quickly, and we saw the rider Mr James Wilder, the Duke's secretary. His face was white and afraid 'Quick, Watson!" said Holmes. "We must watch him.' We ran down the hill, and stopped when we could see the back door of the inn. Wilder's bicycle was by the wall near the door. For five minutes, nothing happened; then a man on a horse rode quickly out of the stables and disappeared down the road. What do you think of that, Watson said Holmes. "Somebody's running away. "Yes. But not James Wilder, because there he is at the door. We could see Wilder in the light from the door. He stood there, looking out, and ten minutes later another man cam down the road and went into the inn. Then a light came on in a room upstairs. "Come, Watson. We must get nearer," Holmes said. We went down the hill and walked very quietly to the back door of the inn. The bicycle was still by the wall. Holmes looked at the wheel, and laughed quietly. "A Dunlop tyre, Watson! Now, I must look through that upstairs window, so I need your back, Watson." Holmes stood on my back, but only for a second, and then he was down 'Come, my friend,' he said. "It's again. a long walk to the school, so let's start at once. I can give you all the answers to this mystery tomorrow.
It was a long, cold, muddy walk back to the school. I went to bed at once, but Holmes went out again, to Mackleton, I think. I was very tired, and slept all night like a dead man.