No. 11 The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter by Arthur Conan Doyle
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the carriage, and, keeping to_the main road, I went on for a few miles, and then halted in a convenient place to_see if_the carriage passed . there_was no sign of it, however, and so it became evident that_it had turned down one of several side roads which I had observed .I rode back, but again saw nothing of_the carriage, and now, as_you perceive, it has returned after me . of_course, I had at_the outset no particular reason to connect these journeys with_the disappearance of Godfrey Staunton, and was only inclined to investigate them on_the general grounds that everything which concerns Dr .Armstrong is at present of interest to_us; but, now that I_find he keeps so keen a look- out upon anyone who_may follow him on_these excursions, the affair appears more important, and I_shall_not_be satisfied until I_have_made the matter clear ."

" we_can follow him to- morrow ."

" can we ? it_is_not so easy as_you seem to_think . you_are_not familiar with Cambridgeshire scenery, are_you ? it does_not lend itself to concealment . all this country that I passed over to- night is as flat and clean as_the palm of your hand, and_the man we_are following is no fool, as he very clearly showed to- night . I_have wired to Overton to let_us_know any fresh London developments at_this address, and in_the meantime we_can only concentrate our attention upon Dr .Armstrong, whose name the obliging young lady at_the office allowed me to read upon_the counterfoil of Staunton's urgent message . he_knows where the young man is -- to_that I'll swear -- and if he_knows, then it must_be our own fault if_we_cannot manage to_know also . at present it must_be admitted that_the odd trick is in_his possession, and, as_you_are aware, Watson, it_is_not my habit to leave the game in_that condition ."

and yet the next_day brought us no nearer to_the solution of_the mystery .a note was handed in after breakfast, which Holmes passed across to_me with a smile .

" sir," it ran, " I_can assure you that you_are wasting your time in dogging my movements . I_have, as_you discovered last night, a window at_the back of_my brougham, and if you_desire atwenty- mile ride which will lead you to_the spot from_which you started, you_have only to_follow me . meanwhile, I_can inform you that no spying upon me can in any_way help Mr Godfrey Staunton, and I_am convinced that_the best service you_can do to_that gentleman is to return at once to London and to report to your employer that you_are unable to trace him . your time in Cambridge will certainly be wasted .

" yours faithfully,

" Leslie Armstrong ."

" an outspoken, honest antagonist is_the doctor," said Holmes ." well, well, he excites my curiosity, and I_must really know more before I leave him ."

" his carriage is at his door now," said I ." there he_is stepping into_it . I_saw him glance up at our window as he_did so . suppose I try my luck upon_the bicycle ? "

" no, no, my dear Watson ! with all respect for your natural acumen I_do_not_think that you_are quite a match for_the worthy doctor . i_think that possibly I_can attain our end by some independent explorations of_my own . I_am afraid that I_must leave you to your own devices, as_the appearance of two inquiring strangers upon a sleepy countryside might excite more gossip than I care for . no_doubt you_will_find some sights to amuse you in_this venerable city, and I_hope to bring back a more favourable report to_you before evening ."

once more, however, my friend was destined to_be disappointed . he_came back at night weary and unsuccessful .

" I_have_had a blank day, Watson .Having got the doctor's general direction, I spent the day in visiting all the villages upon that side of Cambridge, and comparing notes with publicans and other local news agencies . I_have covered some ground: Chesterton, Histon, Waterbeach, and Oakington have each been explored and_have each proved disappointing . the daily appearance of a brougham and pair could hardly have_been overlooked in_such sleepy Hollows . the doctor has scored once more . is_there a telegram for_me ? "

" yes; I opened it . here it_is: ` ask for Pompey from Jeremy Dixon, trinity college .' I don't understand it ."

"Oh, it_is clear enough . it_is from_our friend Overton, and_is in answer to a question from me .I'll just send round a note to Mr Jeremy Dixon, and then I_have no_doubt that_our luck will turn . by_the_way, is_there any news of_the match ? "

" yes, the local evening paper has an excellent account in its last edition .Oxford won by a goal and two tries . the last sentences of_the description say: ` the defeat of_the light Blues may_be entirely attributed to_the unfortunate absence of_the crack international, Godfrey Staunton, whose want was felt at every instant of_the game . the lack of combination in_the three- quarter line and their weakness both in attack and defence more than neutralised the efforts of a heavy and hard-working pack .'"

