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Adventure number 11 in the 
Memoirs of Sherlock, Holmes by 

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Sir, Arthur Conan Doyle. 
This LibriVox recording is in 

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the public domain. 
Adventure 11, the final problem.

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It is with a heavy heart that I 
take up my pen to write these 

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the last words in which I shall 
ever record the singular gifts 

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by, which my friend. 
Mr. Sherlock Holmes was 

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distinguished in an incoherent 
and as I deeply feel an entirely

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inadequate fashion. 
I have endeavored to give some 

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account of My Strange 
experiences in his company from 

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the chance which first brought 
us together at the period of the

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study in Scarlet, up to the time
of his interference in the 

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matter of the naval treaty. 
T, an interference, which had 

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the unquestionable effect of 
preventing a serious 

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International complication. 
It was my intention to have 

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stopped there and to have said 
nothing of that event, which has

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created a void in my life, which
the lapse of two years has done 

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little to fill. 
My hand has been forced. 

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However, by the recent letters 
in, which Colonel James Moriarty

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defends the memory of his 
brother and I have no choice but

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to lay the facts before the 
public exactly as they occurred.

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I alone know the absolute truth 
of the matter. 

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And I am satisfied that the time
has come, when no good purpose 

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is to be served by its 
suppression. 

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As far as I know, there have 
been only three accounts in the 

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public press. 
That in the journal de genève 

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on, May 6th 1891 the Reuters 
dispatch in the English papers 

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on May 7th. 
And finally, the recent letter 

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to, which I have alluded of 
these, the first. 

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And second were extremely 
condensed. 

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While the last is, As I Shall 
now show an absolute perversion 

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of the facts. 
It lies with me to tell for the 

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first time what really took 
place between Professor Moriarty

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and mr. 
Sherlock Holmes. 

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It may be remembered that after 
my marriage, and my subsequent 

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start in private practice, the 
very intimate relations, which 

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had existed between homes and 
myself became to some extent 

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modified. 
He still came to me from time to

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time when he desired a companion
in his investigation, but these 

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occasions grew more and more 
seldom until I find that in the 

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year 1890 there were only three 
cases of which I retain any 

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record. 
During the winter of that year. 

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And the early spring of 1891. 
I saw in the papers that he had 

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been engaged by the French 
government upon a matter of 

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supreme importance. 
And I received two notes from 

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Holmes dated, from now, Bond, 
and from neem, from which I 

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gathered, that his stay in 
France was likely to be a long 

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one. 
It was with some surprise 

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therefore that I saw him walk 
into my consulting-room upon the

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evening of April 24th. 
It struck me that he was looking

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even paler and thinner than 
usual. 

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Yes, I have been using myself up
rather to freely. 

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He remarked in answer to my look
rather than to my words. 

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I have been a little pressed of 
late. 

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Have you any objection to my 
closing, your shutters? 

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The only light in the room came 
from the lamp upon the table, 

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which I had been reading homes, 
edged his way around the wall 

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and flinging the shutters 
together. 

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He bolted them securely. 
You're afraid of something. 

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I asked. 
Well, I am of, what of air guns,

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my dear Holmes. 
What do you mean? 

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I think that, you know me, well 
enough Watson to understand that

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I am by no means a nervous man. 
At the same time. 

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It is stupidity. 
Rather than courage to refuse to

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recognize danger when it is 
close upon. 

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You might I trouble you for a 
match. 

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He drew in the Smoke of his 
cigarette as if the soothing 

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influence was grateful to him. 
I must apologize for calling. 

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So late said, he and I must 
further beg you to be. 

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So unconventional, as to allow 
me to leave your house, 

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presently by scrambling over 
your back Garden Wall. 

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But what does it all mean? 
I asked he held out his hand and

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I saw in the light of the lamp 
that two of his knuckles were 

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burst and bleeding. 
It is not an Airy. 

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Nothing. 
You see said he smiling on the 

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contrary. 
It is solid enough for a man to 

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break. 
His hand. 

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Over is Mrs. Watson in, she's 
away Upon A Visit indeed. 

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You are alone quite then it 
makes it easier for me to 

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propose that you should come 
away with me for a week to the 

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continent where Oh anywhere, 
it's all the same to me. 

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It was something very strange in
all this it was not Holmes is 

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nature to take a nameless 
holiday and something about his 

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pale worn face. 
Told me that his nerves were at 

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their highest tension. 
He saw the question in my eyes 

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and putting his fingertips 
together and his elbows upon his

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knees. 
He explained the situation. 

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You have probably never heard of
Professor. 

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Moriarty said he never Aye. 
There's the genius, and The 

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Wonder of the thing, he cried, 
the man pervades. 

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London, and no one has heard of 
him. 

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That's what puts him on a 
pinnacle in the records of 

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crime. 
I tell you what, sun' in all 

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seriousness, that if I could 
beat that, man, if I could free 

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Society of him, I should feel 
that my own career had reached 

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its Summit, and I should be 
prepared to turn to some more 

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Placid line in life between 
ourselves. 

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The recent cases in Try have 
been of assistance to the royal 

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family of Scandinavia. 
And the French Republic have 

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left me in such a position that 
I could continue to live in the 

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quiet fashion, which is most 
congenial to me, and to 

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concentrate my attention upon my
chemical researches. 

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But I could not rest Watson. 
I could not sit quiet in my 

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chair. 
If I thought that such a man, as

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Professor, Moriarty were walking
the streets of London 

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unchallenged. 
What has he done then? 

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His career has been an 
extraordinary one. 

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He is a man of good birth and 
excellent education endowed by 

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Nature with a phenomenal 
mathematical faculty. 

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At the age of 21, he wrote A 
Treatise upon the binomial 

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theorem, which has had a 
European Vogue on the strength 

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of it. 
He won the mathematical chair at

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one of our smaller universities 
and had to all appearances, a 

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most brilliant career before 
him. 

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But the man had hereditary 
Tendencies of the most 

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diabolical, kind a criminal 
strain run in his blood which 

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instead of being modified was 
increased and rendered 

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infinitely more dangerous. 
A spy, his extraordinary mental 

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Powers Dark Rumors, gathered 
round him in the University town

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and eventually he was compelled 
to resign his chair and to come 

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down to London where he set up 
as an army coach. 

