"Has the outer door a spring lock?"
"No, sir."
"Then it was open all the time?"
"Yes, sir."
"Anyone in the room could get out?"
"Yes, sir."
"When Mr. Soames returned and called for you, you were very muchdisturbed?"
"Yes, sir. Such a thing has never happened during the many years that Ihave been here. I nearly fainted, sir."
"So I understand. Where were you when you began to feel bad?"
"Where was I, sir? Why, here, near the door."
"That is singular, because you sat down in that chair over yonder nearthe corner. Why did you pass these other chairs?"
"I don't know, sir. It didn't matter to me where I sat."
"I really don't think he knew much about it, Mr. Holmes. He was lookingvery bad--quite ghastly."
"You stayed here when your master left?"
"Only for a minute or so. Then I locked the door and went to my room."
"Whom do you suspect?"
"Oh, I would not venture to say, sir. I don't believe there is anygentleman in this University who is capable of profiting by such anaction. No, sir, I'll not believe it."
"Thank you; that will do," said Holmes. "Oh, one more word. You have notmentioned to any of the three gentlemen whom you attend that anything isamiss?"
"No, sir; not a word."
"You haven't seen any of them?"
"No, sir."
"Very good. Now, Mr. Soames, we will take a walk in the quadrangle, ifyou please."
Three yellow squares of light shone above us in the gathering gloom.
"Your three birds are all in their nests," said Holmes, looking up."Halloa! What's that? One of them seems restless enough."
It was the Indian, whose dark silhouette appeared suddenly upon hisblind. He was pacing swiftly up and down his room.
"I should like to have a peep at each of them," said Holmes. "Is itpossible?"
"No difficulty in the world," Soames answered. "This set of rooms isquite the oldest in the college, and it is not unusual for visitors togo over them. Come along, and I will personally conduct you."
"No names, please!" said Holmes, as we knocked at Gilchrist's door. Atall, flaxen-haired, slim young fellow opened it, and made us welcomewhen he understood our errand. There were some really curious pieces ofmediaeval domestic architecture within. Holmes was so charmed withone of them that he insisted on drawing it on his note-book, broke hispencil, had to borrow one from our host, and finally borrowed a knife tosharpen his own. The same curious accident happened to him in the roomsof the Indian--a silent, little, hook-nosed fellow, who eyed us askanceand was obviously glad when Holmes's architectural studies had come toan end. I could not see that in either case Holmes had come upon theclue for which he was searching. Only at the third did our visit proveabortive. The outer door would not open to our knock, and nothing moresubstantial than a torrent of bad language came from behind it. "Idon't care who you are. You can go to blazes!" roared the angry voice."To-morrow's the exam, and I won't be drawn by anyone."
"A rude fellow," said our guide, flushing with anger as we withdrewdown the stair. "Of course, he did not realize that it was I who wasknocking, but none the less his conduct was very uncourteous, and,indeed, under the circumstances rather suspicious."
Holmes's response was a curious one.