed to me to be pale and
allowed Godfrey a shilling in his life, for he is an ab-
bothered. I asked him what was the matter. He said
solute miser, but it will all come to him right enough.”
he was all right—just a touch of headache. I bade him
good-night and left him. Half an hour later the porter “Have you heard from Lord Mount-James?”
tells me that a rough-looking man with a beard called “No.”
with a note for Godfrey. He had not gone to bed and “What motive could your friend have in going to
the note was taken to his room. Godfrey read it and Lord Mount-James?”
fell back in a chair as if he had been pole-axed. The
porter was so scared that he was going to fetch me, “Well, something was worrying him the night be-
but Godfrey stopped him, had a drink of water, and fore, and if it was to do with money it is possible that
pulled himself together. Then he went downstairs, he would make for his nearest relative who had so
said a few words to the man who was waiting in the much of it, though from all I have heard he would not
hall, and the two of them went off together. The last have much chance of getting it. Godfrey was not fond
that the porter saw of them, they were almost run- of the old man. He would not go if he could help it.”
ning down the street in the direction of the Strand. “Well, we can soon determine that. If your friend
This morning Godfrey’s room was empty, his bed was going to his relative, Lord Mount-James, you have
had never been slept in, and his things were all just then to explain the visit of this rough-looking fellow
as I had seen them the night before. He had gone at so late an hour, and the agitation that was caused
off at a moment’s notice with this stranger, and no by his coming.”
word has come from him since. I don’t believe he will Cyril Overton pressed his hands to his head. “I
ever come back. He was a sportsman, was Godfrey, can make nothing of it,” said he.
down to his marrow, and he wouldn’t have stopped “Well, well, I have a clear day, and I shall be happy
his training and let in his skipper if it were not for to look into the matter,” said Holmes. “I should
some cause that was too strong for him. No; I feel strongly recommend you to make your preparations
as if he were gone for good and we should never see for your match without reference to this young gentle-
him again.” man. It must, as you say, have been an overpowering
Sherlock Holmes listened with the deepest atten- necessity which tore him away in such a fashion, and
tion to this singular narrative. the same necessity is likely to hold him away. Let us

2
step round together to this hotel, and see if the porter “Yes, sir; it was the top one.”
can throw any fresh light upon the matter.” Holmes rose. Taking the forms he carried them
Sherlock Holmes was a past-master in the art of over to the window and carefully examined that
putting a humble witness at his ease, and very soon, which was uppermost.
in the privacy of Godfrey Staunton’s abandoned room, “It is a pity he did not write in pencil,” said
he had extracted all that the porter had to tell. The he, throwing them down again with a shrug of dis-
visitor of the night before was not a gentleman, nei- appointment. “As you have no doubt frequently
ther was he a working man. He was simply what the observed, Watson, the impression usually goes
porter described as a “medium-looking chap”; a man through—a fact which has dissolved many a happy
of fifty, beard grizzled, pale face, quietly dressed. He marriage. However, I can find no trace here. I re-
seemed himself to be agitated. The porter had ob- joice, however, to perceive that he wrote with a broad-
served his hand trembling when he had held out the pointed quill pen, and I can hardly doubt that we will
note. Godfrey Staunton had crammed the note into find some impression upon this blotting-pad. Ah, yes,
his pocket. Staunton had not shaken hands with the surely this is the very thing!”
man in the hall. They had exchanged a few sentences, He tore off a strip of the blotting-paper and turned
of which the porter had only distinguished the one towards us the following hieroglyphic:
word “time.” Then they had hurried off in the manner
described. It was just half-past ten by the hall clock.
“Let me see,” said Holmes, seating himself on
Staunton’s bed. “You are the day porter, are you Cyril Overton was much excited. “Hold it to the
not?” glass!” he cried.
“Yes, sir; I go off duty at eleven.” “That is unnecessary,” said Holmes. “The paper
“The night porter saw nothing, I suppose?” is thin, and the reverse will give the message. Here it
is.” He turned it over and we read:
“No, sir; one theatre party came in late. No one
else.”
