dignified that he was the very embodiment of self-possession

and solidity. and yet his first action when the door had

closed behind him was to stagger against the table, whence

he slipped down upon the floor, and there was that majestic

figure prostrate and insensible upon our bearskin hearthrug.

we had sprung to our feet, and for a few moments we stared

in silent amazement at this ponderous piece of wreckage,

which told of some sudden and fatal storm far out on the

ocean of life. then holmes hurried with a cushion for his

head and i with brandy for his lips. the heavy white face

was seamed with lines of trouble, the hanging pouches under

the closed eyes were leaden in colour, the loose mouth

drooped dolorously at the corners, the rolling chins were

unshaven. collar and shirt bore the grime of a long journey,

and the hair bristled unkempt from the well-shaped head.

it was a sorely-stricken man who lay before us.

"what is it, watson?" asked holmes.

"absolute exhaustion -- possibly mere hunger and fatigue,"

said i, with my finger on the thready pulse, where the

stream of life trickled thin and small.

"return ticket from mackleton, in the north of england,"

said holmes, drawing it from the watch-pocket.

"it is not twelve o'clock yet. he has certainly been

an early starter."

the puckered eyelids had begun to quiver, and now a pair of

vacant, grey eyes looked up at us. an instant later the man

had scrambled on to his feet, his face crimson with shame.

"forgive this weakness, mr. holmes; i have been a little

overwrought. thank you, if i might have a glass of milk

and a biscuit i have no doubt that i should be better.

i came personally, mr. holmes, in order to 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 mackleton with

me by the next train."

my friend shook his head.

"my colleague, dr. watson, could tell you that we are very

busy at present. i am retained in this case of the ferrers

documents, and the abergavenny murder is coming up for trial.

only a very important issue could call me from london at present."

"important!" our visitor threw up his hands. "have you

heard nothing of the abduction of the only son of the duke

of holdernesse?"

"what! the late cabinet minister?"

"exactly. we had tried to keep it out of the papers,

but there was some rumour in the _globe_ last night.

i thought it might have reached your ears."

holmes shot out his long, thin arm and picked out volume "h"

in his encyclopaedia {1} of reference.

"'holdernesse, 6th duke, k.g., p.c.' -- half the alphabet!

'baron beverley, earl of carston' -- dear me, what a list!

'lord lieutenant of hallamshire since 1900. married edith,

daughter of sir charles appledore, 1888. heir and only

child, lord saltire. owns about two hundred and fifty

thousand acres. minerals in lancashire and wales.

address: carlton house terrace; holdernesse hall,

hallamshire; carston castle, bangor, wales.

lord of the admiralty, 1872; chief secretary of state for ----'

well, well, this man is certainly one of the greatest subjects

of the crown!"

"the greatest and perhaps the wealthiest. i am aware,

mr. holmes, that you take a very high line in professional

matters, and that you are prepared to work for the work's

sake. i may tell you, however, that his grace has already

intimated that a cheque for five thousand pounds will be

handed over to the person who can tell him where his son is,

and another thousand to him who can name the man, or men,

who have taken him."

"it is a princely offer," said holmes. "watson, i think

that we shall accompany dr. huxtable back to the north of

england. and now, dr. huxtable, when you have consumed

that milk you will kindly tell me what has happened,

when it happened, how it happened, and, finally,

what dr. thorneycroft huxtable, of the priory school,

near mackleton, has to do with the matter, and why he comes

three days after an event -- the state of your chin gives the

date -- to ask for my humble services."

our visitor had consumed his milk and biscuits. the light

had come back to his eyes and the colour to his cheeks as

he set himself with great vigour and lucidity to explain

the situation.

"i must inform you, gentlemen, that the priory is a

preparatory school, of which i am the founder and

principal. 'huxtable's sidelights on horace' may possibly

recall my name to your memories. the priory is, without

exception, the best and most select preparatory school

in england. lord leverstoke, the earl of blackwater,

sir cathcart soames -- they all have entrusted their sons to me.

but i felt that my school had rea