第16章

"Ifearitisrathertoolateanhourforexplanations，"saidHolmes。"Besides，thereareoneortwodetailswhicharenotfinishedoff，anditisoneofthosecaseswhichareworthworkingouttotheveryend。Ifyouwillcomeroundoncemoretomyroomsatsixo’clockto—morrowIthinkIshallbeabletoshowyouthatevennowyouhavenotgraspedtheentiremeaningofthisbusiness，whichpresentssomefeatureswhichmakeitabsolutelyoriginalinthehistoryofcrime。IfeverIpermityoutochronicleanymoreofmylittleproblems，Watson，IforeseethatyouwillenlivenyourpagesbyanaccountofthesingularadventureoftheNapoleonicbusts。"

WhenwemetagainnexteveningLestradewasfurnishedwithmuchinformationconcerningourprisoner。Hisname，itappeared，wasBeppo，secondnameunknown。Hewasawell—knownne’er—do—wellamongtheItaliancolony。Hehadoncebeenaskilfulsculptorandhadearnedanhonestliving，buthehadtakentoevilcoursesandhadtwicealreadybeeningaol——onceforapettytheftandonce，aswehadalreadyheard，forstabbingafellow—countryman。HecouldtalkEnglishperfectlywell。

Hisreasonsfordestroyingthebustswerestillunknown，andherefusedtoansweranyquestionsuponthesubject；butthepolicehaddiscoveredthatthesesamebustsmightverywellhavebeenmadebyhisownhands，sincehewasengagedinthisclassofworkattheestablishmentofGelderandCo。Toallthisinformation，muchofwhichwealreadyknew，Holmeslistenedwithpoliteattention；butI，whoknewhimsowell，couldclearlyseethathisthoughtswereelsewhere，andIdetectedamixtureofmingleduneasinessandexpectationbeneaththatmaskwhichhewaswonttoassume。Atlasthestartedinhischairandhiseyesbrightened。Therehadbeenaringatthebell。Aminutelaterweheardstepsuponthestairs，andanelderly，red—facedmanwithgrizzledside—whiskerswasusheredin。Inhisrighthandhecarriedanold—fashionedcarpet—bag，whichheplaceduponthetable。

"IsMr。SherlockHolmeshere？"

Myfriendbowedandsmiled。"Mr。Sandeford，ofReading，Isuppose？"

saidhe。

"Yes，sir，IfearthatIamalittlelate；butthetrainswereawkward。Youwrotetomeaboutabustthatisinmypossession。"

"Exactly。"

"Ihaveyourletterhere。Yousaid，`IdesiretopossessacopyofDevine’sNapoleon，andampreparedtopayyoutenpoundsfortheonewhichisinyourpossession。’Isthatright？"

"Certainly。"

"Iwasverymuchsurprisedatyourletter，forIcouldnotimaginehowyouknewthatIownedsuchathing。"

"Ofcourseyoumusthavebeensurprised，buttheexplanationisverysimple。Mr。Harding，ofHardingBrothers，saidthattheyhadsoldyoutheirlastcopy，andhegavemeyouraddress。"

"Oh，thatwasit，wasit？DidhetellyouwhatIpaidforit？"

"No，hedidnot。"

"Well，Iamanhonestman，thoughnotaveryrichone。

Ionlygavefifteenshillingsforthebust，andIthinkyououghttoknowthatbeforeItaketenpoundsfromyou。"

"Iamsurethescrupledoesyouhonour，Mr。Sandeford。

ButIhavenamedthatprice，soIintendtosticktoit。"

"Well，itisveryhandsomeofyou，Mr。Holmes。Ibroughtthebustupwithme，asyouaskedmetodo。Hereitis！"Heopenedhisbag，andatlastwesawplaceduponourtableacompletespecimenofthatbustwhichwehadalreadyseenmorethanonceinfragments。