“Were you on duty all day yesterday?”
“Yes, sir.” “So that is the tail end of the telegram which
“Did you take any messages to Mr. Staunton?” Godfrey Staunton dispatched within a few hours of
his disappearance. There are at least six words of
“Yes, sir; one telegram.”
the message which have escaped us; but what re-
“Ah! that’s interesting. What o’clock was this?” mains—‘Stand by us for God’s sake!’—proves that
“About six.” this young man saw a formidable danger which ap-
“Where was Mr. Staunton when he received it?” proached him, and from which someone else could
protect him. ‘Us,’ mark you! Another person was in-
“Here in his room.”
volved. Who should it be but the pale-faced, bearded
“Were you present when he opened it?” man, who seemed himself in so nervous a state? What,
“Yes, sir; I waited to see if there was an answer.” then, is the connection between Godfrey Staunton and
“Well, was there?” the bearded man? And what is the third source from
which each of them sought for help against pressing
“Yes, sir. He wrote an answer.”
danger? Our inquiry has already narrowed down to
“Did you take it?” that.”
“No; he took it himself.” “We have only to find to whom that telegram is
“But he wrote it in your presence?” addressed,” I suggested.
“Yes, sir. I was standing by the door, and he with “Exactly, my dear Watson. Your reflection, though
his back turned at that table. When he had written it profound, had already crossed my mind. But I dare
he said, ‘All right, porter, I will take this myself.’ ” say it may have come to your notice that if you walk
into a post-office and demand to see the counterfoil
“What did he write it with?”
of another man’s message there may be some disincli-
“A pen, sir.” nation on the part of the officials to oblige you. There
“Was the telegraphic form one of these on the is so much red tape in these matters! However, I have
table?” no doubt that with a little delicacy and finesse the end

3
may be attained. Meanwhile, I should like in your “Nothing of the sort, sir!” screamed the little man.
presence, Mr. Overton, to go through these papers “Don’t look to me for a penny—not a penny! You
which have been left upon the table.” understand that, Mr. Detective! I am all the family
There were a number of letters, bills, and note- that this young man has got, and I tell you that I am
books, which Holmes turned over and examined with not responsible. If he has any expectations it is due to
quick, nervous fingers and darting, penetrating eyes. the fact that I have never wasted money, and I do not
“Nothing here,” he said, at last. “By the way, I sup- propose to begin to do so now. As to those papers
pose your friend was a healthy young fellow—nothing with which you are making so free, I may tell you that
amiss with him?” in case there should be anything of any value among
them you will be held strictly to account for what you
“Sound as a bell.” do with them.”
“Have you ever known him ill?” “Very good, sir,” said Sherlock Holmes. “May I
“Not a day. He has been laid up with a hack, and ask in the meanwhile whether you have yourself any
once he slipped his knee-cap, but that was nothing.” theory to account for this young man’s disappear-
“Perhaps he was not so strong as you suppose. I ance?”
should think he may have had some secret trouble. “No, sir, I have not. He is big enough and old
With your assent I will put one or two of these pa- enough to look after himself, and if he is so fool-
pers in my pocket, in case they should bear upon our ish as to lose himself I entirely refuse to accept the
future inquiry.” responsibility of hunting for him.”
“One moment! one moment!” cried a querulous “I quite understand your position,” said Holmes,
voice, and we looked up to find a queer little old man, with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Perhaps
jerking and twitching in the doorway. He was dressed you don’t quite understand mine. Godfrey Staunton
in rusty black, with a very broad brimmed top-hat appears to have been a poor man. If he has been kid-
and a loose white necktie—the whole effect being that napped it could not have been for anything which he
of a very rustic parson or of an undertaker’s mute. himself possesses. The fame of your wealth has gone
Yet, in spite of his shabby and even absurd appear- abroad, Lord Mount-James, and it is entirely possible
ance, his voice had a sharp crackle, and his manner a that a gang of thieves have secured your nephew in
quick intensity which commanded attention. order to gain from him some information as to your
house, your habits, and your treasure.”
