01:15I am a doctor, sir, and I must insist that you relax yourself and say nothing until you have eaten.
01:22If I might have a biscuit and a glass of milk, I have no doubt I should soon be better.
01:26Mrs. Hudson is preparing something at this moment.
01:29Please, please, please forgive this weakness.
01:33I really must...
01:35Mr. Holmes.
01:37At your service.
01:40Master of Arts.
01:42Doctor of Philosophy.
01:44Principal of the Priority School.
01:46It is not every day, Dr. Huxtable, that's so distinguished a castaway as yourself is beached upon my heartthrug.
01:52In speculating what storm had blown you hither, I took the liberty of searching your person.
01:57I hope you will forgive me.
01:58Yes, yes, of course.
02:00Please, sit down.
02:03Your watch, unblemished for at least 30 years, suddenly this morning, scratched.
02:08When you thrust those coins unthinkingly into your waistcoat pocket, the stern habit of a lifetime, trampled underfoot.
02:17A small occurrence, perhaps, but only small, I think, in the way that a vibrating needle may signal an earthquake.
02:26The state of your beard demonstrates a considerable disruption to your routine.
02:30Three days ago?
02:31Just so.
02:32Just so.
02:33Mr. Holmes, I beg you to accompany me north to Mackleton immediately.
02:38A matter of the utmost importance.
02:40Ah.
02:41I regret.
02:43Dr. Watson, I am extremely depressed just at the moment.
02:48I am retained in the case of the fellow's documents, and Dr. Watson tells me that he has run off his feet by this recent epidemic of scarlet fever.
02:55And then, of course, of the Abergavenny murder coming up for trial, and only a very important issue could call us away at the present.
03:01Important, sir.
03:03Important.
03:05I dare say you've heard of the Duke of Holderness.
03:08The former cabinet minister.
03:11More than that, Watson.
03:14The letters after his name.
03:15Ha!
03:15Almost half the alphabet.
03:18One of the greatest subjects of the crown.
03:21Eh, Dr. Huxtable?
03:22One of the greatest, and probably one of the wealthiest.
03:26He is also, I am proud to say, my neighbour.
03:31Holderness Hall, his country seat, is across the valley from the Priory School.
03:34The Duke is an intensely solitary man.
03:39He abhors the prospect of public scrutiny.
03:42But such is his anxiety in this matter, that his grace is prepared to write a cheque for five thousand pounds to see the business solved.
03:50And another thousand pounds to see justice visited upon the villains.
03:55That is how important it is.
04:06The princely offer, Dr. Huxtable.
04:09You have failed only in describing the villainy.
04:12Oh, forgive me.
04:17Lord Salter, the Duke's son, his only child, has been abducted.
04:25From the Priory School?
04:27Yes.
04:29Where he was in your care?
04:31Quite.
04:33And this abduction happened three days ago?
04:37Last Saturday night.
04:39Why have you waited so long before consulting me?
04:40His grace has a deep horror of his family unhappiness being dragged before the world.
04:46The police have been requested by the Duke to proceed with such caution, but they...
04:51I see.
04:55This affair has been deplorably handled.
04:58I feel it.
04:59And admit it.
05:01What form did the demand for ransom take?
05:03There has been none.
05:05No demand for ransom?
05:06None.
05:08It is one of the most perplexing aspects of the business.
05:11For the boy was not alone in his flight.
05:15Herr Heidegger, the German master, is also missing.
05:20As, indeed, by the way, is his bicycle.
05:22If he has abducted the boy, why has no demand for money been received?
05:26Heidegger came to me from Switzerland with the very best references.
05:30Was there any other bicycle missing?
05:33Oh, no.
05:35You're certain?
05:36Quite.
05:36Mr. Averling checked all the bicycles.
05:38Dr. Huxley, do you really mean to suggest that this German master rode off upon his bicycle in the dead of night, burying the boy in his arms?
05:46No.
05:48Then what is this theory in your mind?
05:50The bicycle may have been a blind.
05:53He may have hidden it somewhere and the pair gone off on foot.
05:56Surely he would have hidden a couple of bicycles if he desired to give that impression.
06:01Yes, I suppose he would.
06:02Of course he would, Dr. Huxtable.
06:05This blind theory of yours will not do.
06:07It is an admirable starting point for an investigation.
06:19Watson, would you send for a cab immediately?
06:23Now, home.
06:25Sit and pack!
06:29We have just enough time to catch the overnight train from St. Pancras.
06:32Dr. Huxtable, I should do a little work at your doors.
06:35Perhaps the trail is not so cold, but the two old hounds like Watson and myself may get a sniff of it.
06:41I imagine the arrival of Lord Salton at your school must have been quite a feather in your hand.
06:45My proudest moment, Mr. Holmes.
06:48Ever since Blackwell's published Huxtable Sidelights on Horace.
06:52A notable little success in his day. You may have heard of it.
06:54Now, how old is the boy?
06:57Nine.
06:58And he's been with you how long?
06:59Oh, since the beginning of the winter term.
07:01An unusual boy. He seemed to be fitting in well.
07:06He, um...
07:07Yes?
07:11I was about to say, he was not entirely happy at home.
07:15The Duke's marriage had not been a peaceful one.
07:18It ended in separation by mutual consent last year.
07:21The Duchess has returned to her father's palazzo in Venice.
07:25But this picture of the Duke's marriage, how did you come by it?
07:30Is it common knowledge?
07:32I've had some confidential talks with Mr. Wilder, the Duke's secretary.
07:36He has been most helpful.
07:37And I suppose it has been established that the boy has not returned to his mother in Italy.
07:43Oh, yes. Yes, it has.
07:45I cannot tell you, Mr. Holmes, what a relief it is to me.
07:48Watson!
07:49Come here.
07:49Your picnic, sir.
07:51Mrs. Hudson.
07:53How did you guess?
07:55Experience, Mr. Holmes.
07:57Well, that means the two doctors can picnic away to their heart's content on the train.
08:00Even I may find my appetite is keener for a few days in the bracing atmosphere of the king's country.
08:13I think I will do myself no injustice when I say that the Priory School is the most select preparatory school in England.
08:20Lord Leverstoke, the Earl of Blackwater, Sir Cathcart Solmes.
08:26They've all entrusted their sons to me.
08:28You can't see Holderness Hall from here, but there's a very fine view from the chapel tower.
08:37Sir, wait, eh, Deskipuri?
08:39I will begin with the boy's room.
08:58From his father?
09:10It arrived on the morning of his disappearance.
09:16Had you received one from Italy?
09:17Not recently.
09:19Where is the letter now?
09:20It cannot be found.
09:23It must have been on the boy's person when he was abducted.
