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 Holdernesse Hall.It is only a few miles away, and we imagined that in some sudden attack of home-sickness he had gone back to his father; but nothing had been heard of him.The Duke is greatly 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 schoolmaster.His drawn brows and the deep furrow between them showed that he needed no exhortation to concentrate all his attention upon a problem which, apart from the tremendous interests involved, must appeal so directly to his love of the complex and the unusual.He now drew out his note-book and jotted down one or two memoranda.
"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 neighbouring station by an early train.Only last night we had news that the couple had been hunted down in Liverpool, and they prove to have no connection whatever with the matter in hand.Then it was that in my despair and disappointment, after a sleepless night, I came straight to you by the early train.""I suppose the local investigation was relaxed while this false clue was being followed up?""It was entirely dropped."