Basic information

Abbreviation: PRIO (J. F. Christ, 1947)
Word length: 11,507 (C. E. Lauterbach, 1960)
First published: Collier's, January 30, 1904; Strand Magazine, February 1904

Discussion Questions

• Why is Holmes so upset that it took so long for someone to contact him about the Duke’s son going missing?
• Why is Holmes so incredulous of the presumed story told to him by the school? 
• Why doesn’t Holmes believe that bikes were used when the boy went missing? 
• Holmes is very observant of the cows whenever he and Watson encounter them. Why? How does this observation pay off in the end?
• Why was the Duke really trying to keep the disappearance of his son a secret, if not in an attempt to keep his unhappy home life from coming to light?
• Why does Holmes demand money from the Duke? Why does the Duke agree?

Film Adaptations

• The Priory School (Jeremy Brett, David Burke, 1986)