Sherlock Holmes complete collection by sir arthur conan doyle

The Return of Sherlock Holmes THE THREE STUDENTS

IT WAS in the year '95 that a combination of events, into which I need notenter, caused Mr. Sherlock Holmes and myself to spend some weeks inone of our great university towns, and it was during this time that thesmall but instructive adventure which I am about to relate befell us. It willbe obvious that any details which would help the reader exactly toidentify the college or the criminal would be injudicious and offensive. Sopainful a scandal may well be allowed to die out. With due discretion theincident itself may, however, be described, since it serves to illustratesome of those qualities for which my friend was remarkable. I willendeavour, in my statement, to avoid such terms as would serve to limitthe events to any particular place, or give a clue as to the peopleconcerned.We were residing at the time in furnished lodgings close to a librarywhere Sherlock Holmes was pursuing some laborious researches in earlyEnglish charters -researches which led to results so striking that they maybe the subject of one of my future narratives. Here it was that one eveningwe received a visit from an acquaintance, Mr. Hilton Soames, tutor andlecturer at the College of St. Luke's. Mr. Soames was a tall, spare man, ofa nervous and excitable temperament. I had always known him to berestless in his manner, but on this particular occasion he was in such a state of uncontrollable agitation that it was clear something very unusualhad occurred."I trust, Mr. Holmes, that you can spare me a few hours of yourvaluable time. We have had a very painful incident at St. Luke's, andreally, but for the happy chance of your being in town, I should have beenat a loss what to do.""I am very busy just now, and I desire no distractions," my friendanswered. "I should much prefer that you called in the aid of the police.""No, no, my dear sir; such a course is utterly impossible. When oncethe law is evoked it cannot be stayed again, and this is just one of thosecases where, for the credit of the college, it is most essential to avoidscandal. Your discretion is as well known as your powers, and you are theone man in the world who can help me. I beg you, Mr. Holmes, to dowhat you can."My friend's temper had not improved since he had been deprived of thecongenial surroundings of Baker Street. Without his scrapbooks, hischemicals, and his homely untidiness, he was an uncomfortable man. Heshrugged his shoulders in ungracious acquiescence, while our visitor inhurried words and with much excitable gesticulation poured forth hisstory."I must explain to you, Mr. Holmes, that to-morrow is the first day ofthe examination for the Fortescue Scholarship. I am one of the examiners.My subject is Greek, and the first of the papers consists of a large passageof Greek translation which the candidate has not seen. This passage isprinted on the examination paper, and it would naturally be an immenseadvantage if the candidate could prepare it in advance. For this reason,great care is taken to keep the paper secret.[597] "To-day, about three o'clock, the proofs of this paper arrived fromthe printers. The exercise consists of half a chapter of Thucydides. I hadto read it over carefully, as the text must be absolutely correct. At fourthirty my task was not yet completed. I had, however, promised to taketea in a friend's rooms, so I left the proof upon my desk. I was absentrather more than an hour."You are aware, Mr. Holmes, that our college doors are double-a greenbaize one within and a heavy oak one without. As I approached my outerdoor, I was amazed to see a key in it. For an instant I imagined that I hadleft my own there, but on feeling in my pocket I found that it was allright. The only duplicate which existed, so far as I knew, was that whichbelonged to my servant, Bannister-a man who has looked after my roomfor ten years, and whose honesty is absolutely above suspicion. I foundthat the key was indeed his, that he had entered my room to know if Iwanted tea, and that he had very carelessly left the key in the door whenhe came out. His visit to my room must have been within a very fewminutes of my leaving it. His forgetfulness about the key would havemattered little upon any other occasion, but on this one day it hasproduced the most deplorable consequences."The moment I looked at my table, I was aware that someone hadrummaged among my papers. The proof was in three long slips. I had leftthem all together. Now, I found that one of them was lying on the floor, one was on the side table near the window, and the third was where I hadleft it."Holmes stirred for the first time."The first page on the floor, the second in the window, the third whereyou left it," said he."Exactly, Mr. Holmes. You amaze me. How could you possibly knowthat?""Pray continue your very interesting