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So much is known to the world. 
But what I am telling you now is

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what I have myself discovered. 
As you are aware Watson, there 

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is no one who knows the higher 
criminal world of London. 

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So well, as I do four years 
past, I have continually been 

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conscious of some power behind 
the malefactor, some deep 

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organizing power, which forever 
stands in the way of the law and

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throws its Shield over the 
wrongdoer. 

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Again, and again, in cases of 
the most varying source for 

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jury, cases, robberies, murders.
I have felt the presence of this

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Force. 
And I have deduced, its action 

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in many of those undiscovered 
crimes in which I have not been 

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personally consulted, for years.
I have endeavored to break 

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through the veil, which shrouded
it. 

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And at last the time came, when 
I seized my thread and followed 

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it until it led me after 1000, 
cunning windings to ex-professor

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Moriarty of mathematical 
celebrity. 

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He is the Napoleon of crime 
Watson. 

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He is the organiser of half that
is evil, have nearly all that is

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undetected in this great City. 
He is a genius, a philosopher, 

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an abstract thinker, he has a 
brain of the first order. 

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He sits motionless. 
Like a spider in the center of 

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its web but that web has 1,000 
radiations and he knows well 

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every quiver of each of them. 
He does little himself, he only 

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plans, but his agents are 
numerous and splendidly 

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organized. 
Is there a crime to be done a 

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paper to be abstracted? 
We will say a house to be 

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rifled, a man to be removed. 
The word is passed to the 

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professor. 
The matter is, organized and 

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carried out, the agent may be 
caught in that case. 

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Money is found for his bail or 
his defense, but the central 

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power, which uses the agent. 
Never caught. 

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Never so much as suspected. 
This was the organization, which

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I deduced Watson and which I 
devoted my whole energy to 

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exposing and breaking up. 
But the professor was fenced 

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around with Safeguard so 
cunningly devised that do what I

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would. 
It seemed impossible to get 

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evidence which would convict in 
a court of law. 

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You know, my Powers my dear 
Watson and yet at the end of 

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three months, I was forced to 
confess that I had at last met 

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an antagonist. 
Who is my intellectual equal. 

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My horror at his crimes was lost
in my admiration at his skill. 

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But at last he made a trip, only
a little little trip, but it was

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more than he could afford when I
was so close upon him. 

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I had my chance and starting 
from that point. 

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I have woven my net around him 
until now it is already too 

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close in three days, that is to 
say on Monday. 

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Next matters will be ripe and 
the professor with all the 

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principal members of Gang will 
be in the hands of the police. 

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Then will come the greatest 
criminal trial of the century. 

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The clearing up of over 40 
Mysteries and the Rope for all 

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of them. 
But if we move at all, 

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prematurely, you understand they
may slip out of our hands even 

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at the last moment. 
Now, if I could have done this 

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without the knowledge of 
Professor, Moriarty all would 

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have been well, but he was too 
Wiley for that. 

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He saw every step, which I took 
to draw my toils round him 

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again, and again, he strove to 
break away. 

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But I as often headed him off. 
I tell you my friend, have a 

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detailed account of that silent 
contest could be written. 

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It would take its place as the 
most brilliant bit of thrust and

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Parry work in the history of I 
should never have. 

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I risen to such a height. 
I never have. 

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I been so hard pressed by an 
opponent. 

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He cut deep and yet I just 
undercut him this morning. 

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The last steps were taken and 
three days. 

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Only were wanted to complete the
business. 

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I was sitting in my room 
thinking the matter over when 

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the door opened and Professor 
Moriarty stood before me. 

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My nerves are fairly proof 
Watson, but I must confess to a 

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start. 
When I saw the very man who been

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so much in my thoughts standing 
there on my threshold. 

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His appearance was quite 
familiar to me. 

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He is extremely tall and thin 
his forehead domes out in a 

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white curve and his two eyes are
deeply. 

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Sunken in his head. 
He's clean shaven, pale and 

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acetic looking retaining 
something of the professor in 

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his features. 
His shoulders are rounded from 

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much study and his face 
protrudes forward and is forever

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slowly oscillating from side to 
side in a curiously. 

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Reptilian fashion. 
He peered at me with great 

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curiosity in his puckered eyes. 
You have less frontal 

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development than I should have 
expected said he last. 

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It is a dangerous Habit to 
finger loaded firearms in the 

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pocket of one's dressing gown. 
The fact is that upon his 

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entrance. 
I had instantly recognize the 

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extreme personal danger in which
I lay the only conceivable 

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Escape for him. 
Lay in silencing my tongue in an

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instant. 
I had slipped the revolver, from

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the draw into my pocket and was 
covering him through the cloth. 

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This remark, I drew the weapon 
out and laid it cocked upon the 

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table. 
He still smiled and blinked but 

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there was something about his 
eyes which made me feel very 

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glad that I had it there. 
You evidently don't know. 

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Me said he on the contrary. 
I answered. 

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I think it is fairly evident 
that I do. 

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Pray take a chair. 
I can spare you five minutes if 

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you have anything to say. 
All that I have to say has 

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already crossed your mind said. 
He then possibly my answer has 

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crossed yours. 
I replied. 

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You Stand Fast? 
Absolutely. 

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He clapped his hand into his 
pocket and I raised the pistol 

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from the table, but he merely 
Drew out a memorandum book in 

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which he had scribbled some 
dates. 

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You crossed my path on the 4th 
of January. 

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Said he on the 23rd. 
You incommoded me by the middle 

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of February. 
I was seriously inconvenience by

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you at the end of March. 
I was absolutely hampered in my 

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00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:13,000
plans. 
And now at the close of April, I

229
00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,200
find myself placed in such a 
position through your continual 

230
00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:21,900
persecution, a time in positive 
danger of losing my Liberty. 

231
00:14:22,500 --> 00:14:25,200
The situation is becoming Having
an impossible one. 

232
00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:31,300
Have you any suggestion to make?
I asked you must drop it? 

233
00:14:31,300 --> 00:14:36,500
Mr. Holmes said he swaying his 
face about you really must you 

234
00:14:36,500 --> 00:14:44,900
know. after Monday said, I 
Tapped at said, he I am quite 

235
00:14:44,900 --> 00:14:48,300
sure that a man of your 
intelligence will see that there

236
00:14:48,300 --> 00:14:51,200
can be, but one outcome to this 
affair. 

