He now drew out his
note-book and jotted down one or two memoranda.
"You have been very remiss in not coming to me sooner," said he,
severely. "You start me on my investigation with a very serious
handicap. It is inconceivable, for example, that this ivy and
this lawn would have yielded nothing to an expert observer."
"I am not to blame, Mr. Holmes. His Grace was extremely
desirous to avoid all public scandal. He was afraid of
his family unhappiness being dragged before the world.
He has a deep horror of anything of the kind."
"But there has been some official investigation?"
"Yes, sir, and it has proved most disappointing. An apparent
clue was at once obtained, since a boy and a young man were
reported to have been seen leaving a neighbouring station by
an early train. Only last night we had news that the couple
had been hunted down in Liverpool, and they prove to have no
connection whatever with the matter in hand. Then it was that
in my despair and disappointment, after a sleepless night,
I came straight to you by the early train."
"I suppose the local investigation was relaxed while this false
clue was being followed up?"
"It was entirely dropped.
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