The Return of Sherlock Holmes Part 16 (1/2)
”Let us be practical,” said he ”I understand you to say that there are three students who use this stair, and are in the habit of passing your door?”
”Yes, there are”
”And they are all in for this examination?”
”Yes”
”Have you any reason to suspect any one of them more than the others?”
Soames hesitated
”It is a very delicate question,” said he ”One hardly likes to throw suspicion where there are no proofs”
”Let us hear the suspicions I will look after the proofs”
”I will tell you, then, in a feords the character of the three men who inhabit these rooms The lower of the three is Gilchrist, a fine scholar and athlete, plays in the Rugby teaot his Blue for the hurdles and the long jump He is a fine, manly fellow His father was the notorious Sir Jabez Gilchrist, who ruined himself on the turf My scholar has been left very poor, but he is hard-working and industrious He will do well
”The second floor is inhabited by Daulat Ras, the Indian He is a quiet, inscrutable fellow; as h his Greek is his weak subject He is steady and s to Miles McLaren He is a brilliant fellohen he chooses to work--one of the brightest intellects of the university; but he is ard, dissipated, and unprincipled He was nearly expelled over a card scandal in his first year He has been idling all this term, and he must look forith dread to the examination”
”Then it is he whoo so far as that But, of the three, he is perhaps the least unlikely”
”Exactly Now, Mr Soames, let us have a look at your servant, Bannister”
He was a little, white-faced, clean-shaven, grizzly-haired fellow of fifty He was still suffering from this sudden disturbance of the quiet routine of his life His pluers could not keep still
”We are investigating this unhappy business, Bannister,” said his master
”Yes, sir”
”I understand,” said Holmes, ”that you left your key in the door?”
”Yes, sir”
”Was it not very extraordinary that you should do this on the very day when there were these papers inside?”
”It was most unfortunate, sir But I have occasionally done the sa at other times”
”When did you enter the room?”
”It was about half-past four That is Mr Soa did you stay?”
”When I saw that he was absent, I withdrew at once”
”Did you look at these papers on the table?”
”No, sir--certainly not”
”How came you to leave the key in the door?”
”I had the tea-tray in ot”
”Has the outer door a spring lock?”
”No, sir”
”Then it was open all the tiet out?”
”Yes, sir”
”When Mr Soames returned and called for you, you were veryhas never happened during the many years that I have been here I nearly fainted, sir”
”So I understand Where were you when you began to feel bad?”
”Where was I, sir? Why, here, near the door”
”That is singular, because you sat down in that chair over yonder near the corner Why did you pass these other chairs?”
”I don't know, sir, it didn't matter to me where I sat”
”I really don't think he knew hastly”
”You stayed here when your master left?”
”Only for a minute or so Then I locked the door and went to my room”
”Whom do you suspect?”
”Oh, I would not venture to say, sir I don't believe there is any gentle by such an action No, sir, I'll not believe it”
”Thank you, that will do,” said Holmes ”Oh, one entle is amiss?”
”No, sir--not a word”
”You haven't seen any of theood Now, Mr Soale, if you please”