might very well

run a risk in order to gain an advantage over his fellows.

"bannister was very much upset by the incident. he had

nearly fainted when we found that the papers had

undoubtedly been tampered with. i gave him a little brandy

and left him collapsed in a chair while i made a most

careful examination of the room. i soon saw that the

intruder had left other traces of his presence besides the

rumpled papers. on the table in the window were several

shreds from a pencil which had been sharpened. a broken

tip of lead was lying there also. evidently the rascal had

copied the paper in a great hurry, had broken his pencil,

and had been compelled to put a fresh point to it."

"excellent!" said holmes, who was recovering his

good-humour as his attention became more engrossed by the

case. "fortune has been your friend."

"this was not all. i have a new writing-table with a fine

surface of red leather. i am prepared to swear, and so is

bannister, that it was smooth and unstained. now i found a

clean cut in it about three inches long -- not a mere

scratch, but a positive cut. not only this, but on the

table i found a small ball of black dough, or clay, with

specks of something which looks like sawdust in it. i am

convinced that these marks were left by the man who rifled

the papers. there were no footmarks and no other evidence

as to his identity. i was at my wits' ends, when suddenly

the happy thought occurred to me that you were in the town,

and i came straight round to put the matter into your

hands. do help me, mr. holmes! you see my dilemma.

either i must find the man or else the examination must be

postponed until fresh papers are prepared, and since this

cannot be done without explanation there will ensue a

hideous scandal, which will throw a cloud not only on the

college, but on the university. above all things i desire

to settle the matter quietly and discreetly."

"i shall be happy to look into it and to give you such

advice as i can," said holmes, rising and putting on his

overcoat. "the case is not entirely devoid of interest.

had anyone visited you in your room after the papers came

to you?"

"yes; young daulat ras, an indian student who lives on the

same stair, came in to ask me some particulars about the

examination."

"for which he was entered?"

"yes."

"and the papers were on your table?"

"to the best of my belief they were rolled up."

"but might be recognised as proofs?"

"possibly."

"no one else in your room?"

"no."

"did anyone know that these proofs would be there?"

"no one save the printer."

"did this man bannister know?"

"no, certainly not. no one knew."

"where is bannister now?"

"he was very ill, poor fellow. i left him collapsed in the

chair. i was in such a hurry to come to you."

"you left your door open?"

"i locked up the papers first."

"then it amounts to this, mr. soames, that unless the

indian student recognised the roll as being proofs, the man

who tampered with them came upon them accidentally without

knowing that they were there."

"so it seems to me."

holmes gave an enigmatic smile.

"well," said he, "let us go round. not one of your cases,

watson -- mental, not physical. all right; come if you

want to. now, mr. soames -- at your disposal!"

the sitting-room of our client opened by a long, low,

latticed window on to the ancient lichen-tinted court of

the old college. a gothic arched door led to a worn stone

staircase. on the ground floor was the tutor's room.

above were three students, one on each story. it was

already twilight when we reached the scene of our problem.

holmes halted and looked earnestly at the window. then he

approached it, and, standing on tiptoe with his neck

craned, he looked into the room.

"he must have entered through the door. there is no

opening except the one pane," said our learned guide.

"dear me!" said holmes, and he smiled in a singular way as

he glanced at our companion. "well, if there is nothing to

be learned here we had best go inside."

the lecturer unlocked the outer door and ushered us into

his room. we stood at the entrance while holmes made an

examination of the carpet.

"i am afraid there are no signs here," said he. "one could

hardly hope for any upon so dry a day. your servant seems

to have quite recovered. you left him in a chair, you say;

which chair?"

"by the window there."

"i see. near this little table. you can come in now.

i have finished with the carpet. let us take the little

table first. of course, what has happened is very clear.

the man entered and took the papers, sheet by sheet, from

the central table. he carried them over to the window

table, because from there he could see if you came across

the courtyard, and so could effect an escape."

"as a matter of fact he co