yī wǔ nián zhōng yòu xiē hù xiāng guān lián de shì qíng， shǐ fú 'ěr mó sī hé wǒ zài wǒ men zhù míng de dà xué chéng zhù liǎo jǐ zhōu。 wǒ yào jì shù de shì zhèng shì zài zhè shí fā shēng de。 shì qíng suī rán bù dà， dàn shì fù yòu jiào yù yì yì。 wèile shǐ nà zhǒng lìng rén tòng xīn de liú yán zì xíng xiāo miè， zuì hǎo shì bù ràng dú zhě fēn biàn chū shì qíng fā shēng zài nǎ gè xué yuàn， yǐ jí fā shēng zài shuí de shēn shàng， yīn cǐ wǒ zài xù shù shí jié lì bì miǎn shǐ yòng nà xiē róng yì yǐn pú rén men lián xiǎng hé cāi cè de cí jù， zhǐ shì jǐn shèn dì zhuī shù yī xià shì qíng běn shēn， yǐ biàn yòng tā lái shuō míng wǒ de péng yǒu de yī xiē jié chū de qì zhì。
　　 nà gè shí hòu， wǒ men zhù zài yī dòng lí tú shū guǎn hěn jìn dài jiā jù chū zū de yù suǒ lǐ， yīn wéi fú 'ěr mó sī zhèng zài duì yīng guó zǎo qī xiàn zhāng jìn xíng jǐn zhāng de yán jiū。 tā de yán jiū shì hěn yòu chéng xiào de， yě xǔ huì chéng wéi wǒ jiāng lái jì shù de tí mù。 yī tiān wǎn shàng， wǒ men de shú rén xī 'ěr dùn · suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng lái fǎng， tā shì shèng lù jiā xué yuàn de dǎo shī hé jiǎng shī。 suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng shēn cái jiào gāo， yán yǔ bù duō， dàn shì róng yì jǐn zhāng hé jī dòng。 wǒ zhī dào tā yī xiàng bù gòu 'ān jìng， cǐ shí tā xiǎn dé gé wài jī dòng， jiǎn zhí wú fǎ kòng zhì zì jǐ， xiǎn rán， shì fā shēng liǎo shénme bù xún cháng de shì qíng。
　　 “ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ xiāng xìn nín huì wèiwǒ xī shēng yī liǎng gè xiǎo shí de bǎo guì shí jiān。 zài shèng lù jiā xué yuàn gāng gāng fā shēng liǎo yī jiàn bù xìng de shì qíng， yào bù shì qià qiǎo nín zài chéng nèi， wǒ jiǎn zhí bù zhī dào gāi zěn me bàn。 ”
　　 wǒ de péng yǒu dá dào：“ wǒ xiàn zài hěn máng， bù xī wàng yòu shénme shì shǐ wǒ fēn xīn。 nín zuì hǎo qǐng qù bāng zhù nín。”
　　“ bù， qīn 'ài de xiān shēng， zhè yàng de shì bù néng qǐng， yīn wéi yī dàn jiāo dào guān fāng， biàn bù néng chè huí。 zhè shì shè jí dào xué yuàn míng shēng de shì qíng， wú lùn rú hé bù néng chuán yáng chū qù。 nín shì nà yàng yòu néng lì， ér qiě shuō huà jǐn shèn， suǒ yǐ zhǐ yòu nín néng gòu bāng wǒ de máng。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ qǐng qiú nín jìn lì 'ér wéi。”
　　 zì cóng lí kāi bèi kè jiē de qiè yì huán jìng yǐ lái， wǒ de péng yǒu pí qì yòu xiē bù tài hǎo。 lí kāi liǎo tā de bào zhǐ jiǎn tiē bù、 huà xué yào pǐn yǐ jí lā tà de zhù shì， tā biàn gǎn dào jí bù shū fú。 tā wú kě nài hé dì sǒng liǎo sǒng jiān， wǒ men de kè rén biàn jí máng bǎ shì qíng qīng tù chū lái， tā tán huà de shí hòu xīn qíng hěn jī dòng。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ zhī dào míng tiān shì fú cí qiú jiǎng xué jīn kǎo shì de dì yī tiān。 wǒ shì zhù kǎo rén zhī yī。 wǒ zhù kǎo de kē mù shì xī là wén。 shì juàn de dì yī tí shì yī dà duàn xué shēng méi yòu dú guò de xī là wén， yào qiú yì chéng yīng wén。 zhè yī duàn yǐ jīng yìn zài shì juàn shàng， dāng rán， yào shì xué shēng shì xiān zhǔn bèi liǎo zhè duàn xī là wén， huì zhàn hěn dà de piányí。 suǒ yǐ， wǒ fēi cháng zhù yì shì juàn de bǎo mì wèn tí。
　　“ jīn tiān xià wǔ sān diǎn zhōng， yìn shuà suǒ sòng lái liǎo shì juàn de jiàoyàng。 dì yī tí shì fān yì xiū xī de dǐ sī zhù zuò zhōng de yī jié。 wǒ zǎi xì dì jiàoyuè liǎo qīng yàng， yīn wéi ① yuán wén xū yào jué duì zhèng què。 zhí dào sì diǎn sān shí fēn， hái méi yòu jiàoduì wán。 kě shì wǒ dāyìng yī gè péng yǒu qù tā de wū lǐ chī chá， suǒ yǐ wǒ bǎ qīng yàng fàng zài zhuō zǐ shàng， jiù lí kāi liǎo wū zǐ， lián lái dài qù qián hòu zhǐ yòng liǎo bàn xiǎo shí duō yī diǎn。
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　　① xiū xī de dǐ sī（ gōng yuán qián ４ ６ ０ nián héng４００ nián？）， xī là lì shǐ xué jiā。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ zhī dào wǒ men xué yuàn de wū mén dōushì shuāngchóng de， lǐ miàn de mén fù gài zhe lǜ sè tái miàn ní， wài miàn de mén shì xiàng mù de。 dāng wǒ zǒu jìn wài miàn de wū mén， hěn chī jīng dì kàn jiàn wū mén shàng yòu bǎ yàoshì。 yī shí jiān， wǒ yǐ wéi shì wǒ zì jǐ bǎ yàoshì wàng zài mén shàng liǎo， dàn shì zài yī mō kǒu dài， wǒ cái fā xiàn yàoshì zài lǐ miàn。 wǒ qīng chǔ dì zhī dào， lìng yī bǎ yàoshì shì zài wǒ de pú rén bān ní sī tè shǒu zhōng。 tā gěi wǒ shōu shí fáng jiān yǐ jīng yòu shí nián liǎo， shì jué duì chéng shí kě kào de。 yàoshì què shí shì tā de， wǒ tuī xiǎng， tā yī dìng jìn guò wǒ de wū zǐ， lái kàn wǒ shì fǒu yào hē chá， chū qù shí， yě xǔ bù xiǎo xīn bǎ yàoshì wàng zài mén shàng liǎo。 tā lái de shí hòu， wǒ gāng gāng chū qù jǐ fēn zhōng。 rú guǒ bù shì jīn tiān de qíng kuàng， tā wàng jì yàoshì shì méi yòu yī diǎn guān xì de， dàn shì jīn tiān què chǎn shēng liǎo wú fǎ gūliáng de hòu guǒ。
　　“ wǒ yī kàn dào wǒ de zhuō zǐ， lì jí zhī dào yòu rén fān liǎo wǒ de shì juàn。 qīng yàng yìn zài sān zhāng cháng tiáo zhǐ shàng。 yuán lái wǒ shì fàng zài yī qǐ de。 xiàn zài ní， yī zhāng zài dì bǎn shàng， yī zhāng zài kào jìn chuāng hù de zhuō zǐ shàng， hái yòu yī zhāng réng zài yuán chù。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī kāi shǐ gǎn xīng qù liǎo， tā shuō：“ zài dì bǎn shàng de shì dì yī zhāng， zài chuāng hù bàng de zhuō zǐ shàng de shì dì 'èr zhāng， réng zài yuán chù de shì dì sān zhāng。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ shǐ wǒ chī jīng， nǐ zěn me huì zhī dào dé zhè yàng qīng chǔ ní？”
　　“ qǐng jì xù xù shù nǐ de yòu qù de shì qíng。”
　　“ kāi shǐ de shí hòu， wǒ xiǎng shì bān ní sī tè gān de， zhè zhǒng xíng wéi shí zài bù kě ráo shù。 rán 'ér tā shí fēn chéng kěn dì fǒu rèn liǎo， wǒ xiāng xìn tā jiǎng de shì shí huà。 lìng yī gè jiě shì zhǐ néng shì zhè yàng： yòu rén zǒu guò kàn jiàn yàoshì zài mén shàng， zhī dào wǒ bù zài wū lǐ， biàn jìn lái kàn kǎo juàn。 zhè gè jiǎng xué jīn de jīn 'é shì hěn gāo de， shè jí dào dà bǐ de qián cái， suǒ yǐ yī gè hòu yán wú chǐ de rén huò xǔ yuàn yì mào xiǎn tōu kàn shì juàn hǎo qù shèng guò tā de tóng bàn。
　　“ zhè jiàn shì shǐ dé bān ní sī tè fēi cháng bù 'ān。 dāng wǒ men fā xiàn shì juàn zhǔn shì bèi rén fān guò de shí hòu， tā jīhū hūn liǎo guò qù。 wǒ gěi tā yī diǎn bái lán dì hē， rán hòu ràng tā zuò zài yī bǎ yǐ zǐ shàng， tā xiàng tān liǎo sì dì zuò zhe， zhè shí wǒ jiǎn chá liǎo zhěng gè fáng jiān。 chú liǎo nòng zhòu de shì juàn wài， wǒ hěn kuài dì zhǎo dào zhè wèi chuǎng rù zhě liú xià de qí tā hén jì。 kào chuāng hù de zhuō zǐ shàng yòu xiāoqiānbǐ shèng xià de suì mù xiè， hái yòu yī kuài qiān bǐ xīn de suì tóu 'ér。 xiǎn rán， zhè gè piàn zǐ cōng cōng máng máng dì chāo shì tí， bǎ qiān bǐ jiān nòng duàn liǎo， bù dé bù zhòng xuē。”
　　 zhè gè 'àn jiàn jiàn jiàn xī yǐn liǎo fú 'ěr mó sī， tā de pí qì yě jiù suí zhe hǎo liǎo qǐ lái。 tā shuō：“ jiǎng dé hǎo jí liǎo！ nǐ shì jí xīng gāo zhào， dà yòu pò 'àn de xī wàng。”
　　“ hái yòu yī xiē hén jì。 wǒ yòu yī gè xīn xiě zì tái， zhuō miàn shì piào liàng de hóng sè pí gé。 wǒ hé bān ní sī tè kě yǐ fā shì， zhuō miàn fēi cháng guāng huá， méi yòu yī diǎn wū diǎn。 xiàn zài wǒ fā xiàn zhuō miàn shàng yòu míng xiǎn de dāo hén， dà yuē sān yīng cùn cháng， bù shì dōng xī cā guò de hén jì， ér shì què shí de dāo hén。 hái yòu， wǒ zài zhuō zǐ shàng kàn dào yī gè xiǎo de hēi sè ní qiú， yě xǔ shì miàn qiú， qiú miàn shàng yòu xiē bān diǎn， xiàng shì jù mò。 wǒ kěn dìng zhè xiē hén jì shì nà gè nòng zhòu shì tí de rén suǒ liú xià lái de。 méi yòu zú jì huò shì qí tā zhèng jù kě yǐ biàn rèn zhè gè rén。 wǒ zhèng zhe jí méi yòu bàn fǎ de shí hòu， hū rán xiǎng qǐ nín zài chéng lǐ， jiù zhíbèn nín lái， xiàng nín qiú jiào。 fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， qǐng nín yī dìng bāng wǒ de máng。 xiàn zài nín míng bái liǎo wǒ suǒ chù de kùn jìng： huò zhě zhǎo chū zhè gè rén lái， huò zhě tuī chí kǎo shì， děng dào yìn chū xīn de shì tí。 bù néng bù zuò rèn hé jiě shì jiù gēnghuàn shì tí， kě shì， zhè yàng yī lái biàn huì yǐn qǐ tǎo yàn de yáo yán。 zhè bù jǐn huì sǔn hài běn xué yuàn de míng shēng， ér qiě yě huì yǐng xiǎng dào lǐng dǎo běn yuàn de dà xué de míng shēng。 zuì yào jǐn de shì， wǒ xī wàng néng mò mò dì、 jǐn shèn dì jiě jué zhè gè wèn tí。”
