“It was most unfortunate, sir
“When did you enter the room
master ['mA:st@], key [ki:], extraordinary [Ik'strO:dIn@rI; ,ekstr@'O:dIn@rI]
“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
“How long did you stay
“When I saw that he was absent
“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
“Has the outer door a spring lock
“No, sir
half [hA:f], withdrew [wID'dru:], thought [TO:t]
“It was about half-past four. That is Mr. Soames’ 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
“Yes, sir
“So I understand
sir [s@:], called [kO:ld], during ['dju@rIN]
“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
“That is singular, because you sat down in that chair
“I don’t know, sir