237
00:14:51,900 --> 00:14:54,400
It is necessary that you should 
withdraw. 

238
00:14:55,300 --> 00:14:58,600
You have worked things in such a
fashion that we have. 

239
00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:02,800
Only one resource left. 
It has been an intellectual 

240
00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,900
treat to me to see the way in 
which you have grappled with 

241
00:15:05,900 --> 00:15:10,400
this affair and I say 
unaffectedly that, it would be a

242
00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:15,200
grief to Need to be forced to 
take any extreme measure, you 

243
00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:19,400
smile, sir, but I assure you 
that it really would. 

244
00:15:20,700 --> 00:15:26,400
Danger is part of my trade. 
I remarked that is not danger 

245
00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:30,100
said he it is inevitable 
destruction. 

246
00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:35,200
You stand in the way, not merely
of an individual but of a mighty

247
00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:39,700
organization, the full extent of
which you with all your 

248
00:15:39,700 --> 00:15:44,700
cleverness have been unable to 
realize you must stand clear. 

249
00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:47,700
Mr. Holmes or be trodden Under 
Foot. 

250
00:15:49,100 --> 00:15:52,400
I'm afraid said I Rising that in
the pleasure of this 

251
00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,900
conversation. 
I am neglecting business of 

252
00:15:54,900 --> 00:15:57,100
importance which awaits me 
elsewhere. 

253
00:15:58,300 --> 00:16:02,700
Heroes also, and looked at me in
silence shaking his head. 

254
00:16:02,700 --> 00:16:08,400
Sadly. 
Well, well said he at last, it 

255
00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:14,300
seems a Pity but I have done 
what I could, I know every move 

256
00:16:14,300 --> 00:16:17,200
of your game. 
You can do nothing before 

257
00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,500
Monday. 
It has been a duel between you 

258
00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:23,400
and me. 
Mr. Holmes, you hope to place me

259
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,400
in the dock. 
I tell you that I will never 

260
00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:30,000
stand in the dock. 
You hope to beat me. 

261
00:16:30,700 --> 00:16:34,600
I tell you that you will never 
beat me if you are clever. 

262
00:16:34,700 --> 00:16:39,300
Enough to bring destruction upon
me, rest assured that I shall do

263
00:16:39,300 --> 00:16:43,100
as much to you. 
You have paid me. 

264
00:16:43,100 --> 00:16:47,200
Several compliments. 
Mr. Moriarty said I, let me pay 

265
00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,900
you one in return. 
When I say that, if I were 

266
00:16:49,900 --> 00:16:53,100
assured of the former 
eventuality, I would in the 

267
00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:56,200
interests of the public 
cheerfully accept the latter. 

268
00:16:57,700 --> 00:17:03,000
I can promise you the one, but 
not the other he snarled. 

269
00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:07,200
And so turned, his rounded back 
upon me and went peering and 

270
00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:12,400
blinking out of the room. 
That was my singular interview, 

271
00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:13,700
is Professor. 
Moriarty? 

272
00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:16,800
I confess that it left an 
unpleasant effect. 

273
00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:21,200
Upon my mind, his soft precise, 
fashion of speech, leaves, a 

274
00:17:21,208 --> 00:17:23,599
conviction of sincerity, which 
are mere bully. 

275
00:17:23,599 --> 00:17:28,600
Could not produce. 
Of course, you will say, why not

276
00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:30,500
take police precautions against 
him. 

277
00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:33,900
The reason is that? 
I am well convinced that it is 

278
00:17:33,900 --> 00:17:35,800
from his agents to blow will 
fall. 

279
00:17:36,500 --> 00:17:38,400
I have the best proofs that it 
would be. 

280
00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,300
So you've already been 
assaulted. 

281
00:17:42,100 --> 00:17:45,600
My dear Watson. 
Professor Moriarty is, not a man

282
00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:47,800
who lets the grass grow under 
his feet. 

283
00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,700
I went out about midday to 
transact some business in Oxford

284
00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:57,000
Street, as I passed the corner 
which leads from Banting Street 

285
00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,800
onto The Welbeck. 
Street crossing a two-horse van 

286
00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:04,300
furiously driven, was drowned, 
and was on me like a flash. 

287
00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:08,400
I sprang for the footpath and 
saved myself by the fraction of 

288
00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:11,200
a second. 
The van dashed around by 

289
00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,000
marylebone Lane and was gone in 
an instant. 

290
00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,500
I kept the pavement after that 
Watson, but as I walked down via

291
00:18:18,500 --> 00:18:22,200
Street, A brick came down from 
the roof of one of the houses 

292
00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,600
and was shattered to fragments 
at my feet. 

293
00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,900
I called the police and had the 
place examined. 

294
00:18:29,700 --> 00:18:33,100
There were slates and Bricks 
piled up on the roof Preparatory

295
00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:36,600
to some repairs and they would 
have me believe that the wind 

296
00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:41,500
had toppled over one of these. 
Of course, I knew better, but I 

297
00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:44,900
could prove nothing. 
I took a cab after that and 

298
00:18:44,900 --> 00:18:47,900
reach my brother's rooms in Pall
Mall where I spent the day. 

299
00:18:48,900 --> 00:18:52,000
Now, I have come round to you. 
And on my way. 

300
00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,300
I was attacked by a rough with a
bludgeon. 

301
00:18:55,100 --> 00:18:58,700
I knocked him down and the 
police have him in custody, but 

302
00:18:58,700 --> 00:19:01,800
I can tell you with the most 
absolute confidence, that no 

303
00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,100
possible connection will ever be
traced between the gentleman 

304
00:19:05,100 --> 00:19:08,500
upon whose front teeth. 
I have barked my Knuckles and 

305
00:19:08,500 --> 00:19:10,500
the retiring, mathematical 
coach. 