statement.""For an instant I imagined that Bannister had taken the unpardonableliberty of examining my papers. He denied it, however, with the utmostearnestness, and I am convinced that he was speaking the truth. Thealternative was that someone passing had observed the key in the door,had known that I was out, and had entered to look at the papers. A largesum of money is at stake, for the scholarship is a very valuable one, andan unscrupulous man might very well run a risk in order to gain anadvantage over his fellows."Bannister was very much upset by the incident. He had nearly faintedwhen we found that the papers had undoubtedly been tampered with. Igave him a little brandy and left him collapsed in a chair, while I made amost careful examination of the room. I soon saw that the intruder hadleft other traces of his presence besides the rumpled papers. On the tablein the window were several shreds from a pencil which had beensharpened. A broken tip of lead was lying there also. Evidently the rascalhad copied the paper in a great hurry, had broken his pencil, and had beencompelled to put a fresh point to it.""Excellent!" said Holmes, who was recovering his good-humour as hisattention became more engrossed by the case. "Fortune has been your friend.""This was not all. I have a new writing-table with a fine surface of redleather. I am prepared to swear, and so is Bannister, that it was smoothand unstained. Now I found a clean cut in it about three inches long-not amere scratch, but a positive cut. Not only this, but on the table I found asmall ball of black dough or clay, with specks of something which lookslike sawdust in it. I am convinced that these marks were left by the manwho rifled the papers. There were no [598] footmarks and no otherevidence as to his identity. I was at my wit's end, when suddenly thehappy thought occurred to me that you were in the town, and I camestraight round to put the matter into your hands. Do help me, Mr. Holmes.You see my dilemma. Either I must find the man or else the examinationmust be postponed until fresh papers are prepared, and since this cannotbe done without explanation, there will ensue a hideous scandal, whichwill throw a cloud not only on the college, but on the university. Aboveall things, I desire to settle the matter quietly and discreetly.""I shall be happy to look into it and to give you such advice as I can,"said Holmes, rising and putting on his overcoat. "The case is not entirelydevoid of interest. Had anyone visited you in your room after the paperscame to you?""Yes, young Daulat Ras, an Indian student, who lives on the same stair,came in to ask me some particulars about the examination.""For which he was entered?""Yes.""And the papers were on your table?""To the best of my belief, they were rolled up.""But might be recognized as proofs?""Possibly.""No one else in your room?""No.""Did anyone know that these proofs would be there?""No one save the printer.""Did this man Bannister know?""No, certainly not. No one knew.""Where is Bannister now?""He was very ill, poor fellow. I left him collapsed in the chair. I was insuch a hurry to come to you.""You left your door open?""I locked up the papers first.""Then it amounts to this, Mr. Soames: that, unless the Indian studentrecognized the roll as being proofs, the man who tampered with themcame upon them accidentally without knowing that they were there.""So it seems to me."Holmes gave an enigmatic smile."Well," said he, "let us go round. Not one of your cases,Watson-mental, not physical. All right; come if you want to. Now, Mr.Soames-at your disposal!"The sitting-room of our client opened by a long, low, latticed windowon to the ancient lichen-tinted court of the old college. A Gothic arched door led to a worn stone staircase. On the ground floor was the tutor'sroom. Above were three students, one on each story. It was alreadytwilight when we reached the scene of our problem. Holmes halted andlooked earnestly at the window. Then he approached it, and, standing ontiptoe with his neck craned, he looked into the room."He must have entered through the door. There is no opening exceptthe one pane," said our learned guide."Dear me!" said Holmes, and he smiled in a singular way as he glancedat our companion. "Well, if there is nothing to be learned here, we hadbest go inside."