“Who are you, sir, and by what right do you touch
this gentleman’s papers?” he asked. The face of our unpleasant little visitor turned as
white as his neckcloth.
“I am a private detective, and I am endeavouring
to explain his disappearance.” “Heavens, sir, what an idea! I never thought of
such villainy! What inhuman rogues there are in the
“Oh, you are, are you? And who instructed you,
world! But Godfrey is a fine lad—a staunch lad. Noth-
eh?”
ing would induce him to give his old uncle away. I’ll
“This gentleman, Mr. Staunton’s friend, was re- have the plate moved over to the bank this evening.
ferred to me by Scotland Yard.” In the meantime spare no pains, Mr. Detective! I beg
“Who are you, sir?” you to leave no stone unturned to bring him safely
back. As to money, well, so far as a fiver, or even a
“I am Cyril Overton.”
tenner, goes, you can always look to me.”
“Then it is you who sent me a telegram. My name Even in his chastened frame of mind the noble
is Lord Mount-James. I came round as quickly as miser could give us no information which could help
the Bayswater ’bus would bring me. So you have us, for he knew little of the private life of his nephew.
instructed a detective?” Our only clue lay in the truncated telegram, and with
“Yes, sir.” a copy of this in his hand Holmes set forth to find a
“And are you prepared to meet the cost?” second link for his chain. We had shaken off Lord
Mount-James, and Overton had gone to consult with
“I have no doubt, sir, that my friend Godfrey, when the other members of his team over the misfortune
we find him, will be prepared to do that.” which had befallen them.
“But if he is never found, eh? Answer me that!” There was a telegraph-office at a short distance
“In that case no doubt his family—” from the hotel. We halted outside it.

4
 “It’s worth trying, Watson,” said Holmes. “Of “I confess, my dear Watson, that that does not
course, with a warrant we could demand to see the appeal to me as a very probable explanation. It struck
counterfoils, but we have not reached that stage yet. I me, however, as being the one which was most likely
don’t suppose they remember faces in so busy a place. to interest that exceedingly unpleasant old person.”
Let us venture it.” “It certainly did that. But what are your alterna-
“I am sorry to trouble you,” said he, in his bland- tives?”
est manner, to the young woman behind the grating; “I could mention several. You must admit that it
“there is some small mistake about a telegram I sent is curious and suggestive that this incident should
yesterday. I have had no answer, and I very much fear occur on the eve of this important match, and should
that I must have omitted to put my name at the end. involve the only man whose presence seems essen-
Could you tell me if this was so?” tial to the success of the side. It may, of course, be
The young woman turned over a sheaf of counter- coincidence, but it is interesting. Amateur sport is
foils. free from betting, but a good deal of outside betting
goes on among the public, and it is possible that it
“What o’clock was it?” she asked. might be worth someone’s while to get at a player as
“A little after six.” the ruffians of the turf get at a race-horse. There is
“Whom was it to?” one explanation. A second very obvious one is that
this young man really is the heir of a great property,
Holmes put his finger to his lips and glanced at
however modest his means may at present be, and it
me. “The last words in it were ‘for God’s sake,’ ”
is not impossible that a plot to hold him for ransom
he whispered, confidentially; “I am very anxious at
might be concocted.”
getting no answer.”
“These theories take no account of the telegram.”
The young woman separated one of the forms.
“Quite true, Watson. The telegram still remains
“This is it. There is no name,” said she, smoothing the only solid thing with which we have to deal, and
it out upon the counter. we must not permit our attention to wander away
“Then that, of course, accounts for my getting no from it. It is to gain light upon the purpose of this
answer,” said Holmes. “Dear me, how very stupid telegram that we are now upon our way to Cambridge.
of me, to be sure! Good morning, miss, and many The path of our investigation is at present obscure,
thanks for having relieved my mind.” He chuckled but I shall be very much surprised if before evening
and rubbed his hands when we found ourselves in we have not cleared it up or made a considerable
the street once more. advance along it.”
