"No one save the printer "

"Did this man Bannister know ? "

"No, certainly not No one knew "

"Where is Bannister now ? "

" very ill, poor fellow I left him collapsed chair hurry "

"You left your door open ? "

"I locked up the papers first "

"Then it amounts , Mr Soames, that unless the Indian student recognised the roll as being proofs, the man who tampered came upon them accidentally without knowing were there "

"So it seems "

Holmes gave an enigmatic smile

"Well," said he, " go round Not one of your cases, Watson -- mental, not physical All right; come to Now, Mr Soames -- at your disposal ! "

The sitting-room client opened by long, low, latticed window on ancient lichen-tinted court old college Gothic arched door led to worn stone staircase ground floor tutor's room Above were three students, one on each story already twilight when we reached the scene problem Holmes halted and looked earnestly window Then he approached it, and, standing on tiptoe neck craned, he looked room

" entered door no opening except the one pane," said our learned guide

"Dear me ! " said Holmes, and he smiled in singular way as he glanced at our companion "Well, nothing learned here we had best go inside "

The lecturer unlocked the outer door and ushered us into his room We stood entrance while Holmes made an examination carpet

" afraid no signs here," said he "One could hardly hope for any upon so dry day Your servant seems quite recovered You left him in chair, you say; which chair ? "

" window there "

" Near this little table come in now finished carpet little table first , what has happened is very clear The man entered and took the papers, sheet by sheet, central table He carried them over window table, because from there he came across the courtyard, and so could effect an escape "

"As matter of fact ," said Soames, "for I entered side door "

"Ah, that's good ! Well, anyhow, that was mind Let me see the three strips No finger impressions -- no ! Well, he carried over first and he copied it How long would it take him to , using every possible contraction ? quarter of an hour, not less Then he tossed it down and seized the next midst when your return caused him very hurried retreat -- VERY hurried, since he time to replace the papers which would tell you that he there You aware of any hurrying feet stair entered the outer door ? "

"No, 't say "

"Well, he wrote so furiously that he broke his pencil, and had, observe, to sharpen it again of interest, Watson The pencil was not an ordinary one above the usual size, with soft lead; the outer colour was dark blue, the maker's name was printed in silver lettering, piece remaining is only about an inch and half long Look for such pencil, Mr Soames, and got your man When I add that he possesses large and very blunt knife, an additional aid "

Mr Soames was somewhat overwhelmed flood of information " follow the other points," said he, "but really, length ----"

Holmes held out small chip letters NN and space of clear wood after them

" ? "

"No, that even now ----"

"Watson, always done you an injustice others What could this NN be ? end of word aware that Johann Faber most common maker's name not clear just pencil left as usually follows the Johann ? " He held the small table sideways electric light " hoping that paper he wrote was thin some trace of it might come through polished surface No, nothing I don't think anything more learned here Now central table This small pellet is, I presume, the black, doughy mass you spoke of Roughly pyramidal in shape and hollowed out, I perceive say, there appear grains of sawdust Dear me, very interesting cut -- positive tear, It began with thin scratch and ended in jagged hole much indebted for directing my attention to , Mr Soames Where does that door lead to ? "

"To my bedroom "

" been since your adventure ? "

"No; straight away "

" like glance round What charming, old-fashioned room ! Perhaps kindly wait minute until examined the floor No, nothing What curtain ? You hang your clothes behind it If anyone were forced to conceal himself room there, bed is too low wardrobe too shallow No one there, I suppose ? "

As Holmes drew the curtain aware, from some little rigidity and alertness attitude, that prepared for an emergency As matter of fact the drawn curtain disclosed nothing but three or four suits of clothes hanging from line of pegs Holmes turned away and stooped suddenly floor

"Halloa ! What's this ? " said he

small pyramid of black, putty-like stuff, exactly like the one table study Holmes held it out open palm glare electric light

"Your visitor seems left traces in your bedroom as in your sitting-room, Mr Soames "

"What could he have wanted there ? "

" clear enough You came back by an unexpected way, and so he had no warning until you were very door What could he do ? He caught up everything which would betray him and he rushed into your bedroom to conceal himself "

"Good gracious, Mr Holmes, me that all the time talking to Bannister room we had the man prisoner had only known it ? "

"So it "

"Surely another alternative, Mr Holmes I don't know whether you observed my bedroom window ? "

"Lattice-paned, lead framework, three separate windows, one swinging on hinge and large enough to admit man "

"Exactly And it looks out on an angle courtyard so be partly invisible The man effected his entrance there, left traces as he passed bedroom, and, finally, finding the door open have escaped that way "

Holmes shook his head impatiently

" be practical," said he "I understand you three students who use this stair habit of passing your door ? "

"Yes, "

"And all in examination ? "

"Yes "

" any reason to suspect more others ? "

Soames hesitated

" very delicate question," said he "One hardly likes to throw suspicion where no proofs "

" hear the suspicions look proofs "