" then our friend Overton's forebodings have_been justified," said Holmes ." personally I_am in agreement with Dr .Armstrong, and football does_not come within my horizon . early to bed to- night, Watson, for I foresee that to- morrow may_be an eventful day ."

i_was horrified by my first glimpse of Holmes next morning, for he sat by_the fire holding his tiny hypodermic syringe .I associated that instrument with_the single weakness of_his nature, and I feared the worst when I_saw it glittering in_his hand . he laughed at my expression of dismay, and laid it upon_the table .

" no, no, my dear fellow, there_is no cause for alarm . it_is_not upon_this occasion the instrument of evil, but it_will rather prove to_be the key which will unlock our mystery . on_this syringe I base all my hopes . I_have just returned from a small scouting expedition and everything is favourable . eat a good breakfast, Watson, for I propose to_get upon Dr .Armstrong's trail to- day, and once on_it i_will_not stop for rest or food until I run him to_his burrow ."

" in_that case," said I, " we had best carry our breakfast with_us, for he_is making an early start . his carriage is at_the door ."

" never mind . let him go . he_will_be clever if he_can drive where I_cannot follow him . when_you have finished come downstairs with me, and_I_will introduce you to a detective who_is a very eminent specialist in_the work that lies before_us ."

when we descended I followed Holmes into_the stable yard, where he opened the door of a loose- box and led out a squat, lop-eared, white- and- tan dog, something between a beagle and afoxhound .

" let me introduce you to Pompey," said he ."Pompey is_the pride of_the local draghounds, no very great flier, as his build will show, but astaunch hound on a scent . well, Pompey, you_may not be fast, but I expect you_will_be too fast for a couple of middle- aged London gentlemen, so i_will take_the liberty of fastening this leather leash to your collar . now, boy, come along, and show what you_can do ." he led him across to_the doctor's door . the dog sniffed round for an instant, and then with a shrill whine of excitement started off down the street, tugging at his leash in_his efforts to_go faster . in half an hour, we were clear of_the town and hastening down a country road .

" what have_you done, Holmes ? " I asked .

"A threadbare and venerable device, but useful upon occasion .I walked into_the doctor's yard this_morning and shot my syringe full of aniseed over the hind wheel .adraghound will follow aniseed from here to John o' Groat's, and_our friend Armstrong would_have to drive through_the Cam before he_would shake Pompey off his trail .Oh, the cunning rascal ! this_is how he_gave me the slip the other night ."

the dog had suddenly turned out_of_the main road into a grass- grown lane . half a mile farther this opened into another broad road, and_the trail turned hard to_the right in_the direction of_the town, which we had just quitted . the road took a sweep to_the south of_the town and continued in_the opposite direction to_that in_which we started .

" this detour has_been entirely for_our benefit, then ? " said Holmes ." no wonder that my inquiries among those villages led to nothing . the doctor has certainly played the game for all it_is worth, and one would like to_know the reason for such elaborate deception . this should_be the village of Trumpington to_the right of us . and, by Jove ! here_is_the brougham coming round the corner . quick, Watson, quick, or we_are done ! "

he sprang through a gate into a field, dragging the reluctant Pompey after him . we had hardly got under the shelter of_the hedge when_the carriage rattled past .I caught a glimpse of Dr .Armstrong within, his shoulders bowed, his head sunk on_his hands, the very image of distress . I_could tell by my companion's graver face that he also had seen .

" I_fear there_is some dark ending to our quest," said he ." it cannot_be long before we_know it . come, Pompey ! Ah, it_is_the cottage in_the field ! "

there could_be no_doubt that we had reached the end of_our journey .Pompey ran about and whined eagerly outside the gate where the marks of_the brougham's wheels were still to_be seen .a footpath led across to_the lonely cottage .Holmes tied the dog to_the hedge, and we hastened onwards . my friend knocked at_the little rustic door, and knocked again without response . and yet the cottage was not deserted, for a low sound came to our ears -- a kind of drone of misery and despair, which_was indescribably melancholy .Holmes paused irresolute, and then he glanced back at_the road which we had just traversed .a brougham was coming down it, and there could_be no mistaking those grey horses .

