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.
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