The Adventure Of The Priory School: SHerlock Holmes – Mystery Storytelling Podcast

The Return Of Sherlock Holmes: The Greatest Detective Stories of All Time
In this podcast, we will discuss the 13 short stories from the book ” The Return Of Sherlock Holmes ” by Arthur Conan Doyle.
We will follow Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they solve a variety of mysteries, from murder to kidnapping to espionage.
We will see how Holmes uses his intelligence and deductive reasoning skills to uncover the truth behind these challenging cases.
Join us on our journey with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in this podcast!
Episode 1: The Adventure of the Empty House
Episode 2: The Adventure of the Norwood Builder
Episode 3: The Adventure of the Dancing Men
Episode 4: The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist
Episode 5: The Adventure of the Priory School
Episode 6: The Adventure of Black Peter.
Episode 7. The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton.
Episode 8: The Adventure of the Six Napoleons
Episode 9: The Adventure of the Three Students
Episode 10: The Adventure of the Golden Pince-Nez
Episode 11: The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter
Episode 12: The Adventure of the Abbey Grange
Episode 13: The Adventure of the Second Stain
This podcast is perfect for fans of detective stories, history, and popular culture.
Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this podcast so that more people can enjoy it!
Thank you for listening!

The return of sheilo Holmes the greatest  detective stories of all time in this   podcast we will discuss the 13 short stories  from the book The Return of Sherlock Holmes   by Arthur Conan Doyle we will follow Sherlock  Holmes and Dr Watson as they solve a variety of  

Mysteries from murder to kidnapping to espionage  we will see how Holmes uses his intelligence and   deductive reasoning skills to uncover the truth  behind these challenging cases join us on our   journey with Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson in  this podcast episode one The Adventure of The  

Empty House episode two the adventure of the  Norwood Builder episode three the adventure   of the dancing Men episode four the adventure  of the solitary cyclist episode 5 the adventure   of the prior School episode 6 the adventure of  black Peter episode 7 The Adventure of Charles  

August jce Milverton episode 8 the adventure  of the six napoleons episode 9 the adventure of   the three students episode 10 The Adventure of  the golden pant snare episode 11 the adventure   of the missing 3 quter episode 12 The Adventure  of the Abbey Grange episode 13 The Adventure of  

The second stain this podcast is perfect for fans  of detective stories history and popular culture   don’t forget to subscribe like and share this  podcast so that more people can enjoy it thank   you for listening the adventure of the PRI 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 thorny coft hustable  Massachusetts PhD 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 bare skin  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 Leen  in color 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 her 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  

Mlon in the north of England said Holmes drawing  it from the watch pocket it is not 12:00 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 onto 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 ensure 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 mlon 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 FZ  documents and the abag gavan 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 nothing  of the Abduction of the only son of the Duke of  

Holdon 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  Encyclopedia of reference holderness 6th Duke kgpc   half the alphabet Baron Beverly Earl of carsten  dear me what a list lordly Lieutenant of Hamshire   since 1900 married Edith daughter of Sir Charles  appdore 1888 Heir and only child Lord saltire  

Owns about 250,000 Acres minerals in Lancashire  and Wales address Carlton house Terrace haleness   Hall Hamshire Caston Castle Banger 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 5,000 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 what Watson I think  that we shall accompany Dr huxel back to the   north of England and now Dr huxel when you have  consumed that milk you will kindly tell me what   has happened when it happened how it happened  and finally what Dr thorny coft huxel of the  

Prior school near mlon has to do with the matter  and why he comes 3 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 color to his cheeks as he set himself with   great Vigor and lucidity to explain the situation  I must inform you gentlemen that the prior is a   preparatory school of which I am the founder  and principal huxtable’s sidelights on Horus  

May possibly recall my name to your memories  the prior is without exception the best and   most select Preparatory School in England Lord  lever stoke the ear of Blackwater sir Cathcart   SS they all have entrusted their sons to me but  I felt that my school had reached its Zenith when  

Weeks ago the Duke of holderness sent Mr James  Wilder his secretary with intimation that young   Lord salty 10 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  

Holderness 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 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 foot marks below but it  

Is sure that this is the only possible exit his  absence was discovered at 7:00 on Tuesday Morning   his bed had been slept in he had dressed himself  fully before going off in his usual School suit   of black eaten 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 a struggle would have been   heard since conter the Elder boy in the Inner  Room is a very light sleeper when Lord Salty’s   disappearance was discovered I at once called  a role of the whole establishment boys Masters  

And servants it was then that we ascertained that  Lord suti had not been alone in his flight haiger   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 Salty’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 he 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 haleness Hall it is  

Only a few miles away and we imagined that in some  sudden attack of homesickness he had gone back to   his father but nothing had been heard of him the  Duke is greatly agitated 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 School Master 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 notebook and jotted down one or two   memoranda you have been very remiss in not coming  to me sooner said he severely you 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 I 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 but there has been some  

Official investigation yes 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 neighboring station by   an early train only last night we had news that  the couple had had been hunted down in Liverpool  

And they proved 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   I suppose the local investigation was relaxed  while this false clue was being followed up  

It was entirely dropped so that 3 days have been  wasted the affair has been most deplorably handled   I feel it and ad MIT it and 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 none at all was he in the master’s  class no he never exchanged a word with him so far  

As I know that is certainly very singular had the  boy a bicycle no was any other bicycle missing no   is that certain quite well 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 certainly not then what is the theory   in your mind the bicycle may have been a blind  it may have been hidden somewhere and the peir  

Gone off on foot quite so but it seems rather an  absurd blind does it not were there other bicycles   in the shed several would he not have hidden  a couple had he desired to give the idea that  