　　“ wǒ hěn gāo xīng chǔlǐ zhè jiàn shì， ér qiě yuàn yì jìn lì tí gōng yī xiē yì jiàn。 " fú 'ěr mó sī zhàn liǎo qǐ lái chuān shàng tā de dà yī。 " zhè gè 'àn zǐ hái shì hěn yòu yì sī de。 nǐ shōu dào shì juàn yǐ hòu yòu rén qù guò nǐ de wū zǐ má？”
　　“ yòu， dào lā tè · ruì sī， yī gè yìn dù xué shēng。 tā hé wǒ zhù zài tóng yī dòng lóu， lái wèn kǎo shì de fāng shì。”
　　“ tā dào nǐ de wū lǐ jiù shì wéi zhè shì má？”
　　“ shì de。”
　　“ nà shí shì juàn zài nǐ de zhuō zǐ shàng má？”
　　“ shì de， bù guò wǒ jì dé shì juǎnqǐ lái de。”
　　“ kě yǐ kàn chū lái nà shì qīng yàng má？”
　　“ yòu kě néng。”
　　“ nǐ de wū zǐ lǐ méi yòu bié rén？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ yòu rén zhī dào qīng yàng yào sòng dào nǐ nà 'ér má？”
　　“ zhǐ yòu nà gè yìn shuà gōng rén zhī dào。”
　　“ bān ní sī tè zhī dào má？”
　　“ tā kěn dìng bù zhī dào。 shuí yě bù zhī dào。”
　　“ bān ní sī tè xiàn zài zài nǎ 'ér？”
　　“ tā shēn tǐ bù shū fú， zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng， hǎo xiàng tān liǎo sì de。 wǒ lì jí cōng máng dì lái zhǎo nǐ。”
　　“ nǐ de wū mén hái kāi zhe má？”
　　“ wǒ yǐ bǎ shì juàn suǒ liǎo qǐ lái。”
　　“ suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， nà me kě yǐ zhè yàng shuō： fān nòng shì tí de rén shì 'ǒu rán pèng shàng de， shì xiān bìng bù zhī dào shì juàn zài nǐ de zhuō zǐ shàng。”
　　“ wǒ kàn shì zhè yàng de。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī wēi xiào liǎo yī xià， kě shì zhè gè wēi xiào lìng rén fèi jiě。
　　 tā shuō：“ hǎo， wǒ men qù kàn kàn。 huá shēng， zhè bù shǔ yú nǐ de zhí yè fàn wéi， bù shì shēng lǐ de wèn tí， ér shì shǔ yú xīn lǐ fāng miàn de。 bù guò， yào shì nǐ yuàn yì qù， jiù qù bā。 suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， xiàn zài qǐng nǐ fēn fù！”
　　 wǒ men dāng shì rén de qǐ jū shì zhèng duì zhe zhè zuò gǔ lǎo xué yuàn de tíng yuán， tíng yuán de dì shàng cháng mǎn tái xiǎn。 qǐ jū shì de chuāng hù yòu dà yòu dī， shàng miàn hái yòu huā chuāng líng。 yī shàn 'é tè shì de gǒng mén hòu miàn yòu shí tī， shí tī yǐ jīng nián jiǔ shī xiū liǎo。 zhè wèi dǎo shī de fáng jiān zài dì yī céng。 lìng wài sān gè dà xué shēng， fēn bié gè zhù yī céng lóu。 wǒ men dào dá xiàn chǎng de shí hòu， yǐ jīng shì bàng wǎn liǎo。 fú 'ěr mó sī tíng zhù jiǎo bù， zhù shì liǎo yī xià qǐ jū shì de chuāng hù。 rán hòu， tā zǒu jìn zhè shàn chuāng hù， yòng jiǎo jiān zhàn qǐ lái， shēn zhe bó zǐ wǎng wū lǐ tàn wàng。
　　 wǒ men yòu xué wèn de dāng shì rén shuō：“ tā yī dìng shì cóng dà mén jìn qù de。 chú liǎo zhè shàn bō lí chuāng yǐ wài， zài méi yòu bié de kāi kǒu liǎo。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī kàn zhe wǒ men de dāng shì rén， wēi xiào liǎo yī xià， xiàode yòu xiē qí guài， bìng qiě shuō：“ ò， rú guǒ zài zhè 'ér nòng bù qīng shénme， wǒ men zuì hǎo hái shì dào wū lǐ qù。”
　　 zhè wèi dǎo shī dǎ kāi wū mén， bǎ wǒ men lǐng jìn tā de fáng jiān。 wǒ men zhàn zài mén kǒu de shí hòu， fú 'ěr mó sī jiǎn chá liǎo dì tǎn。
　　 tā shuō：“ wǒ xiǎng zhè 'ér bù huì yòu shénme hén jì。 tiān qì zhè yàng gān zào， hěn nán zhǎo dào。 nǐ pú rén de shēn tǐ dà gài yǐ jīng huī fù liǎo。 nǐ shuō nǐ ràng tā zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng， shì nǎ yī bǎ yǐ zǐ？”
　　“ chuāng kǒu bàng biān de nà bǎ。”
　　“ ò， shì kào jìn zhè gè xiǎo zhuō zǐ de。 nǐ xiàn zài kě yǐ jìn lái liǎo。 dì tǎn wǒ yǐ jīng jiǎn chá wán liǎo。 wǒ men zài kàn kàn zhè gè xiǎo zhuō zǐ。 dāng rán， fā shēng guò de shì qíng yǐ jīng qīng chǔ liǎo。 zhè gè rén jìn wū hòu， cóng wū zǐ zhōng jiān zhè zhāng zhuō zǐ shàng yī yè yī yè dì ná qǐ shì juàn， ná dào kào chuāng kǒu de zhuō zǐ shàng， yīn wéi jiǎ rú yòu rén cóng tíng yuán zǒu guò lái， cóng zhè 'ér yī yǎn jiù kě yǐ kàn dào， biàn yú táo páo。”
　　 suǒ mǔ cí shuō：“ shí jì shàng tā páo bù diào， yīn wéi wǒ cháng cháng cóng bàng mén guò lái。”
　　“ nà hěn hǎo！ bù guǎn zěn yàng shuō， zhè shì tā shè xiǎng de。 ràng wǒ kàn kàn nà sān zhāng qīng yàng。 méi yòu liú xià zhǐ wén！ tā xiān shì ná guò zhè yī yè qù chāo xiě de。 zhè yòng liǎo duō cháng shí jiān ní， kuài chāo yě bù shǎo yú yī kè zhōng。 rán hòu diū diào zhè yī zhāng， yòu ná qǐ lìng yī zhāng。 zhèng zài zhè gè shí hòu， nǐ huí lái liǎo， yú shì tā jí yú páo diào， suǒ yǐ tā méi yòu shí jiān bǎ kǎo juàn fàng huí yuán chù。 dāng nǐ zǒu jìn wū mén de shí hòu， tīng méi tīng jiàn shí tī shàng yòu jí cù de jiǎo bù shēng？”
　　“ méi yòu， wǒ méi tīng jiàn。”
　　“ tā jí máng dì chāo xiě， bǎ qiān bǐ jiān nòng duàn liǎo， bù dé bù yòu xuē yī cì。 huá shēng， yòu yì sī de shì： nà zhī qiān bǐ bù shì pǔ tōng qiān bǐ。 tā bǐ pǔ tōng qiān bǐ cū， ruǎn qiān， bǐgǎn shì shēn lán sè， zhì zào shāng de míng zì shì yín bái sè de， bǐ zhǐ shèng yī yīng cùn bàn cháng。 suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， rú guǒ néng zhǎo dào nà yàng yī zhī qiān bǐ， yě jiù zhǎo dào liǎo nà gè rén。 wǒ hái yào gào sù nǐ， tā de dāo zǐ jiào dà 'ér qiě hěn dùn， zhè yàng nǐ yòu yòu liǎo yī gè xiàn suǒ。”
　　 suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng bèi fú 'ěr mó sī tán de zhè xiē qíng kuàng nòng hú tú liǎo。 tā shuō：
　　“ bié de wǒ hái néng lǐ jiě， kě shì qiān bǐ de cháng duǎn ……”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī ná chū lái yī xiǎo piàn qiān bǐ mù xiè， shàng miàn yòu zì mǔ ｎｎ。
　　“ nǐ kàn。”
　　“ bù， wǒ réng rán……”
　　“ huá shēng， wǒ guò qù cháng cháng dī gū nǐ de néng lì。 hǎo，ｎｎ shì shénme yì sī ní？ tā men shì yī gè zì de mò wěi liǎng gè zì mǔ。 nǐ zhī dào Ｊ ｏ ｈ ａｎｎ Fａ ｂ ｅ ｒ　 shì xiāo lù zuì guǎng de qiān bǐ shāng de míng zì。 zhè bù shì hěn qīng chǔ liǎo má？ qiān bǐ yòng dé zhǐ shèng xià liǎoＪｏｈａｎｎ zì hòu miàn de yī xiǎo duàn。 " tā bǎ xiǎo zhuō zǐ lā dào diàn dēng xià。 " wǒ xī wàng tā chāo xiě yòng de zhǐ shì hěnbáo de， zhè yàng biàn néng tòu guò zhǐ zhāng zài guāng huá de zhuō miàn shàng liú xià hén jì。 wú， méi yòu kàn jiàn shénme hén jì。 cóng xiǎo zhuō zǐ shàng zhǎo bù dào shénme。 xiàn zài kàn kàn zhōng jiān de zhuō zǐ。 wǒ cāi xiǎng zhè gè xiǎo qiú jiù shì nǐ tán de nà gè hēi sè de miàn tuán。 xíng zhuàng lüè xiàng jīn zì tǎ， zhōng jiān shì kōng de。 zhèng xiàng nǐ shuō de， xiǎo qiú shàng hái yòu jù mò xiè。 ā， zhēn yòu yì sī。 zhuō miàn shàng hái yòu dāo hén héng héng què qiē dì shuō shì huá hén。 kāi shǐ de dì fāng shì huá de hén jì， rán hòu cái shì biān yuán bù zhěng qí de xiǎo dòng。 suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， wǒ fēi cháng gǎn xiè nǐ shǐ wǒ zhù yì zhè gè 'àn qíng。 nà shàn mén tōng dào nǎ 'ér？”
　　“ wǒ de wò shì。”
　　“ chū shì yǐ hòu， nǐ qù guò má？”
　　“ méi yòu， wǒ zhí jiē lái zhǎo nǐ。”
　　“ zuì hǎo ràng wǒ chá kàn yī xià。 duō me piào liàng de gǔ sè gǔ xiāng de wū zǐ！ qǐng nǐ xiān děng yī fēn zhōng， wǒ jiǎn chá wán liǎo dì bǎn nǐ men zài jìn lái。 ō， méi yòu kàn chū shénme。 zhè kuài bù màn gànshénme yòng de？ nǐ zài zhè kuài bù màn de hòu miàn guà yī fú。 yào shì yòu rén bù dé yǐ cáng zài zhè jiān wū lǐ， tā bì dìng cáng zài zhè kuài bù màn de hòu miàn， yīn wéi chuáng tài dī， yī guì yòu bù gòu hòu。 wǒ xiǎng kě néng méi yòu rén zài zhè 'ér bā。”
　　 dāng fú 'ěr mó sī lā nà kuài bù màn de shí hòu， wǒ cóng tā nà jiān jué 'ér yòu jī jǐng de biǎo qíng zhī dào， tā yǐ jīng zuò hǎo zhǔn bèi， yǐ fáng wàn yī。 kě shì lā kāi bù màn yī kàn， chú liǎo guà zài yī gōu shàng de sān、 sì tào yī fú yǐ wài， shénme yě méi yòu。 fú 'ěr mó sī zhuǎn guò shēn gāng yào zǒu kāi， tū rán yòu dūn dào dì bǎn shàng。
　　 tā shuō：“ wèi， zhè shì shénme？”
　　 nà shì yī xiǎo kuài jīn zì tǎ xíng zhuàng de hēi sè dōng xī， xiàng nì zǐ， hé shū fáng lǐ zhuō zǐ shàng de nà kuài wán quán yī yàng。 fú 'ěr mó sī bǎ tā fàng zài shǒu xīn shàng ná dào diàn dēng xià kàn。