Holmestookapaperfromhispocketandlaidaten—poundnoteuponthetable。

"Youwillkindlysignthatpaper，Mr。Sandeford，inthepresenceofthesewitnesses。Itissimplytosaythatyoutransfereverypossiblerightthatyoueverhadinthebusttome。Iamamethodicalman，yousee，andyouneverknowwhatturneventsmighttakeafterwards。Thankyou，Mr。Sandeford；hereisyourmoney，andIwishyouaverygoodevening。"

WhenourvisitorhaddisappearedSherlockHolmes’smovementsweresuchastorivetourattention。Hebeganbytakingacleanwhiteclothfromadrawerandlayingitoverthetable。Thenheplacedhisnewly—acquiredbustinthecentreofthecloth。

Finally，hepickeduphishunting—cropandstruckNapoleonasharpblowonthetopofthehead。Thefigurebrokeintofragments，andHolmesbenteagerlyovertheshatteredremains。

Nextinstant，withaloudshoutoftriumph，hehelduponesplinter，inwhicharound，darkobjectwasfixedlikeapluminapudding。

"Gentlemen，"hecried，"letmeintroduceyoutothefamousblackpearloftheBorgias。"

LestradeandIsatsilentforamoment，andthen，withaspontaneousimpulse，webothbrokeoutclappingasatthewell—wroughtcrisisofaplay。AflushofcoloursprangtoHolmes’spalecheeks，andhebowedtouslikethemasterdramatistwhoreceivesthehomageofhisaudience。Itwasatsuchmomentsthatforaninstantheceasedtobeareasoningmachine，andbetrayedhishumanloveforadmirationandapplause。Thesamesingularlyproudandreservednaturewhichturnedawaywithdisdainfrompopularnotorietywascapableofbeingmovedtoitsdepthsbyspontaneouswonderandpraisefromafriend。

"Yes，gentlemen，"saidhe，"itisthemostfamouspearlnowexistingintheworld，andithasbeenmygoodfortune，byaconnectedchainofinductivereasoning，totraceitfromthePrinceofColonna’sbedroomattheDacreHotel，whereitwaslost，totheinteriorofthis，thelastofthesixbustsofNapoleonwhichweremanufacturedbyGelderandCo。，ofStepney。

Youwillremember，Lestrade，thesensationcausedbythedisappearanceofthisvaluablejewel，andthevaineffortsoftheLondonpolicetorecoverit。Iwasmyselfconsulteduponthecase；butIwasunabletothrowanylightuponit。SuspicionfelluponthemaidofthePrincess，whowasanItalian，anditwasprovedthatshehadabrotherinLondon，butwefailedtotraceanyconnectionbetweenthem。Themaid’snamewasLucretiaVenucci，andthereisnodoubtinmymindthatthisPietrowhowasmurderedtwonightsagowasthebrother。Ihavebeenlookingupthedatesintheoldfilesofthepaper，andIfindthatthedisappearanceofthepearlwasexactlytwodaysbeforethearrestofBeppoforsomecrimeofviolence，aneventwhichtookplaceinthefactoryofGelderandCo。，attheverymomentwhenthesebustswerebeingmade。Nowyouclearlyseethesequenceofevents，thoughyouseethem，ofcourse，intheinverseordertothewayinwhichtheypresentedthemselvestome。Beppohadthepearlinhispossession。HemayhavestolenitfromPietro，hemayhavebeenPietro’sconfederate，hemayhavebeenthego—betweenofPietroandhissister。Itisofnoconsequencetouswhichisthecorrectsolution。

"ThemainfactisthatheHADthepearl，andatthatmoment，whenitwasonhisperson，hewaspursuedbythepolice。

Hemadeforthefactoryinwhichheworked，andheknewthathehadonlyafewminutesinwhichtoconcealthisenormouslyvaluableprize，whichwouldotherwisebefoundonhimwhenhewassearched。SixplastercastsofNapoleonweredryinginthepassage。Oneofthemwasstillsoft。InaninstantBeppo，askilfulworkman，madeasmallholeinthewetplaster，droppedinthepearl，andwithafewtouchescoveredovertheapertureoncemore。Itwasanadmirablehiding—place。Noonecouldpossiblyfindit。ButBeppowascondemnedtoayear’simprisonment，andinthemeanwhilehissixbustswerescatteredoverLondon。Hecouldnottellwhichcontainedhistreasure。

