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was more calculated to fill the gap left by the illustrious
Moriarty。 And now； my poor Watson； here we are； stranded and
friendless in this inhospitable town； which we cannot leave without
abandoning our case。 This little inn just opposite Armstrong's house
is singularly adapted to our needs。 If you would engage a front room
and purchase the necessaries for the night； I may have time to make
a few inquiries。〃
These few inquiries proved； however； to be a more lengthy proceeding
than Holmes had imagined； for he did not return to the inn until
nearly nine o'clock。 He was pale and dejected； stained with dust；
and exhausted with hunger and fatigue。 A cold supper was ready upon
the table； and when his needs were satisfied and his pipe alight he
was ready to take that half comic and wholly philosophic view which
was natural to him when his affairs were going awry。 The sound of
carriage wheels caused him to rise and glance out of the window。 A
brougham and pair of grays； under the glare of a gas…lamp； stood
before the doctor's door。
〃It's been out three hours；〃 said Holmes； 〃started at half…past six；
and here it is back again。 That gives a radius of ten or twelve miles；
and he does it once； or sometimes twice； a day。〃
〃No unusual thing for a doctor in practice。〃
〃But Armstrong is not really a doctor in practice。 He is a
lecturer and a consultant； but he does not care for general
practice； which distracts him from his literary work。 Why； then；
does he make these long journeys； which must be exceedingly irksome to
him； and who is it that he visits？〃
〃His coachman…〃
〃My dear Watson； can you doubt that it was to him that I first
applied？ I do not know whether it came from his own innate depravity
or from the promptings of his master； but he was rude enough to set
a dog at me。 Neither dog nor man liked the look of my stick；
however； and the matter fell through。 Relations were strained after
that； and further inquiries out of the question。 All that I have
learned I got from a friendly native in the yard of our own inn。 It
was he who told me of the doctor's habits and of his daily journey。 At
that instant； to give point to his words； the carriage came round to
the door。〃
〃Could you not follow it？〃
〃Excellent； Watson！ You are scintillating this evening。 The idea did
cross my mind。 There is； as you may have observed； a bicycle shop next
to our inn。 Into this I rushed； engaged a bicycle； and was able to get
started before the carriage was quite out of sight。 I rapidly overtook
it； and then； keeping at a discreet distance of a hundred yards or so；
I followed its lights until we were clear of the town。 We had got well
out on the country road； when a somewhat mortifying incident occurred。
The carriage stopped； the doctor alighted； walked swiftly back to
where I had also halted； and told me in an excellent sardonic
fashion that he feared the road was narrow； and that he hoped his
carriage did not impede the passage of my bicycle。 Nothing could
have been more admirable than his way of putting it。 I at once rode
past 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 a twenty…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 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 neutralized 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…d