“Well?” I asked. It was already dark when we reached the old Uni-
versity city. Holmes took a cab at the station, and
“We progress, my dear Watson, we progress. I ordered the man to drive to the house of Dr. Leslie
had seven different schemes for getting a glimpse of Armstrong. A few minutes later we had stopped at a
that telegram, but I could hardly hope to succeed the large mansion in the busiest thoroughfare. We were
very first time.” shown in, and after a long wait were at last admitted
“And what have you gained?” into the consulting-room, where we found the doctor
“A starting-point for our investigation.” He hailed seated behind his table.
a cab. “King’s Cross Station,” said he. It argues the degree in which I had lost touch with
“We have a journey, then?” my profession that the name of Leslie Armstrong was
unknown to me. Now I am aware that he is not only
“Yes; I think we must run down to Cambridge one of the heads of the medical school of the Uni-
together. All the indications seem to me to point in versity, but a thinker of European reputation in more
that direction.” than one branch of science. Yet even without knowing
“Tell me,” I asked, as we rattled up Gray’s Inn his brilliant record one could not fail to be impressed
Road, “have you any suspicion yet as to the cause of by a mere glance at the man, the square, massive face,
the disappearance? I don’t think that among all our the brooding eyes under the thatched brows, and the
cases I have known one where the motives are more granite moulding of the inflexible jaw. A man of deep
obscure. Surely you don’t really imagine that he may character, a man with an alert mind, grim, ascetic,
be kidnapped in order to give information against his self-contained, formidable—so I read Dr. Leslie Arm-
wealthy uncle?” strong. He held my friend’s card in his hand, and he

5
looked up with no very pleased expression upon his “Was Mr. Staunton a healthy man?”
dour features. “Absolutely.”
“I have heard your name, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, “Did you ever know him ill?”
and I am aware of your profession, one of which I by
no means approve.” “Never.”
“In that, doctor, you will find yourself in agree- Holmes popped a sheet of paper before the doc-
ment with every criminal in the country,” said my tor’s eyes. “Then perhaps you will explain this re-
friend, quietly. ceipted bill for thirteen guineas, paid by Mr. Godfrey
Staunton last month to Dr. Leslie Armstrong of Cam-
“So far as your efforts are directed towards the
bridge. I picked it out from among the papers upon
suppression of crime, sir, they must have the sup-
his desk.”
port of every reasonable member of the community,
though I cannot doubt that the official machinery is The doctor flushed with anger.
amply sufficient for the purpose. Where your calling “I do not feel that there is any reason why I should
is more open to criticism is when you pry into the render an explanation to you, Mr. Holmes.”
secrets of private individuals, when you rake up fam- Holmes replaced the bill in his note-book. “If you
ily matters which are better hidden, and when you prefer a public explanation it must come sooner or
incidentally waste the time of men who are more busy later,” said he. “I have already told you that I can
than yourself. At the present moment, for example, hush up that which others will be bound to publish,
I should be writing a treatise instead of conversing and you would really be wiser to take me into your
with you.” complete confidence.”
“No doubt, doctor; and yet the conversation may “I know nothing about it.”
prove more important than the treatise. Incidentally
I may tell you that we are doing the reverse of what “Did you hear from Mr. Staunton in London?”
you very justly blame, and that we are endeavouring “Certainly not.”
to prevent anything like public exposure of private “Dear me, dear me; the post-office again!” Holmes
matters which must necessarily follow when once the sighed, wearily. “A most urgent telegram was dis-
case is fairly in the hands of the official police. You patched to you from London by Godfrey Staunton
may look upon me simply as an irregular pioneer at six-fifteen yesterday evening—a telegram which is
who goes in front of the regular forces of the country. undoubtedly associated with his disappearance—and
I have come to ask you about Mr. Godfrey Staunton.” yet you have not had it. It is most culpable. I shall
“What about him?” certainly go down to the office here and register a
“You know him, do you not?” complaint.”
“He is an intimate friend of mine.” Dr. Leslie Armstrong sprang up from behind his
“You are aware that he has disappeared?” desk, and his dark face was crimson with fury.