Onlybybreakingthemcouldhesee。Evenshakingwouldtellhimnothing，forastheplasterwaswetitwasprobablethatthepearlwouldadheretoit——as，infact，ithasdone。Beppodidnotdespair，andheconductedhissearchwithconsiderableingenuityandperseverance。ThroughacousinwhoworkswithGelderhefoundouttheretailfirmswhohadboughtthebusts。

HemanagedtofindemploymentwithMorseHudson，andinthatwaytrackeddownthreeofthem。Thepearlwasnotthere。

Then，withthehelpofsomeItalianEMPLOYE，hesucceededinfindingoutwheretheotherthreebustshadgone。ThefirstwasatHarker’s。Therehewasdoggedbyhisconfederate，whoheldBepporesponsibleforthelossofthepearl，andhestabbedhiminthescufflewhichfollowed。"

"Ifhewashisconfederatewhyshouldhecarryhisphotograph？"

Iasked。

"Asameansoftracinghimifhewishedtoinquireabouthimfromanythirdperson。Thatwastheobviousreason。Well，afterthemurderIcalculatedthatBeppowouldprobablyhurryratherthandelayhismovements。Hewouldfearthatthepolicewouldreadhissecret，andsohehastenedonbeforetheyshouldgetaheadofhim。Ofcourse，IcouldnotsaythathehadnotfoundthepearlinHarker’sbust。Ihadnotevenconcludedforcertainthatitwasthepearl；butitwasevidenttomethathewaslookingforsomething，sincehecarriedthebustpasttheotherhousesinordertobreakitinthegardenwhichhadalampoverlookingit。SinceHarker’sbustwasoneinthreethechanceswereexactlyasItoldyou，twotooneagainstthepearlbeinginsideit。Thereremainedtwobusts，anditwasobviousthathewouldgofortheLondononefirst。Iwarnedtheinmatesofthehouse，soastoavoidasecondtragedy，andwewentdownwiththehappiestresults。Bythattime，ofcourse，IknewforcertainthatitwastheBorgiapearlthatwewereafter。

Thenameofthemurderedmanlinkedtheoneeventwiththeother。

Thereonlyremainedasinglebust——theReadingone——andthepearlmustbethere。Iboughtitinyourpresencefromtheowner——andthereitlies。"

Wesatinsilenceforamoment。

"Well，"saidLestrade，"I’veseenyouhandleagoodmanycases，Mr。Holmes，butIdon’tknowthatIeverknewamoreworkmanlikeonethanthat。We’renotjealousofyouatScotlandYard。

No，sir，weareveryproudofyou，andifyoucomedownto—morrowthere’snotaman，fromtheoldestinspectortotheyoungestconstable，whowouldn’tbegladtoshakeyoubythehand。"

"Thankyou！"saidHolmes。"Thankyou！"andasheturnedawayitseemedtomethathewasmorenearlymovedbythesofterhumanemotionsthanIhadeverseenhim。Amomentlaterhewasthecoldandpracticalthinkeroncemore。"Putthepearlinthesafe，Watson，"saidhe，"andgetoutthepapersoftheConk—Singletonforgerycase。Good—bye，Lestrade。IfanylittleproblemcomesyourwayIshallbehappy，ifIcan，togiveyouahintortwoastoitssolution。"

IX。——TheAdventureoftheThreeStudents。

ITwasintheyear’95thatacombinationofevents，intowhichIneednotenter，causedMr。SherlockHolmesandmyselftospendsomeweeksinoneofourgreatUniversitytowns，anditwasduringthistimethatthesmallbutinstructiveadventurewhichIamabouttorelatebefellus。Itwillbeobviousthatanydetailswhichwouldhelpthereadertoexactlyidentifythecollegeorthecriminalwouldbeinjudiciousandoffensive。