306
00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:15,500
Who is I daresay, working out 
problems Upon A Blackboard 10 

307
00:19:15,500 --> 00:19:18,600
miles away. 
You will not wonder what's in 

308
00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:22,200
the my first act on entering 
your rooms was to close your 

309
00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:25,000
shutters. 
And that I've been compelled to 

310
00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:28,500
ask your permission to leave the
house by some less conspicuous 

311
00:19:28,500 --> 00:19:33,300
exit than the front door. 
I'd often admired my friends 

312
00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:37,600
courage, but never more than now
as he sat quietly, checking off 

313
00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:40,600
a series of incidents, which 
must have combined to make up a 

314
00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:44,000
day of horror. 
You'll spend the night here. 

315
00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:49,400
I said, no, my friend, you might
find me a dangerous guests. 

316
00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:54,300
I have my plans laid and all 
will be well, matters have gone 

317
00:19:54,300 --> 00:19:57,200
so far now that they can move 
without my help. 

318
00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:01,800
As far as the arrest goes. 
Though, my presence is necessary

319
00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,800
for a conviction. 
It is obvious therefore, that I 

320
00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:09,100
cannot do better than get away 
for the few days, which remain 

321
00:20:09,100 --> 00:20:10,800
before. 
The police are at Liberty to 

322
00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,300
act. 
It would be a great pleasure to 

323
00:20:13,300 --> 00:20:15,500
me. 
Therefore, if you would come on 

324
00:20:15,500 --> 00:20:20,000
to the continent with me. 
The practice is quiet said, I 

325
00:20:20,700 --> 00:20:22,200
and I have an accommodating 
neighbor. 

326
00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:27,300
I should be glad to come and to 
start tomorrow morning if 

327
00:20:27,300 --> 00:20:31,600
necessary. 
Oh, yes, it is most necessary. 

328
00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,200
And these are your instructions 
and I beg my dear Watson that 

329
00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,100
you will obey them to the letter
for your now. 

330
00:20:39,100 --> 00:20:42,100
Playing a double-handed game 
with me against the cleverest 

331
00:20:42,100 --> 00:20:45,300
Rogue and the most powerful 
Syndicate of criminals in 

332
00:20:45,300 --> 00:20:48,900
Europe. 
Now listen, you will dispatch 

333
00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:52,300
whatever, luggage you intend to 
take by a trusty Messenger 

334
00:20:52,500 --> 00:20:56,200
unaddressed to Victoria tonight 
in the morning. 

335
00:20:56,500 --> 00:20:58,900
You will send for a handsome 
Desiring. 

336
00:20:58,900 --> 00:21:01,900
Your man to take neither the 
first nor the second which may 

337
00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:06,200
present itself. 
Into this handsome, you will 

338
00:21:06,200 --> 00:21:10,500
jump and you will drive to the 
Strand end of the lowther arcade

339
00:21:10,900 --> 00:21:14,500
handing the address to the 
cabman upon a slip of paper with

340
00:21:14,500 --> 00:21:18,300
a request that you will not. 
Throw it away, have your fare 

341
00:21:18,300 --> 00:21:20,500
ready? 
And the instant that your cab 

342
00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:24,500
stops Dash through the arcade, 
timing yourself to reach the 

343
00:21:24,500 --> 00:21:29,000
other side at 9:15. 
You will find a small breath. 

344
00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,900
Mmm, waiting close to the curb 
driven by a fellow with a heavy 

345
00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:37,000
black cloak tipped. 
Color with red into this, you 

346
00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,400
will step and you'll reach 
Victoria in time for the 

347
00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:44,800
Continental Express. 
Where shall I meet you at the 

348
00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,400
station? 
The second first-class Carriage.

349
00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:49,600
From the front will be reserved 
for us. 

350
00:21:50,700 --> 00:21:52,200
The Carriage is our Rendezvous 
then. 

351
00:21:52,900 --> 00:21:56,300
Yes. 
It was in vain that I asked 

352
00:21:56,300 --> 00:21:57,900
Holmes to remain for the 
evening. 

353
00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:01,700
It was evident to me that he 
thought he might bring trouble 

354
00:22:01,700 --> 00:22:04,100
to the roof. 
He was under and that, that was 

355
00:22:04,100 --> 00:22:05,900
the motive, which impelled him 
to go. 

356
00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:11,200
With a few hurried words as to 
our plans for the morrow, he 

357
00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,300
rose and came out with me into 
the garden. 

358
00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:17,400
Clambering over the wall, which 
leads into Mortimer Street and 

359
00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,500
immediately whistling for a 
handsome in which I heard him 

360
00:22:20,500 --> 00:22:24,200
drive away. 
In the morning, I obeyed. 

361
00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:27,800
Holmes's injunction to the 
letter, a handsome was procured 

362
00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:31,000
with such precaution as would 
prevent its being one, which was

363
00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,200
placed ready for us. 
And I drove immediately after 

364
00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:38,000
breakfast to the lowther arcade 
through, which I hurried at the 

365
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,900
top of my speed, a broth from 
was waiting with a very massive 

366
00:22:41,900 --> 00:22:45,900
driver wrapped in a dark cloak, 
who the instant that I had 

367
00:22:45,900 --> 00:22:49,200
stepped in whipped up the horse 
and rattled off to Victoria 

368
00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,400
Station. 
On my lighting there. 

369
00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,500
He turned the carriage and 
dashed away again without so 

370
00:22:55,500 --> 00:23:01,000
much as a look in my direction 
so far all had gone admirably. 

371
00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:05,200
My luggage was waiting for me 
and I had no difficulty in 

372
00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:09,100
finding the carriage which 
Holmes had indicated the less. 

373
00:23:09,100 --> 00:23:13,400
So as it was the only one in the
train, which was marked engaged.

374
00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:17,600
My only source of anxiety. 
Now, was the non-appearance of 

375
00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,900
homes. 
The station clock marked, only 

376
00:23:20,900 --> 00:23:24,900
seven minutes from the time. 
When we were due to start in 

377
00:23:24,900 --> 00:23:26,700
vain. 
I searched among the groups of 

378
00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:30,500
Travelers and leave takers for 
the lithe figure of my friend. 

379
00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:34,800
There was no sign of him. 
I spent a few minutes in 

380
00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,100
assisting, a venerable Italian 
priest who is endeavoring to 

381
00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:40,900
make a porter. 
Understand in his broken English

382
00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:45,800
as his luggage was to be booked 
through to Paris then having 

383
00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,900
taken another look around. 
I returned to my Carriage where 

384
00:23:49,900 --> 00:23:53,700
I found that the porter in spite
of the ticket and given me my 

385
00:23:53,700 --> 00:23:56,700
decrepit, Italian friend as a 
traveling companion. 