They had gone off upon them I suppose he would of  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 no did he get any letters yes one  letter from whom from his father do you open the  

Boy letters no how do you know it was from the  Father the coat of arms was on the envelope and   it was addressed in the Duke’s peculiar stiff  hand besides the Duke remembers having written  

When had he a letter before that not for several  days had he ever one from France no never you see   the point of my questions of course either the  boy was carried off by force or he went to 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 I fear I cannot help you much   his only correspondent so far as I know was his  own father who wrote to him on the very day of his  

Disappearance were the relations between Father  and Son very friendly his grace is never very   friendly with anyone he’s 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 but the sympathies of  

The latter were with the mother yes did he say  so no the Duke then good Heavens no then how   could you know I’ve had some confidential talks  with Mr James Wilder his Grace’s secretary it was  

He who gave me the information about Lord Salty’s  feelings I see by the way that last letter of the   Dukes was it found in the boy’s room after he was  gone no he had taken it with him I think Mr Holmes  

It is time that we were leaving for Houston  I will order a four-wheeler in a quarter of   an hour we shall be at your service if you are  telegraphing home Mr huxel it would be well to   allow the people in your neighborhood to imagine  that the inquiry is still going on in Liverpool  

Or wherever else that red herring LED your pack  in the meantime I will do a little quiet work   at your own doors and perhaps the scent is not  so cold but that two old hounds like Watson and  

Myself may get a sniff of it that evening found  us in the cold bracing atmosphere of the Peak   Country in which Dr huxtable’s famous school is  situated it was already dark when we reached it   a card was lying on the hall table and the butler  whispered something to his master who turned to  

Us with agitation in every heavy feature the Duke  is here said he the Duke and Mr Wilder are in the   study come gentlemen and I will introduce you I  was of course familiar with the pictures of the   famous Statesman but the man himself was very  different from his representation he was a tall  

And stately person scrupulously dressed with a  drawn thin face and a nose which was grotesquely   curved and long his complexion was of a dead palor  which was more startling by contrast with with a   long dwindling beard of vivid red which flowed  down over his white waist coat with his watch  

Chain gleaming through its Fringe such was the  stately presence who looked stonily at us from   the center of Dr huxtable’s Hearth rug beside  him stood a very young man whom I understood   to be wilder the private secretary he was small  nervous alert with intelligent light blue eyes  

And mobile features it was he who at once in an  incisive and positive tone opened the conversation   I called this morning Dr Huxtable too late to  prevent you from starting for London I learned   that your object was to invite Mr Sherlock Holmes  to undertake the conduct of this case his grace  

Is surprised Dr huxel that you should have taken  such a step without consulting him when I learned   that the police had failed his grace is by no  means convinced that the police have failed but   surely Mr Wilder you are well aware Dr huxel that  his grace is particularly anxious to avoid all  

Public Scandal he prefers to take as few people  as possible into his confidence the matter can   be easily remedied said the browbeaten doctor  Mr Sherlock Holmes can return to London by the   morning train hardly that doctor hardly that said  Holmes in his blandest voice this Northern Air is  

Invigorating and pleasant so I propose to spend  a few days upon on your Moors and to occupy my   mind as best I may whether I have the shelter of  your roof or of the village in is of course for  

You to decide I could see that the unfortunate  doctor was in the last stage of indecision from   which he was rescued by the Deep sonorous voice  of the red bearded Duke which boomed out like a   dinner gong I agree with Mr Wilder Dr Huxtable  that you would have done wisely to consult me  

But since Mr Holmes has already been taken into  your confidence it would indeed be absurd that   we should not Avail ourselves of his Services  far from going to the Inn Mr Holmes I should   be pleased if you would come and stay with me  at holderness Hall I thank your grace for the  

Purposes of my investigation I think that it  would be wiser for me to remain at the scene   of the mystery just as you like Mr Holmes any  information which Mr Wilder or I can give you  

Is of course at your disposal it will probably  be necessary for me to see you at the hall said   Holmes I would only ask you now sir whether you  have formed any explanation in your own mind as  

To the mysterious disappearance of your son no sir  I have not excuse me if I allude to that which is   painful to you but I have no alternative do you  think that the duchess had anything to do with  

The matter the great Minister showed perceptible  hesitation I do not not think so he said at last   the other most obvious explanation is that  the child has been kidnapped for the purpose   of levying Ransom you have not had any demand  of the sort no sir one more question your grace  

I understand that you wrote to your son upon the  day when this incident occurred no I wrote upon   the day before exactly but he received it on  that day yes was there anything in your letter  

Which might have unbalanced him or induced him  to take such a step no sir certainly not did you   post that letter yourself the nobleman’s reply  was interrupted by his secretary who broke in   with some heat his grace is not in the habit of  posting letters himself said he this letter was  

Laid with others upon the study table and I myself  put them in the post bag you are sure this one was   among them yes I observed it how many letters  did your grace write that day 20 or 30 I have a  

Large correspondence but surely this is somewhat  irrelevant not entirely said Holmes for my own   part the Duke continued I have advised the police  to turn their attention to the south of France I   have already said that I do not believe that the  duchess would encourage so monstrous an action but  

The lad had the most wrongheaded opinions and it  is possible that he may have fled to her aided and   Ed by this German I think Dr huxel that we will  now return to the hall I could see that there were  

Other questions which Holmes would have wished to  put but the nobleman’s abrupt manner showed that   the interview was at an end it was evident that to  his intensely aristocratic nature this discussion   of his intimate family affairs with a stranger was  most abhorent and that he feared lest every fresh  

Question would throw a fiercer light into the  discreetly shadowed corners of his Duke Al history   when the nobleman and his secretary had left my  friend flung himself at once with characteristic   eagerness into the investigation the boy’s chamber  was carefully examined and yielded nothing save  