Sopainfulascandalmaywellbeallowedtodieout。Withduediscretiontheincidentitselfmay，however，bedescribed，sinceitservestoillustratesomeofthosequalitiesforwhichmyfriendwasremarkable。Iwillendeavourinmystatementtoavoidsuchtermsaswouldservetolimittheeventstoanyparticularplace，orgiveaclueastothepeopleconcerned。

WewereresidingatthetimeinfurnishedlodgingsclosetoalibrarywhereSherlockHolmeswaspursuingsomelaboriousresearchesinearlyEnglishcharters——researcheswhichledtoresultssostrikingthattheymaybethesubjectofoneofmyfuturenarratives。Hereitwasthatoneeveningwereceivedavisitfromanacquaintance，Mr。HiltonSoames，tutorandlecturerattheCollegeofSt。Luke’s。Mr。Soameswasatall，spareman，ofanervousandexcitabletemperament。Ihadalwaysknownhimtoberestlessinhismanner，butonthisparticularoccasionhewasinsuchastateofuncontrollableagitationthatitwasclearsomethingveryunusualhadoccurred。

"Itrust，Mr。Holmes，thatyoucansparemeafewhoursofyourvaluabletime。WehavehadaverypainfulincidentatSt。Luke’s，andreally，butforthehappychanceofyourbeinginthetown，Ishouldhavebeenatalosswhattodo。"

"Iamverybusyjustnow，andIdesirenodistractions，"

myfriendanswered。"Ishouldmuchpreferthatyoucalledintheaidofthepolice。"

"No，no，mydearsir；suchacourseisutterlyimpossible。

Whenoncethelawisevokeditcannotbestayedagain，andthisisjustoneofthosecaseswhere，forthecreditofthecollege，itismostessentialtoavoidscandal。Yourdiscretionisaswellknownasyourpowers，andyouaretheonemanintheworldwhocanhelpme。Ibegyou，Mr。Holmes，todowhatyoucan。"

Myfriend’stemperhadnotimprovedsincehehadbeendeprivedofthecongenialsurroundingsofBakerStreet。Withouthisscrap—books，hischemicals，andhishomelyuntidiness，hewasanuncomfortableman。Heshruggedhisshouldersinungraciousacquiescence，whileourvisitorinhurriedwordsandwithmuchexcitablegesticulationpouredforthhisstory。

"Imustexplaintoyou，Mr。Holmes，thatto—morrowisthefirstdayoftheexaminationfortheFortescueScholarship。Iamoneoftheexaminers。MysubjectisGreek，andthefirstofthepapersconsistsofalargepassageofGreektranslationwhichthecandidatehasnotseen。Thispassageisprintedontheexaminationpaper，anditwouldnaturallybeanimmenseadvantageifthecandidatecouldprepareitinadvance。Forthisreasongreatcareistakentokeepthepapersecret。

"To—dayaboutthreeo’clocktheproofsofthispaperarrivedfromtheprinters。TheexerciseconsistsofhalfachapterofThucydides。Ihadtoreaditovercarefully，asthetextmustbeabsolutelycorrect。Atfour—thirtymytaskwasnotyetcompleted。Ihad，however，promisedtotaketeainafriend’srooms，soIlefttheproofuponmydesk。Iwasabsentrathermorethananhour。

"Youareaware，Mr。Holmes，thatourcollegedoorsaredouble——agreenbaizeonewithinandaheavyoakonewithout。

AsIapproachedmyouterdoorIwasamazedtoseeakeyinit。

ForaninstantIimaginedthatIhadleftmyownthere，butonfeelinginmypocketIfoundthatitwasallright。Theonlyduplicatewhichexisted，sofarasIknew，wasthatwhichbelongedtomyservant，Bannister，amanwhohaslookedaftermyroomfortenyears，andwhosehonestyisabsolutelyabovesuspicion。