[599] The lecturer unlocked the outer door and ushered us into his room.We stood at the entrance while Holmes made an examination of thecarpet."I am afraid there are no signs here," said he. "One could hardly hopefor any upon so dry a day. Your servant seems to have quite recovered.You left him in a chair, you say. Which chair?""By the window there.""I see. Near this little table. You can come in now. I have finished withthe carpet. Let us take the little table first. Of course, what has happenedis very clear. The man entered and took the papers, sheet by sheet, fromthe central table. He carried them over to the window table, because fromthere he could see if you came across the courtyard, and so could effect anescape.""As a matter of fact, he could not," said Soames, "for I entered by the side door.""Ah, that's good! Well, anyhow, that was in his mind. Let me see thethree strips. No finger impressions-no! Well, he carried over this onefirst, and he copied it. How long would it take him to do that, using everypossible contraction? A quarter of an hour, not less. Then he tossed itdown and seized the next. He was in the midst of that when your returncaused him to make a very hurried retreat-very hurried, since he had nottime to replace the papers which would tell you that he had been there.You were not aware of any hurrying feet on the stair as you entered theouter door?""No, I can't say I was.""Well, he wrote so furiously that he broke his pencil, and had, as youobserve, to sharpen it again. This is of interest, Watson. The pencil wasnot an ordinary one. It was above the usual size, with a soft lead, the outercolour was dark blue, the maker's name was printed in silver lettering,and the piece remaining is only about an inch and a half long. Look forsuch a pencil, Mr. Soames, and you have got your man. When I add thathe possesses a large and very blunt knife, you have an additional aid."Mr. Soames was somewhat overwhelmed by this flood of information."I can follow the other points," said he, "but really, in this matter of thelength- -"Holmes held out a small chip with the letters NN and a space of clearwood after them."You see?""No, I fear that even now- -""Watson, I have always done you an injustice. There are others. Whatcould this NN be? It is at the end of a word. You are aware that JohannFaber is the most common maker's name. Is it not clear that there is justas much of the pencil left as usually follows the Johann?" He held thesmall table sideways to the electric light. "I was hoping that if the paperon which he wrote was thin, some trace of it might come through uponthis polished surface. No, I see nothing. I don't think there is anythingmore to be learned here. Now for the central table. This small pellet is, Ipresume, the black, doughy mass you spoke of. Roughly pyramidal inshape and hollowed out, I perceive. As you say, there appear to be grainsof sawdust in it. Dear me, this is very interesting. And the cut-a positivetear, I see. It began with a thin scratch and ended in a jagged hole. I ammuch indebted to you for directing my attention to this case, Mr. Soames.Where does that door lead to?""To my bedroom."[600] "Have you been in it since your adventure?""No, I came straight away for you.""I should like to have a glance round. What a charming, old-fashionedroom! Perhaps you will kindly wait a minute, until I have examined thefloor. No, I see nothing. What about this curtain? You hang your clothesbehind it. If anyone were forced to conceal himself in this room he mustdo it there, since the bed is too low and the wardrobe too shallow. No onethere, I suppose?"As Holmes drew the curtain I was aware, from some little rigidity and alertness of his attitude, that he was prepared for an emergency. As amatter of fact, the drawn curtain disclosed nothing but three or four suitsof clothes hanging from a line of pegs. Holmes turned away, and stoopedsuddenly to the floor."Halloa! What's this?" said he.It was a small pyramid of black, putty-like stuff, exactly like the oneupon the table of the study. Holmes held it out on his open palm in theglare of the electric light."Your visitor seems to have left traces in your bedroom as well as inyour sitting-room, Mr. Soames.""What could he have wanted there?""I think it is clear enough. You came back by an unexpected way, andso he had no warning until you were at the very door. What could he do?He caught up everything which would betray him, and he rushed intoyour bedroom to conceal himself.""Good gracious, Mr. Holmes, do you mean to tell me that, all the time Iwas talking to Bannister in this room, we had the man prisoner if we hadonly known it?""So I read it.""Surely there is another alternative, Mr. Holmes. I don't know whetheryou observed my bedroom window?""Lattice-paned, lead framework, three separate windows, one swingingon hinge, and large enough to admit a man." "Exactly. And it looks out on an angle of the courtyard so as to bepartly invisible. The man might have effected his entrance there, lefttraces as he passed through the bedroom, and finally, finding the dooropen, have escaped that way."Holmes shook his head impatiently."Let us be practical," said he. "I understand you to say that there arethree students who use this stair, and are in the habit of passing yourdoor?""Yes, there are.""And they are all in for this examination?""Yes.""Have you any reason to suspect any one of them more than theothers?"Soames hesitated."It is a very delicate question," said he. "One hardly likes to throwsuspicion where there are no proofs.""Let us hear the suspicions. I will look after the proofs.""I will tell you, then, in a few words the character of the three men whoinhabit these rooms. The lower of the three is Gilchrist, a fine scholar andathlete, plays in the Rugby team and the cricket team for the college, andgot his Blue for the hurdles and the long jump. He is a fine, manly fellow.His father was the notorious Sir Jabez Gilchrist, who ruined himself onthe turf. My scholar has been left very poor, but he is hard-working andindustrious. He will do well.