\"Haveyouanyreasontosuspectanyoneofthemmorethantheothers？\"
Soameshesitated。
\"Itisaverydelicatequestion，\"saidhe。\"Onehardlylikestothrowsuspicionwheretherearenoproofs。\"
\"Letushearthesuspicions。Iwilllookaftertheproofs。\"
\"Iwilltellyou，then，inafewwordsthecharacterofthethreemenwhoinhabittheserooms。ThelowerofthethreeisGilchrist，afinescholarandathlete；playsintheRugbyteamandthecricketteamforthecollege，andgothisBlueforthehurdlesandthelongjump。Heisafine，manlyfellow。HisfatherwasthenotoriousSirJabezGilchrist，whoruinedhimselfontheturf。Myscholarhasbeenleftverypoor，butheishard—workingandindustrious。Hewilldowell。
\"ThesecondfloorisinhabitedbyDaulatRas，theIndian。
Heisaquiet，inscrutablefellow，asmostofthoseIndiansare。
Heiswellupinhiswork，thoughhisGreekishisweaksubject。
Heissteadyandmethodical。
\"ThetopfloorbelongstoMilesMcLaren。Heisabrilliantfellowwhenhechoosestowork——oneofthebrightestintellectsoftheUniversity，butheiswayward，dissipated，andunprincipled。Hewasnearlyexpelledoveracardscandalinhisfirstyear。Hehasbeenidlingallthisterm，andhemustlookforwardwithdreadtotheexamination。\"
\"Thenitishewhomyoususpect？\"
\"Idarenotgosofarasthat。Butofthethreeheisperhapstheleastunlikely。\"
\"Exactly。Now，Mr。Soames，letushavealookatyourservant，Bannister。\"
Hewasalittle，white—faced，clean—shaven，grizzly—hairedfellowoffifty。Hewasstillsufferingfromthissuddendisturbanceofthequietroutineofhislife。Hisplumpfacewastwitchingwithhisnervousness，andhisfingerscouldnotkeepstill。
\"Weareinvestigatingthisunhappybusiness，Bannister，\"
saidhismaster。
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Iunderstand，\"saidHolmes，\"thatyouleftyourkeyinthedoor？\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Wasitnotveryextraordinarythatyoushoulddothisontheverydaywhentherewerethesepapersinside？\"
\"Itwasmostunfortunate，sir。ButIhaveoccasionallydonethesamethingatothertimes。\"
\"Whendidyouentertheroom？\"
\"Itwasabouthalf—pastfour。ThatisMr。Soames’steatime。\"
\"Howlongdidyoustay？\"
\"WhenIsawthathewasabsentIwithdrewatonce。\"
\"Didyoulookatthesepapersonthetable？\"
\"No，sir；certainlynot。\"
\"Howcameyoutoleavethekeyinthedoor？\"
\"Ihadthetea—trayinmyhand。IthoughtIwouldcomebackforthekey。ThenIforgot。\"
\"Hastheouterdooraspringlock？\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"Thenitwasopenallthetime？\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"Anyoneintheroomcouldgetout？\"
\"Yes，sir。\"
\"WhenMr。Soamesreturnedandcalledforyou，youwereverymuchdisturbed？\"
\"Yes，sir。SuchathinghasneverhappenedduringthemanyyearsthatIhavebeenhere。Inearlyfainted，sir。\"
\"SoIunderstand。Wherewereyouwhenyoubegantofeelbad？\"
\"WherewasI，sir？Why，here，nearthedoor。\"
\"Thatissingular，becauseyousatdowninthatchairoveryondernearthecorner。Whydidyoupasstheseotherchairs？\"
\"Idon’tknow，sir。Itdidn’tmattertomewhereIsat。\"
\"Ireallydon’tthinkheknewmuchaboutit，Mr。Holmes。
Hewaslookingverybad——quiteghastly。\"
\"Youstayedherewhenyourmasterleft？\"
\"Onlyforaminuteorso。ThenIlockedthedoorandwenttomyroom。\"
\"Whomdoyoususpect？\"
\"Oh，Iwouldnotventuretosay，sir。Idon’tbelievethereisanygentlemaninthisUniversitywhoiscapableofprofitingbysuchanaction。No，sir，I’llnotbelieveit。\"
\"Thankyou；thatwilldo，\"saidHolmes。\"Oh，onemoreword。
Youhavenotmentionedtoanyofthethreegentlemenwhomyouattendthatanythingisamiss？\"