Ifoundthatthekeywasindeedhis，thathehadenteredmyroomtoknowifIwantedtea，andthathehadverycarelesslyleftthekeyinthedoorwhenhecameout。Hisvisittomyroommusthavebeenwithinaveryfewminutesofmyleavingit。

Hisforgetfulnessaboutthekeywouldhavematteredlittleuponanyotheroccasion，butonthisonedayithasproducedthemostdeplorableconsequences。

"ThemomentIlookedatmytableIwasawarethatsomeonehadrummagedamongmypapers。Theproofwasinthreelongslips。

Ihadleftthemalltogether。Now，Ifoundthatoneofthemwaslyingonthefloor，onewasonthesidetablenearthewindow，andthethirdwaswhereIhadleftit。"

Holmesstirredforthefirsttime。

"Thefirstpageonthefloor，thesecondinthewindow，thethirdwhereyouleftit，"saidhe。

"Exactly，Mr。Holmes。Youamazeme。Howcouldyoupossiblyknowthat？"

"Praycontinueyourveryinterestingstatement。"

"ForaninstantIimaginedthatBannisterhadtakentheunpardonablelibertyofexaminingmypapers。Hedeniedit，however，withtheutmostearnestness，andIamconvincedthathewasspeakingthetruth。Thealternativewasthatsomeonepassinghadobservedthekeyinthedoor，hadknownthatIwasout，andhadenteredtolookatthepapers。Alargesumofmoneyisatstake，forthescholarshipisaveryvaluableone，andanunscrupulousmanmightverywellrunariskinordertogainanadvantageoverhisfellows。

"Bannisterwasverymuchupsetbytheincident。Hehadnearlyfaintedwhenwefoundthatthepapershadundoubtedlybeentamperedwith。IgavehimalittlebrandyandlefthimcollapsedinachairwhileImadeamostcarefulexaminationoftheroom。

Isoonsawthattheintruderhadleftothertracesofhispresencebesidestherumpledpapers。Onthetableinthewindowwereseveralshredsfromapencilwhichhadbeensharpened。

Abrokentipofleadwaslyingtherealso。Evidentlytherascalhadcopiedthepaperinagreathurry，hadbrokenhispencil，andhadbeencompelledtoputafreshpointtoit。"

"Excellent！"saidHolmes，whowasrecoveringhisgood—humourashisattentionbecamemoreengrossedbythecase。

"Fortunehasbeenyourfriend。"

"Thiswasnotall。Ihaveanewwriting—tablewithafinesurfaceofredleather。Iampreparedtoswear，andsoisBannister，thatitwassmoothandunstained。NowIfoundacleancutinitaboutthreeincheslong——notamerescratch，butapositivecut。Notonlythis，butonthetableIfoundasmallballofblackdough，orclay，withspecksofsomethingwhichlookslikesawdustinit。Iamconvincedthatthesemarkswereleftbythemanwhorifledthepapers。Therewerenofootmarksandnootherevidenceastohisidentity。Iwasatmywits’

ends，whensuddenlythehappythoughtoccurredtomethatyouwereinthetown，andIcamestraightroundtoputthematterintoyourhands。Dohelpme，Mr。Holmes！Youseemydilemma。

EitherImustfindthemanorelsetheexaminationmustbepostponeduntilfreshpapersareprepared，andsincethiscannotbedonewithoutexplanationtherewillensueahideousscandal，whichwillthrowacloudnotonlyonthecollege，butontheUniversity。AboveallthingsIdesiretosettlethematterquietlyanddiscreetly。"

"IshallbehappytolookintoitandtogiveyousuchadviceasIcan，"saidHolmes，risingandputtingonhisovercoat。

"Thecaseisnotentirelydevoidofinterest。Hadanyonevisitedyouinyourroomafterthepaperscametoyou？"

"Yes；youngDaulatRas，anIndianstudentwholivesonthesamestair，cameintoaskmesomeparticularsabouttheexamination。"

"Forwhichhewasentered？"

"Yes。"

"Andthepaperswereonyourtable？"

"Tothebestofmybelieftheywererolledup。"