[601] "The second floor is inhabited by Daulat Ras, the Indian. He is aquiet, inscrutable fellow; as most of those Indians are. He is well up in hiswork, though his Greek is his weak subject. He is steady and methodical."The top floor belongs to Miles McLaren. He is a brilliant fellow whenhe chooses to work-one of the brightest intellects of the university; but heis wayward, dissipated, and unprincipled. He was nearly expelled over acard scandal in his first year. He has been idling all this term, and he mustlook forward with dread to the examination.""Then it is he whom you suspect?""I dare not go so far as that. But, of the three, he is perhaps the leastunlikely.""Exactly. Now, Mr. Soames, let us have a look at your servant,Bannister."He was a little, white-faced, clean-shaven, grizzly-haired fellow offifty. He was still suffering from this sudden disturbance of the quietroutine of his life. His plump face was twitching with his nervousness,and his fingers could not keep still."We are investigating this unhappy business, Bannister," said hismaster."Yes, sir.""I understand," said Holmes, "that you left your key in the door?""Yes, sir.""Was it not very extraordinary that you should do this on the very daywhen there were these papers inside?""It was most unfortunate, sir. But I have occasionally done the same thing at other times.""When did you enter the room?""It was about half-past four. That is Mr. Soames' tea time.""How long did you stay?""When I saw that he was absent, I withdrew at once.""Did you look at these papers on the table?""No, sir-certainly not.""How came you to leave the key in the door?""I had the tea-tray in my hand. I thought I would come back for thekey. Then I forgot.""Has the outer door a spring lock?""No, sir.""Then it was open all the time?""Yes, sir.""Anyone in the room could get out?""Yes, sir.""When Mr. Soames returned and called for you, you were very muchdisturbed?""Yes, sir. Such a thing has never happened during the many years that Ihave been here. I nearly fainted, sir.""So I understand. Where were you when you began to feel bad?""Where was I, sir? Why, here, near the door.""That is singular, because you sat down in that chair over yonder nearthe corner. Why did you pass these other chairs?""I don't know, sir, it didn't matter to me where I sat.""I really don't think he knew much about it, Mr. Holmes. He waslooking very bad-quite ghastly.""You stayed here when your master left?""Only for a minute or so. Then I locked the door and went to my room." [602] "Whom do you suspect?""Oh, I would not venture to say, sir. I don't believe there is anygentleman in this university who is capable of profiting by such an action.No, sir, I'll not believe it.""Thank you, that will do," said Holmes. "Oh, one more word. You havenot mentioned to any of the three gentlemen whom you attend thatanything is amiss?""No, sir-not a word.""You haven't seen any of them?""No, sir.""Very good. Now, Mr. Soames, we will take a walk in the quadrangle,if you please."Three yellow squares of light shone above us in the gathering gloom."Your three birds are all in their nests," said Holmes, looking up."Halloa! What's that? One of them seems restless enough."It was the Indian, whose dark silhouette appeared suddenly upon hisblind. He was pacing swiftly up and down his room."I should like to have a peep at each of them," said Holmes. "Is itpossible?""No difficulty in the world," Soames answered. "This set of rooms isquite the oldest in the college, and it is not unusual for visitors to go overthem. Come along, and I will personally conduct you.""No names, please!" said Holmes, as we knocked at Gilchrist's door. Atall, flaxen-haired, slim young fellow opened it, and made us welcomewhen he understood our errand. There were some really curious pieces ofmediaeval domestic architecture within. Holmes was so charmed with one of them that he insisted on drawing it in his notebook, broke his pencil,had to borrow one from our host, and finally borrowed a knife to sharpenhis own. The same curious accident happened to him in the rooms of theIndian-a silent, little, hook-nosed fellow, who eyed us askance, and wasobviously glad when Holmes's architectural studies had come to an end. Icould not see that in either case Holmes had come upon the clue