\"No，sir；notaword。\"
\"Youhaven’tseenanyofthem？\"
\"No，sir。\"
\"Verygood。Now，Mr。Soames，wewilltakeawalkinthequadrangle，ifyouplease。\"
Threeyellowsquaresoflightshoneaboveusinthegatheringgloom。\"
\"Yourthreebirdsareallintheirnests，\"saidHolmes，lookingup。
\"Halloa！What’sthat？Oneofthemseemsrestlessenough。\"
ItwastheIndian，whosedarksilhouetteappearedsuddenlyuponhisblind。Hewaspacingswiftlyupanddownhisroom。
\"Ishouldliketohaveapeepateachofthem，\"saidHolmes。
\"Isitpossible？\"
\"Nodifficultyintheworld，\"Soamesanswered。\"Thissetofroomsisquitetheoldestinthecollege，anditisnotunusualforvisitorstogooverthem。Comealong，andIwillpersonallyconductyou。\"
\"Nonames，please！\"saidHolmes，asweknockedatGilchrist’sdoor。Atall，flaxen—haired，slimyoungfellowopenedit，andmadeuswelcomewhenheunderstoodourerrand。Thereweresomereallycuriouspiecesofmediaevaldomesticarchitecturewithin。
Holmeswassocharmedwithoneofthemthatheinsistedondrawingitonhisnote—book，brokehispencil，hadtoborrowonefromourhost，andfinallyborrowedaknifetosharpenhisown。
ThesamecuriousaccidenthappenedtohimintheroomsoftheIndian——asilent，little，hook—nosedfellow，whoeyedusaskanceandwasobviouslygladwhenHolmes’sarchitecturalstudieshadcometoanend。IcouldnotseethatineithercaseHolmeshadcomeupontheclueforwhichhewassearching。
Onlyatthethirddidourvisitproveabortive。Theouterdoorwouldnotopentoourknock，andnothingmoresubstantialthanatorrentofbadlanguagecamefrombehindit。\"Idon’tcarewhoyouare。Youcangotoblazes！\"roaredtheangryvoice。
\"To—morrow’stheexam，andIwon’tbedrawnbyanyone。\"
\"Arudefellow，\"saidourguide，flushingwithangeraswewithdrewdownthestair。\"Ofcourse，hedidnotrealizethatitwasIwhowasknocking，butnonethelesshisconductwasveryuncourteous，and，indeed，underthecircumstancesrathersuspicious。\"
Holmes’sresponsewasacuriousone。
\"Canyoutellmehisexactheight？\"heasked。
\"Really，Mr。Holmes，Icannotundertaketosay。HeistallerthantheIndian，notsotallasGilchrist。Isupposefivefootsixwouldbeaboutit。\"
\"Thatisveryimportant，\"saidHolmes。\"Andnow，Mr。Soames，Iwishyougood—night。\"
Ourguidecriedaloudinhisastonishmentanddismay。\"Goodgracious，Mr。Holmes，youaresurelynotgoingtoleavemeinthisabruptfashion！Youdon’tseemtorealizetheposition。
To—morrowistheexamination。Imusttakesomedefiniteactionto—night。Icannotallowtheexaminationtobeheldifoneofthepapershasbeentamperedwith。Thesituationmustbefaced。\"
\"Youmustleaveitasitis。Ishalldroproundearlyto—morrowmorningandchatthematterover。ItispossiblethatImaybeinapositionthentoindicatesomecourseofaction。
Meanwhileyouchangenothing——nothingatall。\"
\"Verygood，Mr。Holmes。\"
\"Youcanbeperfectlyeasyinyourmind。Weshallcertainlyfindsomewayoutofyourdifficulties。Iwilltaketheblackclaywithme，alsothepencilcuttings。Good—bye。\"
Whenwewereoutinthedarknessofthequadrangleweagainlookedupatthewindows。TheIndianstillpacedhisroom。
Theotherswereinvisible。
\"Well，Watson，whatdoyouthinkofit？\"Holmesasked，aswecameoutintothemainstreet。\"Quitealittleparlourgame——
sortofthree—cardtrick，isitnot？Thereareyourthreemen。
Itmustbeoneofthem。Youtakeyourchoice。Whichisyours？\"
\"Thefoul—mouthedfellowatthetop。Heistheonewiththeworstrecord。AndyetthatIndianwasaslyfellowalso。
Whyshouldhebepacinghisroomallthetime？\"
\"Thereisnothinginthat。Manymendoitwhentheyaretryingtolearnanythingbyheart。\"
\"Helookedatusinaqueerway。\"
