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.
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