　　“ suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， zhè wèi bù sù zhī kè zài nǐ de qǐ jū shì lǐ hé nǐ de wò shì lǐ dū liú xià liǎo hén jì。”
　　“ tā dào wò shì lǐ qù gànshénme？”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng zhè hěn qīng chǔ。 nǐ tū rán huí lái， dào liǎo mén kǒu， tā cái fā jué。 tā zěn me bàn ní？ wú lùn zuò shí me dū huì bào lù tā zì jǐ， suǒ yǐ tā zhǐ hǎo chōng jìn nǐ de wò shì duǒ cáng qǐ lái。”
　　“ āi yā， wǒ de shàng dì， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ shì bù shì shuō， wǒ hé bān ní sī tè zài qǐ jū shì tán huà de shí hòu， zhè gè rén yī zhí cáng zài zhè lǐ？”
　　“ wǒ shì zhè yàng kàn de。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， dāng rán hái yòu lìng wài yī zhǒng kě néng xìng。 wǒ bù zhī dào nǐ shì fǒu zhù yì dào wǒ wò shì de chuāng hù liǎo？”
　　“ bō lí shàng miàn yòu huā chuāng líng， kuàng zǐ shì jīn shǔ de， gòng sān shàn， yī shàn yòu zhé yè， kě yǐ zuàn jìn rén lái。”
　　“ zhèng shì zhè yàng de。 wò shì duì zhe tíng yuán de yī jiǎo， suǒ yǐ cóng wài miàn kàn bù dào zhěng gè wò shì。 zhè gè rén yě xǔ shì cóng chuāng hù jìn lái de， zǒu guò wò shì， liú xià liǎo hén jì， zuì hòu， fā xiàn mén kāi zhe， biàn cóng mén nà 'ér páo diào。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī bù nài fán dì yáo liǎo yáo tóu。
　　 tā shuō：“ ràng wǒ men cóng shí jì qíng kuàng zhuóshǒu。 nǐ shuō guò， yòu sān gè xué shēng yòng zhè gè shí tī， bìng qiě zǒng shì zǒu guò nǐ de mén qián。”
　　“ shì yòu sān míng xué shēng。”
　　“ tā mendōu yào cān jiā zhè cì kǎo shì má？”
　　“ shì de。”
　　“ sān gè rén lǐ yòu méi yòu rén xián yí jiào dà ní？”
　　 suǒ mǔ cí yóu yù bù jué。
　　 tā shuō：“ zhè shì yī gè hěn nán dá fù de wèn tí。 méi yòu zhèng jù bù hǎo qīng yì huái yí mǒu yī gè rén。”
　　“ nǐ shuō shuō nǐ de huái yí， wǒ lái gěi nǐ zhǎo zhèng jù。”
　　“ nà me， wǒ jiǎn dān dì gào sù nǐ zhù zài zhè 'ér de sān gè rén de xìng gé。 sān gè rén zhōng zhù zài zuì xià miàn de shì jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè， yī wèi yōu xiù de xué shēng， yě shì gè yōu xiù de yùn dòng yuán， cān jiā liǎo xué yuàn de zú qiú duì hé bǎn qiú duì， dī lán hé tiào yuǎn tādōu dé guò jiǎng。 tā shì yī gè piào liàng de、 hěn yòu fēng dù de nán rén。 tā fù qīn shì míng shēng bù hǎo de zhā bié cí · jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè xūn jué， yīn wéi sài mǎ pò liǎo chǎn。 zhè gè xué shēng hěn qióng， dàn shì tā hěn nǔ lì， hěn qín fèn。 tā shì yòu qián tú de。
　　“ zhù zài zhōng jiān yī wū de shì yī wèi yìn dù rén， míng zì jiào dào lā sī · ruì sī。 tā shì yī gè xìng qíng 'ān jìng dàn shì nán yú jiē jìn de rén， duō shù yìn dù réndōu shì zhè yàng， tā xué xí dé hěn hǎo， bù guò tā de xī là wén chàyīxiē。 tā hěn wěn jiàn， bàn shì hěn yòu tiáo lǐ。
　　“ zuì shàng miàn zhù de shì mài 'ěr cí · mài kè lā lún。 tā yào shì xiǎng xué xí， kě yǐ xué dé hěn chū sè， tā shì zhè suǒ dà xué lǐ zuì yòu cái huá de yī gè。 dàn shì， tā rèn xìng， shēng huó fàng dàng。 dì yī xué nián yīn wéi dǎ pái de shì tā chā yī diǎn bèi kāi chú。 zhè yī xué qí tā lǎnsǎn dì hùn guò lái liǎo， duì yú zhè cì jiǎng xué jīn kǎo shì tā yī dìng hěn pà。”
　　“ nà me， nǐ huái yí de jiù shì tā liǎo？”
　　' wǒ hái bù gǎn zhè yàng shuō。 dàn shì， zhè sān gè rén lǐ miàn huò xǔ tā shì zuì yòu kě néng zuò zhè zhǒng shì de。”
　　“ hěn hǎo， suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， xiàn zài wǒ men jiàn jiàn nǐ de pú rén bān ní sī tè。”
　　 zhè gè pú rén gè zǐ bù gāo， miàn sè cāng bái， hú xū tì dé hěn gān jìng， huā bái tóu fā， nián jì yòu wǔ shí duō suì。 zì cóng shì tí de shì dǎ luàn liǎo tā 'ān jìng de shēng huó， tā hái méi yòu wán quán píng jìng xià lái。 yóu yú jǐn zhāng tā nà yuán yuán de miàn jiá hái zài chōu dòng， shǒu zhǐ yě zài chàn dòng。
　　 tā de zhù rén shuō：“ bān ní sī tè， wǒ men zhèng zài diào chá zhè jiàn bù xìng de shì。”
　　“ shì de， xiān shēng。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ wǒ tīng shuō nǐ bǎ yàoshì wàng zài mén shàng liǎo。”
　　“ shì de， xiān shēng。”
　　“ zhèng dāng shì juàn fàng zài wū lǐ de shí hòu， nǐ zhè yàng zuò， nà bù shì hěn fǎn cháng má？”
　　“ xiān shēng， fā shēng zhè shì shì hěn bù yīnggāi de。 dàn shì， zài bié de shí hòu， wǒ yě wàng guò。”
　　“ nǐ shénme shí hòu jìn de wū zǐ？”
　　“ dà yuē sì diǎn bàn。 shì suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng chī chá de shí jiān。”
　　“ nǐ zài wū lǐ děng liǎo duō jiǔ？”
　　“ wǒ kàn jiàn tā bù zài， jiù gǎn jǐn chū lái liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ kàn zhuō zǐ shàng de shì juàn liǎo má？”
　　“ méi yòu， xiān shēng， zhēn de méi kàn。”
　　“ nǐ zěn me huì bǎ yàoshì wàng zài mén shàng de？”
　　“ wǒ shǒu lǐ ná zhe chá pán。 wǒ xiǎng děng huí lái zài ná yàoshì。 hòu lái jiù wàng liǎo。”
　　“ tōng dào wài biān de wū mén shì bù shì yòu bǎ tánhuáng suǒ？”
　　“ méi yòu， xiān shēng。”
　　“ nà shàn mén yī zhí kāi zhe má？”
　　“ shì de， xiān shēng。”
　　“ bù guǎn shuí cóng wū lǐ quán kě yǐ chū lái má？”
　　“ shì de， xiān shēng。”
　　“ suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng huí lái hòu zhǎo nǐ， nǐ hěn bù 'ān， shì má？”
　　“ shì de， xiān shēng。 wǒ lái zhè lǐ zhè me duō nián méi yòu fā shēng guò zhè yàng de shì。 wǒ chā yī diǎn hūn guò qù liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ zhī dào nǐ hūn guò qù liǎo。 nǐ kāi shǐ gǎn jué bù shū fú de shí hòu， nǐ zài nǎ 'ér？”
　　“ wǒ zài nǎ 'ér， xiān shēng？ zěn me？ jiù zài zhè 'ér， kào jìn wū mén。”
　　“ nà jiù yòu xiē qí guài liǎo， nǐ zuò de shì nà biān kào wū jiǎo de yǐ zǐ。 nǐ wèishénme yào zǒu guò lìng wài zhè jǐ zhāng yǐ zǐ ní？”
　　“ xiān shēng， wǒ bù zhī dào， wǒ méi yòu zhù yì wǒ zuò zài nǎ 'ér。”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， wǒ yě rèn wéi tā bù huì zhù yì tā dāng shí zuò zài nǎ 'ér。 nà shí tā liǎn sè hěn bù hǎo， tè bié cāng bái。”
　　“ nǐ de zhù rén lí kāi yǐ hòu， nǐ hái zài zhè lǐ？”
　　“ zhǐ yòu yī liǎng fēn zhōng。 rán hòu wǒ suǒ shàng mén jiù huí wǒ zì jǐ de wū zǐ liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ huái yí shuí ní？”
　　“ ō， wǒ bù gǎn suí biàn shuō。 wǒ bù xiāng xìn zhè suǒ dà xué lǐ yòu rén huì zuò chū zhè zhǒng bù zé shǒu duàn sǔn rén lì jǐ de shì。 xiān shēng， wǒ bù xìn huì yòu zhè yàng de rén。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ xiè xiè nǐ， jiù tán dào zhè lǐ。 ō， hái yòu yī jù huà。 nǐ méi yòu xiàng nǐ fú shì de sān wèi xiān shēng tí dào chū liǎo shì bā？”
　　“ méi yòu， xiān shēng， méi tí yī gè zì。”
　　“ nǐ kàn jiàn tā men liǎo má？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ hěn hǎo。 suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， nín yuàn yì hé wǒ zài zhè gè yuàn zǐ lǐ zǒu zǒu má？”
　　 tiān sè yù lái yù hēi， lóu shàng gè céng de chuāng hù shàng quán yòu dēng guāng shǎn yào zhe。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī tái tóu kàn liǎo kàn， shuō：“ nǐ de sān gè xiǎo niǎo quán huí wō liǎo。 wèi！ nà shì shénme？ tā men dāng zhōng yòu yī gè xiàng shì zuò lì bù 'ān。”
　　 yuán lái shì nà gè yìn dù rén， chuāng lián shàng tū rán chū xiàn liǎo tā de cè yǐng。 tā zài wū nèi xùn sù lái huí duó bù。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ wǒ xī wàng jiàn měi gè rén yī miàn。 zhè kě néng má？”
　　 suǒ mǔ cí shuō：“ méi yòu wèn tí。 zhè xiē fáng jiān shì xué yuàn lǐ zuì gǔ lǎo de， cháng yòu kè rén lái cān guān。 lái， wǒ qīn zì lǐng nǐ qù。”