“Ah, indeed!” There was no change of expression “I’ll trouble you to walk out of my house, sir,” said
in the rugged features of the doctor. he. “You can tell your employer, Lord Mount-James,
that I do not wish to have anything to do either with
“He left his hotel last night. He has not been heard him or with his agents. No, sir, not another word!” He
of.” rang the bell furiously. “John, show these gentlemen
“No doubt he will return.” out!” A pompous butler ushered us severely to the
“To-morrow is the ’Varsity football match.” door, and we found ourselves in the street. Holmes
“I have no sympathy with these childish games. burst out laughing.
The young man’s fate interests me deeply, since I “Dr. Leslie Armstrong is certainly a man of energy
know him and like him. The football match does not and character,” said he. “I have not seen a man who,
come within my horizon at all.” if he turned his talents that way, was more calculated
“I claim your sympathy, then, in my investigation to fill the gap left by the illustrious Moriarty. And
of Mr. Staunton’s fate. Do you know where he is?” now, my poor Watson, here we are, stranded and
friendless in this inhospitable town, which we cannot
“Certainly not.”
leave without abandoning our case. This little inn just
“You have not seen him since yesterday?” opposite Armstrong’s house is singularly adapted to
“No, I have not.” our needs. If you would engage a front room and

6
purchase the necessaries for the night, I may have had also halted, and told me in an excellent sardonic
time to make a few inquiries.” fashion that he feared the road was narrow, and that
These few inquiries proved, however, to be a more he hoped his carriage did not impede the passage of
lengthy proceeding than Holmes had imagined, for my bicycle. Nothing could have been more admirable
he did not return to the inn until nearly nine o’clock. than his way of putting it. I at once rode past the
He was pale and dejected, stained with dust, and carriage, and, keeping to the main road, I went on
exhausted with hunger and fatigue. A cold supper for a few miles, and then halted in a convenient place
was ready upon the table, and when his needs were to see if the carriage passed. There was no sign of it,
satisfied and his pipe alight he was ready to take however, and so it became evident that it had turned
that half comic and wholly philosophic view which down one of several side roads which I had observed.
was natural to him when his affairs were going awry. I rode back, but again saw nothing of the carriage,
The sound of carriage wheels caused him to rise and and now, as you perceive, it has returned after me.
glance out of the window. A brougham and pair of Of course, I had at the outset no particular reason
greys under the glare of a gas-lamp stood before the to connect these journeys with the disappearance of
doctor’s door. Godfrey Staunton, and was only inclined to inves-
tigate them on the general grounds that everything
“It’s been out three hours,” said Holmes; “started
which concerns Dr. Armstrong is at present of interest
at half-past six, and here it is back again. That gives a
to us; but, now that I find he keeps so keen a look-out
radius of ten or twelve miles, and he does it once, or
upon anyone who may follow him on these excur-
sometimes twice, a day.”
sions, the affair appears more important, and I shall
“No unusual thing for a doctor in practice.” not be satisfied until I have made the matter clear.”
“But Armstrong is not really a doctor in practice. “We can follow him to-morrow.”
He is a lecturer and a consultant, but he does not
care for general practice, which distracts him from his “Can we? It is not so easy as you seem to think.
literary work. Why, then, does he make these long You are not familiar with Cambridgeshire scenery,
journeys, which must be exceedingly irksome to him, are you? It does not lend itself to concealment. All
and who is it that he visits?” this country that I passed over to-night is as flat and
clean as the palm of your hand, and the man we are
“His coachman—”
following is no fool, as he very clearly showed to-
“My dear Watson, can you doubt that it was to him night. I have wired to Overton to let us know any
that I first applied? I do not know whether it came fresh London developments at this address, and in the
from his own innate depravity or from the prompt- meantime we can only concentrate our attention upon
ings of his master, but he was rude enough to set a Dr. Armstrong, whose name the obliging young lady
dog at me. Neither dog nor man liked the look of my at the office allowed me to read upon the counterfoil
stick, however, and the matter fell through. Relations of Staunton’s urgent message. He knows where the
were strained after that, and further inquiries out of young man is—to that I’ll swear—and if he knows,
the question. All that I have learned I got from a then it must be our own fault if we cannot manage to
friendly native in the yard of our own inn. It was he know also. At present it must be admitted that the
who told me of the doctor’s habits and of his daily odd trick is in his possession, and, as you are aware,
journey. At that instant, to give point to his words, Watson, it is not my habit to leave the game in that
the carriage came round to the door.” condition.”
