Part II

It was rather late when we came to the college. Mr. Soames’s rooms were on the ground floor and the windows looked out into the court. Three students lived on the floor above. Holmes stopped under the windows and examined them attentively. Then he looked into the room.

“The person did not enter the room through the window,” said Mr. Holmes. “He entered through the door. Let us go inside!”

The tutor unlocked the door and we entered the study. Bannister was no longer in the room. Holmes examined the carpet.

“I can see no traces here,” he said. “It is hopeless after such a dry day. In which arm-chair did you leave your servant?”

“There by the window.”

“Yes, I see, near this little table. Of course, what happened is very clear. Somebody entered the room and took the papers, sheet by sheet, from your desk. He then took them to the window, because from there he could see you at the entrance door and could run away in time.”

“But I entered by the side door,” said the tutor.

“Our man did not expect it,” Holmes answered. “I think that he had copied the first sheet, dropped it and was just reading the second one when you came. He had no time to put the paper back. Your return made him retreat. Did you hear anybody on the stairs?”

“No, I think not”

“Well, the man wrote so quickly that he broke his pencil and sharpened it with a large blunt knife. I can see that from the cuttings. This is important, Watson. The pencil was about the usual size, with a soft lead. The outer colour was blue with the maker’s name in silver letters. Find this pencil, Mr. Soames, and you’ll get your man. Now let us examine your desk. This, I think, is the black ball of clay which you mentioned. And I see the sawdust in it. Oh, this is very interesting! And the cut – it begins with a thin scratch and ends in a hole, I see. Well, where does this door lead to?”

“To my bedroom.”

“Have you been in it since your return?”

“No, I went straight to find you.”

“I should like to take a look at it.” And Holmes entered the bedroom. “What a charming room! No, I see nothing on the floor. Ah, there is a curtain here. There is no one behind it, I suppose.”

With these words Holmes quickly drew aside the curtain, but we saw only some clothes hanging on a peg. Suddenly he stooped to the floor.

“Look at this!” he exclaimed, showing us a small black ball like the one upon the writing-table. “Your visitor has left the same traces in both your rooms, Mr. Soames.”

“He has been in my bedroom! But why?” exclaimed the tutor in surprise.

“Because he had to hide quickly. He heard you when you were already at the door. So he caught up his things and rushed into your bedroom.”

“But, Mr. Holmes, do you really think that the man was here while I was talking to Bannister?”

“Indeed I do.”

“Then it is possible that the man entered my bedroom through the window, and then went out through the door,” exclaimed the tutor. “But how could he...”

Holmes shook his head impatiently.

“No, no, Mr. Soames, better tell me if you have any reason to suspect any one of the three students who live above you.”

The tutor hesitated.

“It is a very difficult question,” he said. “I should not like to suspect anybody.”

“Still, tell me in a few words the character of these young men and your possible suspicions.”

“Well, one of them is Gilchrist, a very good student and a brilliant sportsman – a long-distance jumper. His father was ruined, so Gilchrist is poor, but he works very much. Then there is Daulat Ras, the Indian. He is a quiet fellow. He works well, though he is rather weak in Greek. Miles McLaren is the name of the third student. He is very clever, one of the brightest students of the University when he wants to work. But he is unprincipled. He was mixed up in some scandal when he was in his first year. He has done nothing all this term, and I think that he is not ready for the examination.”

“Then you suspect this young man?”

“I don’t say so, but...”

“Well, Mr. Soames,” Holmes interrupted, “we shall pay a visit to each of these three young men later. Now I should like to speak to your servant.”

Bannister was a little pale-faced old man. He answered all my friend’s questions, but I could see that he was very nervous. He explained that he had left the key in the door, because he had a tea-tray in his hands, and then forgot about it.

“Where were you when you began to feel bad?” asked Holmes kindly. “Here, sir, near the door.”

“That is strange. Why did you sit down in the armchair by the window, in the opposite corner of the room, when you had two other chairs quite near you?” The servant looked confused.

“I was unwell, sir,” he said. “I did not know where I sat.”

“And you stayed there when Mr. Soames left the room?”

“Only for some minutes. Then I locked the door and went to my own room.”

“Whom do you suspect?”

“Oh, I don’t think that there is a young man at the University who could do such a thing, sir!”

“Very good,” said Holmes. “Now I should like to go and see those three students. Is it possible?” he asked turning to Mr. Soames.

“Certainly,” the tutor answered. “The students occupy the oldest rooms of the College and visitors who are interested in architecture often go up to see those rooms.”

“Very good. Only don’t tell my name to the students, please.”