Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 2

Chapter 47 Return 23
In 1895, I spent some weeks with Holmes in the famous university town, and it was during this period that the following happened.Events are small but meaningful.In order not to spread rumors, I will not name the college where the incident happened and who it happened to.In addition, when I write this article, I try not to use words and sentences that are easy to arouse people's associations and guesses. I just carefully trace the incident itself. From this incident, I can also illustrate some of my friend's outstanding qualities.

We were then living in a house near the library, for Holmes was intensely studying the early English charters.We were visited one evening by our acquaintance, Mr. Hilton Soames, a tutor and lecturer at St. Luke's College.At this time, he was extremely excited and could hardly control himself. It was obvious that something extraordinary had happened.

"Mr. Holmes, I am sure you would stop what you are doing for an hour or two for my sake. An unfortunate incident has just happened to our college, and I do not know what I would have done if you had not happened to be in town." That's good."

My companion said: "But I'm really busy now and don't want to distract myself. You'd better go to the police for help."

"No, dear sir, the police must not be called on this matter, because once it is reported to the police, it will never be withdrawn. This matter is related to the reputation of our college, and it cannot be publicized no matter what. You are capable and speak out Prudence, so I can only ask you to help. Sir, I beg you to do your best."

Holmes shrugged his shoulders resignedly, and our visitor hastened to explain the matter by saying emotionally:

"Mr. Holmes, you know that tomorrow is the first day of the Fortes Scholarship Examination. I am one of the examiners, and I will take the Greek test. The first question of the test paper requires students to translate a large section of Greek that they have never read before. In English. This passage of Greek has already been printed on the test paper. Of course, if a student prepares this passage in advance, it will be of great advantage in the test. Therefore, I attach great importance to the confidentiality of the test paper.

"At three o'clock this afternoon, the proof of the test paper was delivered to me from the printing office. I checked the proof carefully, because the original text needs to be absolutely correct. I haven't finished proofreading by 04:30. Because I promised a friend in advance I went to his room to have tea, so I put the unfinished proof on the table and left the room. It took less than half an hour from going out to coming back.

"You know, Mr. Holmes, that the doors of our house are double. When I approached the outer door, I was surprised to see a key in it. I thought I had forgotten to remove it myself, but I fumbled in my pocket, and the key was there. The other key was kept by my servant, Bannister, who had kept my room for ten years. Must have been in my house to see if I was out and accidentally forgot to take the key out. I had only been out for a few minutes when he came. It wouldn't have mattered if he hadn't forgotten the key today , with serious consequences just today.

"As soon as I saw my desk, I knew immediately that someone had flipped through my papers. The proofs were printed on three strips of paper, which I put together. But now, one of them fell on the On the ground, one went to the table near the window, and only one remained in place."

Listening to the guest's narration, Holmes began to be interested in his narration. He said: "The one on the floor is the first one, the one on the table by the window is the second one, and the one that is still in place is the third one." open."

"Sir, you astonish me. How do you know this is the case?"

"Go on and tell about your interesting things."

"At first I thought it was Bannister, but he denied it with all sincerity and I believe he was telling the truth. Another explanation could only be this: Someone passing by saw the key on the door and knew I was not in the house, so I came in and peeked at the exam papers. The scholarship was so high that a shameless person might risk peeking at the exam papers in order to beat his classmates in the exam.

"This incident disturbed Bannister very much. When we found out that the paper had been copied, he nearly fainted. He drank a little brandy I gave him, and sat paralyzed in a chair. At that time I checked the entire room. Not only were there crumpled test papers, but I also quickly found other marks left by the intruder. On the table near the window, there were scraps of wood left over from sharpening pencils, and a pencil lead It can be judged that in the haste of copying the examination papers, the unscrupulous man broke the point of the pencil and had to sharpen it again."

The guest's narration attracted my friend even more. He said: "It's very good! You are really lucky, and there is great hope for solving the case."