386
00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,400
It was useless for me to explain
to him that his presence was an 

387
00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:05,600
intrusion for my And was even 
more limited than his English. 

388
00:24:06,500 --> 00:24:10,000
So I Shrugged my shoulders 
resignedly and continue to look 

389
00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:11,800
out. 
Anxiously for my friend. 

390
00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:17,200
A chill of fear had come over me
as I thought that his absence 

391
00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:22,000
might mean that some blow had 
fallen during the night already.

392
00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:24,800
The doors had all been shut and 
the whistle blown. 

393
00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:29,700
When my dear Watson said a 
voice, you have not even 

394
00:24:29,700 --> 00:24:31,900
condescended to say good 
morning. 

395
00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:35,900
I turned in uncontrollable 
astonishment. 

396
00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:41,700
The agent ecclesiastic had 
turned his face towards me for 

397
00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:44,700
an instant. 
The wrinkles were smoothed away.

398
00:24:45,100 --> 00:24:47,000
The knows Drew away from the 
chin. 

399
00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:52,200
The lower lips cease to protrude
and the mouth to mumble, the 

400
00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:56,900
dull eyes regained their fire, 
the drooping figure expanded the

401
00:24:56,900 --> 00:25:00,700
next, the whole frame collapsed 
again, and Holmes had gone as 

402
00:25:00,700 --> 00:25:03,800
quickly as he had come. 
Good Heavens. 

403
00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:09,200
I cried how you startled, me. 
Every precaution is still 

404
00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:10,800
necessary. 
He whispered. 

405
00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:15,900
I have reason to think that they
are hot Upon Our Trail are. 

406
00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:20,600
There is Moriarty himself. 
The train had already begun to 

407
00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:23,700
move as home. 
Spoke glancing back. 

408
00:25:23,900 --> 00:25:27,900
I saw a tall man pushing his way
furiously through the crowd and 

409
00:25:27,900 --> 00:25:31,000
waving his hand as if he desired
to have the train stopped. 

410
00:25:31,700 --> 00:25:34,300
It was too late. 
However, for we were rapidly 

411
00:25:34,300 --> 00:25:38,100
Gathering momentum and an 
instant later had shot clear of 

412
00:25:38,108 --> 00:25:42,500
the station. 
With all our precautions, you 

413
00:25:42,500 --> 00:25:45,900
see that we have, cut it rather 
fine said Holmes, laughing 

414
00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,700
Heroes, and throwing off the 
black cassock and hat which had 

415
00:25:49,700 --> 00:25:52,600
formed his disguise. 
He packed them away in a 

416
00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,800
handbag. 
Have you seen the morning paper 

417
00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,700
Watson? 
No, you haven't seen about Baker

418
00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:02,300
Street. 
Then, Baker Street. 

419
00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:05,400
They set fire to our rooms last 
night. 

420
00:26:05,900 --> 00:26:09,100
No, great harm was done. 
Good Heavens Holmes. 

421
00:26:09,400 --> 00:26:12,900
This is intolerable. 
They must have lost my track 

422
00:26:12,900 --> 00:26:15,700
completely after their bludgeon 
man was arrested. 

423
00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:19,100
Otherwise, they could not have 
imagined that I had returned to 

424
00:26:19,108 --> 00:26:21,900
my rooms. 
They have evidently taken the 

425
00:26:21,900 --> 00:26:25,300
precaution of watching you. 
However, and that is what has 

426
00:26:25,300 --> 00:26:30,200
brought Moriarty to Victoria. 
You could not have made any slip

427
00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:33,600
incoming. 
I did exactly what you advised. 

428
00:26:34,500 --> 00:26:35,800
Did you find your breath? 
Mmm? 

429
00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:40,400
Yes, it was waiting. 
Did you recognize your Coachman 

430
00:26:41,300 --> 00:26:45,300
know? 
It was my brother Mycroft. 

431
00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,100
It is an advantage to get about 
in such a case without taking a 

432
00:26:49,100 --> 00:26:53,300
mercenary into your confidence, 
but we must plan what we are to 

433
00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:58,100
do about Moriarty now. 
As this is an Express and as the

434
00:26:58,100 --> 00:27:01,200
boat runs in connection with it.
I should think we've shaken him 

435
00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:05,800
off very effectively. 
My dear Watson you evidently did

436
00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:09,500
not realize my meaning when I 
said that this man may be taken 

437
00:27:09,500 --> 00:27:13,200
as being quite on the same 
intellectual plane as myself, 

438
00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:17,400
you do not imagine that if I 
were the pursuer I should allow 

439
00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:20,500
myself to be baffled by so 
slight and obstacle. 

440
00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,800
Why then should you think so 
meanly of him? 

441
00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,600
What will he do? 
What I should do? 

442
00:27:29,700 --> 00:27:36,300
What would you do then engage a 
special but it must be late by. 

443
00:27:36,300 --> 00:27:40,800
No means this train stops at 
Canterbury and there is always, 

444
00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,100
at least a quarter of an hour's 
delay at the boat. 

445
00:27:43,700 --> 00:27:47,300
He will catch us there. 
One would think that we were the

446
00:27:47,300 --> 00:27:50,400
criminals, let us have him 
arrested on his arrival. 

447
00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,000
It would be to ruin the work of 
three months. 

448
00:27:54,700 --> 00:27:58,100
We should get the big fish. 
But the smaller would Dart, 

449
00:27:58,100 --> 00:28:00,900
right? 
And left out of the net on 

450
00:28:00,900 --> 00:28:02,400
Monday. 
We should have them all. 

451
00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:08,700
No, an arrest is inadmissible. 
What then we shall get out at 

452
00:28:08,700 --> 00:28:14,100
Canterbury and then well then we
must make a cross-country 

453
00:28:14,100 --> 00:28:17,200
journey to New Haven and so over
to Dieppe. 

454
00:28:18,100 --> 00:28:20,000
Moriarty will again, do what I 
should do. 