　　 dāng wǒ men qiāo jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè de wū mén de shí hòu， fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ qǐng bù yào tōng bào xìng míng。 " yī gè xì gāo gè、 huáng tóu fā de qīng nián kāi liǎo mén， dāng tā zhī dào wǒ men shì lái cān guān de shí hòu， tā biǎo shì huān yíng。 wū nèi yòu yī xiē hǎn jiàn de zhōng shì jì shì nèi jié gòu， fú 'ěr mó sī duì yú yī gè jié gòu hěn gǎn xīng qù， yī dìng yào huà zài tā de bǐ jì běn shàng， tā nòng duàn liǎo qiān bǐ jiān， xī wàng xiàng zhù rén jiè yī zhī， zuì hòu shì jiè liǎo yī bǎ xiǎo dāoxiāo tā zì jǐ de qiān bǐ。 zài yìn dù rén de fáng jiān zhōng， tā yě zuò liǎo tóng yàng de shì qíng。 zhè gè yìn dù rén shì gè chén mò guǎ yán、 shēn cái 'ǎi xiǎo、 cháng zhe wān gòu bí zǐ de rén。 tā xié yǎn kàn zhe wǒ men， dāng fú 'ěr mó sī huà wán jiàn zhù jié gòu tú de shí hòu， tā xiǎn dé shí fēn gāo xīng。 wǒ kàn bù chū fú 'ěr mó sī cóng zhè liǎng chù zhǎo dào liǎo tā suǒ chá xún de xiàn suǒ。 wǒ men méi yòu néng gòu fǎng wèn dì sān chù。 wǒ men qiāo bù kāi tā de mén， ér qiě cóng mén nèi chuán guò lái yī zhèn zé mà shēng， jiā zá zhe fèn nù de hǒu shēng。 " wǒ bù guǎn nǐ shì shuí。 qù nǐ mā de！ míng tiān jiù yào kǎo shì liǎo， shǎo lái dǎ rǎo wǒ！”
　　 wǒ men de xiàng dǎo qì dé liǎn dū hóng liǎo， yī miàn xià tái jiē yī miàn shuō：“ zhēn shì cū lǔ！ jí shǐ tā bù zhī dào shì wǒ qiāo mén， zhè yàng zuò bù yě tài wú lǐ liǎo má？ zài mù qián de qíng kuàng xià kàn lái， hěn zhí dé huái yí。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī de huí dá què hěn qí guài。
　　 tā wèn：“ nǐ néng gào sù wǒ tā de què qièshēn gāo má？”
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， zhè gè wǒ shí zài shuō bù zhǔn què。 tā bǐ nà gè yìn dù rén gāo yī xiē， dàn shì yòu bù xiàng jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè nà yàng gāo。 wǒ xiǎng dà yuē shì wǔ yīng chǐ liù yīng cùn bā。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ zhè yī diǎn hěn zhòng yào。 nà me， suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， wǒ zhù nǐ wǎn 'ān。”
　　 wǒ men de dāng shì rén shì yòu jīng yà yòu shī wàng， dà shēng hǎn dào：“ tiān 'ā， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ bù huì zhè yàng tū rán dì zǒu diào bā！ nǐ hǎo xiàng méi yòu lǐ jiě wǒ de chǔjìng。 míng tiān jiù yào kǎo shì lā！ jīn tiān wǎn shàng wǒ bì xū cǎi qǔ yī dìng de cuò shī。 shì juàn bèi rén fān nòng liǎo， wǒ jiù bù néng jǔ xíng kǎo shì。 yī dìng yào zhèng shì zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng。”
　　“ shì qíng zhǐ néng dá dào mù qián zhè yī bù。 wǒ míng tiān qīng zǎo zài lái hé nǐ tán zhè jiàn shì。 yě xǔ wǒ néng gòu gào sù nǐ zěn yàng bàn。 kě shì， nǐ bù yào dòng shénme dōng xī， shénme dōubù yào dòng。”
　　“ hǎo， jiù zhè yàng， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng。”
　　“ nǐ wán quán bù bì dān yōu。 wǒ men yī dìng huì zhǎo dào bǎi tuō kùn jìng de bàn fǎ。 wǒ yào dài zǒu nà liǎng gè hēi ní qiú hé qiān bǐ xiè。 zài jiàn。”
　　 wǒ men zǒu chū liǎo yuàn zǐ， zài hēi 'àn zhōng yòu tái tóu kàn liǎo kàn nà jǐ shàn chuāng hù。 nà gè yìn dù rén réng rán zài wū nèi duó bù。 qí tā liǎng shàn chuāng hù lǐ yǐ jīng méi yòu dēng guāng liǎo。
　　 zǒu dào dà jiē shàng， fú 'ěr mó sī wèn：“ huá shēng， nǐ zěn yàng kàn zhè jiàn shì ní？ zhè wán quán shì gè kè tīng zhōng de xiǎo yóu xì， cóng sān zhāng pái zhōng mō chū yī zhāng， shì bù shì？ yī dìng shì sān gè rén zhōng de yī gè gān de。 nǐ tiǎo nǐ de pái， nǐ shuō shì nǎ gè rén？”
　　“ zuì shàng miàn nà gè zuǐ bù gān jìng de jiā huǒ。 tā de pǐn xíng zuì huài。 kě shì nà gè yìn dù rén yě hěn jiǎo huá。 wèishénme tā zǒng zài wū nèi zǒu lái zǒu qù ní？”
　　“ zhè méi yòu shénme guān xì。 yòu xiē rén zài nǔ lì jì dōng xī de shí hòu， cháng cháng zǒu lái zǒu qù。”
　　“ tā kàn zhe wǒ men de nà gè yàng zǐ， hěn qí guài。”
　　“ jiǎ rú nǐ zhèng zhǔn bèi gōng kè， dì 'èr tiān cān jiā kǎo shì， měi shí měi kè dōuhěn bǎo guì， zhè shí yòu yī qún rén tū rán zhǎo dào nǐ， nǐ yě huì zhè yàng kàn tā men de。 wǒ kàn zhè yī diǎn bù néng shuō míng shénme。 zhì yú nà liǎng zhī qiān bǐ hé liǎng bǎ dāo zǐ quán méi yòu wèn tí。 kě shì nà gè rén wǒ què shí nòng bù qīng。”
　　“ nǎ yī gè rén？”
　　“ nà gè pú rén bān ní sī tè。 zài zhè jiàn shì qíng zhōng tā shuǎ liǎo shénme huā zhāo ní？”
　　“ tā gěi wǒ de yìn xiàng shì yī gè shí fēn chéng shí de rén。”
　　“ wǒ yě yòu zhè zhǒng yìn xiàng。 zhè shì shǐ rén bù néng lǐ jiě de。 wèishénme yī gè chéng shí de rén héng héng 'ò， zhè 'ér yòu yī jiā wén jù diàn。 wǒ men cóng zhè jiā shāng diàn kāi shǐ diào chá。”
　　 chéng nèi zhǐ yòu sì jiā jiào dà de wén jù diàn， fú 'ěr mó sī dào měi yī jiā wén jù diàn quán ná chū nà jǐ piàn qiān bǐ xiè， bìng qiě yào fù gāo jià mǎi tóng yàng de qiān bǐ。 sì jiā quán yào gěi tā dìng zuò yī zhī， yīn wéi zhè bù shì yī zhī pǔ tōng chǐ cùn de qiān bǐ， hěn shǎo yòu cún huò。 wǒ de péng yǒu bìng méi yīn cǐ 'ér shī wàng， zhǐ shì suí biàn dì sǒng yī xià jiān， biǎo shì wú kě nài hé bà liǎo。
　　“ qīn 'ài de huá shēng， wǒ men méi yòu dé dào shénme jiēguǒ。 zhè gè zuì néng shuō míng wèn tí de xiàn suǒ yě méi yòu yòng liǎo。 dàn shì， wǒ shēn xìn wǒ men réng rán néng gòu nòng qīng yuán lái de qíng kuàng。 tiān nǎ！ yǐ jīng kuài jiǔ diǎn liǎo， nǚ fáng dōng hái láo dāo guò qī diǎn bàn gěi wǒ men zuò hǎo wān dòu tānɡ ní。 huá shēng， nǐ zǒng shì bù tíng dì chōu yān， hái bù 'àn shí chī fàn。 wǒ xiǎng fáng dōng huì tōng zhī nǐ tuì fáng de， ér wǒ yě yào suí zhe nǐ dǎo méi liǎo héng héng bù guǎn zěn me yàng， wǒ men hái shì xiān jiě jué zhè wèi jiāo lǜ bù 'ān de dǎo shī、 cū xīn dà yì de pú rén hé sān gè qián chéng wú xiàn de dà xué shēng zhè xiē rén de wèn tí bā。”
　　 dào wǒ men chī fàn shí hòu yǐ jīng hěn wǎn liǎo， jìn guǎn fàn hòu tā chén sī liǎo hěn jiǔ， kě shì tā zài yě méi yòu hé wǒ tí dào zhè jiàn shì。 dì 'èr tiān zǎo chén bā diǎn zhōng， wǒ gāng gāng guàn xǐ wán bì， fú 'ěr mó sī biàn dào wǒ de wū lǐ lái liǎo。
　　 tā shuō：“ huá shēng， wǒ men yīnggāi qù shèng lù jiā xué yuàn liǎo。 nǐ bù chī zǎo fàn xíng má？”
　　“ kě yǐ。”
　　“ yào shì wǒ men bù gěi suǒ mǔ cí kěn dìng de huí dá， tā shì yào zuò lì bù 'ān de。”
　　“ nǐ yòu shénme míng què de huí dá má？”
　　“ yòu de。”
　　“ nǐ yǐ jīng dé chū jié lùn liǎo？”
　　“ shì de， qīn 'ài de huá shēng， wǒ yǐ jīng jiě jué liǎo zhè gè mí。”
　　“ kě shì nǐ nòng dào liǎo shénme xīn de zhèng jù ní？”
　　“ wǒ liù diǎn zhōng jiù zǎo zǎo dì qǐ liǎo chuáng， jué bù huì yī wú suǒ dé。 wǒ yǐ jīng xīn kǔ dì gōng zuò liǎo liǎng xiǎo shí， zhì shǎo zǒu liǎo wǔ yīng lǐ lù， zhōng yú dé dào yī diǎn dōng xī shuō míng wèn tí。 qǐng kàn zhè gè！”
　　 tā shēn chū shǒu zhǎng， zhǎng xīn shàng yòu sān gè jīn zì tǎ xíng zhuàng de xiǎo hēi ní tuán。
　　“ zěn me， nǐ zuó tiān zhǐ yòu liǎng gè？”
　　“ jīn tiān qīng zǎo yòu dé dào yī gè。 kě yǐ duàn dìng dì sān gè xiǎo ní qiú de lái yuán， yě jiù shì dì yī、 dì 'èr gè ní qiú de lái yuán。 zǒu bā， huá shēng， wǒ men yào ràng wǒ men de péng yǒu suǒ mǔ cí 'ān xīn。”
　　 wǒ men zài suǒ mǔ cí de fáng jiān lǐ kàn dào tā xīn qíng shí fēn bù 'ān。 guò jǐ gè xiǎo shí kǎo shì jí jiāng kāi shǐ， kě shì tā hái chǔyú jìn tuì wéi gǔ de dì wèi héng héng shì xuān bù shì shí， hái shì yǔn xǔ zuì fàn cān jiā zhè gè gāo 'é jiǎng xué jīn de kǎo shì， tā ná bù dìng zhù yì， kàn yàng zǐ jiǎn zhí lián zhàn dū zhàn bù wěn liǎo， kě shì yī jiàn fú 'ěr mó sī， tā lì kè shēn chū liǎng shǒu jí máng yíng shàng qù。
　　“ xiè tiān xiè dì， nǐ zhōng yú lái liǎo！ wǒ zhēn dān xīn nǐ yīn wéi gǎn dào méi yòu bàn fǎ 'ér bù guǎn zhè jiàn shì liǎo。 wǒ zěn me bàn ní？ kǎo shì hái yào jǔ xíng má？”
　　“ shì de， wú lùn rú hé hái yào jǔ xíng。”
　　“ kě shì zhè gè piàn zǐ ní？”
　　“ bù néng ràng tā cān jiā。”
　　“ nǐ zhǎo chū lái liǎo má？”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng huì zhǎo chū lái de。 rú guǒ bù xiǎng ràng shì qíng chuán dào gōng zhòng de 'ěr zhōng， wǒ men bì xū yòu diǎn quán wēi， zì jǐ zǔ chéng yī gè sī rén jūn shì fǎ tíng。 suǒ mǔ cí， nǐ zuò zài nà lǐ。 huá shēng， nǐ zuò zhè 'ér。 wǒ zuò zài zhōng jiān de fú shǒu yǐ shàng。 wǒ xiǎng zhè yàng zú yǐ shǐ fàn zuì de rén chǎn shēng wèi jù de xīn qíng。 qǐng 'àn líng bā！”
　　 bān ní sī tè jìn lái liǎo， kàn jiàn wǒ men wēi yán de miàn róng gǎn dào jīng kǒng， hòu tuì liǎo yī bù。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ qǐng nǐ guān shàng mén。 bān ní sī tè， xiàn zài qǐng nǐ gào sù wǒ men zuó tiān shì jiàn de zhēn shí qíng kuàng。”
　　 tā de liǎn sè wán quán xià bái liǎo。
　　“ xiān shēng， wǒ quándōu shuō liǎo。”
　　“ méi yòu yào bǔ chōng de má？”