forwhich he was searching. Only at the third did our visit prove abortive.The outer door would not open to our knock, and nothing moresubstantial than a torrent of bad language came from behind it. "I don'tcare who you are. You can go to blazes!" roared the angry voice. "Tomorrow's the exam, and I won't be drawn by anyone.""A rude fellow," said our guide, flushing with anger as we withdrewdown the stair. "Of course, he did not realize that it was I who wasknocking, but none the less his conduct was very uncourteous, and,indeed, under the circumstances rather suspicious."Holmes's response was a curious one."Can you tell me his exact height?" he asked."Really, Mr. Holmes, I cannot undertake to say. He is taller than theIndian, not so tall as Gilchrist. I suppose five foot six would be about it.""That is very important," said Holmes. "And now, Mr. Soames, I wishyou good-night."Our guide cried aloud in his astonishment and dismay. "Good gracious,Mr. Holmes, you are surely not going to leave me in this abrupt fashion!You don't seem to realize the position. To-morrow is the examination. Imust take some definite action to-night. I cannot allow the examination tobe held if one of the papers has been tampered with. The situation must befaced."[603] "You must leave it as it is. I shall drop round early to-morrowmorning and chat the matter over. It is possible that I may be in a positionthen to indicate some course of action. Meanwhile, you changenothing-nothing at all.""Very good, Mr. Holmes.""You can be perfectly easy in your mind. We shall certainly find someway out of your difficulties. I will take the black clay with me, also thepencil cuttings. Good-bye."When we were out in the darkness of the quadrangle, we again lookedup at the windows. The Indian still paced his room. The others wereinvisible."Well, Watson, what do you think of it?" Holmes asked, as we cameout into the main street. "Quite a little parlour game-sort of three-cardtrick, is it not? There are your three men. It must be one of them. Youtake your choice. Which is yours?""The foul-mouthed fellow at the top. He is the one with the worstrecord. And yet that Indian was a sly fellow also. Why should he bepacing his room all the time?""There is nothing in that. Many men do it when they are trying to learnanything by heart.""He looked at us in a queer way.""So would you, if a flock of strangers came in on you when you were preparing for an examination next day, and every moment was of value.No, I see nothing in that. Pencils, too, and knives-all was satisfactory. Butthat fellow does puzzle me.""Who?""Why, Bannister, the servant. What's his game in the matter?""He impressed me as being a perfectly honest man.""So he did me. That's the puzzling part. Why should a perfectly honestman- - Well, well, here's a large stationer's. We shall begin ourresearches here."There were only four stationers of any consequences in the town, and ateach Holmes produced his pencil chips, and bid high for a duplicate. Allwere agreed that one could be ordered, but that it was not a usual size ofpencil, and that it was seldom kept in stock. My friend did not appear tobe depressed by his failure, but shrugged his shoulders in half-humorousresignation."No good, my dear Watson. This, the best and only final clue, has runto nothing. But, indeed, I have little doubt that we can build up asufficient case without it. By Jove! my dear fellow, it is nearly nine, andthe landlady babbled of green peas at seven-thirty. What with your eternaltobacco, Watson, and your irregularity at meals, I expect that you will getnotice to quit, and that I shall share your downfall-not, however, beforewe have solved the problem of the nervous tutor, the careless servant, andthe three enterprising students."Holmes made no further allusion to the matter that day, though he satlost in thought for a long time after our belated dinner. At eight in themorning, he came into my room just as I finished my toilet."Well, Watson," said he, "it is time we went down to St. Luke's. Canyou do without breakfast?""Certainly.""Soames will be in a dreadful fidget until we are able to tell himsomething positive.""Have you anything positive to tell him?""I think so."