The absolute conviction that it was only through  the window that he could have escaped the German   Master’s room and effects gave no further clue in  his case a trailer of Ivy had given way under his  

Weight and we saw by the light of a lantern the  mark on the lawn where his heels had come down   that one dent in the short green grass was the  only material witness left of this inexplicable   nocturnal flight Sherlock Holmes left the house  alone and only returned after 11 he had obtained  

A large ordinance map of the neighborhood and this  he brought into my room where he laid it out on   the bed and having balanced the lamp in the middle  of it he began to smoke over it and occasionally  

To point out objects of Interest with the wreaking  Amber of his pipe this case grows upon me Watson   said he there are decidedly some points of  interest in connection with it in this early   stage I want you to realize those geographical  features which may have a good deal to do with our

Investigation Holmes’s map of the neighborhood  of the school look at this map this dark square   is the prior school I’ll put a pin in it now  this line is the main road you see that it runs  

East and West past the school and you see also  that there is no Side Road for a mile either   way if these two folk passed away by Road it was  this road exactly by a singular and happy chance  

We are able to some extent to check what passed  along this road during the night in question at   this point where my pipe is now resting a County  Constable was on duty from 12 to 6 it is as you  

Perceive the first Crossroad on the East side this  man declares that he was not absent from his post   for an instant and he is positive that neither  boy nor man could have gone that way unseen I   have spoken with this policeman tonight and he  appears to me to be a perfectly reliable person  

That blocks this end we have now to deal with  the other there is an in here the Red Bull the   land lady of which was Ill she had sent to mlon  for a doctor but he did not arrive until morning  

Being absent at another case the people at the Inn  were alert all night awaiting his coming and one   or other of them seems to have continually had an  eye upon the road they declare that no one passed  

If their evidence is good then we are fortunate  enough to be able to block the west and also to   be able to say that the fugitives did not use the  road at all but the bicycle I objected quite so  

We will come to the bicycle presently to continue  our reasoning if these people did not go by the   road they must have traversed the country to the  north of the house or to the south of the house  

That is certain let us weigh the one against  the other on the south of the house is as you   perceive a large District of arable land cut up  into small Fields with stone walls between them  

There I admit that a bicycle is impossible we can  dismiss the idea we turn to the country on the   North here there lies a Grove of trees marked as  the Ragged Shore and on the farther side stretches  

A great rolling Mo lower Gil Mo extending for  10 miles and sloping gradually upward here at   one side of this Wilderness is haleness Hall  10 m by road but only six across the mo it is   a peculiarly desolate plane a few more Farmers  have small Holdings where they rear sheep and  

Cattle except these the Plover and the curly  are the only inhabitants until you come to the   Chesterfield High Road there is a church there  you see a few cottages and an inn beyond that   the hills become precipitous surely it is here to  the north that our Quest must lie but the bicycle  

I persisted well well said Holmes impatiently a  good cyclist does not need a high road the mo is   intersected with paths and the moon was at the  fall hello what is this there was an agitated  

Knock at the door and an instant afterwards Dr  Huxtable was in the room in his hand he held a   blue Cricut cap with a white Chevron on the Peak  at last we have a clue he cried thank heaven at  

Last we on the dear boy’s track it is his cap  where was it found in the van of the gypsies   who camped on the mo they left on Tuesday today  the police tra red them down and examined their  

Caravan this was found how do they account for it  they shuffled and lied said that they found it on   the Moore on Tuesday morning they know where he  is the Rascals thank goodness they’re all safe  

Under lock and key Either the fear of the law or  the Duke’s purse will certainly get out of them   all that they know so far so good said Holmes when  the doctor had at last left the room it at least  

Bears out the theory that it is on the side of the  lower Gill Moore that we must hope for results the   police have really done nothing locally save the  arrest of these gypsies look here Watson there is  

A water course across the mo you see it marked  here in the map in some parts it widens into a   morass this is particularly so in the region  between holderness Hall and the school it is   vain to look elsewhere for tracks in this dry  weather but at that point there is certainly a  

Chance of some record being left I will call you  early tomorrow morning and you and I will try if   we can throw some little light upon the mystery  the day was just breaking when I woke to find the  

Long thin form of homes by my bedside he was fully  dressed and had apparently already been out I have   done the lawn and the bicycle shed said he I’ve  also had a rumble through the Ragged Shore now  

Watson there is Coco ready in the Next Room I must  beg you to hurry for we have a great day before us   his eyes sha and his cheek was flushed with the  exhilaration of the master Workman who sees his  

Work lie ready before him a very different homes  this active alert man from the introspective and   palid dreamer of Baker Street I felt as I looked  upon that Supple figure alive with nervous energy   that it was indeed a strenuous day that awaited us  and yet it opened in the blackest disappointment  

With high hopes we struck across the Petey russet  MO intersected with a thousand sheep paths until   we came to the broad light green belt which marked  the morass between us and holder Ness certainly if   the lad had gone Homeward he must have passed  this and he could not pass it without leaving  

His traces but no sign of him or the German  could be seen with a darkening face my friend   strowed along the margin eagerly observant  of every muddy stain upon the mossy surface   sheep marks there were in profusion and at one  place some miles down cows had left their tracks  

Nothing more check number one said Holmes looking  gloomily over the rolling expanse of the mo there   is another morass Down Yonder and a narrow neck  between hello hello hello what have we here we  

Had come on a small black ribbon of pathway in the  middle of it clearly marked on the sodn soil was   the track of a bicycle hurrah I cried we have it  but Holmes was shaking his head head and his face  

