Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-02


II was in the year '95 that
H.E6E a combination of events
XXI into which need not en-
- - - ter caused Mr.. Sherlock
HAGMNAV Holmes and myself TO
ES0H9zeE spend some weeks in one
OF our great university
towns, and II was during this time that
the small but instructive adventure
which I am about TO relate befell us
1t viii be obvious that any details
which would help the reader to exact
" identify the college or the criminal
would be injudicious and offensive. So
painful 4 scandal may well be allowed
10 die out. With due discretion the in
cident itself may, however, be describ-
ed, since it serves to illustrate some OF
those qualities for which my friend
was remarkable. viii endeavor in
my statement to avoid such terms as
would serve 10 limit the events to any
particular place or give a clew as to
the people concerned.
We were residing at the time in fur
nished lodgings close to a library where
Sherlock Holmes was pursuing some
iaborious researches In early English
charters--researches which led 70 re-
suits so striking that they may be the
subject OF one Of my future narratives.
Here il was that one evening we re-
ceived a visit from an acquaintance.
Mr.. Hilton Soames. tutor and lecturer
at the College OF ST Luke's. Mr.. Soames
was tall. spare man. OF a nervous aud
exeitabIe temperament / had always
l. ii -,
ner. but on this particular occasion he
was in such a state OF uncomfortable
agitation that II was clear something
very unusual had occurred.
II trust, Mr.. Holmes. that you can
spare me a few hours OF your valuable
time. We nave had very painful in
cident at St Luke's, and really. but
Tor the happy chance OF your being I
town, should have been at a loss
what to do"
Il am very busy just now, and de-
sire no distractions my friend an
swered. II 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
cases where. for the credit OF the col
iege. Il is most essential 20 avoid scan
dnl. Your discretion IS as well known
as your powers. and you are the one
man in the world who can help me-
beg you, Mr.. Holmes, 10 do what you
can"
My friends temper had not improv-
ell since he had been deprived OF the
cOngenial surroundings OF Baker
street Without his scrapbook. his
chemicals and his homely untidiness
he was an uncomfortable man He
shrugged his shoulders IN ungracious
acquiescence, while our visitor in hur-
ried words and with much excitable
gesticulation poured forth his story
IT must explain 10 you. Mr. Holmes
that tomorrow is the first day OF the
examination for the Fortescue scholar
ship / am one OF the examiners Ny
subject is Greek. and the first OF the
papers consists OF large passage OF
Greek translation which the candidate
has not seen. This passage is printed
on the examination paper. and 1t
would naturally be an immense ad-
vantage II the candidate could prepare
Ii In advance. For this reason great
care is taken TO keep the paper secret
To-day about O'Clock the proofs
OF this paper arrived from the printers
The exercise consists OF half a chapter
or Thucydides. had TO read 1t over
carefully. as the text must be abso-
iutely correct. At 4:30 my task was
rrAf nj fn1 No.
promised TO take tea in a friends
rooms, so l left the proof upon my
desk. was absent more than an hour.
You are aware, Dir. Holmes, that
our college doors are double-a green
baize one within and a heavy oak one
without AS l approached my outer
door l was amazed 20 see a key IN IL.
For an instant l imagined that / had
left my own there, bat on feeling In my
pocket l found that Il was all right.
The only duplicate which existed, so
far as knew, was that which belonged
10 my servant Bannlster, man who
has looked after my room for ten years
and whose honesty is absolutely above
suspicion. / found that the key was
indeed his, that he had entered my
room TO know IL wanted tea and that
he had very careless!y left the key in
the door when he came out His visit
10 my room must have been within a
very few minutes OF my leaving It, his
forgetfulness about the key would have
mattered little upon any other occa-
sion, but on this one day it has pro-
duced the most deplorable conse-
-Quences.
The moment looked az my table I
was aware that some one had rum
mayed among my papers. The proof
was in three long sips / had left
them all together. Now ! found that
one OF them was lying on the floor, one
was ON the side table near the window
and the third was where had left It,"
Holmes stirred for the first time.
The first page on the floor, the sec
ond I'm the window, the third where you
left ltf7 said he
Exactly, Mr. Holmes. You amaze
me. How could you possibly know
fhatT'
Pray continue your very interesting
statement"