13156    He was a very brilliant boy, and carried away every prize which the school had to offer, finishing his exploits by winning a scholarship, which sent him on to continue his triumphant career at Cambridge.

13157    He was, I remember, extremely well connected and even when we were all little boys together, we knew that his mother's brother was Lord Holdhurst, the great Conservative politician.

13158    This gaudy relationship did him little good at school; on the contrary, it seemed rather a piquant thing to us to chevy him about the playground and hit him over the shins with a wicket.

13159    But it was another thing when he came out into the world.

13160    I heard vaguely that his abilities and the influence which he commanded had won him a good position at the Foreign Office, and then he passed completely out of my mind until the following letter recalled his existence:

13161    'BRIARBRAE, WOKING.

13162    'MY DEAR WATSON, - I have no doubt that you can remember "Tadpole" Phelps, who was in the fifth form when you were in the third.

13163    It is possible even that you may have heard that, through my uncle's influence, I obtained a good appointment at the Foreign Office, and that I was in a situation of trust and honour until a horrible misfortune came suddenly to blast my career.

13164    'There is no use writing the details of that dreadful event.

13165    In the event of your acceding to my request, it is probable that I shall have to narrate them to you.

13166    I have only just recovered from nine weeks of brain fever, and am still exceedingly weak.

13167    Do you think that you could bring your friend, Mr. Holmes, down to see me?

13168    I should like to have his opinion of the case, though the authorities assure me that nothing more can be done.

13169    Do try to bring him down, and as soon as possible.

13170    Every minute seems an hour while I live in this horrible suspense.