\"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。\"