The Return of Sherlock Holmes Part 16 (2/2)
Three yellow squares of light shone above us in the gathering gloom
”Your three birds are all in their nests,” said Hol up ”Halloa! What's that? One of theh”
It was the Indian, whose dark silhouette appeared suddenly upon his blind He was pacing swiftly up and down his room
”I should like to have a peep at each of them,” said Holmes ”Is it possible?”
”No difficulty in the world,” Soames answered ”This set of rooe, and it is not unusual for visitors to go over the, and I will personally conduct you”
”No names, please!” said Holmes, as we knocked at Gilchrist's door A tall, flaxen-haired, sli fellow opened it, and made us welcome when he understood our errand There were some really curious pieces of mediaeval domestic architecture within Holmes was so char it in his notebook, broke his pencil, had to borrow one from our host and finally borrowed a knife to sharpen his own The same curious accident happened to him in the rooms of the Indian--a silent, little, hook-nosed felloho eyed us askance, and was obviously glad when Holmes's architectural studies had come to an end I could not see that in either case Hol Only at the third did our visit prove abortive The outer door would not open to our knock, and nothing e cao to blazes!” roared the angry voice ”Tomorrow's the exam, and I won't be drawn by anyone”
”A rude fellow,” said our guide, flushi+ng with anger as ithdren the stair ”Of course, he did not realize that it was I as knocking, but none the less his conduct was very uncourteous, and, indeed, under the circumstances rather suspicious”
Holmes's response was a curious one
”Can you tell ht?” he asked
”Really, Mr Holmes, I cannot undertake to say He is taller than the Indian, not so tall as Gilchrist I suppose five foot six would be about it”
”That is very iood-night”
Our guide cried aloud in his astonishracious, Mr Hol to leave me in this abrupt fashi+on! You don't seem to realize the position To-morrow is the exaht I cannot allow the examination to be held if one of the papers has been tampered with The situation must be faced”
”You must leave it as it is I shall drop round early to- and chat the matter over It is possible that I may be in a position then to indicate so at all”
”Very good, Mr Holmes”
”You can be perfectly easy in your mind We shall certainly find some way out of your difficulties I will take the black clay with s Good-bye”
When ere out in the darkness of the quadrangle, we again looked up at the s The Indian still paced his room The others were invisible
”Well, Watson, what do you think of it?” Holmes asked, as we caame-- sort of three-card trick, is it not? There are your three men It must be one of them You take your choice Which is yours?”
”The foul-mouthed fellow at the top He is the one with the worst record And yet that Indian was a sly fellow also Why should he be pacing his roo in that Manyby heart”
”He looked at us in a queer way”
”So would you, if a flock of strangers ca for an examination next day, and everyin that Pencils, too, and knives-- all was satisfactory But that fellow DOES puzzle me”
”Who?”
”Why, Bannister, the servant What's his ga a perfectly honestpart Why should a perfectly honest in our researches here”
There were only four stationers of any consequences in the town, and at each Holh for a duplicate All were agreed that one could be ordered, but that it was not a usual size of pencil and that it was seldom kept in stock My friend did not appear to be depressed by his failure, but shrugged his shoulders in half-huood, my dear Watson This, the best and only final clue, has run to nothing But, indeed, I have little doubt that we can build up a sufficient case without it By Jove! my dear fellow, it is nearly nine, and the landlady babbled of green peas at seven-thirty What with your eternal tobacco, Watson, and your irregularity at et notice to quit, and that I shall share your downfall--not, however, before we have solved the problem of the nervous tutor, the careless servant, and the three enterprising students”
Holh he sat lost in thought for a long ti, he came into my room just as I finished my toilet
”Well, Watson,” said he, ”it is time ent down to St Luke's Can you do without breakfast?”
”Certainly”
”Soaet until we are able to tell hi positive to tell him?”
”I think so”
”You have formed a conclusion?”
”Yes, my dear Watson, I have solved the ot?”
”Aha! It is not for nothing that I have turned myself out of bed at the untimely hour of six I have put in two hours' hard work and covered at least fiveto show for it Look at that!”
He held out his hand On the palhy clay
”Why, Holmes, you had only two yesterday”
”And one ument that wherever No 3 came from is also the source of Nos 1 and 2 Eh, Watson? Well, co and put friend Soames out of his pain”
The unfortunate tutor was certainly in a state of pitiable agitation e found him in his chambers In a few hours the examination would co the facts public and allowing the culprit to compete for the valuable scholarshi+p He could hardly stand still so great was his er hands outstretched
”Thank heaven that you have coiven it up in despair What am I to do? Shall the examination proceed?”
”Yes, let it proceed, by all means”
”But this rascal?”
”He shall not compete”
”You know him?”
”I think so If this ive ourselves certain powers and resolve ourselves into a small private court-martial You there, if you please, Soames! Watson you here! I'll take the armchair in theto strike terror into a guilty breast Kindly ring the bell!”
Bannister entered, and shrank back in evident surprise and fear at our judicial appearance
”You will kindly close the door,” said Holmes ”Now, Bannister, will you please tell us the truth about yesterday's incident?”