[604] "You have formed a conclusion?""Yes, my dear Watson, I have solved the mystery.""But what fresh evidence could you have got?""Aha! It is not for nothing that I have turned myself out of bed at theuntimely hour of six. I have put in two hours' hard work and covered atleast five miles, with something to show for it. Look at that!"He held out his hand. On the palm were three little pyramids of black,doughy clay."Why, Holmes, you had only two yesterday.""And one more this morning. It is a fair argument that wherever No. 3came from is also the source of Nos. 1 and 2. Eh, Watson? Well, comealong and put friend Soames out of his pain."The unfortunate tutor was certainly in a state of pitiable agitation whenwe found him in his chambers. In a few hours the examination wouldcommence, and he was still in the dilemma between making the factspublic and allowing the culprit to compete for the valuable scholarship. He could hardly stand still, so great was his mental agitation, and he rantowards Holmes with two eager hands outstretched."Thank heaven that you have come! I feared that you had given it up indespair. What am I to do? Shall the examination proceed?""Yes, let it proceed, by all means.""But this rascal?""He shall not compete.""You know him?""I think so. If this matter is not to become public, we must giveourselves certain powers and resolve ourselves into a small private courtmartial. You there, if you please, Soames! Watson, you here! I'll take thearmchair in the middle. I think that we are now sufficiently imposing tostrike terror into a guilty breast. Kindly ring the bell!"Bannister entered, and shrank back in evident surprise and fear at ourjudicial appearance."You will kindly close the door," said Holmes. "Now, Bannister, willyou please tell us the truth about yesterday's incident?"The man turned white to the roots of his hair."I have told you everything, sir.""Nothing to add?""Nothing at all, sir.""Well, then, I must make some suggestions to you. When you sat downon that chair yesterday, did you do so in order to conceal some objectwhich would have shown who had been in the room?"Bannister's face was ghastly."No, sir, certainly not.""It is only a suggestion," said Holmes, suavely. "I frankly admit that Iam unable to prove it. But it seems probable enough, since the momentthat Mr. Soames's back was turned, you released the man who was hidingin that bedroom."Bannister licked his dry lips."There was no man, sir.""Ah, that's a pity, Bannister. Up to now you may have spoken the truth,but now I know that you have lied."[605] The man's face set in sullen defiance."There was no man, sir.""Come, come, Bannister!""No, sir, there was no one.""In that case, you can give us no further information. Would you pleaseremain in the room? Stand over there near the bedroom door. Now,Soames, I am going to ask you to have the great kindness to go up to theroom of young Gilchrist, and to ask him to step down into yours."An instant later the tutor returned, bringing with him the student. Hewas a fine figure of a man, tall, lithe, and agile, with a springy step and apleasant, open face. His troubled blue eyes glanced at each of us, andfinally rested with an expression of blank dismay upon Bannister in thefarther corner."Just close the door," said Holmes. "Now, Mr. Gilchrist, we are allquite alone here, and no one need ever know one word of what passesbetween us. We can be perfectly frank with each other. We want to know,Mr. Gilchrist, how you, an honourable man, ever came to commit such anaction as that of yesterday?"The unfortunate young man staggered back, and cast a look full ofhorror and reproach at Bannister."No, no, Mr. Gilchrist, sir, I never said a word-never one word!" criedthe servant."No, but you have now," said Holmes. "Now, sir, you must see thatafter Bannister's words your position is hopeless, and that your onlychance lies in a frank confession."For a moment Gilchrist, with upraised hand, tried to control hiswrithing features. The next he had thrown himself on his knees beside thetable, and burying his face in his hands, he had burst into a storm ofpassionate sobbing."Come, come," said Holmes, kindly, "it is human to err, and at least noone can accuse you of being a callous criminal. Perhaps it would be easierfor you if I were to tell Mr. Soames what occurred, and you can check mewhere I am wrong. Shall I do so? Well, well, don't trouble to answer.Listen, and see that I do you no injustice."From the moment, Mr. Soames, that you said to me that no one, noteven Bannister, could have told that the papers were in your room, thecase began to take a definite shape in my mind. The printer one could, ofcourse, dismiss. He could examine the papers in his own office. TheIndian I also thought nothing of. If the proofs were in a roll, he could notpossibly know what they were. On the other hand, it seemed anunthinkable coincidence that a man should dare to enter the room, andthat by chance on that very day the papers were on the table. I dismissedthat. The man who entered knew that the papers were there. How did heknow?"When I approached your room, I examined the window. You amusedme by supposing that I was contemplating the possibility of someonehaving in broad daylight, under the eyes of all these opposite rooms,forced himself through it. Such an idea was absurd. I was measuring howtall a man would need to be in order to see, as he passed, what paperswere on the central table. I am six feet high, and I could do it with aneffort. No one less than that would have a chance. Already you see I hadreason to think that, if