Was puzzled and expectant rather than joyous  a bicycle certainly but not the bicycle said   he I am familiar with 42 different Impressions  left by tires this as you perceive is a Dunlop   with a patch upon the outer cover haider’s tires  were Palmer leaving longitudinal stripes aving  

The mathematical master was sure upon the point  therefore it is not haider’s track the boys then   possibly if we could prove a bicycle to have been  in his possession but this we have utterly failed  

To do this track as you perceive was made by a  rider who was going from the direction of the   school or towards it no no my dear Watson the more  deeply sunk impression is of course the hind wheel  

Upon which the weight rests you perceive several  places where it has passed across an obliterated   the more shallow Mark of the front one it was  undoubtedly heading away from the school it   it may or may not be connected with our inquiry  but we will follow it backwards before we go any  

Farther we did so and at the end of a few hundred  yards lost the tracks as we emerged from the boggy   portion of the mo following the path backwards we  picked out another spot where a spring trickled  

Across it here once again was the mark of the  bicycle though nearly obliterated by the Hooves   of cows after that there was no sign but the  path ran right on into ragged Shaw the wood which   backed onto the school from this wood the cycle  must have emerged Holmes sat down on a boulder  

And rested his chin in his hands I had smoked two  cigarettes before he moved well well said he at   last it is of course possible that a cunning man  might change the tires of his bicycle in order to  

Leave unfamiliar tracks a criminal who was capable  of such a thought is a man whom I should be proud   to do business with we will leave this question  undecided and hark back to our morass again for  

We have left a good deal unexplored we continued  our systematic survey of the edge of the sodn   portion of the Moore and soon our perseverance  was gloriously rewarded right across the lower   part of the bog lay a myy path Holmes gave a cry  of delight as he approached it an impression like  

A fine bundle of telegraph wires ran down the  center of it it was the Palmer time s here is   herir haiger sure enough cried Holmes exultantly  my reasoning seems to have been pretty sound  

Watson I congratulate you but we have a long way  still to go kindly walk clear of the path now let   us follow the trail I fear that it will not lead  very far we found however as we Advanced that this  

Portion of the mo is intersected with soft patches  and though we frequently lost sight of the track   we always succeeded in picking it up once more  Do You observe said Holmes that the rider is   now undoubtedly forcing the pace there can be no  doubt of it look at this impression where you get  

Both tires clear the one is as deep as the other  that can only mean that the rider is throwing his   weight onto the handlebar as a man does when he  is sprinting by Jo he has had a fall there was a  

Broad irregular smudge covering some yards of  the track then there were a few foot marks and   the tire reappeared appeared once more Aid slip  I suggested Holmes held up a crumpled branch of   flowering gor to my horror I perceived that the  yellow blossoms were all dabbled with Crimson  

On the path too and among the Heather were dark  stains of clotted Blood Bad said Holmes bad stand   clear Watson not an unnecessary footstep what do I  read here he fell wounded he stood up he remounted  

He proceeded but there is no other track catle on  this side path he was surely not gored by a bull   impossible but I see no traces of anyone else we  must push on Watson surely with stains as well as  

The track to guide us he cannot Escape us now our  search was not a very long one the tracks of the   tire began to curve fantastically upon the wet  and Shining path suddenly as I looked ahead The  

Gleam of metal caught my eye from amid the thick  gor bushes out of them we dragged a bicycle Palm   attired one pedal Bend and the whole front of it  horribly smeared and slobbered with blood on the  

Other side of the bushes a shoe was projecting we  ran round and there lay the unfortunate Rider he   was a tall man full bearded with spectacles  one glass of which had been knocked out the  

Cause of his death was a frightful blow upon the  head which had crushed in part of his skull that   he could have gone on after receiving such an  injury said much for the vitality and courage  

Of the man he wore shoes but no socks and his  open coat disclosed a night shirt beneath it it   was undoubtedly the German Master Holmes turned  the body over reverently and examined it with  

Great attention he then sat in deep thought for a  time and I could see by his ruffled brow that this   Grim Discovery had not in his opinion Advanced  us much in our inquiry it is a little difficult  

To know what to do Watson said he at last my own  inclinations are to push this inquiry on for we   have already lost so much time that we cannot  afford to waste another hour on the other hand  

We are bound to inform the police of the discovery  and to see that this poor fellow’s body is looked   after I could take a note back but I need your  company and assistance wait a bit there is a  

Fellow cutting Pete up yonder bring him over here  and he will guide the police I brought the peasant   across and Holmes disat patched the frightened  man with a note to Dr huxel now Watson said he  

We have picked up two Clues this morning one is  the bicycle with the Palmer tire and we see what   that has led to the other is the bicycle with  the patch Dunlop before we start to investigate  

That let us try to realize what we do know so  as to make the most of it and to separate the   essential from The Accidental first of all I wish  to impress upon you that the boy certainly left of  

His own free will he got down from his window  and he went off either alone or with someone   that is sure I ascented well now let us turn to  this unfortunate German Master the boy was fully  

Dressed when he fled therefore he foresaw what he  would do but the German went without his socks he   certainly acted on very short notice undoubtedly  why did he go because from his bedroom window he   saw the Flight of the boy because he wished  to overtake him and bring him back he seized  

His bicycle pursued the lad and in pursuing him  met his death so it would seem now I come to the   critical part of my argument the natural action  of a man in pursuing a little boy would be to run  

After him he would know that he could overtake  him but the German does not do so he turns to   his bicycle I am told that he was an excellent  cyclist he would not do this if he did not see  

That the boy had some Swift means of escape the  other bicyle let us continue our reconstruction   he meets his death 5 miles from the school not by  a bullet marku which even a lad might conceivably  