" by Jove, the doctor is coming back ! " cried Holmes ." that settles it . we_are bound to_see what it means before he comes ."

he opened the door and we stepped into_the hall . the droning sound swelled louder upon our ears until it became one long, deep wail of distress . it came from upstairs .Holmes darted up and I followed him . he pushed open a half- closed door and we both stood appalled at_the sight before_us .

a woman, young and beautiful, was lying dead upon_the bed . her calm, pale face, with dim, wide- opened blue eyes, looked upward from amid a great tangle of golden hair . at_the foot of_the bed, half sitting, half kneeling, his face buried in_the clothes, was a young man, whose frame was racked by his sobs . so absorbed was he by his bitter grief that he never looked up until Holmes's hand was on_his shoulder .

" are_you Mr Godfrey Staunton ? "

" yes, yes; I_am -- but you_are too late . she_is dead ."

the man was so dazed that he_could_not be made to understand that we were anything but doctors who had_been sent to_his assistance .Holmes was endeavouring to utter a few words of consolation, and to explain the alarm which had_been caused to_his friends by his sudden disappearance, when there_was a step upon_the stairs, and there_was the heavy, stern, questioning face of Dr .Armstrong at_the door .

" so, gentlemen," said he, " you_have attained your end, and_have certainly chosen a particularly delicate moment for your intrusion . i_would_not brawl in_the presence of death, but I_can assure you that if I were a younger man your monstrous conduct would_not pass with impunity ."

" excuse me, Dr .Armstrong, i_think we_are a little at cross-purposes," said my friend, with dignity ." if_you_could step downstairs with_us we_may each be_able to_give some light to_the other upon_this miserable affair ."

a minute later the grim doctor and ourselves were in_the sitting- room below .

" well, sir ? " said he .

" i_wish you to understand, in_the first place, that I_am not employed by lord mount-James, and_that my sympathies in_this_matter are entirely against that nobleman . when a man is lost it_is my duty to ascertain his fate, but having done so the matter ends so_far as I_am concerned; and so_long as there_is nothing criminal, I_am much more anxious to hush up private scandals than to_give them publicity . if, as I imagine, there_is no breach of_the law in_this_matter, you_can absolutely depend upon my discretion and my co-operation in keeping the facts out_of_the papers ."

Dr .Armstrong took a quick step forward and wrung Holmes by_the hand .

" you_are a good fellow," said he ."I had misjudged you .I thank heaven that my compunction at leaving poor Staunton all alone in_this plight caused me to_turn my carriage back, and so to_make your acquaintance .Knowing as_much as_you_do, the situation is very easily explained .a year ago Godfrey Staunton lodged in London for a time, and became passionately attached to_his landlady's daughter, whom he married . she was as good as she was beautiful, and as intelligent as she was good . no man need be ashamed of_such a wife . but Godfrey was_the heir to_this crabbed old nobleman, and it_was quite certain that_the news of_his marriage would_have_been the end of_his inheritance . I_knew the lad well, and I loved him for_his many excellent qualities . I_did all I_could to help him to_keep things straight . we_did our very best to_keep the thing from everyone, for when once such a whisper gets about it_is_not long before everyone has heard it . thanks to_this lonely cottage and_his own discretion, Godfrey has up_to now succeeded . their secret was known to no one save to_me and to one excellent servant who has at present gone for assistance to Trumpington . but at last there came a terrible blow in_the shape of dangerous illness to_his wife . it_was consumption of_the most virulent kind . the poor boy was half crazed with grief, and yet he had to_go to London to play this match, for he_could_not get out of it without explanations which would expose his secret .I tried to cheer him up by a wire, and he sent me one in reply imploring me to_do all I_could . this_was the telegram which you appear in some inexplicable way to_have seen . I_did_not tell him how urgent the danger was, for I_knew that he_could do no good here, but I_sent the truth to_the girl's father, and he very injudiciously communicated it to Godfrey . the result was_that he_came straight away in a state bordering on frenzy, and has remained in_the same state, kneeling at_the end of her bed, until this_morning death put an end to her sufferings . that_is all, Mr Holmes, and I_am_sure that I_can rely upon your discretion and_that of your friend ."

Holmes grasped the doctor's hand .

" come, Watson," said he, and we passed from_that house of grief into_the pale sunlight of_the winter day .

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