Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-08

out With due discretion the incident itself
may. however, be described since it serves
to illustrate some of those qualities for
which my friend was remarkable | will
eudeayor. in my statement. to avoid such
terms as would serve To limit the events of
any particular place. Or give clue as to
the people concerned.
We We're residing at the time in furnished
lodgings close to a library where Sherlock
Holmes was pursuing some labOriOus re-
searches in early English charters - re-
searches which led to results so striking
that they may be the subject Of one of my
future narratives. Here ii was that one
evening We received a visit from an ac-
quatntauce, Mr.. Hilton Soames tutor and
lecturer at the College of St Luke's. Mr.
Soames was a tall. spare man, of nervous
and eNcitable temperament. l had always
known him to be restless in his manner,
but on this particular occasion he was in
such a state of uncomfortable agitation that
1t was clear something very unusual had
occurred.
Il trust, Mr. Holmes, that you can spare
me few hours of your valuable time. We
have had a very painful incident at st.
Luke 5, and really, but for the happy chance
of your being in town, l should have been
at a loss what to do"
81 very busy just now. and I desire
no distractions my friend answered. Il
should much prefer that you called in the
aid of the police
mo. no, my dear sir; such a course is
utterly impossible. When once the law Is
evoked it cannot be stayed again, and this
is just one of those cases where, for the
credit of the college, it is most essential to
avoid scandal Your discretion is as we'll
known as your powers. and you are the
one man in the world who can help me. L
beg you, Mr.. Holmes. to do what you can"
My friend temper had not improved since
he had been deprived of the congenial sur
roundings of Baker street. Without his
scrap books, his chemicals and his homely
untidiness he was an uncomfortable man.
He shrugged his shoulders in ungracious
acquiescenCe, while our visitor, in hurried
words and with much excitable gesticula-
ton, poured forth his story.
Il must explain to you Mr.. Holmes that
tomorrow is the first day of the examina-
ton for the FOrtesCue scholarship l am
one of the examiners. My subject is
Greek and the first of the papers consists
OF large passage of Greek translation
which the candidate has not seen. This pas
sage is printed on the examination paper,
and 1t would naturally be an immense
advantage If the candidate could prepare
1t in advance. For this reason great care
Is taken to keep the paper secret.
To-day, about three o'clock. the proofs
OF this paper arrived from the printers.
The exercise consists of half a chapter of
Thucydides. | had to read 1t over care
fully, as the text must be absolutely cor
rect. A. fOur-thirty my task was not yet
completed. l had, however, promised to
take tea in a friends rooms so l left the
proof upon my desk. l was absent rather
more than an hour
You are aware, Mr.. Holmes. that our
college doors are doubIe-a green baize
one within and a heavy oak one without.
As l approached my outer door l was
amazed to see a key in il. For an instant
/ imagined that | had left my own there,
but on feeling in my pocket I found that
IL was all right. The only duplicate which
existed, 50 far as l knew, was that which
belonged to my servant. Bannister-a
man who has looked after my room for
ten years, and whose honesty is abso-
lutely above suspicion. l found that the
key was indeed his that he had entered
my room to know If / wanted tea, and
that he had very carelessly left the key