Discharge but by a Savage blow dealt by a vigorous  arm the lad then had a companion in his flight and   the flight was a Swift one since it took five  miles before an expert cyclist could overtake  

Them yet we survey the ground around the scene of  the tragedy what do we find a few cattle tracks   nothing more I took a wide sweep round and there  is no path within 50 yards another cyclist could  

Have had nothing to do with the actual murder  nor were there any human foot marks Holmes I   cried this is impossible admirable he said a  most Illuminating remark it is impossible as I   state it and therefore I must in some respect have  stated it wrong yet you saw for yourself can you  

Suggest any fallacy he could not have fractured  his skull in a fall in a morass Watson I am at   my Wit’s End Tutt Tutt we have solved some worse  problems at least we have plenty of material if we  

Can only use it come then and having exhausted  the Palmer let us see what the Dunlop with the   patched cover has to offer us we picked up the  track and followed it onward for some distance  

But soon the mo Rose into a long Heather tufted  curve and we left the water course behind us no   further help from tracks could be hoped for at  the spot where we saw the last of the Dunlop Tire  

It might equally have led to holderness Hall the  stat towers of which rose some miles to our left   or to a low gray Village which lay in front of  us and marked the position of the Chesterfield   high road as we approached the forbidding and  squalled Inn with the sign of a Gamecock above  

The door Holmes gave a sudden groan and clutched  Me by the shoulder to save himself from falling he   had had one of those violent strains of the ankle  which leave a man helpless with difficulty he  

Limped up to the door where a squat dark elderly  man was smoking a Black clay pipe how are you Mr   Reuben Hayes said Holmes who are you and how do  you get my name so Pat the Countryman answered  

With a suspicious flash of a pair of cunning eyes  well it’s printed on the board above your head   it’s easy to see a man who is master of of his  own house I suppose you haven’t such a thing as  

A carriage in your Stables no I have not I can  hardly put my foot to the ground don’t put it   to the ground but I can’t walk well then hop Mr  Reuben Hayes’s manner was far from gracious but  

Holmes took it with admirable Good Humor look here  my man said he this is really rather an awkward   fix for me I don’t mind how I get on neither do  I said the morose l land lord the matter is very  

Important I would offer you a sovereign for the  use of a bicycle the landlord pricked up his ears   where do you want to go to holdon Hall Pals of the  Duke I suppose said the landlord surveying our mud   stained garments with ironical eyes Holmes laughed  good-naturedly he’ll be glad to see us anyhow  

Why because we bring him news of his lost son the  landlord gave a very visible start what you’re on   his track he has been heard of in Liverpool they  expect to get him every hour again a swift change  

Passed over the heavy unshaven face his manner was  suddenly genial I’ve Less Reason to wish the Duke   well than most men said he for I was head Coachman  once and cruel bad he treated me it was him that  

Sacked me without a character on the word of a  lying corn Chandler but I’m glad to hear that the   young Lord was heard of in Liverpool and I’ll help  you to take the news to the hall thank you said  

Holmes we’ll have some food first then you can  bring around the bicycle I haven’t got a bicycle   Holmes held up a sovereign I tell you man that I  haven’t got one I’ll let you have two horses as  

Far as the hall well well said Holmes we’ll talk  about it when we’ve had something to eat when we   were left alone in the stone flagged kitchen it  was astonishing how rapidly that sprained ankle   recovered it was nearly Nightfall and we had  eaten nothing since early morning so that we  

Spent some time over our meal Holmes was lost in  thought and once or twice he walked over to the   window and stared earnestly out it opened onto a  squalled courtyard in the far Corner was a Smithy  

Where a grimy lad was at work on the other side  were the Stables Holmes had sat down again after   one of these excursions when he suddenly sprang  out of his chair with a loud exclamation by Heaven  

Watson I believe that I’ve got it he cried yes yes  it must be so Watson do you remember seeing any   cow tracks today yes several where well everywhere  they were at the morass and again on the path and  

Again near where poor haiger met his death exactly  well now Watson how many cows did you see on the   mo I don’t remember seeing any strange Watson  that we should see tracks all along our line but  

Never a cow on the whole Mo very strange Watson  eh yes it is strange now Watson make an effort   throw your mind back can you see those tracks upon  the path yes I can can you recall that the tracks  

Were sometimes like that Watson he arranged  a number of breadcrumbs in this fashion and   sometimes like this and occasionally like this can  you remember that no I cannot but I can I could  

Swear to it however we will go back at our leure  and verify it what a blind Beetle I have been not   to draw my conclusion and what is your conclusion  only that it is a remarkable cow which walks cans  

And gallops by George Watson it was no brain of a  country Publican that thought out such a blind as   that the coast seems to be clear save for that  lad in the Smithy Let Us slip out and see what  

We can see there were two rough-haired unkempt  horses in the Tumbl down stable Holmes raised   the hind leg of one of them and laughed aloud old  shoes but newly shod old shoes but New Nails this  

Case deserves to be a classic let us go across  to the Smithy the lad continued his work without   regarding us I saw Holmes’s eye darting to right  and left among the litter of iron and wood which  

Was scattered about the floor suddenly however we  heard a step behind us and there was the landlord   his heavy eyebrows drawn over his Savage eyes  his sthy features convulsed with with passion   he held a short Metalhead stick in his hand and  he advanced in so menacing a fashion that I was  

Right glad to feel the revolver in my pocket you  infernal spies the man cried what are you doing   there why Mr Reuben Hayes said Holmes cooly one  might think that you were afraid of our finding   something out the man mastered himself with a  violent effort and his Grim mouth loosened into  

A false laugh which was more menacing than his  frown you’re welcome to all you can find out in my   Smithy said he but look here mister I don’t care  for folk poking about my place without my leave so  