455
00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:24,200
He will get on to Paris mark 
down our luggage and wait for 

456
00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,600
two days at the Depot. 
In the meantime, we shall treat 

457
00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,900
ourselves to a couple of 
carpet-bags, encourage the 

458
00:28:30,900 --> 00:28:34,200
manufacturers of the countries 
through which we travel and make

459
00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:38,500
our way at our Leisure into 
Switzerland via Luxembourg and 

460
00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:41,600
Basel. 
At Canterbury therefore. 

461
00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,800
We alighted only to find that we
should have to wait an hour 

462
00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:46,800
before we could get a train to 
New Haven. 

463
00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,400
I was still looking rather 
ruefully after the rapidly 

464
00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:54,300
disappearing, luggage van, which
contained my wardrobe when 

465
00:28:54,300 --> 00:28:57,900
Holmes pulled my sleeve and 
pointed up the line. 

466
00:28:59,100 --> 00:29:04,200
Already, you see said he far 
away from among the kentish 

467
00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:08,600
woods there arose a thin spray 
of smoke a minute later. 

468
00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:12,500
A carriage, and engine could be 
seen flying along the open curve

469
00:29:12,500 --> 00:29:16,300
which leads to the station. 
We had hardly time to take our 

470
00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:19,900
place behind a pile of luggage 
when it passed with a Rattle and

471
00:29:19,900 --> 00:29:23,300
a roar beating a blast of hot 
air into our faces. 

472
00:29:24,500 --> 00:29:28,500
There he goes, said, Holmes, as 
he watched The Carriage, swing 

473
00:29:28,500 --> 00:29:31,600
and rock over the points. 
There are limits. 

474
00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:33,500
You see to our friends 
intelligence. 

475
00:29:34,900 --> 00:29:38,500
It would have been a coup de 
mettre, had he deduced? 

476
00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:41,400
What I would deduce and acted 
accordingly. 

477
00:29:42,500 --> 00:29:44,800
And what would he have done? 
Had he overtaken us? 

478
00:29:45,900 --> 00:29:48,300
There cannot be the least doubt 
that he would have made a 

479
00:29:48,300 --> 00:29:53,000
murderous attack upon me. 
It is however, a game at which 

480
00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:57,300
two may play the question. 
Now, is whether we should take a

481
00:29:57,300 --> 00:30:01,300
premature lunch here, or run, 
our chance of starving, before 

482
00:30:01,300 --> 00:30:03,100
we reach the buffet at New 
Haven. 

483
00:30:04,700 --> 00:30:07,900
We made our way to Brussels that
night and spent two days there. 

484
00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:12,400
Moving on upon the third day as 
far as Strasburg on the Monday 

485
00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:15,500
morning Holmes had telegraphed 
to the London Police. 

486
00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,200
And in the evening. 
We found a reply waiting for us 

487
00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:24,800
at our hotel homes tore it open 
and then with a bitter curse 

488
00:30:24,900 --> 00:30:29,100
hurled it into the Great. 
I might have known it. 

489
00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:33,200
He groaned. 
He has escaped Moriarty. 

490
00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:37,900
They have secured the whole gang
with the exception of him. 

491
00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:42,300
He has given them the slip, of 
course, when I had left the 

492
00:30:42,308 --> 00:30:44,000
country. 
There was no one to cope with 

493
00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:47,800
him, but I did think that I had 
put the game in their hands. 

494
00:30:48,700 --> 00:30:51,800
I think that you had better 
return to England Watson. 

495
00:30:52,900 --> 00:30:55,500
Why? 
Because you will find me a 

496
00:30:55,500 --> 00:30:59,400
dangerous Companion. 
Now, this man's occupation is 

497
00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:01,200
gone. 
He is lost. 

498
00:31:01,200 --> 00:31:05,100
If he returns to London, if I 
read his character, right? 

499
00:31:05,100 --> 00:31:07,900
He will devote his whole 
energies to revenging himself 

500
00:31:07,900 --> 00:31:11,200
upon me. 
He said, as much in our short 

501
00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:14,000
interview and I fancy that he 
meant it. 

502
00:31:14,500 --> 00:31:17,400
I should certainly recommend you
to return to your practice. 

503
00:31:18,900 --> 00:31:21,800
It was hardly an appeal to be 
successful with one who was an 

504
00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:24,100
old campaigner as well as an old
friend. 

505
00:31:24,900 --> 00:31:26,800
We sat in the Strasbourg 
Salomon. 

506
00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:31,500
Jay arguing the question for 
half an hour, but the same night

507
00:31:31,500 --> 00:31:35,200
we had resumed our journey and 
were well on our way to Geneva. 

508
00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:39,700
For a Charming week. 
We wondered up the Valley of the

509
00:31:39,700 --> 00:31:42,400
Rhone and then branching off at 
Luke. 

510
00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:48,200
We made our way over the Jamie 
pass still deep in snow and so 

511
00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:50,700
by way of Interlaken to 
meiringen. 

512
00:31:51,500 --> 00:31:54,400
It was a lovely trip. 
The dainty green of the spring 

513
00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:58,700
below the virgin white of the 
winter above, but it was clear 

514
00:31:58,700 --> 00:32:02,600
to me that never for one instant
did homes forget the shadow, 

515
00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:07,100
which lay across him. 
In the homely Alpine Villages or

516
00:32:07,100 --> 00:32:10,500
in the Lonely Mountain passes. 
I could tell by his quick 

517
00:32:10,500 --> 00:32:13,800
glancing eyes, and his sharp 
scrutiny of every face that 

518
00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,400
passed us, that he was well, 
convinced that walk where we 

519
00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:21,000
would, we could not walk 
ourselves clear of the danger, 

520
00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:22,900
which was dogging. 
Our footsteps. 

521
00:32:24,100 --> 00:32:27,500
Once I remember as we passed 
over the jemmye and walked along

522
00:32:27,500 --> 00:32:31,600
the border of The Melancholy 
dallben say a large Rock, which 

523
00:32:31,600 --> 00:32:34,700
have been dislodged from the 
ridge upon our right clattered 

524
00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:37,400
down and roared into the lake 
behind us. 

525
00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:41,800
In an instant Holmes, had raced 
up on to the Ridge and standing 

526
00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:45,600
Upon A lofty Pinnacle craned. 
His neck in every direction. 