\"Sowouldyouifaflockofstrangerscameinonyouwhenyouwerepreparingforanexaminationnextday，andeverymomentwasofvalue。No，Iseenothinginthat。Pencils，too，andknives——allwassatisfactory。ButthatfellowDOESpuzzleme。\"
\"Who？\"
\"Why，Bannister，theservant。What’shisgameinthematter？\"
\"Heimpressedmeasbeingaperfectlyhonestman。\"
\"Sohedidme。That’sthepuzzlingpart。Whyshouldaperfectlyhonestman——well，well，here’salargestationer’s。
Weshallbeginourresearcheshere。\"
Therewereonlyfourstationersofanyconsequenceinthetown，andateachHolmesproducedhispencilchipsandbidhighforaduplicate。Allwereagreedthatonecouldbeordered，butthatitwasnotausualsizeofpencilandthatitwasseldomkeptinstock。Myfrienddidnotappeartobedepressedbyhisfailure，butshruggedhisshouldersinhalf—humorousresignation。
\"Nogood，mydearWatson。This，thebestandonlyfinalclue，hasruntonothing。But，indeed，Ihavelittledoubtthatwecanbuildupasufficientcasewithoutit。ByJove！mydearfellow，itisnearlynine，andthelandladybabbledofgreenpeasatseven—thirty。Whatwithyoureternaltobacco，Watson，andyourirregularityatmeals，IexpectthatyouwillgetnoticetoquitandthatIshallshareyourdownfall——not，however，beforewehavesolvedtheproblemofthenervoustutor，thecarelessservant，andthethreeenterprisingstudents。\"
Holmesmadenofurtherallusiontothematterthatday，thoughhesatlostinthoughtforalongtimeafterourbelateddinner。
AteightinthemorninghecameintomyroomjustasIfinishedmytoilet。
\"Well，Watson，\"saidhe，\"itistimewewentdowntoSt。Luke’s。
Canyoudowithoutbreakfast？\"
\"Certainly。\"
\"Soameswillbeinadreadfulfidgetuntilweareabletotellhimsomethingpositive。\"
\"Haveyouanythingpositivetotellhim？\"
\"Ithinkso。\"
\"Youhaveformedaconclusion？\"
\"Yes，mydearWatson；Ihavesolvedthemystery。\"
\"Butwhatfreshevidencecouldyouhavegot？\"
\"Aha！ItisnotfornothingthatIhaveturnedmyselfoutofbedattheuntimelyhourofsix。Ihaveputintwohours’
hardworkandcoveredatleastfivemiles，withsomethingtoshowforit。Lookatthat！\"
Heheldouthishand。Onthepalmwerethreelittlepyramidsofblack，doughyclay。
\"Why，Holmes，youhadonlytwoyesterday！\"
\"Andonemorethismorning。ItisafairargumentthatwhereverNo。3camefromisalsothesourceofNos。1and2。Eh，Watson？
Well，comealongandputfriendSoamesoutofhispain。\"
Theunfortunatetutorwascertainlyinastateofpitiableagitationwhenwefoundhiminhischambers。Inafewhourstheexaminationwouldcommence，andhewasstillinthedilemmabetweenmakingthefactspublicandallowingtheculprittocompeteforthevaluablescholarship。Hecouldhardlystandstill，sogreatwashismentalagitation，andherantowardsHolmeswithtwoeagerhandsoutstretched。
\"ThankHeaventhatyouhavecome！Ifearedthatyouhadgivenitupindespair。WhatamItodo？Shalltheexaminationproceed？\"
\"Yes；letitproceedbyallmeans。\"
\"Butthisrascal————？\"
\"Heshallnotcompete。\"
\"Youknowhim？\"
\"Ithinkso。Ifthismatterisnottobecomepublicwemustgiveourselvescertainpowers，andresolveourselvesintoasmallprivatecourt—martial。Youthere，ifyouplease，Soames！Watson，youhere！I’lltakethearm—chairinthemiddle。Ithinkthatwearenowsufficientlyimposingtostriketerrorintoaguiltybreast。Kindlyringthebell！\"
Bannisterentered，andshrunkbackinevidentsurpriseandfearatourjudicialappearance。
\"Youwillkindlyclosethedoor，\"saidHolmes。\"Now，Bannister，willyoupleasetellusthetruthaboutyesterday’sincident？\"
Themanturnedwhitetotherootsofhishair。
\"Ihavetoldyoueverything，sir。\"
\"Nothingtoadd？\"
\"Nothingatall，sir。\"