"There are some other marks. I have a new desk. The top is a beautiful red leather. The top was very smooth without a single stain. Now there is a clear knife mark on the table about three inches long. It is not a scratch mark. , but actual knife marks. Also, on the table, I saw a small ball of black mud, probably a surface ball, with some spots on the surface that look like sawn wood. I can be sure that these marks are the wrinkled test question There are no footprints or other evidence to identify this person. When I was at a loss what to do, I suddenly remembered that you were in the city, and I came straight to you to listen to your teachings. Sir, please help me I'm busy. The dilemma I'm facing now is: either find out who stole the test paper, or postpone the test until a new test paper is printed. It is impossible to change the test paper without any explanation, but once the explanation is given, it will cause people to panic. Nasty rumours. Not only will the reputation of our college be tarnished, but the reputation of our entire university will be tarnished. So I think it's best to address this issue quietly and discreetly."

"I am very glad to be able to manage the matter, and will do my best." Holmes rose and pulled on his overcoat. "That's a very interesting case. Has anyone been in your house since you received your papers?"

"There is an Indian student named Doulat Reiss. He lives in the same building as me, and he came to ask about the examination method."

"Did he come to your house just for that?"

"Yes."

"Did you put the test papers on the table at that time?"

"Yes, but rolled up and stored."

"Can you see that it's a copy of the test paper?"

"It's possible."

"Was anyone else in your house at the time?"

"No."

"Anyone know that proof samples are being sent to you?"

"Only the printer."

"Does your servant know?"

"He sure didn't know, I didn't tell anyone."

"Where is Bannister now?"

"He felt unwell and sat on a chair as if paralyzed. I came to you in a hurry."

"Is your door still open?"

"But I have locked the test paper."

"Mr. Soames, it may be concluded that the person who turned over the papers did not know that the papers were on your desk, but came across them by chance."

"I think so."

"Then let us go and see," said Holmes. "This case has nothing to do with your profession, Watson, but you may go if you wish. We are now at your command, Mr. Soames."

Mr. Soames' sitting-room looked out on the college grounds, and had large, low windows with latticework.The tutor's room is located on the first floor.There is a college student on each floor upstairs, a total of three people.Holmes stopped to look at the sitting-room window, then, approaching it, stood on tiptoe and craned his neck to peer inside.

"He must have entered through the gate, for there is no other entrance or exit but this glass window," said the tutor.

My friend said, "Well, if nothing's going to be found here, let's go inside."

The person in charge opened the door, and while we stood there Holmes examined the carpet.

"There's no trace left here," said Holmes. "It's hot and dry, and it's hard to find. Your servant is probably pretty well recovered. Which chair do you say he was sitting on?"

"The one by the window."

"Oh, it's near this little table. Come on in, I've checked the carpet. Of course, it's pretty obvious what happened, when this man came in and took the pages from the table in the middle of the room. Take the test paper to the table by the window, because if someone passes by the window, he can see it from here and he can escape."

The person involved said: "In fact, he can't escape, because I often come not from the garden but from the side door."

"Very good! But this is indeed what he was thinking at the time. Let me see if there are any fingerprints left on the three proof sheets! He first took this page to copy, and the process took at least a quarter of an hour Then, he picked up another one. At this time you came back, so he was too busy running away to put the paper back in place. When you entered the room, did you hear the hurried footsteps on the stone stairs? Voice?"

"Certainly did not, sir."

"He broke the tip of the pencil because he was in a hurry to copy it, and had to sharpen it again. The interesting thing is: it was not an ordinary pencil, it was thicker than an ordinary pencil, soft lead, and the color of the barrel was dark blue. The color of the merchant's name is silver, and the pen is only an inch and a half long. If you find the pencil, you can find the man. His pencil sharpener is not only large but blunt, so you can find it more easily."

Mr. Soames was confused by Holmes' explanation. He said:

Holmes produced a small piece of pencil shavings with the letters nn stamped on it.

"look."

"No, I still..."

"Watson, what does nn stand for? Let me tell you! It's the last two letters of a word. Wouldn't it make sense if you knew that Johann Faber was the name of the most widely sold pencil maker? Pencils Only a short section behind Johann is left. I hope the paper he used to copy the test paper is thin, so that there will be traces of copying on the table through the paper. Let me see, um, no traces, I can't find anything on this table, let's look at the table in the middle. I guess this small ball is what you call black dough. Shaped like a pyramid, it is hollow inside and has a saw on it Sawdust. There's a scratch on the table top, first a scratch, then a little hole with a jagged edge. Well, where does that door lead to?"

"To my bedroom."

(End of this chapter)