527
00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:49,800
It was in vain, that our guide 
assured him, that a fall of 

528
00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:53,200
stones was a common chance in 
the springtime at that spot. 

529
00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:58,600
He said nothing, but he smiled 
at me with the air of a man who 

530
00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:02,000
sees the Fulfillment of that, 
which he had expected. 

531
00:33:03,300 --> 00:33:06,400
And yet for all his 
watchfulness, he was never 

532
00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:09,700
depressed. 
On the contrary. 

533
00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:13,200
I can never recollect having 
seen him in such exuberant 

534
00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,700
Spirits again. 
And again here occurred to the 

535
00:33:16,700 --> 00:33:19,900
fact that if he could be assured
that Society was freed from 

536
00:33:19,900 --> 00:33:22,800
Professor Moriarty. 
He would cheerfully bring his 

537
00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:27,500
own career to a conclusion. 
I think that I may go as far as 

538
00:33:27,500 --> 00:33:29,900
to say Watson that I have not 
lived. 

539
00:33:29,900 --> 00:33:34,500
Holy in vain, he remarked, if my
record were closed tonight. 

540
00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:37,200
I could still serve a it with 
Equanimity. 

541
00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:41,400
The air of London is a sweeter 
for my presence in over a 

542
00:33:41,408 --> 00:33:44,300
thousand cases. 
I am not aware that I have ever 

543
00:33:44,300 --> 00:33:48,100
used my Powers upon the wrong 
side of late. 

544
00:33:48,100 --> 00:33:52,000
I have been tempted to look into
the problems furnished by Nature

545
00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,200
rather than those more 
superficial ones for which our 

546
00:33:55,400 --> 00:33:57,900
Artificial state of society is 
responsible. 

547
00:33:58,900 --> 00:34:03,600
Your Memoirs will draw to an end
Watson upon the day that I Crown

548
00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:08,000
my career by the capture or 
extinction of the most dangerous

549
00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:13,699
and capable criminal in Europe. 
I shall be brief, and yet, exact

550
00:34:13,699 --> 00:34:17,500
in the little, which remains for
me to tell it is not a subject 

551
00:34:17,500 --> 00:34:19,100
on which I would willingly 
dwell. 

552
00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:24,400
And yet, I am conscious that a 
duty devolves upon me to emit no

553
00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:28,100
detail. 
It was on the third of May that 

554
00:34:28,100 --> 00:34:31,900
we reached the little village of
meiringen, where we put up at 

555
00:34:31,900 --> 00:34:35,400
the englischer, Hof then kept by
Peter steiler. 

556
00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:37,900
The. 
Elder our landlord was an 

557
00:34:37,900 --> 00:34:41,699
intelligent man and spoke. 
Excellent English having served 

558
00:34:41,699 --> 00:34:46,100
for three years as waiter, the 
Grosvenor hotel in London at his

559
00:34:46,100 --> 00:34:48,600
advice on the afternoon of the 
fourth. 

560
00:34:48,900 --> 00:34:52,100
We set off together with the 
intention of crossing the hills,

561
00:34:52,100 --> 00:34:55,000
and spending the night at the 
Hamlet of rosenlaui. 

562
00:34:56,300 --> 00:35:00,100
We had strict injunctions, 
however, on no account to pass. 

563
00:35:00,100 --> 00:35:04,000
The Falls of Reichenbach, which 
are about halfway up the hill 

564
00:35:04,700 --> 00:35:07,000
without making a small detour to
see them. 

565
00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:13,100
It is indeed a fearful place, 
the torrent swollen by the 

566
00:35:13,100 --> 00:35:17,300
melting snow plunges into a 
tremendous Abyss from which the 

567
00:35:17,300 --> 00:35:22,200
spray rolls up like the smoke 
from a burning house, the shaft 

568
00:35:22,200 --> 00:35:26,400
into which the river hurls 
itself is an immense Chasm lined

569
00:35:26,400 --> 00:35:30,400
by glistening coal-black Rock 
and narrowing into a creaming 

570
00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:34,700
boiling pit of incalculable 
depths which brims over and 

571
00:35:34,700 --> 00:35:37,400
shoots the stream onward over 
its Jagged lip. 

572
00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:42,600
The long sweep of green water 
roaring forever down and the 

573
00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:46,300
sick flickering curtain of spray
hissing forever upward. 

574
00:35:46,700 --> 00:35:49,800
Turn a man giddy with their 
constant world and clamor. 

575
00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:53,800
We stood near the edge peering 
down at The Gleam of the 

576
00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:57,700
breaking water, far below us 
against the black rocks and 

577
00:35:57,700 --> 00:36:01,500
listening to the half-human. 
Shout, which came booming up 

578
00:36:01,500 --> 00:36:07,400
with the spray out of the Abyss.
The path has been cut, halfway, 

579
00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:11,400
round the fall to afford a 
complete view, but it ends 

580
00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,800
abruptly. 
And the traveler has to return. 

581
00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:19,000
As he came, we had turned to do.
So when we saw a Swiss lad come 

582
00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:22,900
running along it with a letter 
in his hand, it bore the mark of

583
00:36:22,900 --> 00:36:26,500
the hotel which we had just left
and was addressed to me by the 

584
00:36:26,500 --> 00:36:29,300
landlord. 
It appeared that within a very 

585
00:36:29,300 --> 00:36:33,100
few minutes of our leaving an 
English lady had arrived who is 

586
00:36:33,100 --> 00:36:37,700
in the last stage of Should she 
had wintered at Davos Platz? 

587
00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:41,900
And was journeying now to join 
her friends at Lutz earn when a 

588
00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:46,000
sudden Hemorrhage had overtaken 
her, it was thought that she 

589
00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:49,300
could hardly live a few hours, 
but it would be a great 

590
00:36:49,300 --> 00:36:51,900
consolation to her to see an 
English doctor. 

591
00:36:52,500 --> 00:36:58,200
And if I would only return Etc. 
The good Styler assured. 

592
00:36:58,200 --> 00:37:01,700
Me in a PostScript that he would
himself look upon my compliance 

593
00:37:01,700 --> 00:37:05,200
as a very great favor. 
Since the lady, absolutely 

594
00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:09,500
refused to see a Swiss physician
and he could not but feel that 

595
00:37:09,500 --> 00:37:11,900
he was incurring a great 
responsibility. 

