“Well,” said Lestrade, “I’ve seen you handle a good many cases,Mr. Holmes, but I don’t know that I ever knew a more workmanlikeone than that. We’re not jealous of you at Scotland Yard. No, sir, weare very proud of you, and if you come down to-morrow, there’s nota man, from the oldest inspector to the youngest constable, whowouldn’t be glad to shake you by the hand.”
“Thank you!” said Holmes. “Thank you!” and as he turned away,it seemed to me that he was more nearly moved by the softerhuman emotions than I had ever seen him. A moment later hewas the cold and practical thinker once more. “Put the pearl inthe safe, Watson,” said he, “and get out the papers of the Conk-Singleton forgery case. Good-bye, Lestrade. If any little problemcomes your way, I shall be happy, if I can, to give you a hint or twoas to its solution.”
The Adventure of the Three Students
It was in the year ‘95 that a combination of events, into whichI need not enter, caused Mr. Sherlock Holmes and myself tospend some weeks in one of our great university towns, and it wasduring this time that the small but instructive adventure whichI am about to relate befell us. It will be obvious that any detailswhich would help the reader exactly to identify the college or thecriminal would be injudicious and offensive. So painful a scandalmay well be allowed to die out. With due discretion the incidentitself may, however, be described, since it serves to illustrate someof those qualities for which my friend was remarkable. I willendeavour, in my statement, to avoid such terms as would serveto limit the events to any particular place, or give a clue as to thepeople concerned.
We were residing at the time in furnished lodgings close toa library where Sherlock Holmes was pursuing some laboriousresearches in early English charters—researches which led toresults so striking that they may be the subject of one of myfuture narratives. Here it was that one evening we received a visitfrom an acquaintance, Mr. Hilton Soames, tutor and lecturer atthe College of St. Luke’s. Mr. Soames was a tall, spare man, of anervous and excitable temperament. I had always known him tobe restless in his manner, but on this particular occasion he was insuch a state of uncontrollable agitation that it was clear somethingvery unusual had 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,and really, but for the happy chance of your being in town, Ishould have been at a loss what to do.”
“I am very busy just now, and I desire no distractions,” myfriend answered. “I should much prefer that you called in the aidof the police.”
“No, no, my dear sir; such a course is utterly impossible. Whenonce the law is evoked it cannot be stayed again, and this is justone of those cases where, for the credit of the college, it is mostessential to avoid scandal. Your discretion is as well known as yourpowers, and you are the one man in the world who can help me. Ibeg you, Mr. Holmes, to do what you can.”
My friend’s temper had not improved since he had beendeprived of the congenial surroundings of Baker Street. Withouthis scrapbooks, his chemicals, and his homely untidiness, he wasan uncomfortable man. He shrugged his shoulders in ungraciousacquiescence, while our visitor in hurried words and with muchexcitable gesticulation poured forth his story.
“I must explain to you, Mr. Holmes, that to-morrow is thefirst day of the examination for the Fortescue Scholarship. I amone of the examiners. My subject is Greek, and the first of thepapers consists of a large passage of Greek translation which thecandidate has not seen. This passage is printed on the examinationpaper, and it would naturally be an immense advantage if thecandidate could prepare it in advance. For this reason, great care istaken to keep the paper secret.
“To-day, about three o’clock, the proofs of this paper arrivedfrom the printers. The exercise consists of half a chapter ofThucydides. I had to read it over carefully, as the text must beabsolutely correct. At four-thirty my task was not yet completed.
I had, however, promised to take tea in a friend’s rooms, so I leftthe proof upon my desk. I was absent rather more than an hour.
“You are aware, Mr. Holmes, that our college doors aredouble—a green baize one within and a heavy oak one without. AsI approached my outer door, I was amazed to see a key in it. Foran instant I imagined that I had left my own there, but on feelingin my pocket I found that it was all right. The only duplicatewhich existed, so far as I knew, was that which belonged to myservant, Bannister—a man who has looked after my room for tenyears, and whose honesty is absolutely above suspicion. I foundthat the key was indeed his, that he had entered my room to knowif I wanted tea, and that he had very carelessly left the key in thedoor when he came out. His visit to my room must have beenwithin a very few minutes of my leaving it. His forgetfulness aboutthe key would have mattered little upon any other occasion, buton this one day it has produced the most deplorable consequences.
“The moment I looked at my table, I was aware that someonehad rummaged among my papers. The proof was in three longslips. I had left them all together. Now, I found that one of themwas lying on the floor, one was on the side table near the window,and the third was where I had left it.”
Holmes stirred for the first time.
“The first page on the floor, the second in the window, the thirdwhere you left it,” said he.
“Exactly, Mr. Holmes. You amaze me. How could you possiblyknow that?”
“Pray continue your very interesting statement.”