The sooner you pay your score and get out of this  the better I shall be pleased all right Mr Hayes   no harm meant said Holmes we have been having a  look at your horses but I think I’ll walk after  

All it’s not far I believe not more than 2 miles  to the hall Gates that’s the road to the left he   watched us with Sullen eyes until we had left his  premises we did not go very far along the road  

For holes stopped the instant that the curve hid  us from the landlord’s view we were warm as the   children say at that Inn said he I seem to grow  colder every step that I take away from it no no  

I can’t possibly leave it I am convinced said I  that this Reuben Hayes knows all about it a more   self-evident villain I never saw oh he impressed  you in that way did he there are the horses there  

Is the Smithy yes it is an interesting place this  fighting [ __ ] I think we shall have another look   at it in an unobtrusive way a long sloping  Hillside dotted with gray Limestone Boulders   stretched behind us we had turned off the road and  were making our way up the hill when looking in  

The direction of holderness Hall I saw a cyclist  coming swiftly along get down Watson cried Holmes   with a heavy hand upon my shoulder we had hardly  sunk from view when the man flew past us on the  

Road amid a rolling cloud of dust I caught a  glimpse of a pale agitated face a face with   horror in every lineament the mouth Open the Eyes  staring wildly in front it was like some strange   caricature of the Dapper James Wilder whom we  had seen the night before the Duke’s secretary  

Cried Holmes come Watson let us see what what he  does we scrambled from rock to rock until in a few   moments we had made our way to a point from which  we could see the front door of the Inn Wilder’s  

Bicycle was leaning against the wall beside it no  one was moving about the house nor could we catch   a glimpse of any faces at the windows slowly the  Twilight crept down as the sun sank behind the  

High towers of holderness Hall then in the Gloom  we saw the two side lamps of a trap light up in   the stable yard of the inn and shortly afterwards  heard the rattle of hooves as it wheeled out into  

The road and tore off at a furious Pace in the  direction of Chesterfield what do you make of that   Watson Holmes whispered it looks like a flight  a single man in a dog cart so far as I could see  

Well it certainly was not Mr James Wilder for  there he is at the door a red square of light   had sprung out of the the darkness in the middle  of it was the black figure of the secretary his  

Head Advanced peering out into the night it was  evident that he was expecting someone then at last   there were steps in the road a second figure was  visible for an instant against the light the door  

Shut and all was black once more 5 minutes later  a lamp was lit in a room upon the first floor it   seems to be a curious class of custom that is done  by the fighting [ __ ] said Holmes the bar is on  

The other side quite so these are what one may  call the private guests now what in the world is   Mr James Wilder doing in that Den at this hour of  night and who is the companion who comes to meet  

Him there come Watson we must really take a risk  and try to investigate this a little more closely   together we stole down to the road and crept  across to the door of the Inn the bicycle still  

Leaned against the wall Holmes struck a match  and held it to the back wheel and I heard him   chuckle as the light fell Upon A patched Dunlop  Tire up above us was the lighted window I must  

Have a peep through that Watson if you bend your  back and support yourself upon the wall I think   that I can manage an instant later his feet were  on my shoulders but he was hardly up before he  

Was down again come my friend said he our day’s  work has been quite long enough I think that we   have gathered all that we can it’s a long walk to  the school and the sooner we get started did the  

Better he hardly opened his lips during that weary  trudge across the mo nor would he enter the school   when he reached it but went on to mlon station  whence he could send some telegrams late at night  

I heard him consoling Dr huxel prostrated by the  tragedy of his master’s death and later still he   entered my room as alert and vigorous as he had  been when he started in the morning all goes well  

My friend said he I promise that before tomorrow  evening we shall have reached the solution of the mystery at 11:00 next morning my friend and I  were walking up the famous U Avenue of holdon   Hall we were ushered through the Magnificent  Elizabethan doorway and into his Grace’s study  

There we found Mr James Wilder demure and courtly  but with some trace of that wild Terror of the   night before still lurking in his furtive eyes  and in his twitching features you have come to  

See his grace I I am sorry but the fact is that  the Duke is far from well he has been very much   upset by the tragic news we received a telegram  from Dr huxel yesterday afternoon which told us  

Of your Discovery I must see the Duke Mr Wilder  but he is in his room then I must go to his room   I believe he’s in his bed I will see him there  homes’s cold and inexorable manner showed the  

Secretary that it was useless to argue with him  very good Mr Holmes I will tell him that you are   here after an hour’s delay the great nobleman  appeared his face was more cadaverous than ever   his shoulders had rounded and he seemed to me  to be an altogether older man than he had been  

The morning before he greeted us with a stately  courtesy and seated himself at his desk his Red   Beard streaming down on the table well Mr Holmes  said he but my friend’s eyes were fixed upon the  

Secretary who stood by his master’s chair I think  your grace that I could speak more freely in Mr   Wilder’s absence the man turned a shade paler and  cast a malignant glance at Holmes if your grace  

Wishes yes yes you had better go now Mr Holmes  what have you to say my friend waited until the   door had closed behind the retreating secretary  the fact is your Grace said he that my colleague   Dr Watson and myself had an assurance from Dr  huxel that a reward had been offered in this  

Case I should like to have this confirmed from  your own lips certainly Mr Holmes it amounted   if I am correctly informed to 5,000 to anyone  who will tell you where your son is exactly   and another thousand to the man who will name the  person or persons who keep him in custody exactly  

Under the latter heading is included no doubt not  only those who may have taken him away but also   those who conspire to keep him in his present  position yes yes cried the duuk impatiently if   you do your work well Mr Sherlock Holmes you will  have no reason to complain of niggardly treatment  

