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The Adventure of the Priory School
Thelighthadcomebacktohiseyesandthecolourtohischeeks,ashesethimselfwithgreatvigourandluciditytoexplainthesituation.
“Imustinformyou,gentlemen,thatthePrioryisapreparatoryschool,ofwhichIamthefounderandprincipal.Huxtable’sSidelightsonHoracemaypossiblyrecallmynametoyourmemories.ThePrioryis,withoutexception,thebestandmostselectpreparatoryschoolinEngland.LordLeverstoke,theEarlofBlackwater,SirCathcartSoames—theyallhaveintrustedtheirsonstome.ButIfeltthatmyschoolhadreacheditszenithwhen,weeksago,theDukeofHoldernessesentMr.JamesWilder,hissecretary,withintimationthatyoungLordSaltire,tenyearsold,hisonlysonandheir,wasabouttobecommittedtomycharge.LittledidIthinkthatthiswouldbethepreludetothemostcrushingmisfortuneofmylife.
“OnMay1sttheboyarrived,thatbeingthebeginningofthesummerterm.Hewasacharmingyouth,andhesoonfellintoourways.Imaytellyou—ItrustthatIamnotindiscreet,buthalf-confidencesareabsurdinsuchacase—thathewasnotentirelyhappyathome.ItisanopensecretthattheDuke’smarriedlifehadnotbeenapeacefulone,andthematterhadendedinaseparationbymutualconsent,theDuchesstakingupherresidenceinthesouthofFrance.Thishadoccurredveryshortlybefore,andtheboy’ssympathiesareknowntohavebeenstronglywithhismother.HemopedafterherdeparturefromHoldernesseHall,anditwasforthisreasonthattheDukedesiredtosendhimtomyestablishment.
