"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。"