　　“ yī diǎn méi yòu liǎo， xiān shēng。”
　　“ hǎo， wǒ lái tí xǐng nǐ yī xià。 nǐ zuó tiān zuò dào nà bǎ yǐ zǐ shàng de shí hòu， shì bù shì wèile yào zhē yǎn yī jiàn dōng xī？ zhè jiàn dōng xī zhèng hǎo shuō míng shuí dào zhè gè wū zǐ lǐ lái guò。”
　　 bān ní sī tè liǎn sè cǎn bái。
　　“ bù， xiān shēng， jué bù shì。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yòu huǎn hé dì shuō：“ zhè bù guò shì tí xǐng nǐ yī xià。 wǒ tǎn shuài dì chéng rèn wǒ wú fǎ zhèng shí zhè jiàn shì qíng。 dàn shì， hěn kě néng shì zhè yàng de， suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng yī zhuǎn guò shēn qù， nǐ biàn fàng zǒu liǎo wò shì lǐ de rén。”
　　 bān ní sī tè tiǎn liǎo tiǎn tā fā gān de zuǐ chún。
　　“ xiān shēng， méi yòu rén。”
　　“ bān ní sī tè， zhè kě bù hǎo。 dào liǎo xiàn zài， nǐ yīnggāi shuō zhēn huà， kě shì wǒ zhī dào nǐ hái zài shuō huǎng。”
　　 tā bēng zhe liǎn biǎo shì ruò wú qí shì。
　　“ xiān shēng， méi yòu rén。”
　　“ bān ní sī tè， shuō chū lái bā！”
　　“ xiān shēng， shì méi yòu rén。”
　　“ nǐ jù jué gěi wǒ men tí gōng qíng kuàng。 shì fǒu qǐng nǐ liú xià bù yào chū qù？ zhàn dào wò shì de mén bàng。 suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， qǐng nǐ fèi xīn qīn zì qù jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè wū zhōng， qǐng tā dào nǐ zhè 'ér lái。”
　　 yī huì 'ér， zhè wèi dǎo shī dài zhe nà gè xué shēng huí lái liǎo。 zhè gè xué shēng tǐ gé hěn jiàn zhuàng， gāo gāo de shēn cái， xíng dòng qīng qiǎo yòu líng huó， bù fá jiáo jiàn， miàn róng yú kuài kāi lǎng。 tā yòng bù 'ān de yǎn guāng kàn liǎo kàn wǒ men měi gè rén， zuì hòu máng rán shī cuò dì níng shì zhe jiǎo luò lǐ de bān ní sī tè。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ qǐng guān shàng mén。 jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè xiān shēng， wǒ men zhè 'ér méi yòu wài rén， ér qiě yě méi yòu bì yào ràng rén zhī dào wǒ men zhī jiān tán liǎo shénme。 wǒ men bǐ cǐ kě yǐ yǐ chéng xiāng dài。 jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè xiān shēng， wǒ xiǎng yào zhī dào nǐ zhè yàng yī wèi chéng shí de rén zěn me huì zuò chū zuó tiān nà yàng de shì qíng？”
　　 zhè wèi bù xìng de qīng nián hòu tuì liǎo yī bù， bìng qiě yòng kǒng jù hé zé bèi de mù guāng kàn liǎo bān ní sī tè yī yǎn。
　　 pú rén shuō：“ bù， bù， jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè xiān shēng， wǒ méi yòu shuō guò yī gè zì， yī gè zì yě méi shuō guò。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ kě shì xiàn zài nǐ shuō chū lái liǎo。 jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè xiān shēng， nǐ bì xū míng bái， bān ní sī tè shuō huà yǐ hòu， nǐ biàn háo wú bàn fǎ liǎo， nǐ de wéi yī chū lù shì tǎn shuài dì chéng rèn shì shí。”
　　 yī shùn jiān， jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè jǔ qǐ shuāng shǒu xiǎng yào kòng zhì tā chōu dòng zhe de shēn tǐ。 jǐn jiē zhe tā guì dǎo zài zhuō bàng， bǎ liǎn mái zài shuāng shǒu zhōng， tā jī dòng dé bù tíng dì wūyè qǐ lái。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī wēn hé dì shuō：“ bù yào zhè yàng， rén zǒng shì yào fàn cuò wù de， zhì shǎo méi yòu rén zé bèi nǐ shì gè xīn cháng bù zhèng de zuì fàn。 rú guǒ yóu wǒ lái bǎ fā shēng de shì gào sù suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， bù duì de dì fāng， nǐ lái gǎi zhèng， zhè yàng nǐ huò xǔ gǎn jué fāng biàn yī xiē。 wǒ kāi shǐ shuō bā， hǎo， nǐ tīng zhe， yǐ miǎn wǒ bǎ nǐ zuò de shì shuō cuò liǎo。
　　“ suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， nǐ céng jīng gào sù wǒ méi yòu yī gè rén， bāo kuò bān ní sī tè zài nèi， zhī dào shì juàn zài nǐ de wū zhōng。 cóng nà shí qī， zài wǒ de xīn lǐ jiù kāi shǐ yòu yī gè míng què de kàn fǎ。 dāng rán zhè méi yòu bǎ nà gè yìn shuà gōng kǎo lǜ zài nèi， yīn wéi zhè gè gōng rén yào xiǎng tōu kàn shì juàn de huà kě yǐ zài zì jǐ de bàn gōng shì lǐ kàn。 hái yòu nà gè yìn dù rén， wǒ xiǎng tā yě bù huì zuò shénme huài shì。 rú guǒ qīng yàng juàn chéng yī juàn， nǐ kě néng bù huì zhī dào nà shì shénme dōng xī。 lìng yī fāng miàn， jiǎ shè yòu yī gè rén jìng gǎn shàn zì jìn wū， bìng qiě qià qiǎo pèng shàng zhuō zǐ shàng yòu shì juàn， zhè zhǒng qiǎo hé shì hěn nán xiǎng xiàng de。 suǒ yǐ wǒ pái chú liǎo zhè zhǒng kě néng xìng。 jìn dào wū lǐ de rén zhī dào shì juàn zài nǎ 'ér。 tā zěn me zhī dào de ní？
　　“ dāng wǒ zǒu jìn nǐ de wū zǐ de shí hòu， wǒ jiǎn chá liǎo nà shàn chuāng hù。 nǐ nà shí de shè xiǎng shǐ wǒ fā xiào， nǐ yǐ wéi wǒ huì xiāng xìn huò xǔ yòu yī gè rén huì zài qīng tiān bái rì zhī xià， zài duì miàn wū zǐ lǐ zhòng rén de zhù shì xià pò chuāng 'ér rù má？ bù， zhè yàng de xiǎng fǎ shì huāng miù de。 wǒ shì zài héng liàng yī gè guò lù de rén yào yòu duō gāo cái néng wǎng lǐ kàn dào zhuō zǐ shàng yòu shì juàn。 wǒ liù yīng chǐ gāo， fèi diǎn jìn kě yǐ kàn dào。 dī yú liù yīng chǐ de rén shì kàn bù dào de。 suǒ yǐ， wǒ xiǎng yào shì nǐ de sān gè xué shēng lǐ yòu yī gè bǐ yī bān rén gāo， tā biàn shì zuì kě néng zuò zhè jiàn shì de rén。
　　“ wǒ jìn wū hòu， fā xiàn liǎo kào chuāng zhuō zǐ shàng de xiàn suǒ， zhè yī diǎn céng jīng gào sù guò nǐ。 cóng zhōng jiān de zhuō zǐ shàng wǒ méi yòu dé chū shénme jié lùn。 hòu lái nǐ tán dào jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè shì gè tiào yuǎn yùn dòng yuán， zhè shí wǒ lì jí míng bái liǎo quán bù jīng guò， kě shì wǒ hái xū yào yī xiē bàng zhèng。 zhè xiē bàng zhèng wǒ yě hěn kuài dì nòng dào liǎo。
　　“ shì qíng shì zhè yàng de： zhè wèi nián qīng rén xià wǔ zài yùn dòng chǎng liàn xí tiào yuǎn。 tā huí lái de shí hòu， dài zhe tā de tiào xié。 nǐ zhī dào， tiào xié dǐ shàng yòu jǐ gè jiān dīng。 tā lù guò nǐ de chuāng kǒu de shí hòu， yóu yú tā gè zǐ hěn gāo， kàn jiàn nǐ zhuō zǐ shàng de qīng yàng， tā cāi chū liǎo nà shì shì juàn。 yào shì tā jīng guò nǐ de wū mén， méi yòu kàn jiàn yòu bǎ yàoshì wàng zài mén shàng， jiù bù huì yòu shénme huài shì liǎo。 tū rán de chōng dòng shǐ tā jìn dào wū lǐ， kàn kàn nà shì fǒu shì qīng yàng。 zhè bìng bù shì mào xiǎn de xíng dòng， yīn wéi tā wán quán kě yǐ zhuāng zuò jìn lái shì xiǎng yào wèn gè wèn tí。
　　“ dāng tā kàn qīng nà què shì qīng yàng de shí hòu， tā dǐ zhì bù zhù liǎo。 tā bǎ xié fàng dào zhuō zǐ shàng。 zài kào jìn chuāng kǒu de yǐ zǐ shàng， nǐ fàng de shì shénme ní？”
　　 nián qīng rén huí dá：“ shǒu tào。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī dé yì dì kàn zhe bān ní sī tè。 " tā bǎ shǒu tào fàng zài yǐ zǐ shàng， rán hòu tā ná qǐ qīng yàng yī zhāng yī zhāng dì chāo xiě。 tā yǐ wéi zhè wèi dǎo shī yī dìng cóng yuàn zǐ dà mén huí lái， zhè yàng tā kě yǐ kàn dé jiàn。 kě shì wǒ men zhī dào， suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng shì cóng bàng mén huí lái de。 tā tū rán tīng dào dǎo shī de jiǎo bù shēng yǐ dào wū mén kǒu。 yǐ jīng méi yòu bàn fǎ páo diào liǎo。 yú shì tā zhuā qǐ tiào xié lì jí cuàn dào wò shì lǐ， dàn shì wàng liǎo tā de shǒu tào。 nǐ men kàn dào zhuō miàn shàng de huá hén yī tóu hěn qīng， kě shì duì zhe wò shì de yī tóu jiàn jiàn jiā shēn。 huá hén běn shēn jiù zú yǐ shuō míng shì cháo zhe wò shì de fāng xiàng zhuā qǐ tiào xié de。 zhè gè fàn fǎ de rén jiù duǒ zài wò shì lǐ。 xié dīng shàng de ní tǔ liú zài zhuō zǐ shàng， lìng yī kuài diào zài wò shì nèi。 wǒ hái yào shuō míng， jīn tiān qīng zǎo wǒ qù guò yùn dòng chǎng， kàn jiàn tiào kēng nèi yòng de hēi sè nián tǔ， shàng miàn sǎ zhe xì de huáng sè jù mò， wéi de shì fáng zhǐ yùn dòng yuán huá dǎo。 wǒ dài lái liǎo yī xiǎo kuài hēi tǔ zuò yàng zǐ。 jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè xiān shēng， wǒ shuō dé fú hé shì shí má？”
　　 zhè gè xué shēng yǐ jīng zhàn liǎo qǐ lái。
　　 tā shuō：“ shì de， wán quán shì shì shí。”
　　 suǒ mǔ cí shuō：“ nǐ hái yòu shénme yào bǔ chōng de má？”