\"Well，then，Imustmakesomesuggestionstoyou。Whenyousatdownonthatchairyesterday，didyoudosoinordertoconcealsomeobjectwhichwouldhaveshownwhohadbeenintheroom？\"
Bannister’sfacewasghastly。
\"No，sir；certainlynot。\"
\"Itisonlyasuggestion，\"saidHolmes，suavely。\"IfranklyadmitthatIamunabletoproveit。Butitseemsprobableenough，sincethemomentthatMr。Soames’sbackwasturnedyoureleasedthemanwhowashidinginthatbedroom。\"
Bannisterlickedhisdrylips。
\"Therewasnoman，sir。\"
\"Ah，that’sapity，Bannister。Uptonowyoumayhavespokenthetruth，butnowIknowthatyouhavelied。\"
Theman’sfacesetinsullendefiance。
\"Therewasnoman，sir。\"
\"Come，come，Bannister！\"
\"No，sir；therewasnoone。\"
\"Inthatcaseyoucangiveusnofurtherinformation。
Wouldyoupleaseremainintheroom？Standovertherenearthebedroomdoor。Now，Soames，IamgoingtoaskyoutohavethegreatkindnesstogouptotheroomofyoungGilchrist，andtoaskhimtostepdownintoyours。\"
Aninstantlaterthetutorreturned，bringingwithhimthestudent。Hewasafinefigureofaman，tall，lithe，andagile，withaspringystepandapleasant，openface。Histroubledblueeyesglancedateachofus，andfinallyrestedwithanexpressionofblankdismayuponBannisterinthefarthercorner。
\"Justclosethedoor，\"saidHolmes。\"Now，Mr。Gilchrist，weareallquitealonehere，andnooneneedeverknowonewordofwhatpassesbetweenus。Wecanbeperfectlyfrankwitheachother。Wewanttoknow，Mr。Gilchrist，howyou，anhonourableman，evercametocommitsuchanactionasthatofyesterday？\"
TheunfortunateyoungmanstaggeredbackandcastalookfullofhorrorandreproachatBannister。
\"No，no，Mr。Gilchrist，sir；Ineversaidaword——neveroneword！\"criedtheservant。
\"No，butyouhavenow，\"saidHolmes。\"Now，sir，youmustseethatafterBannister’swordsyourpositionishopeless，andthatyouronlychanceliesinafrankconfession。\"
ForamomentGilchrist，withupraisedhand，triedtocontrolhiswrithingfeatures。Thenexthehadthrownhimselfonhiskneesbesidethetableand，buryinghisfaceinhishands，hehadburstintoastormofpassionatesobbing。
\"Come，come，\"saidHolmes，kindly；\"itishumantoerr，andatleastnoonecanaccuseyouofbeingacallouscriminal。
PerhapsitwouldbeeasierforyouifIweretotellMr。Soameswhatoccurred，andyoucancheckmewhereIamwrong。ShallI
doso？Well，well，don’ttroubletoanswer。Listen，andseethatIdoyounoinjustice。
\"Fromthemoment，Mr。Soames，thatyousaidtomethatnoone，notevenBannister，couldhavetoldthatthepaperswereinyourroom，thecasebegantotakeadefiniteshapeinmymind。
Theprinteronecould，ofcourse，dismiss。Hecouldexaminethepapersinhisownoffice。TheIndianIalsothoughtnothingof。
Iftheproofswereinarollhecouldnotpossiblyknowwhattheywere。Ontheotherhand，itseemedanunthinkablecoincidencethatamanshoulddaretoentertheroom，andthatbychanceonthatverydaythepaperswereonthetable。Idismissedthat。
Themanwhoenteredknewthatthepaperswerethere。Howdidheknow？
\"WhenIapproachedyourroomIexaminedthewindow。YouamusedmebysupposingthatIwascontemplatingthepossibilityofsomeonehavinginbroaddaylight，undertheeyesofalltheseoppositerooms，forcedhimselfthroughit。Suchanideawasabsurd。Iwasmeasuringhowtallamanwouldneedtobeinordertoseeashepassedwhatpaperswereonthecentraltable。Iamsixfeethigh，andIcoulddoitwithaneffort。Noonelessthanthatwouldhaveachance。AlreadyyouseeIhadreasontothinkthatifoneofyourthreestudentswasamanofunusualheighthewasthemostworthwatchingofthethree。
\"IenteredandItookyouintomyconfidenceastothesuggestionsofthesidetable。OfthecentretableIcouldmakenothing，untilinyourdescriptionofGilchristyoumentionedthathewasalong—distancejumper。Thenthewholethingcametomeinaninstant，andIonlyneededcertaincorroborativeproofs，whichIspeedilyobtained。
