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№ 1
The adventure of the Three Students
Arthur Conan Doyle
In 1895 Mr Sherlock Holmes and I spent some weeks in one of our great
University towns. It was during this time that the facts which I am going to tell you
took place.
One evening we received a visit from a certain Mr Hilton Soams, lecturer at the
college of St Luke’s. Mr Soams was so excited that it was clear that something very
unusual had happened.
“I hope, Mr Holmes,” said he, “that you can give me a few hours of your time. A
very unpleasant thing has taken place at our college and I don’t know what to do.”
“I am very busy just now,” my friend answered. “Could you call to the police?”
“No, no, my dear sir, that is absolutely impossible. It is just one of these cases
when it is quite necessary to avoid scandal. I am sure you will keep our secret. You
are the only man in the world who can help me. I beg you, Mr Holmes, to do what you
can.”
Holmes agreed, though very unwillingly, and our visitor began his story.
“I must explain to you, Mr Holmes,” he said, “that tomorrow is the first day of the
examination for the Fortescue Scholarship. I am one of the examiners. My subject is
Greek. The first of the examination papers consists of a piece of Greek translation
which the candidates for the scholarship have not seen before. Of course, every
candidate would be happy if he could see it before the examination and prepare it in
advance. So much care is taken to keep it secret.
“Today at about three o’clock I was reading the proofs of the examination papers.
At four-thirty I went out to take tea in a friend’s room, and I left the papers upon my
desk. I was absent a little more than an hour.
“When I approached my door, I was surprised to see a key in it. For a moment I
thought I had left my key there. But when I put my hand in my pocket, I found my
key in it. The other key of my room belonged to my servant, Bannister, who has been
looking after my room for ten years. I am absolutely sure of his honesty. I understood
that he had entered my study to ask if I wanted tea. When he saw I was not there, he
went out and very carelessly left the key in the door.
“The moment I looked at my table I knew that someone had touched the
examination paper. There were three pages to it. I had left them all together. Now I
found one of them was lying on the floor; one was on a small table near the window;
and the third was where I had left it on my desk.”
Holmes spoke for the first time.
“The first page on the floor, the second near the window, and the third where you
left it,” he repeated.
“Exactly, Mr Holmes. But how could you know that?”
“Please continue your very interesting story.”
“I didn’t know what to think. Bannister said he had not examined my papers and I
am sure he speaks the truth. Then I thought that I examined my door and had noticed
Текст № 1
The adventure of the Three Students
Arthur Conan Doyle
In 1895 Mr Sherlock Holmes and I spent some weeks in one of our great
University towns. It was during this time that the facts which I am going to tell you
took place.
One evening we received a visit from a certain Mr Hilton Soams, lecturer at the
college of St Lukes. Mr Soams was so excited that it was clear that something very
unusual had happened.
I hope, Mr Holmes, said he, that you can give me a few hours of your time. A
very unpleasant thing has taken place at our college and I dont know what to do.
I am very busy just now, my friend answered. Could you call to the police?
No, no, my dear sir, that is absolutely impossible. It is just one of these cases
when it is quite necessary to avoid scandal. I am sure you will keep our secret. You
are the only man in the world who can help me. I beg you, Mr Holmes, to do what you
can.
Holmes agreed, though very unwillingly, and our visitor began his story.
I must explain to you, Mr Holmes, he said, that tomorrow is the first day of the
examination for the Fortescue Scholarship. I am one of the examiners. My subject is
Greek. The first of the examination papers consists of a piece of Greek translation
which the candidates for the scholarship have not seen before. Of course, every
candidate would be happy if he could see it before the examination and prepare it in
advance. So much care is taken to keep it secret.
Today at about three oclock I was reading the proofs of the examination papers.
At four-thirty I went out to take tea in a friends room, and I left the papers upon my
desk. I was absent a little more than an hour.
When I approached my door, I was surprised to see a key in it. For a moment I
thought I had left my key there. But when I put my hand in my pocket, I found my
key in it. The other key of my room belonged to my servant, Bannister, who has been
looking after my room for ten years. I am absolutely sure of his honesty. I understood
that he had entered my study to ask if I wanted tea. When he saw I was not there, he
went out and very carelessly left the key in the door.
The moment I looked at my table I knew that someone had touched the
examination paper. There were three pages to it. I had left them all together. Now I
found one of them was lying on the floor; one was on a small table near the window;
and the third was where I had left it on my desk.
Holmes spoke for the first time.
The first page on the floor, the second near the window, and the third where you
left it, he repeated.
Exactly, Mr Holmes. But how could you know that?
Please continue your very interesting story.
I didnt know what to think. Bannister said he had not examined my papers and I
am sure he speaks the truth. Then I thought that I examined my door and had noticed
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