"Butmightberecognisedasproofs？"

"Possibly。"

"Nooneelseinyourroom？"

"No。"

"Didanyoneknowthattheseproofswouldbethere？"

"Noonesavetheprinter。"

"DidthismanBannisterknow？"

"No，certainlynot。Nooneknew。"

"WhereisBannisternow？"

"Hewasveryill，poorfellow。Ilefthimcollapsedinthechair。Iwasinsuchahurrytocometoyou。"

"Youleftyourdooropen？"

"Ilockedupthepapersfirst。"

"Thenitamountstothis，Mr。Soames，thatunlesstheIndianstudentrecognisedtherollasbeingproofs，themanwhotamperedwiththemcameuponthemaccidentallywithoutknowingthattheywerethere。"

"Soitseemstome。"

Holmesgaveanenigmaticsmile。

"Well，"saidhe，"letusgoround。Notoneofyourcases，Watson——mental，notphysical。Allright；comeifyouwantto。

Now，Mr。Soames——atyourdisposal！"

Thesitting—roomofourclientopenedbyalong，low，latticedwindowontotheancientlichen—tintedcourtoftheoldcollege。

AGothicarcheddoorledtoawornstonestaircase。Onthegroundfloorwasthetutor’sroom。Abovewerethreestudents，oneoneachstory。Itwasalreadytwilightwhenwereachedthesceneofourproblem。Holmeshaltedandlookedearnestlyatthewindow。Thenheapproachedit，and，standingontiptoewithhisneckcraned，helookedintotheroom。

"Hemusthaveenteredthroughthedoor。Thereisnoopeningexcepttheonepane，"saidourlearnedguide。

"Dearme！"saidHolmes，andhesmiledinasingularwayasheglancedatourcompanion。"Well，ifthereisnothingtobelearnedherewehadbestgoinside。"

Thelecturerunlockedtheouterdoorandusheredusintohisroom。WestoodattheentrancewhileHolmesmadeanexaminationofthecarpet。

"Iamafraidtherearenosignshere，"saidhe。"Onecouldhardlyhopeforanyuponsodryaday。Yourservantseemstohavequiterecovered。Youlefthiminachair，yousay；whichchair？"

"Bythewindowthere。"

"Isee。Nearthislittletable。Youcancomeinnow。Ihavefinishedwiththecarpet。Letustakethelittletablefirst。

Ofcourse，whathashappenedisveryclear。Themanenteredandtookthepapers，sheetbysheet，fromthecentraltable。

Hecarriedthemovertothewindowtable，becausefromtherehecouldseeifyoucameacrossthecourtyard，andsocouldeffectanescape。"

"Asamatteroffacthecouldnot，"saidSoames，"forIenteredbythesidedoor。"

"Ah，that’sgood！Well，anyhow，thatwasinhismind。Letmeseethethreestrips。Nofingerimpressions——no！Well，hecarriedoverthisonefirstandhecopiedit。Howlongwouldittakehimtodothat，usingeverypossiblecontraction？Aquarterofanhour，notless。Thenhetosseditdownandseizedthenext。Hewasinthemidstofthatwhenyourreturncausedhimtomakeaveryhurriedretreat——VERYhurried，sincehehadnottimetoreplacethepaperswhichwouldtellyouthathehadbeenthere。Youwerenotawareofanyhurryingfeetonthestairasyouenteredtheouterdoor？"

"No，Ican’tsayIwas。"

"Well，hewrotesofuriouslythathebrokehispencil，andhad，asyouobserve，tosharpenitagain。Thisisofinterest，Watson。Thepencilwasnotanordinaryone。Itwasabovetheusualsize，withasoftlead；theoutercolourwasdarkblue，themaker’snamewasprintedinsilverlettering，andthepieceremainingisonlyaboutaninchandahalflong。Lookforsuchapencil，Mr。Soames，andyouhavegotyourman。WhenIaddthathepossessesalargeandverybluntknife，youhaveanadditionalaid。"

