"Who ? "

"Why, Bannister, the servant What's his game matter ? "

"He impressed me as being perfectly honest man "

"So me That's the puzzling part Why should perfectly honest man -- well, well, here's large stationer's begin our researches here "

There were only four stationers of any consequence town, and at each Holmes produced his pencil chips and bid high for duplicate All were agreed that one ordered, but not usual size of pencil and seldom kept in stock My friend appear depressed by his failure, but shrugged his shoulders in half-humorous resignation

"No good, my dear Watson This, the best and only final clue, has run to nothing But, indeed, little doubt that build up sufficient case without it By Jove ! my dear fellow, nearly nine, landlady babbled of green peas at seven-thirty What with your eternal tobacco, Watson, and your irregularity at meals, I expect that get notice to quit share your downfall -- not, however, before solved the problem nervous tutor, the careless servant, three enterprising students "

Holmes made no further allusion matter that day, though he sat lost in thought after our belated dinner At eight morning into my room just as I finished my toilet

"Well, Watson," said he, " time we went down to St Luke's do without breakfast ? "

"Certainly "

"Soames in dreadful fidget until able him something positive "

" anything positive him ? "

" so "

" formed conclusion ? "

"Yes, my dear Watson; solved the mystery "

"But what fresh evidence could got ? "

"Aha ! for nothing that turned myself out of bed untimely hour of six put in two hours' hard work and covered five miles, with something to show Look ! "

He held out his hand palm were three little pyramids of black, doughy clay

"Why, Holmes, you had only two yesterday ! "

"And one more fair argument that wherever No 3 came from is also the source of Nos 1 and 2 Eh, Watson ? Well, come along and put friend Soames out pain "

The unfortunate tutor was certainly in state of pitiable agitation when him chambers In few hours the examination would commence, and still dilemma between making the facts public and allowing the culprit to compete valuable scholarship hardly stand still, so great was his mental agitation, and he ran towards Holmes with two eager hands outstretched

"Thank Heaven that come ! I feared that you had given it up in despair What am I ? Shall the examination proceed ? "

"Yes; let it proceed by all means "

"But this rascal ---- ? "

"He compete "

" him ? "

" so If public give ourselves certain powers, and resolve ourselves into small private court-martial You there, please, Soames ! Watson, you here ! I'll arm-chair middle that now sufficiently imposing to strike terror into guilty breast Kindly ring the bell ! "

Bannister entered, and shrunk back in evident surprise and fear at our judicial appearance

" kindly close the door," said Holmes "Now, Bannister, tell us the truth about yesterday's incident ? "

The man turned white roots hair

" told you everything, sir "

"Nothing to add ? "

"Nothing at all, sir "

"Well, then, make some suggestions sat down chair yesterday, did so to conceal some object which shown who room ? "

Bannister's face was ghastly

"No, sir; certainly not "

" only suggestion," said Holmes, suavely "I frankly admit that unable it But it seems probable enough, moment that Mr Soames's back was turned you released the man who was hiding bedroom "

Bannister licked his dry lips

" no man, sir "

"Ah, that's pity, Bannister now spoken the truth, but now that lied "

The man's face set in sullen defiance

" no man, sir "

"Come, come, Bannister ! "

"No, sir; no one "

" case us no further information Would you please remain room ? Stand over there near the bedroom door Now, Soames, going to the great kindness room of young Gilchrist, and to ask him to step down into yours "

An instant later the tutor returned, bringing the student fine figure of man, tall, lithe, and agile, with springy step and pleasant, open face His troubled blue eyes glanced at each of us, and finally rested with an expression of blank dismay upon Bannister farther corner

"Just close the door," said Holmes "Now, Mr Gilchrist, all quite alone here, and no one need ever know one word of what passes perfectly frank with , Mr Gilchrist, how you, an honourable man, ever came to commit such an action of yesterday ? "

The unfortunate young man staggered back and cast look full of horror and reproach at Bannister

"No, no, Mr Gilchrist, sir; I never said word -- never one word ! " cried the servant

"No, but now," said Holmes "Now, sir, see that after Bannister's words your position is hopeless, your only chance lies in frank confession "

For moment Gilchrist, with upraised hand, tried to control his writhing features The next he had thrown himself knees beside the table and, burying his face hands, he had burst into storm of passionate sobbing

"Come, come," said Holmes, kindly; " human to err, and no one can accuse you of being callous criminal Perhaps it easier if I were Mr Soames what occurred, and check me where wrong Shall I ? Well, well, don't trouble to answer Listen, that I no injustice

" moment, Mr Soames, that you said that no one, not even Bannister, told papers were in your room, the case began definite shape in my mind The printer one could, , dismiss examine the papers own office The Indian I also thought nothing of proofs were in roll possibly know what they were other hand, it seemed an unthinkable coincidence that man should dare to enter the room, by chance very day the papers were table I dismissed that The man who entered knew papers were there How did he know ?

"When I approached your room I examined the window You amused me by supposing that contemplating the possibility of someone having in broad daylight, under the eyes of all these opposite rooms, forced himself through it Such an idea was absurd measuring how tall man would need as he passed what papers were central table six feet high, and with an effort No one chance Already I had reason that if one of your three students was man of unusual height he most worth watching three

"I entered and you into my confidence suggestions side table centre table make nothing, until in your description of Gilchrist you mentioned that long-distance jumper Then the whole thing came in an instant, and I only needed certain corroborative proofs, which I speedily obtained