My friend rubbed his thin hands together with an  appearance of avidity which was a surprise to me   who knew his Frugal tastes I fancy that I see  your Grace’s checkbook upon the table said he  

I should be glad if you would make me out a check  for £6,000 it would be as well perhaps for you to   cross it the capital and Cy’s Bank Oxford Street  branch are my agents his grace sat very Stern and  

Upright in his chair and looked stonily at my  friend is this a joke Mr Holmes it is hardly a   subject for pleasantry not at all your grace I  was never more Earnest in my life what do you  

Mean then I mean that I have earned the reward I  know where your son is and I know some at least   of those who are holding him the Duke’s beard had  turned more aggressively red than ever against his  

Ghastly white face where is he he gasped he is or  was last night at the fighting [ __ ] Inn about 2   miles from your Park gate the dukee fell back in  his chair and whom do you accuse Sherlock Holmes’s  

Answer was an astounding one he stepped swiftly  forward and touched the duuk upon the shoulder I   accuse you said he and now your grace I’ll trouble  you for that check never shall I forget the Duke’s  

Appearance as he sprang up and clawed with his  hands like one who is sinking into an abyss then   with an extraordinary effort of aristocratic  self-command he sat down and sank his face in   his hands it was some minutes before he spoke how  much do you know he asked at last without raising  

His head I saw you together last night does anyone  else beside your friend know I have spoken to No   One the Duke took a pen in his quivering fingers  and opened his checkbook I shall be as good as  

My word Mr Holmes I’m about to write your check  however unwelcome the information which you have   gained may be to me when the offer was first made  I little thought the turn which events might take  

But you and your friend are men of discretion Mr  Holmes I hardly understand your grace I must put   it plainly Mr Holmes if only you two know of this  incident there is no reason why it should go any  

Farther I think £12,000 is the sum that I owe  you is it not but Holmes smiled and shook his   head I fear your grace that matters can hardly  be arranged so easily there is the death of this  

School Master to be accounted for but James knew  nothing of that you cannot hold him responsible   for that it was the work of this brutal Ruffian  whom he had The Misfortune to employ I must take  

The view your grace that when a man embarks Upon  a Crime he is morally guilty of any other crime   which may spring from it morally Mr Holmes no  doubt you are right but surely not in the eyes  

Of the law a man cannot be condemned for a murder  at which he was not present and which he loathes   and abhor as much as you do the instant that he  heard of it he made a complete confession to me  

So filled was he with horror and remorse he lost  not an hour in Breaking entirely with the murderer   oh Mr Holmes you must save him you must save  him I tell you that you must save him the Duke  

Had dropped the last attempt at self-command  and was pacing the room with a convulsed face   and with his clenched hands raving in the air at  last he mastered himself and sat down once more   at his desk I appreciate your conduct in coming  here before you spoke to anyone else said he at  

Least we may take counsel how far we can minimize  this hideous Scandal exactly said Holmes I think   your grace that this can only be done by absolute  frankness between us I am disposed to help your  

Grace to the best of my ability but in order to  do so I must understand to The Last Detail how the   matter stands I realize that your words applied to  Mr James Wilder and that he is not the murderer no  

The murderer has escaped Sherlock Holmes smiled  demurely Your Grace can hardly have heard of any   small reputation which I possess or you would  not imagine that it is so easy to escape me Mr   Ruben Hayes was arrested at Chesterfield on my  information at 11:00 last night I had a telegram  

From the head of the local police before I left  the school this morning the Duke leaned back in   his chair and stared with amazement at my friend  you seem to have powers that are hardly human said  

He so Ruben Hayes is taken I am right glad to  hear it if it will not react upon the fate of   James your secretary no sir my son it was Holmes’s  turn to look astonished I confess that this is  

Entirely new to me your grace I must beg you to  be more explicit I will conceal nothing from you   I agree with you that complete frankness however  painful it may be to me is the best policy in this  

Desperate situation to which James’s Folly and  jealousy have reduced used us when I was a very   young man Mr Holmes I loved with such a love as  comes only once in a lifetime I offered the lady  

Marriage but she refused it on the grounds that  such a match might Mar my career had she lived I   would certainly never have married anyone else  she died and left this one child whom for her  

Sake I have cherished and cared for I could not  acknowledge the paternity to the world but I gave   him the best of educations and since he came to  manhood I have kept him near my person he surmised  

My secret and has presumed ever since upon the  claim which he has upon me and upon his power   of provoking a scandal which would be abhorrent  to me his presence had something to do with the   unhappy issue of my marriage above all he hated  my young legitimate Heir from the First with a  

Persistent hatred you may well ask me why under  these circumstances I still kept James under my   roof I answer that it was because I could see  his mother’s face in his and that for her dear  

Sake there was no end to my longsuffering all  her pretty ways too there was not one of them   which he could not suggest and bring back to my  memory I could not send him away but I feared  

So much lest he should do Arthur that is Lord  saltire a Mischief that I dispatched him for   safety to Dr huxtable’s School James came into  contact with this fellow Hayes because the man   was a tenant of mine and James acted as agent  the fellow was a rascal from the beginning but  

In some extraordinary way James became intimate  with him he had always a taste for low company   when James determined to kidnap Lord suti it was  of this man’s service that he availed himself you   remember that I wrote to Arthur upon that last day  well James opened the letter and inserted a note  

Asking Arthur to meet him in a little wood called  the Ragged Shore which is near to the school he   used the duchess’s name and in that way got the  boy to come that evening James bicycled over I’m  

Telling you what he has himself confessed to me  and he told Arthur whom he met in the wood that   his mother longed to see him that she was awaiting  him on the mo and that if he would come back into  