Mr。Soameswassomewhatoverwhelmedbythisfloodofinformation。

"Icanfollowtheotherpoints，"saidhe，"butreally，inthismatterofthelength————"

HolmesheldoutasmallchipwiththelettersNNandaspaceofclearwoodafterthem。

"Yousee？"

"No，Ifearthatevennow————"

"Watson，Ihavealwaysdoneyouaninjustice。Thereareothers。

WhatcouldthisNNbe？Itisattheendofaword。

YouareawarethatJohannFaberisthemostcommonmaker’sname。

IsitnotclearthatthereisjustasmuchofthepencilleftasusuallyfollowstheJohann？"Heheldthesmalltablesidewaystotheelectriclight。"Iwashopingthatifthepaperonwhichhewrotewasthinsometraceofitmightcomethroughuponthispolishedsurface。No，Iseenothing。Idon’tthinkthereisanythingmoretobelearnedhere。Nowforthecentraltable。

Thissmallpelletis，Ipresume，theblack，doughymassyouspokeof。Roughlypyramidalinshapeandhollowedout，Iperceive。

Asyousay，thereappeartobegrainsofsawdustinit。Dearme，thisisveryinteresting。Andthecut——apositivetear，Isee。

Itbeganwithathinscratchandendedinajaggedhole。Iammuchindebtedtoyoufordirectingmyattentiontothiscase，Mr。Soames。Wheredoesthatdoorleadto？"

"Tomybedroom。"

"Haveyoubeeninitsinceyouradventure？"

"No；Icamestraightawayforyou。"

"Ishouldliketohaveaglanceround。Whatacharming，old—fashionedroom！PerhapsyouwillkindlywaitaminuteuntilIhaveexaminedthefloor。No，Iseenothing。Whataboutthiscurtain？Youhangyourclothesbehindit。Ifanyonewereforcedtoconcealhimselfinthisroomhemustdoitthere，sincethebedistoolowandthewardrobetooshallow。Noonethere，Isuppose？"

AsHolmesdrewthecurtainIwasaware，fromsomelittlerigidityandalertnessofhisattitude，thathewaspreparedforanemergency。Asamatteroffactthedrawncurtaindisclosednothingbutthreeorfoursuitsofclotheshangingfromalineofpegs。Holmesturnedawayandstoopedsuddenlytothefloor。

"Halloa！What’sthis？"saidhe。

Itwasasmallpyramidofblack，putty—likestuff，exactlyliketheoneuponthetableofthestudy。Holmeshelditoutonhisopenpalmintheglareoftheelectriclight。

"Yourvisitorseemstohavelefttracesinyourbedroomaswellasinyoursitting—room，Mr。Soames。"

"Whatcouldhehavewantedthere？"

"Ithinkitisclearenough。Youcamebackbyanunexpectedway，andsohehadnowarninguntilyouwereattheverydoor。

Whatcouldhedo？Hecaughtupeverythingwhichwouldbetrayhimandherushedintoyourbedroomtoconcealhimself。"

"Goodgracious，Mr。Holmes，doyoumeantotellmethatallthetimeIwastalkingtoBannisterinthisroomwehadthemanprisonerifwehadonlyknownit？"

"SoIreadit。"

"Surelythereisanotheralternative，Mr。Holmes。Idon’tknowwhetheryouobservedmybedroomwindow？"

"Lattice—paned，leadframework，threeseparatewindows，oneswingingonhingeandlargeenoughtoadmitaman。"

"Exactly。Anditlooksoutonanangleofthecourtyardsoastobepartlyinvisible。Themanmighthaveeffectedhisentrancethere，lefttracesashepassedthroughthebedroom，and，finally，findingthedooropenhaveescapedthatway。"

Holmesshookhisheadimpatiently。

"Letusbepractical，"saidhe。"Iunderstandyoutosaythattherearethreestudentswhousethisstairandareinthehabitofpassingyourdoor？"

"Yes，thereare。"

"Andtheyareallinforthisexamination？"

"Yes。"