“Could you not follow it?”
And yet the next day brought us no nearer to the
“Excellent, Watson! You are scintillating this solution of the mystery. A note was handed in after
evening. The idea did cross my mind. There is, as breakfast, which Holmes passed across to me with a
you may have observed, a bicycle shop next to our smile.
inn. Into this I rushed, engaged a bicycle, and was
able to get started before the carriage was quite out Sir [it ran]:
of sight. I rapidly overtook it, and then, keeping at a I can assure you that you are wasting
discreet distance of a hundred yards or so, I followed your time in dogging my movements. I
its lights until we were clear of the town. We had have, as you discovered last night, a win-
got well out on the country road when a somewhat dow at the back of my brougham, and
mortifying incident occurred. The carriage stopped, if you desire a twenty-mile ride which
the doctor alighted, walked swiftly back to where I will lead you to the spot from which you

7
 started, you have only to follow me. Mean- “I don’t understand it.”
while, I can inform you that no spying “Oh, it is clear enough. It is from our friend Over-
upon me can in any way help Mr. Godfrey ton, and is in answer to a question from me. I’ll just
Staunton, and I am convinced that the best send round a note to Mr. Jeremy Dixon, and then I
service you can do to that gentleman is to have no doubt that our luck will turn. By the way, is
return at once to London and to report there any news of the match?”
to your employer that you are unable to
“Yes, the local evening paper has an excellent ac-
trace him. Your time in Cambridge will
count in its last edition. Oxford won by a goal and
certainly be wasted.
two tries. The last sentences of the description say:
— Yours faithfully, “ ‘The defeat of the Light Blues may be en-
Leslie Armstrong. tirely attributed to the unfortunate absence
of the crack International, Godfrey Staunton,
“An outspoken, honest antagonist is the doctor,” whose want was felt at every instant of the
said Holmes. “Well, well, he excites my curiosity, and game. The lack of combination in the three-
I must really know more before I leave him.” quarter line and their weakness both in attack
and defence more than neutralized the efforts
“His carriage is at his door now,” said I. “There of a heavy and hard-working pack.’ ”
he is stepping into it. I saw him glance up at our “Then our friend Overton’s forebodings have been
window as he did so. Suppose I try my luck upon the justified,” said Holmes. “Personally I am in agree-
bicycle?” ment with Dr. Armstrong, and football does not come
“No, no, my dear Watson! With all respect for within my horizon. Early to bed to-night, Watson, for
your natural acumen I do not think that you are quite I foresee that to-morrow may be an eventful day.”
a match for the worthy doctor. I think that possibly I I was horrified by my first glimpse of Holmes next
can attain our end by some independent explorations morning, for he sat by the fire holding his tiny hypo-
of my own. I am afraid that I must leave you to dermic syringe. I associated that instrument with the
your own devices, as the appearance of two inquir- single weakness of his nature, and I feared the worst
ing strangers upon a sleepy countryside might excite when I saw it glittering in his hand. He laughed at
more gossip than I care for. No doubt you will find my expression of dismay, and laid it upon the table.
some sights to amuse you in this venerable city, and I “No, no, my dear fellow, there is no cause for
hope to bring back a more favourable report to you alarm. It is not upon this occasion the instrument
before evening.” of evil, but it will rather prove to be the key which
will unlock our mystery. On this syringe I base all
Once more, however, my friend was destined to my hopes. I have just returned from a small scouting
be disappointed. He came back at night weary and expedition and everything is favourable. Eat a good
unsuccessful. breakfast, Watson, for I propose to get upon Dr. Arm-
“I have had a blank day, Watson. Having got strong’s trail to-day, and once on it I will not stop for
the doctor’s general direction, I spent the day in vis- rest or food until I run him to his burrow.”