\"Whathappenedwasthis。Thisyoungfellowhademployedhisafternoonattheathleticgrounds，wherehehadbeenpractisingthejump。Hereturnedcarryinghisjumpingshoes，whichareprovided，asyouareaware，withseveralsharpspikes。Ashepassedyourwindowhesaw，bymeansofhisgreatheight，theseproofsuponyourtable，andconjecturedwhattheywere。Noharmwouldhavebeendonehaditnotbeenthatashepassedyourdoorheperceivedthekeywhichhadbeenleftbythecarelessnessofyourservant。Asuddenimpulsecameoverhimtoenterandseeiftheywereindeedtheproofs。Itwasnotadangerousexploit，forhecouldalwayspretendthathehadsimplylookedintoaskaquestion。
\"Well，whenhesawthattheywereindeedtheproofs，itwasthenthatheyieldedtotemptation。Heputhisshoesonthetable。Whatwasityouputonthatchairnearthewindow？\"
\"Gloves，\"saidtheyoungman。
HolmeslookedtriumphantlyatBannister。\"Heputhisglovesonthechair，andhetooktheproofs，sheetbysheet，tocopythem。
Hethoughtthetutormustreturnbythemaingate，andthathewouldseehim。Asweknow，hecamebackbythesidegate。
Suddenlyheheardhimattheverydoor。Therewasnopossibleescape。Heforgothisgloves，buthecaughtuphisshoesanddartedintothebedroom。Youobservethatthescratchonthattableisslightatoneside，butdeepensinthedirectionofthebedroomdoor。Thatinitselfisenoughtoshowusthattheshoehadbeendrawninthatdirectionandthattheculprithadtakenrefugethere。Theearthroundthespikehadbeenleftonthetable，andasecondsamplewasloosenedandfellinthebedroom。
ImayaddthatIwalkedouttotheathleticgroundsthismorning，sawthattenaciousblackclayisusedinthejumping—pit，andcarriedawayaspecimenofit，togetherwithsomeofthefinetanorsawdustwhichisstrewnoverittopreventtheathletefromslipping。HaveItoldthetruth，Mr。Gilchrist？\"
Thestudenthaddrawnhimselferect。
\"Yes，sir，itistrue，\"saidhe。
\"Goodheavens，haveyounothingtoadd？\"criedSoames。
\"Yes，sir，Ihave，buttheshockofthisdisgracefulexposurehasbewilderedme。Ihavealetterhere，Mr。Soames，whichIwrotetoyouearlythismorninginthemiddleofarestlessnight。
ItwasbeforeIknewthatmysinhadfoundmeout。Hereitis，sir。YouwillseethatIhavesaid，`Ihavedeterminednottogoinfortheexamination。IhavebeenofferedacommissionintheRhodesianPolice，andIamgoingouttoSouthAfricaatonce。\"’
\"Iamindeedpleasedtohearthatyoudidnotintendtoprofitbyyourunfairadvantage，\"saidSoames。\"Butwhydidyouchangeyourpurpose？\"
GilchristpointedtoBannister。
\"Thereisthemanwhosetmeintherightpath，\"saidhe。
\"Comenow，Bannister，\"saidHolmes。\"ItwillbecleartoyoufromwhatIhavesaidthatonlyyoucouldhaveletthisyoungmanout，sinceyouwereleftintheroom，andmusthavelockedthedoorwhenyouwentout。Astohisescapingbythatwindow，itwasincredible。Canyounotclearupthelastpointinthismystery，andtellusthereasonsforyouraction？\"
\"Itwassimpleenough，sir，ifyouonlyhadknown；butwithallyourclevernessitwasimpossiblethatyoucouldknow。Timewas，sir，whenIwasbutlertooldSirJabezGilchrist，thisyounggentleman’sfather。WhenhewasruinedIcametothecollegeasservant，butIneverforgotmyoldemployerbecausehewasdownintheworld。IwatchedhissonallIcouldforthesakeoftheolddays。Well，sir，whenIcameintothisroomyesterdaywhenthealarmwasgiven，theveryfirstthingIsawwasMr。Gilchrist’stanglovesa—lyinginthatchair。Iknewthosegloveswell，andIunderstoodtheirmessage。IfMr。Soamessawthemthegamewasup。Ifloppeddownintothatchair，andnothingwouldbudgemeuntilMr。Soameshewentforyou。Thenoutcamemypooryoungmaster，whomIhaddandledonmyknee，andconfesseditalltome。