　　“ shì de， xiān shēng。 wǒ zuò liǎo zhè jiàn bù guāng cǎi de shì yǐ hòu， jīng huāng dé bù zhī suǒ cuò。 suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng， wǒ yòu yī fēng xìn gěi nín， xìn shì wǒ yī yè wèi shuì jīn tiān qīng zǎo xiě de。 yě jiù shì shuō zài wǒ zhī dào wǒ de zuì xíng yǐ jīng bèi chá chū lái zhī qián xiě de。 xiān shēng， qǐng nín kàn zhè fēng xìn。 wǒ xiě dào： ' wǒ yǐ jīng jué dìng bù cān jiā kǎo shì。 wǒ shōu dào luó dé xī yà zǒng bù de rèn mìng， wǒ zhǔn bèi lì jí dòng shēn qù nán fēi。 '”
　　 suǒ mǔ cí shuō：“ wǒ tīng dào nǐ bù dǎ suàn yòng pǐn qǐ shǒu duàn qǔ dé jiǎng xué jīn， wǒ hěn gāo xīng。 dàn shì nǐ shì zěn yàng gǎi biàn liǎo nǐ de yì tú de ní？”
　　 jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè zhǐ zhe bān ní sī tè shuō：
　　“ shì tā shǐ wǒ zǒu shàng liǎo zhèng lù。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī shuō：“ bān ní sī tè， nǐ guò lái。 wǒ yǐ jīng jiǎng dé hěn qīng chǔ， zhǐ yòu nǐ néng fàng zǒu zhè gè qīng nián rén， yīn wéi dāng shí liú zài wū zhōng de zhǐ shì nǐ yī rén， bìng qiě nǐ chū qù de shí hòu yī dìng bǎ mén suǒ shàng liǎo。 zhì yú tā cóng chuāng kǒu páo diào， nà shì bù kě néng de。 qǐng nǐ bǎ zhè gè 'àn jiàn zuì hòu yī gè yí wèn jiǎng qīng chǔ， bìng qiě gào sù wǒ men nǐ zhè yàng zuò de lǐ yóu。”
　　“ yào shì nǐ yī liǎo jiě， lǐ yóu jiù hěn jiǎn dān liǎo。 bù guò， jìn guǎn nǐ hěn cōng míng， nǐ yě bù kě néng liǎo jiě。 shì qíng shì zhè yàng de， wǒ céng jīng shì zhè wèi nián qīng xiān shēng de fù qīn héng héng lǎo jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè xūn jué de guǎn jiā。 tā pò chǎn yǐ hòu， wǒ lái dào zhè suǒ xué yuàn zuò pú rén， dàn shì wǒ cóng wèi yīn wéi lǎo zhù rén mòluò 'ér wàng jì tā。 wèile jì niàn guò qù， wǒ jìn kě néng dì zhào gù tā de 'ér zǐ。 zuó tiān nǐ 'àn líng jiào wǒ lái de shí hòu， wǒ shǒu xiān kàn dào de shì jí 'ěr kè lì sī tè xiān shēng de zōng huáng sè shǒu tào fàng zài yǐ zǐ shàng。 wǒ zhī dào zhè fù shǒu tào shì shuí de， wǒ yě zhī dào shǒu tào zài zhè 'ér yì wèi zhe shénme。 yào shì suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng kàn jiàn， mì mì jiù yào bào lù liǎo。 wǒ jí máng zuò dào yǐ zǐ shàng， zhí dào suǒ mǔ cí xiān shēng qù zhǎo nín， wǒ cái gǎn yí dòng。 zhè shí wǒ kě lián de xiǎo zhù rén chū lái liǎo， tā shì wǒ bào dà de， tā duì wǒ chéng rèn liǎo yī qiē。 wǒ yào jiù tā， zhè bù shì hěn zì rán de má？ wǒ yào xiàng tā de yǐ sǐ de fù qīn yī yàng kāi dǎo tā bù yīngdāng zhè yàng qǔ qiǎo， zhè bù shì yě hěn zì rán má？ xiān shēng， nǐ néng zé guài wǒ má？”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī hěn gāo xīng dì zhàn qǐ lái， shuō：“ què shí bù néng。 suǒ mǔ cí， wǒ kàn wǒ men yǐ jīng bǎ nǐ de xiǎo wèn tí nòng liǎo gè shuǐ luò shí chū， ér wǒ men hái méi yòu chī zǎo fàn。 huá shēng， wǒ men zǒu bā！ zhì yú nǐ， xiān shēng， wǒ xiāng xìn zài luó dé xī yà huì yòu nǐ de guāng míng qián tú。 jìn guǎn nǐ zhè cì diē dǎo liǎo， wǒ men réng rán qī wàng nǐ jiāng lái huì qián chéng wú liàng。”

　　IT was in the year '95 that a combination of events, into which I need not enter, caused Mr. Sherlock Holmes and myself to spend some weeks in one of our great University towns, and it was during this time that the small but instructive adventure which I am about to relate befell us. It will be obvious that any details which would help the reader to exactly identify the college or the criminal would be injudicious and offensive. So painful a scandal may well be allowed to die out. With due discretion the incident itself may, however, be described, since it serves to illustrate some of those qualities for which my friend was remarkable. I will endeavour in my statement to avoid such terms as would serve to limit the events to any particular place, or give a clue as to the people concerned.
　　
　　We were residing at the time in furnished lodgings close to a library where Sherlock Holmes was pursuing some laborious researches in early English charters -- researches which led to results so striking that they may be the subject of one of my future narratives. Here it was that one evening we received a visit from an acquaintance, Mr. Hilton Soames, tutor and lecturer at the College of St. Luke's. Mr. Soames was a tall, spare man, of a nervous and excitable temperament. I had always known him to be restless in his manner, but on this particular occasion he was in such a state of uncontrollable agitation that it was clear something very unusual had occurred.
　　
　　"I trust, Mr. Holmes, that you can spare me a few hours of your valuable time. We have had a very painful incident at St. Luke's, and really, but for the happy chance of your being in the town, I should have been at a loss what to do."
　　
　　"I am very busy just now, and I desire no distractions," my friend answered. "I should much prefer that you called in the aid of the police."
　　
　　"No, no, my dear sir; such a course is utterly impossible. When once the law is evoked it cannot be stayed again, and this is just one of those cases where, for the credit of the college, it is most essential to avoid scandal. Your discretion is as well known as your powers, and you are the one man in the world who can help me. I beg you, Mr. Holmes, to do what you can."
　　
　　My friend's temper had not improved since he had been deprived of the congenial surroundings of Baker Street. Without his scrap-books, his chemicals, and his homely untidiness, he was an uncomfortable man. He shrugged his shoulders in ungracious acquiescence, while our visitor in hurried words and with much excitable gesticulation poured forth his story.
　　
　　"I must explain to you, Mr. Holmes, that to-morrow is the first day of the examination for the Fortescue Scholarship. I am one of the examiners. My subject is Greek, and the first of the papers consists of a large passage of Greek translation which the candidate has not seen. This passage is printed on the examination paper, and it would naturally be an immense advantage if the candidate could prepare it in advance. For this reason great care is taken to keep the paper secret.
　　
　　"To-day about three o'clock the proofs of this paper arrived from the printers. The exercise consists of half a chapter of Thucydides. I had to read it over carefully, as the text must be absolutely correct. At four-thirty my task was not yet completed. I had, however, promised to take tea in a friend's rooms, so I left the proof upon my desk. I was absent rather more than an hour.
　　
　　"You are aware, Mr. Holmes, that our college doors are double -- a green baize one within and a heavy oak one without. As I approached my outer door I was amazed to see a key in it. For an instant I imagined that I had left my own there, but on feeling in my pocket I found that it was all right. The only duplicate which existed, so far as I knew, was that which belonged to my servant, Bannister, a man who has looked after my room for ten years, and whose honesty is absolutely above suspicion. I found that the key was indeed his, that he had entered my room to know if I wanted tea, and that he had very carelessly left the key in the door when he came out. His visit to my room must have been within a very few minutes of my leaving it. His forgetfulness about the key would have mattered little upon any other occasion, but on this one day it has produced the most deplorable consequences.
　　
　　"The moment I looked at my table I was aware that someone had rummaged among my papers. The proof was in three long slips. I had left them all together. Now, I found that one of them was lying on the floor, one was on the side table near the window, and the third was where I had left it."
　　
　　Holmes stirred for the first time.
　　
　　"The first page on the floor, the second in the window, the third where you left it," said he.
　　
　　"Exactly, Mr. Holmes. You amaze me. How could you possibly know that?"
　　
　　"Pray continue your very interesting statement."