The wood at midnight he would find a man with a  horse who would take him to her poor Arthur fell   into the Trap he came to the appointment and found  this fellow Hayes with a lead Pony Arthur mounted  

And they set off together it appears though this  James only heard yesterday that they were pursued   that Hayes struck the pursuer with his stick and  that the man died of his injuries Hayes brought   Arthur to his Public House the fighting [ __ ]  where he was confined in an upper room under  

The care of Mrs Hayes who is a kindly woman but  entirely under the control of her brutal husband   well miss Mr Holmes that was the State of Affairs  when I first saw you two days ago I had no more  

Idea of the truth than you you will ask me what  was James’s motive in doing such a deed I answer   that there was a great deal which was unreasoning  and fanatical in the hatred which he bore my Heir  

In his view he should himself have been heir of  all my Estates and he deeply resented those social   laws which made it impossible at the same time  he had a definite motive also he was eager that  

I should break the entail and he was of opinion  that it lay in my power to do so he intended to   make a bargain with me to restore Arthur if I  would break the endale and so make it possible  

For the estate to be left to him by will he knew  well that I should never willingly invoke the aid   of the police against him I say that he would  have proposed such a bargain to me but he did  

Not actually do so for events moved too quickly  for him and he had not time to put his plans into   to practice what brought all his Wicked scheme to  wreck was your discovery of this man haider’s dead  

Body James was seized with horror at the news  it came to us yesterday as we sat together in   this study Dr huxel had sent a telegram James  was so overwhelmed with grief and agitation   that my suspicions which had never been entirely  absent Rose instantly to a certainty and I taxed  

Him with the deed he made a complete voluntary  confession then he implored me to keep his secret   for three days longer so as to give his wretched  accomplice a chance of saving his guilty life I   yielded as I’ve always yielded to his prayers and  instantly James hurried off to the fighting [ __ ]  

To warn Hayes and give him the means of flight I  could not go there by daylight without provoking   comment but as soon as night fell I hurried off  to see my dear Arthur I found him safe and well  

But horrified Beyond expression by the Dreadful  deed he had witnessed in deference to my promise   and much against my will I consented to leave  him there for 3 Days under the charge of Mrs   Hayes since it was evident that it was impossible  to inform the police where he was without telling  

Them also who was the murderer and I could not see  how that murderer could be punished without ruin   to my unfortunate James you asked for frankness  Mr holes and I have taken you at your word for  

I have now told you everything without an attempt  at circumlocution or concealment do you in turn be   as Frank with me I will said Holmes in the first  place your grace I am bound to tell you that you  

Have placed yourself in a most serious position  in the eyes of the law you have condoned a felony   and you have aided the Escape of a murderer  for I cannot doubt that any money which was   taken by James Wilder to Aid his accomplice in  his flight came from your great Grace’s purse  

The Juke bowed his Ascent this is indeed a most  serious matter even more culpable in my opinion   Your Grace is your attitude towards your younger  son you leave him in this Den for three days under  

Solemn promises what are promises to such people  as these you have no guarantee that he will not be   Spirited Away again to humor your guilty eldest  son you have exposed your innocent younger son   into imminent and unnecessary danger it was a most  unjustifiable action the proud lord of holderness  

Was not accustomed to be so rated in his own ducal  Hall the blood flushed into his high forehead but   his conscience held him dumb I will help you  but on one condition only it is that you ring  

For the footman and let me give such orders as I  like without a word the Duke pressed the electric   Bell a servant entered you will be glad to hear  said Holmes that your young Master is found it  

Is the Duke’s desire that the carriage shall  Go at once to the fighting [ __ ] Inn to bring   Lord suti home now said Holmes when the rejoicing  Lackey had disappeared having secured the future   we can afford to be more lenient with the past  I am not in an official position and there is  

No reason so long as the ends of Justice are  served why I should disclose all that I know   as to Hayes I say nothing The Gallows awaits him  and I would do nothing to save him from it what  

He will divulge I cannot tell but I have no doubt  that your grace could make him understand that it   is to his interest to be silent from the police  point of view he will have kidnapped the boy for  

The purpose of Ransom if they do not themselves  find it out I see no reason why I should prompt   them to take a broader point of view I would warn  Your Grace however that the continued presence of  

Mr James Wilder in your house household can only  lead to Misfortune I understand that Mr Holmes   and it is already settled that he shall leave me  forever and go to seek his fortune in Australia   in that case your grace since you have yourself  stated that any unhappiness in your married life  

Was caused by his presence I would suggest that  you make such amends as you can to The Duchess and   that you try to resume those relations which have  been so unhappily interrupted that also I have   arranged Mr Holmes I wrote to The Duchess this  morning in that case said Holmes Rising I think  

That my friend and I can congratulate ourselves  upon several most happy results from our little   visit to the north there is one other small Point  upon which I desire some light this fellow Hayes   had shod his horses with shoes which counterfeited  the tracks of cows was it from Mr Wilder that he  

Learned so extraordinary a device the Dukes stood  in thought for a moment with a look of intense   surprise on his face then he opened a door and  showed us into a large room furnished as a museum  

He led the way to a glass case in a corner and  pointed to the inscription these shoes it ran were   dug up in the moat of holderness Hall they are  for the use of horses but they are shaped below  

With a cloven foot of iron so as to throw pursuers  off the track they are supposed to have belonged   to some of the marauding Barons of holdon in the  Middle Ages Holmes opened the case and moistening  

His finger he passed it along the shoe a thin  film of recent mud was left upon his skin thank   you said he as he replaced the glass it is the  second most interesting object that I have seen  

In the North and the first Holmes folded up his  check and placed it carefully in his notebook I   am a poor man said he as patted it affectionately  and thrust it into the depths of his inner pocket