Wasn’titnatural，sir，thatIshouldsavehim，andwasn’titnaturalalsothatIshouldtrytospeaktohimashisdeadfatherwouldhavedone，andmakehimunderstandthathecouldnotprofitbysuchadeed？Couldyoublameme，sir？\"
\"No，indeed，\"saidHolmes，heartily，springingtohisfeet。
\"Well，Soames，Ithinkwehaveclearedyourlittleproblemup，andourbreakfastawaitsusathome。Come，Watson！Astoyou，sir，ItrustthatabrightfutureawaitsyouinRhodesia。Foronceyouhavefallenlow。Letusseeinthefuturehowhighyoucanrise。\"
X。———TheAdventureoftheGoldenPince—Nez。
WHENIlookatthethreemassivemanuscriptvolumeswhichcontainourworkfortheyear1894Iconfessthatitisverydifficultforme，outofsuchawealthofmaterial，toselectthecaseswhicharemostinterestinginthemselvesandatthesametimemostconducivetoadisplayofthosepeculiarpowersforwhichmyfriendwasfamous。AsIturnoverthepagesIseemynotesupontherepulsivestoryoftheredleechandtheterribledeathofCrosbythebanker。HerealsoIfindanaccountoftheAddletontragedyandthesingularcontentsoftheancientBritishbarrow。ThefamousSmith—Mortimersuccessioncasecomesalsowithinthisperiod，andsodoesthetrackingandarrestofHuret，theBoulevardassassin——
anexploitwhichwonforHolmesanautographletterofthanksfromtheFrenchPresidentandtheOrderoftheLegionofHonour。
Eachofthesewouldfurnishanarrative，butonthewholeIamofopinionthatnoneofthemunitesomanysingularpointsofinterestastheepisodeofYoxleyOldPlace，whichincludesnotonlythelamentabledeathofyoungWilloughbySmith，butalsothosesubsequentdevelopmentswhichthrewsocuriousalightuponthecausesofthecrime。
Itwasawild，tempestuousnighttowardsthecloseofNovember。
HolmesandIsattogetherinsilencealltheevening，heengagedwithapowerfullensdecipheringtheremainsoftheoriginalinscriptionuponapalimpsest，Ideepinarecenttreatiseuponsurgery。OutsidethewindhowleddownBakerStreet，whiletherainbeatfiercelyagainstthewindows。Itwasstrangethereintheverydepthsofthetown，withtenmilesofman’shandiworkoneverysideofus，tofeeltheirongripofNature，andtobeconsciousthattothehugeelementalforcesallLondonwasnomorethanthemolehillsthatdotthefields。
Iwalkedtothewindowandlookedoutonthedesertedstreet。
Theoccasionallampsgleamedontheexpanseofmuddyroadandshiningpavement。AsinglecabwassplashingitswayfromtheOxfordStreetend。
\"Well，Watson，it’saswellwehavenottoturnoutto—night，\"
saidHolmes，layingasidehislensandrollingupthepalimpsest。
\"I’vedoneenoughforonesitting。Itistryingworkfortheeyes。
SofarasIcanmakeoutitisnothingmoreexcitingthananAbbey’saccountsdatingfromthesecondhalfofthefifteenthcentury。
Halloa！halloa！halloa！What’sthis？\"
Amidthedroningofthewindtherehadcomethestampingofahorse’shoofsandthelonggrindofawheelasitraspedagainstthekerb。ThecabwhichIhadseenhadpulledupatourdoor。
\"Whatcanhewant？\"Iejaculated，asamansteppedoutofit。
\"Want！Hewantsus。Andwe，mypoorWatson，wantovercoatsandcravatsandgoloshes，andeveryaidthatmaneverinventedtofighttheweather。Waitabit，though！There’sthecaboffagain！
There’shopeyet。He’dhavekeptitifhehadwantedustocome。
Rundown，mydearfellow，andopenthedoor，forallvirtuousfolkhavebeenlonginbed。\"
WhenthelightofthehalllampfelluponourmidnightvisitorIhadnodifficultyinrecognisinghim。ItwasyoungStanleyHopkins，apromisingdetective，inwhosecareerHolmeshadseveraltimesshownaverypracticalinterest。
\"Ishein？\"heasked，eagerly。
