The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (booksvooks txt) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซThe Return of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (booksvooks txt) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
โTo-day about three o'clock the proofs of this paper arrived from the printers. The exercise consists of half a chapter of Thucydides. I had to read it over carefully, as the text must be absolutely correct. At four-thirty my task was not yet completed. I had, however, promised to take tea in a friend's rooms, so I left the proof upon my desk. I was absent rather more than an hour.
โYou are aware, Mr. Holmes, that our college doors are doubleโa green baize one within and a heavy oak one without. As I approached my outer door I was amazed to see a key in it. For an instant I imagined that I had left my own there, but on feeling in my pocket I found that it was all right. The only duplicate which existed, so far as I knew, was that which belonged to my servant, Bannister, a man who has looked after my room for ten years, and whose honesty is absolutely above suspicion. I found that the key was indeed his, that he had entered my room to know if I wanted tea, and that he had very carelessly left the key in the door when he came out. His visit to my room must have been within a very few minutes of my leaving it. His forgetfulness about the key would have mattered little upon any other occasion, but on this one day it has produced the most deplorable consequences.
โThe moment I looked at my table I was aware that someone had rummaged among my papers. The proof was in three long slips. I had left them 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 had left it.โ
Holmes stirred for the first time.
โThe first page on the floor, the second in the window, the third where you left it,โ said he.
โExactly, Mr. Holmes. You amaze me. How could you possibly know that?โ
โPray continue your very interesting statement.โ
โFor an instant I imagined that Bannister had taken the unpardonable liberty of examining my papers. He denied it, however, with the utmost earnestness, and I am convinced that he was speaking the truth. The alternative 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 large sum of money is at stake, for the scholarship is a very valuable one, and an unscrupulous man might very well run a risk in order to gain an advantage over his fellows.
โBannister was very much upset by the incident. He had nearly fainted when we found that the papers had undoubtedly been tampered with. I gave him a little brandy and left him collapsed in a chair while I made a most careful examination of the room. I soon saw that the intruder had left other traces of his presence besides the rumpled papers. On the table in the window were several shreds from a pencil which had been sharpened. A broken tip of lead was lying there also. Evidently the rascal had copied the paper in a great hurry, had broken his pencil, and had been compelled to put a fresh point to it.โ
โExcellent!โ said Holmes, who was recovering his good-humour as his attention became more engrossed by the case. โFortune has been your friend.โ
โThis was not all. I have a new writing-table with a fine surface of red leather. I am prepared to swear, and so is Bannister, that it was smooth and unstained. Now I found a clean cut in it about three inches longโnot a mere scratch, but a positive cut. Not only this, but on the table I found a small ball of black dough, or clay, with specks of something which looks like sawdust in it. I am convinced that these marks were left by the man who rifled the papers. There were no footmarks and no other evidence as to his identity. I was at my wits' ends, when suddenly the happy thought occurred to me that you were in the town, and I came straight 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 examination must be postponed until fresh papers are prepared, and since this cannot be done without explanation there will ensue a hideous scandal, which will throw a cloud not only on the college, but on the University. Above all things I desire to settle the matter quietly and discreetly.โ
โI shall be happy to look into it and to give you such advice as I can,โ said Holmes, rising and putting on his overcoat. โThe case is not entirely devoid of interest. Had anyone visited you in your room after the papers came to you?โ
โYes; young Daulat Ras, an Indian student who lives on the same stair, came in to ask me some particulars about the examination.โ
โFor which he was entered?โ
โYes.โ
โAnd the papers were on your table?โ
โTo the best of my belief they were rolled up.โ
โBut might be recognised as proofs?โ
โPossibly.โ
โNo one else in your room?โ
โNo.โ
โDid anyone know that these proofs would be there?โ
โNo one save the printer.โ
โDid this man Bannister know?โ
โNo, certainly not. No one knew.โ
โWhere is Bannister now?โ
โHe was very ill, poor fellow. I left him collapsed in the chair. I was in such a hurry to come to you.โ
โYou left your door open?โ
โI locked up the papers first.โ
โThen it amounts to this, Mr. Soames, that unless the Indian student recognised the roll as being proofs, the man who tampered with them came upon them accidentally without knowing that they were there.โ
โSo it seems to me.โ
Holmes gave an enigmatic smile.
โWell,โ said he, โlet us go round. Not one of your cases, Watsonโmental, not physical. All right; come if you want to. Now, Mr. Soamesโat your disposal!โ
The sitting-room of our client opened by a long, low, latticed window on 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's room. Above were three students, one on each story. It was already twilight when we reached the scene of our problem. Holmes halted and looked earnestly at the window. Then he approached it, and, standing on tiptoe with his neck craned, he looked into the room.
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