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I am all the family that this young man has got； and I tell you that I
am not responsible。 If he has any expectations it is due to the fact
that I have never wasted money； and I do not propose to begin to do so
now。 As to those papers with which you are making so free； I may
tell you that in case there should be anything of any value among
them； you will be held strictly to account for what you do with them。〃
〃Very good； sir；〃 said Sherlock Holmes。 〃May I ask； in the
meanwhile； whether you have yourself any theory to account for this
young man's disappearance？〃
〃No； sir； I have not。 He is big enough and old enough to look
after himself； and if he is so foolish as to lose himself； I
entirely refuse to accept the responsibility of hunting for him。〃
〃I quite understand your position；〃 said Holmes； with a
mischievous twinkle in his eyes。 〃Perhaps you don't quite understand
mine。 Godfrey Staunton appears to have been a poor man。 If he has been
kidnapped； it could not have been for anything which he himself
possesses。 The fame of your wealth has gone abroad； Lord
Mount…James； and it is entirely possible that a gang of thieves have
secured your nephew in order to gain from him some information as to
your house； your habits； and your treasure。〃
The face of our unpleasant little visitor turned as white as his
neckcloth。
〃Heavens； sir； what an idea！ I never thought of such villainy！
What inhuman rogues there are in the world！ But Godfrey is a fine lad…
a staunch lad。 Nothing would induce him to give his old uncle away。
I'll have the plate moved over to the bank this evening。 In the
meantime spare no pains； Mr。 Detective！ I beg you to leave no stone
unturned to bring him safely back。 As to money； well； so far as a
fiver or even a tenner goes you can always look to me。〃
Even in his chastened frame of mind； the noble miser could give us
no information which could help us； for he knew little of the
private life of his nephew。 Our only clue lay in the truncated
telegram； and with a copy of this in his hand Holmes set forth to find
a second link for his chain。 We had shaken off Lord Mount…James； and
Overton had gone to consult with the other members of his team over
the misfortune which had befallen them。
There was a telegraph…office at a short distance from the hotel。
We halted outside it。
〃It's worth trying； Watson；〃 said Holmes。 〃Of course； with a warrant
we could demand to see the counterfoils； but we have not reached
that stage yet。 I don't suppose they remember faces in so busy a
place。 Let us venture it。〃
〃I am sorry to trouble you；〃 said he； in his blandest manner； to the
young woman behind the grating； 〃there is some small mistake about a
telegram I sent yesterday。 I have had no answer； and I very much
fear that I must have omitted to put my name at the end。 Could you
tell me if this was so？〃
The young woman turned over a sheaf of counterfoils。
〃What o'clock was it？〃 she asked。
〃A little after six。〃
〃Whom was it to？〃
Holmes put his finger to his lips and glanced at me。 〃The last words
in it were 'For God's sake；'〃 he whispered； confidentially； 〃I am very
anxious at getting no answer。〃
The young woman separated one of the forms。
〃This is it。 There is no name；〃 said she； smoothing it out upon
the counter。
〃Then that； of course； accounts for my getting no answer；〃 said
Holmes。 〃Dear me； how very stupid of me； to be sure！ Good…morning；
miss； and many thanks for having relieved my mind。〃 He chuckled and
rubbed his hands when we found ourselves in the street once more。
〃Well？〃 I asked。
〃We progress； my dear Watson； we progress。 I had seven different
schemes for getting a glimpse of that telegram； but I could hardly
hope to succeed the very first time。〃
〃And what have you gained？〃
〃A starting…point for our investigation。〃 He hailed a cab。 〃King's
Cross Station；〃 said he。
〃We have a journey； then？〃
〃Yes； I think we must run down to Cambridge together。 All the
indications seem to me to point in that direction。〃
〃Tell me；〃 I asked； as we rattled up Gray's Inn Road； 〃have you
any suspicion yet as to the cause of the disappearance？ I don't
think that among all our cases I have known one where the motives
are more obscure。 Surely you don't really imagine that he may be
kidnapped in order to give information against his wealthy uncle？〃
〃I confess； my dear Watson； that that does not appeal to me as a
very probable explanation。 It struck me； however； as being the one
which was most likely to interest that exceedingly unpleasant old
person。〃
〃It certainly did that； but what are your alternatives？〃
〃I could mention several。 You must admit that it is curious and
suggestive that this incident should occur on the eve of this
important match； and should involve the only man whose presence
seems essential to the success of the side。 It may； of course； be a
coincidence； but it is interesting。 Amateur sport is free from
betting； but a good deal of outside betting goes on among the
public； and it is possible that it might be worth someone's while to
get at a player as the ruffians of the turf get at a race…horse。 There
is one explanation。 A second very obvious one is that this young man
really is the heir of a great property； however modest his means may
at present be； and it is not impossible that a plot to hold him for
ransom might be concocted。〃
〃These theories take no account of the telegram。〃
〃Quite true； Watson。 The telegram still remains the only solid thing
with which we have to deal； and we must not permit our attention to
wander away from it。 It is to gain light upon the purpose of this
telegram that we are now upon our way to Cambridge。 The path of our
investigation is at present obscure； but I shall be very much
surprised if before evening we have not cleared it up； or made a
considerable advance along it。〃
It was already dark when we reached the old university city。
Holmes took a cab at the station and ordered the man to drive to the
house of Dr。 Leslie Armstrong。 A few minutes later； we had stopped
at a large mansion on the busiest thoroughfare。 We were shown in；
and after a long wait were at last admitted into the
consulting…room； where we found the doctor seated behind his table。
It argues the degree in which I had lost touch with my profession
that the name of Leslie Armstrong was unknown to me。 Now I am aware
that he is not only one of the heads of the medical school of the
university； but a thinker of European reputation in more than one
branch of science。 Yet even without knowing his brilliant record one
could not fail to be impressed by a mere glance at the man； the
square； massive face； the brooding eyes under the thatched brows；
and the granite moulding of the inflexible jaw。 A man of deep
character； a man with an alert mind； grim； ascetic； self…contained；
formidable… so I read Dr。 Leslie Armstrong。 He held my friend's card
in his hand； and he looked up with no very pleased expression upon his
dour features。
〃I have heard your name； Mr。 Sherlock Holmes； and I am aware of your
profession… one of which I by no means approve。〃
〃In that； Doctor； you will find yourself in agreement with every
criminal in the country；〃 said my friend； quietly。
〃So far as your efforts are directed towards the suppression of
crime； sir； they must have the support of every reasonable member of
the community； though I cannot doubt that the official machinery is
amply sufficient for the purpose。 Where your calling is more open to
criticism is when you pry into the secrets of private individuals；
when you rake up family matters which are better hidden； and when
you incidentally waste the time of men who are more busy than
yourself。 At the present moment； for example； I should be writing a
treatise instead of conversing with you。〃
〃No doubt； Doctor； and yet the conversation may prove more important
than the treatise。 Incidentally； I may tell you that we are doing
the reverse of what you very justly blame； and that we are
endeavouring to pre