　　
　　"For an instant I imagined that Bannister had taken the unpardonable liberty of examining my papers. He denied it, however, with the utmost earnestness, and I am convinced that he was speaking the truth. The alternative was that someone passing had observed the key in the door, had known that I was out, and had entered to look at the papers. A large sum of money is at stake, for the scholarship is a very valuable one, and an unscrupulous man might very well run a risk in order to gain an advantage over his fellows.
　　
　　"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 wits' ends, 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 recognised 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."
　　
　　"Then it amounts to this, Mr. Soames, that unless the Indian student recognised the roll as being proofs, the man who tampered with them came upon them accidentally without knowing that they were there."
　　
　　"So it seems to me."
　　
　　Holmes gave an enigmatic smile.
　　
　　"Well," said he, "let us go round. Not one of your cases, Watson -- mental, not physical. All right; come if you want to. Now, Mr. Soames -- at your disposal!"
　　
　　The sitting-room of our client opened by a long, low, latticed window on to the ancient lichen-tinted court of the old college. A Gothic arched door led to a worn stone staircase. On the ground floor was the tutor's room. Above were three students, one on each story. It was already twilight when we reached the scene of our problem. Holmes halted and looked earnestly at the window. Then he approached it, and, standing on tiptoe with his neck craned, he looked into the room.
　　
　　"He must have entered through the door. There is no opening except the one pane," said our learned guide.
　　
　　"Dear me!" said Holmes, and he smiled in a singular way as he glanced at our companion. "Well, if there is nothing to be learned here we had best go inside."
　　
　　The lecturer unlocked the outer door and ushered us into his room. We stood at the entrance while Holmes made an examination of the carpet.
　　
　　"I am afraid there are no signs here," said he. "One could hardly hope for any upon so dry a day. Your servant seems to have quite recovered. You left him in a chair, you say; which chair?"
　　
　　"By the window there."
　　
　　"I see. Near this little table. You can come in now. I have finished with the carpet. Let us take the little table first. Of course, what has happened is very clear. The man entered and took the papers, sheet by sheet, from the central table. He carried them over to the window table, because from there he could see if you came across the courtyard, and so could effect an escape."
　　
　　"As a matter of fact he could not," said Soames, "for I entered by the side door."
　　
　　"Ah, that's good! Well, anyhow, that was in his mind. Let me see the three strips. No finger impressions -- no! Well, he carried over this one first and he copied it. How long would it take him to do that, using every possible contraction? A quarter of an hour, not less. Then he tossed it down and seized the next. He was in the midst of that when your return caused him to make a very hurried retreat -- VERY hurried, since he had not time to replace the papers which would tell you that he had been there. You were not aware of any hurrying feet on the stair as you entered the outer door?"
　　
　　"No, I can't say I was."
　　
　　"Well, he wrote so furiously that he broke his pencil, and had, as you observe, to sharpen it again. This is of interest, Watson. The pencil was not an ordinary one. It was above the usual size, with a soft lead; the outer colour was dark blue, the maker's name was printed in silver lettering, and the piece remaining is only about an inch and a half long. Look for such a pencil, Mr. Soames, and you have got your man. When I add that he possesses a large and very blunt knife, you have an additional aid."
　　
　　Mr. Soames was somewhat overwhelmed by this flood of information. "I can follow the other points," said he, "but really, in this matter of the length ----"
　　
　　Holmes held out a small chip with the letters NN and a space of clear wood after them.
　　
　　"You see?"
　　
　　"No, I fear that even now ----"
　　
　　"Watson, I have always done you an injustice. There are others. What could this NN be? It is at the end of a word. You are aware that Johann Faber is the most common maker's name. Is it not clear that there is just as much of the pencil left as usually follows the Johann?" He held the small table sideways to the electric light. "I was hoping that if the paper on which he wrote was thin some trace of it might come through upon this polished surface. No, I see nothing. I don't think there is anything more to be learned here. Now for the central table. This small pellet is, I presume, the black, doughy mass you spoke of. Roughly pyramidal in shape and hollowed out, I perceive. As you say, there appear to be grains of sawdust in it. Dear me, this is very interesting. And the cut -- a positive tear, I see. It began with a thin scratch and ended in a jagged hole. I am much indebted to you for directing my attention to this case, Mr. Soames. Where does that door lead to?"
　　
　　"To my bedroom."
　　
　　"Have you been in it since your adventure?"
　　
　　"No; I came straight away for you."
　　
　　"I should like to have a glance round. What a charming, old-fashioned room! Perhaps you will kindly wait a minute until I have examined the floor. No, I see nothing. What about this curtain? You hang your clothes behind it. If anyone were forced to conceal himself in this room he must do it there, since the bed is too low and the wardrobe too shallow. No one there, I suppose?"
　　
　　As Holmes drew the curtain I was aware, from some little rigidity and alertness of his attitude, that he was prepared for an emergency. As a matter of fact the drawn curtain disclosed nothing but three or four suits of clothes hanging from a line of pegs. Holmes turned away and stooped suddenly to the floor.
　　
　　"Halloa! What's this?" said he.
　　
　　It was a small pyramid of black, putty-like stuff, exactly like the one upon the table of the study. Holmes held it out on his open palm in the glare of the electric light.
　　
　　"Your visitor seems to have left traces in your bedroom as well as in your sitting-room, Mr. Soames."
　　
　　"What could he have wanted there?"
　　
　　"I think it is clear enough. You came back by an unexpected way, and so he had no warning until you were at the very door. What could he do? He caught up everything which would betray him and he rushed into your bedroom to conceal himself."
　　
　　"Good gracious, Mr. Holmes, do you mean to tell me that all the time I was talking to Bannister in this room we had the man prisoner if we had only known it?"
　　
　　"So I read it."
　　
　　"Surely there is another alternative, Mr. Holmes. I don't know whether you observed my bedroom window?"
　　
　　"Lattice-paned, lead framework, three separate windows, one swinging on hinge and large enough to admit a man."
　　
　　"Exactly. And it looks out on an angle of the courtyard so as to be partly invisible. The man might have effected his entrance there, left traces as he passed through the bedroom, and, finally, finding the door open have escaped that way."
　　
　　Holmes shook his head impatiently.
　　
　　"Let us be practical," said he. "I understand you to say that there are three students who use this stair and are in the habit of passing your door?"
　　
　　"Yes, there are."
　　
　　"And they are all in for this examination?"
　　
　　"Yes."
　　
　　"Have you any reason to suspect any one of them more than the others?"
　　
　　Soames hesitated.
　　
　　"It is a very delicate question," said he. "One hardly likes to throw suspicion where there are no proofs."
　　
　　"Let us hear the suspicions. I will look after the proofs."
　　
　　"I will tell you, then, in a few words the character of the three men who inhabit these rooms. The lower of the three is Gilchrist, a fine scholar and athlete; plays in the Rugby team and the cricket team for the college, and got his Blue for the hurdles and the long jump. He is a fine, manly fellow. His father was the notorious Sir Jabez Gilchrist, who ruined himself on the turf. My scholar has been left very poor, but he is hard-working and industrious. He will do well.
　　
　　"The second floor is inhabited by Daulat Ras, the Indian. He is a quiet, inscrutable fellow, as most of those Indians are. He is well up in his work, though his Greek is his weak subject. He is steady and methodical.
　　
　　"The top floor belongs to Miles McLaren. He is a brilliant fellow when he chooses to work -- one of the brightest intellects of the University, but he is wayward, dissipated, and unprincipled. He was nearly expelled over a card scandal in his first year. He has been idling all this term, and he must look forward with dread to the examination."
　　
　　"Then it is he whom you suspect?"
　　
　　"I dare not go so far as that. But of the three he is perhaps the least unlikely."
　　
　　"Exactly. Now, Mr. Soames, let us have a look at your servant, Bannister."
　　
　　He was a little, white-faced, clean-shaven, grizzly-haired fellow of fifty. He was still suffering from this sudden disturbance of the quiet routine of his life. His plump face was twitching with his nervousness, and his fingers could not keep still.
　　
　　"We are investigating this unhappy business, Bannister," said his master.
　　
　　"Yes, sir."
　　
　　"I understand," said Holmes, "that you left your key in the door?"
　　
　　"Yes, sir."
　　
　　"Was it not very extraordinary that you should do this on the very day when there were these papers inside?"
　　
　　"It was most unfortunate, sir. But I have occasionally done the same thing at other times."
　　
　　"When did you enter the room?"
　　
　　"It was about half-past four. That is Mr. Soames's tea time."
　　
　　"How long did you stay?"
　　
　　"When I saw that he was absent I withdrew at once."
　　
　　"Did you look at these papers on the table?"
　　
　　"No, sir; certainly not."
　　
　　"How came you to leave the key in the door?"
　　
　　"I had the tea-tray in my hand. I thought I would come back for the key. Then I forgot."
　　
　　"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 much disturbed?"
　　
　　"Yes, sir. Such a thing has never happened during the many years that I have 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 near the 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 looking very 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 any gentleman in this University who is capable of profiting by such an action. No, sir, I'll not believe it."
　　
　　"Thank you; that will do," said Holmes. "Oh, one more word. You have not mentioned to any of the three gentlemen whom you attend that anything is amiss?"
　　
　　"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, if you 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 his blind. He was pacing swiftly up and down his room.
　　
　　"I should like to have a peep at each of them," said Holmes. "Is it possible?"
　　
　　"No difficulty in the world," Soames answered. "This set of rooms is quite the oldest in the college, and it is not unusual for visitors to go over them. Come along, and I will personally conduct you."
　　
　　"No names, please!" said Holmes, as we knocked at Gilchrist's door. A tall, flaxen-haired, slim young fellow opened it, and made us welcome when he understood our errand. There were some really curious pieces of mediaeval domestic architecture within. Holmes was so charmed with one of them that he insisted on drawing it on his note-book, broke his pencil, had to borrow one from our host, and finally borrowed a knife to sharpen his own. The same curious accident happened to him in the rooms of the Indian -- a silent, little, hook-nosed fellow, who eyed us askance and was obviously glad when Holmes's architectural studies had come to an end. I could not see that in either case Holmes had come upon the clue for which he was searching. Only at the third did our visit prove abortive. The outer door would not open to our knock, and nothing more substantial than a torrent of bad language came from behind it. "I don'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 withdrew down the stair. "Of course, he did not realize that it was I who was knocking, but none the less his conduct was very uncourteous, and, indeed, under the circumstances rather suspicious."
　　
　　Holmes's response was a curious one.
　　
　　"Can you tell me his exact height?" he asked.
　　
　　"Really, Mr. Holmes, I cannot undertake to say. He is taller than the Indian, not so tall as Gilchrist. I suppose five foot six would be about it."
　　
　　"That is very important," said Holmes. "And now, Mr. Soames, I wish you good-night."
　　
　　Our guide cried aloud in his astonishment and dismay. "Good gracious, Mr. Holmes, you are surely not going to leave me in this abrupt fashion! You don't seem to realize the position. To-morrow is the examination. I must take some definite action to-night. I cannot allow the examination to be held if one of the papers has been tampered with. The situation must be faced."
　　
　　"You must leave it as it is. I shall drop round early to-morrow morning and chat the matter over. It is possible that I may be in a position then to indicate some course of action. Meanwhile you change nothing -- nothing at all."
　　
　　"Very good, Mr. Holmes."
　　
　　"You can be perfectly easy in your mind. We shall certainly find some way out of your difficulties. I will take the black clay with me, also the pencil cuttings. Good-bye."
　　
　　When we were out in the darkness of the quadrangle we again looked up at the windows. The Indian still paced his room. The others were invisible.