one of your three students was a man of unusualheight, he was the most worth watching of the three."I entered, and I took you into my confidence as to the suggestions ofthe side table. Of the centre table I could make nothing, until in yourdescription of [606] Gilchrist you mentioned that he was a long-distancejumper. Then the whole thing came to me in an instant, and I only neededcertain corroborative proofs, which I speedily obtained."What happened was this: This young fellow had employed hisafternoon at the athletic grounds, where he had been practising the jump. He returned carrying his jumping-shoes, which are provided, as you areaware, with several sharp spikes. As he passed your window he saw, bymeans of his great height, these proofs upon your table, and conjecturedwhat they were. No harm would have been done had it not been that, ashe passed your door, he perceived the key which had been left by thecarelessness of your servant. A sudden impulse came over him to enter,and see if they were indeed the proofs. It was not a dangerous exploit, forhe could always pretend that he had simply looked in to ask a question."Well, when he saw that they were indeed the proofs, it was then thathe yielded to temptation. He put his shoes on the table. What was it youput on that chair near the window?""Gloves," said the young man.Holmes looked triumphantly at Bannister. "He put his gloves on thechair, and he took the proofs, sheet by sheet, to copy them. He thought thetutor must return by the main gate, and that he would see him. As weknow, he came back by the side gate. Suddenly he heard him at the verydoor. There was no possible escape. He forgot his gloves, but he caughtup his shoes and darted into the bedroom. You observe that the scratch onthat table is slight at one side, but deepens in the direction of the bedroomdoor. That in itself is enough to show us that the shoe had been drawn inthat direction, and that the culprit had taken refuge there. The earth roundthe spike had been left on the table, and a second sample was loosenedand fell in the bedroom. I may add that I walked out to the athleticgrounds this morning, saw that tenacious black clay is used in thejumping-pit, and carried away a specimen of it, together with some of thefine tan or sawdust which is strewn over it to prevent the athlete fromslipping. Have I told the truth, Mr. Gilchrist?"The student had drawn himself erect."Yes, sir, it is true," said he."Good heavens! have you nothing to add?" cried Soames."Yes, sir, I have, but the shock of this disgraceful exposure hasbewildered me. I have a letter here, Mr. Soames, which I wrote to youearly this morning in the middle of a restless night. It was before I knewthat my sin had found me out. Here it is, sir. You will see that I have said,'I have determined not to go in for the examination. I have been offered acommission in the Rhodesian Police, and I am going out to South Africaat once.' ""I am indeed pleased to hear that you did not intend to profit by yourunfair advantage," said Soames. "But why did you change your purpose?"Gilchrist pointed to Bannister."There is the man who set me in the right path," said he."Come now, Bannister," said Holmes. "It will be clear to you, fromwhat I have said, that only you could have let this young man out, sinceyou were left in the room, and must have locked the door when you wentout. As to his escaping by that window, it was incredible. Can you notclear up the last point in this mystery, and tell us the reasons for youraction?""It was simple enough, sir, if you only had known, but, with all yourcleverness, [607] it was impossible that you could know. Time was, sir,when I was butler to old Sir Jabez Gilchrist, this young gentleman'sfather. When he was ruined I came to the college as servant, but I neverforgot my old employer because he was down in the world. I watched hisson all I could for the sake of the old days. Well, sir, when I came intothis room yesterday, when the alarm was given, the very first thing I sawwas Mr. Gilchrist's tan gloves a-lying in that chair. I knew those gloveswell, and I understood their message. If Mr. Soames saw them, the gamewas up. I flopped down into that chair, and nothing would budge me untilMr. Soames went for you. Then out came my poor young master, whom Ihad dandled on my knee, and confessed it all to me. Wasn't it natural, sir,that I should save him, and wasn't it natural also that I should try to speakto him as his dead father would have done, and make him understand thathe could not profit by such a deed? Could you blame me, sir?""No, indeed," said Holmes, heartily, springing to his feet. "Well,Soames, I think we have cleared your little problem up, and ourbreakfasts awaits us at home. Come, Watson! As to you, sir, I trust that abright future awaits you in Rhodesia. For once you have fallen low. Let ussee, in the future, how high you can rise."