I can assure you that you are wasting your time in dogging mymovements. I have, as you discovered last night, a window at theback of my brougham, and if you desire a twenty-mile ride whichwill lead you to the spot from which you started, you have only tofollow me. Meanwhile, I can inform you that no spying upon mecan in any way help Mr. Godfrey Staunton, and I am convinced thatthe best service you can do to that gentleman is to return at once toLondon and to report to your employer that you are unable to tracehim. Your time in Cambridge will certainly be wasted.
Yours faithfully,
LESLIE ARMSTRONG.
The Return of Sherlock Holmes 1043
“An outspoken, honest antagonist is the doctor,” said Holmes.
“Well, well, he excites my curiosity, and I must really know beforeI leave him.”
“His carriage is at his door now,” said I. “There he is steppinginto it. I saw him glance up at our window as he did so. Suppose Itry 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 independentexplorations of my own. I am afraid that I must leave you to yourown devices, as the appearance of two inquiring strangers upon asleepy countryside might excite more gossip than I care for. No doubtyou will find some sights to amuse you in this venerable city, and Ihope 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 generaldirection, I spent the day in visiting all the villages upon that sideof Cambridge, and comparing notes with publicans and other localnews agencies. I have covered some ground. Chesterton, Histon,Waterbeach, and Oakington have each been explored, and haveeach proved disappointing. The daily appearance of a brougham andpair could hardly have been overlooked in such Sleepy Hollows. Thedoctor 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 inanswer 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 lastedition. Oxford won by a goal and two tries. The last sentences ofthe description say:
“ ‘The defeat of the Light Blues may be entirely attributed to theunfortunate absence of the crack International, Godfrey Staunton,whose want was felt at every instant of the game. The lack ofcombination in the three-quarter line and their weakness both inattack and defence more than neutralized the efforts of a heavy andhard-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-1044 The Complete Sherlock Holmes
night, Watson, for I foresee that to-morrow may be an eventfulday.”
I was horrified by my first glimpse of Holmes next morning, forhe sat by the fire holding his tiny hypodermic syringe. I associatedthat instrument with the single weakness of his nature, and Ifeared the worst when I saw it glittering in his hand. He laughedat my expression of dismay and laid it upon the table.
“No, no, my dear fellow, there is no cause for alarm. It is notupon this occasion the instrument of evil, but it will rather proveto be the key which will unlock our mystery. On this syringe I baseall my hopes. I have just returned from a small scouting expedition,and everything is favourable. Eat a good breakfast, Watson, for Ipropose to get upon Dr. Armstrong’s trail to-day, and once on it Iwill 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 wherecannot follow him. When you have finished, come downstairswith me, and I will introduce you to a detective who is a veryeminent 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 thepride of the local draghounds—no very great flier, as his build willshow, but a staunch hound on a scent. Well, Pompey, you may notbe fast, but I expect you will be too fast for a couple of middleagedLondon gentlemen, so I will take the liberty of fasteningthis leather leash to your collar. Now, boy, come along, and showwhat you can do.” He led him across to the doctor’s door. Thedog sniffed round for an instant, and then with a shrill whine ofexcitement started off down the street, tugging at his leash in hisefforts to go faster. In half an hour, we were clear of the town andhastening down a country road.
“What have you done, Holmes?” I asked.
“A threadbare and venerable device, but useful upon occasion.
walked into the doctor’s yard this morning, and shot my syringefull of aniseed over the hind wheel. A draghound will followaniseed from here to John o’Groat’s, and our friend, Armstrong,would have to drive through the Cam before he would shakePompey off his trail. Oh, the cunning rascal! This is how he gaveme the slip the other night.”
The dog had suddenly turned out of the main road into a grassgrownlane. Half a mile farther this opened into another broadroad, and the trail turned hard to the right in the direction of theThe Return of Sherlock Holmes 1045
town, which we had just quitted. The road took a sweep to thesouth of the town, and continued in the opposite direction to thatin which we started.