iting all the villages upon that side of Cambridge, “In that case,” said I, “we had best carry our break-
and comparing notes with publicans and other local fast with us, for he is making an early start. His
news agencies. I have covered some ground: Chester- carriage is at the door.”
ton, Histon, Waterbeach, and Oakington have each “Never mind. Let him go. He will be clever if
been explored and have each proved disappointing. he can drive where I cannot follow him. When you
The daily appearance of a brougham and pair could have finished come downstairs with me, and I will
hardly have been overlooked in such Sleepy Hollows. introduce you to a detective who is a very eminent
The doctor has scored once more. Is there a telegram specialist in the work that lies before us.”
for me?” When we descended I followed Holmes into the
stable yard, where he opened the door of a loose-box
“Yes; I opened it. Here it is:
and led out a squat, lop-eared, white-and-tan dog,
something between a beagle and a foxhound.
“ ‘Ask for Pompey from Jeremy Dixon, “Let me introduce you to Pompey,” said he. “Pom-
Trinity College.’ pey is the pride of the local draghounds, no very great

8
flier, as his build will show, but a staunch hound on a footpath led across to the lonely cottage. Holmes tied
scent. Well, Pompey, you may not be fast, but I expect the dog to the hedge, and we hastened onwards. My
you will be too fast for a couple of middle-aged Lon- friend knocked at the little rustic door, and knocked
don gentlemen, so I will take the liberty of fastening again without response. And yet the cottage was not
this leather leash to your collar. Now, boy, come along, deserted, for a low sound came to our ears—a kind of
and show what you can do.” He led him across to the drone of misery and despair, which was indescribably
doctor’s door. The dog sniffed round for an instant, melancholy. Holmes paused irresolute, and then he
and then with a shrill whine of excitement started off glanced back at the road which we had just traversed.
down the street, tugging at his leash in his efforts to A brougham was coming down it, and there could be
go faster. In half an hour, we were clear of the town no mistaking those grey horses.
and hastening down a country road. “By Jove, the doctor is coming back!” cried
“What have you done, Holmes?” I asked. Holmes. “That settles it. We are bound to see what it
“A threadbare and venerable device, but useful means before he comes.”
upon occasion. I walked into the doctor’s yard this He opened the door and we stepped into the hall.
morning and shot my syringe full of aniseed over The droning sound swelled louder upon our ears un-
the hind wheel. A draghound will follow aniseed til it became one long, deep wail of distress. It came
from here to John o’ Groat’s, and our friend Arm- from upstairs. Holmes darted up and I followed him.
strong would have to drive through the Cam before He pushed open a half-closed door and we both stood
he would shake Pompey off his trail. Oh, the cunning appalled at the sight before us.
rascal! This is how he gave me the slip the other A woman, young and beautiful, was lying dead
night.” upon the bed. Her calm, pale face, with dim, wide-
The dog had suddenly turned out of the main opened blue eyes, looked upward from amid a great
road into a grass-grown lane. Half a mile farther tangle of golden hair. At the foot of the bed, half sit-
this opened into another broad road, and the trail ting, half kneeling, his face buried in the clothes, was
turned hard to the right in the direction of the town, a young man, whose frame was racked by his sobs.
which we had just quitted. The road took a sweep to So absorbed was he by his bitter grief that he never
the south of the town and continued in the opposite looked up until Holmes’s hand was on his shoulder.
direction to that in which we started. “Are you Mr. Godfrey Staunton?”
