“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 wit’s end, 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 recognized 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.”