　　
　　"Well, Watson, what do you think of it?" Holmes asked, as we came out into the main street. "Quite a little parlour game -- sort of three-card trick, is it not? There are your three men. It must be one of them. You take your choice. Which is yours?"
　　
　　"The foul-mouthed fellow at the top. He is the one with the worst record. And yet that Indian was a sly fellow also. Why should he be pacing his room all the time?"
　　
　　"There is nothing in that. Many men do it when they are trying to learn anything by heart."
　　
　　"He looked at us in a queer way."
　　
　　"So would you if a flock of strangers came in on you when you were preparing for an examination next day, and every moment was of value. No, I see nothing in that. Pencils, too, and knives -- all was satisfactory. But that fellow DOES puzzle me."
　　
　　"Who?"
　　
　　"Why, Bannister, the servant. What's his game in the matter?"
　　
　　"He impressed me as being a perfectly honest man."
　　
　　"So he did me. That's the puzzling part. Why should a perfectly honest man -- well, well, here's a large stationer's. We shall begin our researches here."
　　
　　There were only four stationers of any consequence in the town, and at each Holmes produced his pencil chips and bid high for a duplicate. All were agreed that one could be ordered, but that it was not a usual size of pencil and that it was seldom kept in stock. My friend did not appear to be depressed by his failure, but shrugged his shoulders in half-humorous resignation.
　　
　　"No good, my dear Watson. This, the best and only final clue, has run to nothing. But, indeed, I have little doubt that we can build up a sufficient case without it. By Jove! my dear fellow, it is nearly nine, and the landlady babbled of green peas at seven-thirty. What with your eternal tobacco, Watson, and your irregularity at meals, I expect that you will get notice to quit and that I shall share your downfall -- not, however, before we have solved the problem of the nervous tutor, the careless servant, and the three enterprising students."
　　
　　Holmes made no further allusion to the matter that day, though he sat lost in thought for a long time after our belated dinner. At eight in the morning he came into my room just as I finished my toilet.
　　
　　"Well, Watson," said he, "it is time we went down to St. Luke's. Can you do without breakfast?"
　　
　　"Certainly."
　　
　　"Soames will be in a dreadful fidget until we are able to tell him something positive."
　　
　　"Have you anything positive to tell him?"
　　
　　"I think so."
　　
　　"You have formed a conclusion?"
　　
　　"Yes, my dear Watson; I have solved the mystery."
　　
　　"But what fresh evidence could you have got?"
　　
　　"Aha! It is not for nothing that I have turned myself out of bed at the untimely hour of six. I have put in two hours' hard work and covered at least five miles, with something to show for it. Look at that!"
　　
　　He held out his hand. On the palm were three little pyramids of black, doughy clay.
　　
　　"Why, Holmes, you had only two yesterday!"
　　
　　"And one more this morning. It is a fair argument that wherever No. 3 came from is also the source of Nos. 1 and 2. Eh, Watson? Well, come along and put friend Soames out of his pain."
　　
　　The unfortunate tutor was certainly in a state of pitiable agitation when we found him in his chambers. In a few hours the examination would commence, and he was still in the dilemma between making the facts public and allowing the culprit to compete for the valuable scholarship. He could hardly stand still, so great was his mental agitation, and he ran towards Holmes with two eager hands outstretched.
　　
　　"Thank Heaven that you have come! I feared that you had given it up in despair. What am I to do? Shall the examination proceed?"
　　
　　"Yes; let it proceed by all means."
　　
　　"But this rascal ----?"
　　
　　"He shall not compete."
　　
　　"You know him?"
　　
　　"I think so. If this matter is not to become public we must give ourselves certain powers, and resolve ourselves into a small private court-martial. You there, if you please, Soames! Watson, you here! I'll take the arm-chair in the middle. I think that we are now sufficiently imposing to strike terror into a guilty breast. Kindly ring the bell!"
　　
　　Bannister entered, and shrunk back in evident surprise and fear at our judicial appearance.
　　
　　"You will kindly close the door," said Holmes. "Now, Bannister, will you please tell us the truth about yesterday's incident?"
　　
　　The man turned white to the roots of his hair.
　　
　　"I have told you everything, sir."
　　
　　"Nothing to add?"
　　
　　"Nothing at all, sir."
　　
　　"Well, then, I must make some suggestions to you. When you sat down on that chair yesterday, did you do so in order to conceal some object which would have shown who had been in the room?"
　　
　　Bannister's face was ghastly.
　　
　　"No, sir; certainly not."
　　
　　"It is only a suggestion," said Holmes, suavely. "I frankly admit that I am unable to prove it. But it seems probable enough, since the moment that Mr. Soames's back was turned you released the man who was hiding in that bedroom."
　　
　　Bannister licked his dry lips.
　　
　　"There was no man, sir."
　　
　　"Ah, that's a pity, Bannister. Up to now you may have spoken the truth, but now I know that you have lied."
　　
　　The man's face set in sullen defiance.
　　
　　"There was no man, sir."
　　
　　"Come, come, Bannister!"
　　
　　"No, sir; there was no one."
　　
　　"In that case you can give us no further information. Would you please remain in the room? Stand over there near the bedroom door. Now, Soames, I am going to ask you to have the great kindness to go up to the room of young Gilchrist, and to ask him to step down into yours."
　　
　　An instant later the tutor returned, bringing with him the student. He was a fine figure of a man, tall, lithe, and agile, with a springy step and a pleasant, open face. His troubled blue eyes glanced at each of us, and finally rested with an expression of blank dismay upon Bannister in the farther corner.
　　
　　"Just close the door," said Holmes. "Now, Mr. Gilchrist, we are all quite alone here, and no one need ever know one word of what passes between us. We can be perfectly frank with each other. We want to know, Mr. Gilchrist, how you, an honourable man, ever came to commit such an action as that of yesterday?"
　　
　　The unfortunate young man staggered back and cast a look full of horror and reproach at Bannister.
　　
　　"No, no, Mr. Gilchrist, sir; I never said a word -- never one word!" cried the servant.
　　
　　"No, but you have now," said Holmes. "Now, sir, you must see that after Bannister's words your position is hopeless, and that your only chance lies in a frank confession."
　　
　　For a moment Gilchrist, with upraised hand, tried to control his writhing features. The next he had thrown himself on his knees beside the table and, burying his face in his hands, he had burst into a storm of passionate sobbing.
　　
　　"Come, come," said Holmes, kindly; "it is human to err, and at least no one can accuse you of being a callous criminal. Perhaps it would be easier for you if I were to tell Mr. Soames what occurred, and you can check me where I am wrong. Shall I do so? Well, well, don't trouble to answer. Listen, and see that I do you no injustice.
　　
　　"From the moment, Mr. Soames, that you said to me that no one, not even Bannister, could have told that the papers were in your room, the case began to take a definite shape in my mind. The printer one could, of course, dismiss. He could examine the papers in his own office. The Indian I also thought nothing of. If the proofs were in a roll he could not possibly know what they were. On the other hand, it seemed an unthinkable coincidence that a man should dare to enter the room, and that by chance on that very day the papers were on the table. I dismissed that. The man who entered knew that the papers were there. How did he know?
　　
　　"When I approached your room I examined the window. You amused me by supposing that I was contemplating the possibility of someone having in broad daylight, under the eyes of all these opposite rooms, forced himself through it. Such an idea was absurd. I was measuring how tall a man would need to be in order to see as he passed what papers were on the central table. I am six feet high, and I could do it with an effort. No one less than that would have a chance. Already you see I had reason to think that if one of your three students was a man of unusual height he was the most worth watching of the three.
　　
　　"I entered and I took you into my confidence as to the suggestions of the side table. Of the centre table I could make nothing, until in your description of Gilchrist you mentioned that he was a long-distance jumper. Then the whole thing came to me in an instant, and I only needed certain corroborative proofs, which I speedily obtained.
　　
　　"What happened was this. This young fellow had employed his afternoon at the athletic grounds, where he had been practising the jump. He returned carrying his jumping shoes, which are provided, as you are aware, with several sharp spikes. As he passed your window he saw, by means of his great height, these proofs upon your table, and conjectured what they were. No harm would have been done had it not been that as he passed your door he perceived the key which had been left by the carelessness of your servant. A sudden impulse came over him to enter and see if they were indeed the proofs. It was not a dangerous exploit, for he could always pretend that he had simply looked in to ask a question.
　　
　　"Well, when he saw that they were indeed the proofs, it was then that he yielded to temptation. He put his shoes on the table. What was it you put on that chair near the window?"
　　
　　"Gloves," said the young man.
　　
　　Holmes looked triumphantly at Bannister. "He put his gloves on the chair, and he took the proofs, sheet by sheet, to copy them. He thought the tutor must return by the main gate, and that he would see him. As we know, he came back by the side gate. Suddenly he heard him at the very door. There was no possible escape. He forgot his gloves, but he caught up his shoes and darted into the bedroom. You observe that the scratch on that table is slight at one side, but deepens in the direction of the bedroom door. That in itself is enough to show us that the shoe had been drawn in that direction and that the culprit had taken refuge there. The earth round the spike had been left on the table, and a second sample was loosened and fell in the bedroom. I may add that I walked out to the athletic grounds this morning, saw that tenacious black clay is used in the jumping-pit, and carried away a specimen of it, together with some of the fine tan or sawdust which is strewn over it to prevent the athlete from slipping. Have I told the truth, Mr. Gilchrist?"
　　
　　The student had drawn himself erect.
　　
　　"Yes, sir, it is true," said he.
　　
　　"Good heavens, have you nothing to add?" cried Soames.
　　
　　"Yes, sir, I have, but the shock of this disgraceful exposure has bewildered me. I have a letter here, Mr. Soames, which I wrote to you early this morning in the middle of a restless night. It was before I knew that my sin had found me out. Here it is, sir. You will see that I have said, `I have determined not to go in for the examination. I have been offered a commission in the Rhodesian Police, and I am going out to South Africa at once."'
　　
　　"I am indeed pleased to hear that you did not intend to profit by your unfair advantage," said Soames. "But why did you change your purpose?"
　　
　　Gilchrist pointed to Bannister.
　　
　　"There is the man who set me in the right path," said he.
　　
　　"Come now, Bannister," said Holmes. "It will be clear to you from what I have said that only you could have let this young man out, since you were left in the room, and must have locked the door when you went out. As to his escaping by that window, it was incredible. Can you not clear up the last point in this mystery, and tell us the reasons for your action?"
　　
　　"It was simple enough, sir, if you only had known; but with all your cleverness it was impossible that you could know. Time was, sir, when I was butler to old Sir Jabez Gilchrist, this young gentleman's father. When he was ruined I came to the college as servant, but I never forgot my old employer because he was down in the world. I watched his son all I could for the sake of the old days. Well, sir, when I came into this room yesterday when the alarm was given, the very first thing I saw was Mr. Gilchrist's tan gloves a-lying in that chair. I knew those gloves well, and I understood their message. If Mr. Soames saw them the game was up. I flopped down into that chair, and nothing would budge me until Mr. Soames he went for you. Then out came my poor young master, whom I had dandled on my knee, and confessed it all to me. Wasn't it natural, sir, that I should save him, and wasn't it natural also that I should try to speak to him as his dead father would have done, and make him understand that he could not profit by such a deed? Could you blame me, sir?"
　　
　　"No, indeed," said Holmes, heartily, springing to his feet. "Well, Soames, I think we have cleared your little problem up, and our breakfast awaits us at home. Come, Watson! As to you, sir, I trust that a bright future awaits you in Rhodesia. For once you have fallen low. Let us see in the future how high you can rise."