“This détour has been entirely for our benefit, “Yes, yes; I am—but you are too late. She is dead.”
then?” said Holmes. “No wonder that my inquiries The man was so dazed that he could not be made
among those villages led to nothing. The doctor has to understand that we were anything but doctors
certainly played the game for all it is worth, and one who had been sent to his assistance. Holmes was en-
would like to know the reason for such elaborate de- deavouring to utter a few words of consolation, and
ception. This should be the village of Trumpington to to explain the alarm which had been caused to his
the right of us. And, by Jove! here is the brougham friends by his sudden disappearance, when there was
coming round the corner. Quick, Watson, quick, or a step upon the stairs, and there was the heavy, stern,
we are done!” questioning face of Dr. Armstrong at the door.
He sprang through a gate into a field, dragging “So, gentlemen,” said he, “you have attained your
the reluctant Pompey after him. We had hardly got end, and have certainly chosen a particularly delicate
under the shelter of the hedge when the carriage rat- moment for your intrusion. I would not brawl in the
tled past. I caught a glimpse of Dr. Armstrong within, presence of death, but I can assure you that if I were
his shoulders bowed, his head sunk on his hands, the a younger man your monstrous conduct would not
very image of distress. I could tell by my companion’s pass with impunity.”
graver face that he also had seen. “Excuse me, Dr. Armstrong, I think we are a little
“I fear there is some dark ending to our quest,” at cross-purposes,” said my friend, with dignity. “If
said he. “It cannot be long before we know it. Come, you could step downstairs with us we may each be
Pompey! Ah, it is the cottage in the field!” able to give some light to the other upon this miser-
able affair.”
There could be no doubt that we had reached
the end of our journey. Pompey ran about and A minute later the grim doctor and ourselves were
whined eagerly outside the gate where the marks in the sitting-room below.
of the brougham’s wheels were still to be seen. A “Well, sir?” said he.

9
 “I wish you to understand, in the first place, that very best to keep the thing from everyone, for when
I am not employed by Lord Mount-James, and that once such a whisper gets about it is not long before
my sympathies in this matter are entirely against that everyone has heard it. Thanks to this lonely cottage
nobleman. When a man is lost it is my duty to ascer- and his own discretion, Godfrey has up to now suc-
tain his fate, but having done so the matter ends so ceeded. Their secret was known to no one save to
far as I am concerned; and so long as there is nothing me and to one excellent servant who has at present
criminal, I am much more anxious to hush up private gone for assistance to Trumpington. But at last there
scandals than to give them publicity. If, as I imag- came a terrible blow in the shape of dangerous illness
ine, there is no breach of the law in this matter, you to his wife. It was consumption of the most virulent
can absolutely depend upon my discretion and my kind. The poor boy was half crazed with grief, and
co-operation in keeping the facts out of the papers.” yet he had to go to London to play this match, for he
Dr. Armstrong took a quick step forward and could not get out of it without explanations which
wrung Holmes by the hand. would expose his secret. I tried to cheer him up by a
wire, and he sent me one in reply imploring me to do
“You are a good fellow,” said he. “I had misjudged
all I could. This was the telegram which you appear
you. I thank Heaven that my compunction at leaving
in some inexplicable way to have seen. I did not tell
poor Staunton all alone in this plight caused me to
him how urgent the danger was, for I knew that he
turn my carriage back, and so to make your acquain-
could do no good here, but I sent the truth to the
tance. Knowing as much as you do, the situation is
girl’s father, and he very injudiciously communicated
very easily explained. A year ago Godfrey Staunton
it to Godfrey. The result was that he came straight
lodged in London for a time, and became passion-
away in a state bordering on frenzy, and has remained
ately attached to his landlady’s daughter, whom he
in the same state, kneeling at the end of her bed, until
married. She was as good as she was beautiful, and
this morning death put an end to her sufferings. That
as intelligent as she was good. No man need be
is all, Mr. Holmes, and I am sure that I can rely upon
ashamed of such a wife. But Godfrey was the heir to
your discretion and that of your friend.”
this crabbed old nobleman, and it was quite certain
that the news of his marriage would have been the Holmes grasped the doctor’s hand.
end of his inheritance. I knew the lad well, and I “Come, Watson,” said he, and we passed from
loved him for his many excellent qualities. I did all I that house of grief into the pale sunlight of the winter
could to help him to keep things straight. We did our day.

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