596
00:37:13,500 --> 00:37:15,700
The appeal was one which could 
not be ignored. 

597
00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:19,200
It was impossible to refuse the 
request of the fellow 

598
00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:23,000
countrywoman dying in a Strange 
Land yet. 

599
00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:25,200
I had my Scruples about leaving 
homes. 

600
00:37:26,300 --> 00:37:29,200
It was finally agreed. 
However, that he should retain 

601
00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:32,500
the young Swiss messenger with 
him as guide and companion, 

602
00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:37,000
while I returned to my ring. 
And my friend would stay some 

603
00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:40,100
little time at the fall. 
He said and would then walk 

604
00:37:40,100 --> 00:37:44,100
slowly over the hill to 
rosenlaui where I was to rejoin 

605
00:37:44,100 --> 00:37:47,400
him in the evening. 
As I turned away. 

606
00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:51,500
I saw Holmes with his back 
against a rock and his arms 

607
00:37:51,500 --> 00:37:54,500
folded gazing down at the rush 
of the waters. 

608
00:37:55,700 --> 00:37:58,900
It was the last that I was ever 
destined to see of him in this 

609
00:37:58,900 --> 00:38:02,000
world. 
When I was near the bottom of 

610
00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:05,600
the Descent, I looked back, it 
was impossible from that 

611
00:38:05,600 --> 00:38:09,300
position to see the fall, but I 
could see the curving path. 

612
00:38:09,300 --> 00:38:13,900
Which winds over the shoulder of
the hill and leads to it along 

613
00:38:13,900 --> 00:38:17,000
this, A man was I remember 
walking very rapidly. 

614
00:38:18,200 --> 00:38:21,000
I could see this black figure 
clearly outlined against the 

615
00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:25,400
Green behind him. 
I noted him and the energy with 

616
00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:28,600
which he walked, but he passed 
from my mind again, as I hurried

617
00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:32,100
on upon my errand. 
It may have been a little over 

618
00:38:32,100 --> 00:38:36,000
an hour before I reached my ring
and old-style, our was standing 

619
00:38:36,000 --> 00:38:41,000
at the porch of his hotel. 
Well said I as I came hurrying 

620
00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:43,800
up. 
I trust that she is no worse. 

621
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:47,400
Look of surprise passed over his
face. 

622
00:38:48,100 --> 00:38:51,100
And at the first quiver of his 
eyebrows, my heart turned to 

623
00:38:51,100 --> 00:38:54,900
lead in my breast. 
You did not write this. 

624
00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:57,300
I said pulling the letter from 
my pocket. 

625
00:38:58,100 --> 00:39:00,700
There is no sick englishwoman in
the hotel. 

626
00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:06,700
Certainly not he cried but it 
has the hotel Mark upon it, huh.

627
00:39:07,500 --> 00:39:11,000
It must have been written by 
that tall Englishman who came in

628
00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:14,600
after you are gone. 
He said, but I waited for none 

629
00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:18,100
of the landlord's explanations 
in A tingle of fear. 

630
00:39:18,300 --> 00:39:21,300
I was already running down the 
Village Street and making for 

631
00:39:21,300 --> 00:39:25,700
the path, which I had So lately.
You to take me an hour to come 

632
00:39:25,700 --> 00:39:29,400
down for all my efforts to more 
had passed before. 

633
00:39:29,400 --> 00:39:31,700
I found myself at the fall of 
Reichenbach. 

634
00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:35,500
Once more. 
There was Holmes alpine-stock 

635
00:39:35,900 --> 00:39:39,500
still leaning against The Rock 
by, which I had left him, but 

636
00:39:39,500 --> 00:39:42,800
there was no sign of him. 
And it was in vain that I 

637
00:39:42,800 --> 00:39:46,900
shouted. 
My only answer was my own voice,

638
00:39:46,900 --> 00:39:50,100
reverberating, in a rolling Echo
from The Cliffs around me. 

639
00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:54,500
It was a sight of that 
alpine-stock, which turned me 

640
00:39:54,500 --> 00:39:59,500
cold and sick. 
He had not gone to rosenlaui. 

641
00:39:59,500 --> 00:40:04,000
Then he had remained on that 
three foot path with Shear wall 

642
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:08,300
on one side and sheer drop on 
the other until his enemy had 

643
00:40:08,300 --> 00:40:12,800
overtaken him. 
The young Swiss had gone to, he 

644
00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:16,200
had probably been in the pay of 
Moriarty and had left the two 

645
00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:20,300
men together. 
And then what had happened, who 

646
00:40:20,300 --> 00:40:22,300
is to tell us what had happened,
then. 

647
00:40:23,900 --> 00:40:27,300
I stood for a moment or two to 
collect myself for, I was Dazed 

648
00:40:27,300 --> 00:40:30,900
with the horror of the thing. 
Then I began to think, of homes,

649
00:40:30,900 --> 00:40:33,700
his own methods and to try to 
practice them in. 

650
00:40:33,700 --> 00:40:38,800
Reading this tragedy. 
It was alas only too easy to do 

651
00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:42,600
during our conversation. 
We had not gone to the end of 

652
00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:47,000
the path and the Alpine stock 
markets, a place where we had 

653
00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:51,100
stood, the Black-ish soil is 
kept forever soft by the 

654
00:40:51,100 --> 00:40:54,500
incessant drift of spray. 
And the bird would leave its 

655
00:40:54,500 --> 00:40:57,900
tread upon it. 
Two lines of footmarks were 

656
00:40:57,900 --> 00:41:01,700
clearly marked along the farther
end of the path, both leading 

657
00:41:01,700 --> 00:41:06,100
away from me. 
There were non returning a few 

658
00:41:06,100 --> 00:41:08,900
yards from the end. 
The soil was all plowed up into 

659
00:41:08,900 --> 00:41:12,700
a patch of mud and the branches 
and ferns, which fringed the 

660
00:41:12,700 --> 00:41:18,800
chasm with torn and bedraggled. 
I lay upon my face and peered 

661
00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:21,300
over with the spray spouting up 
all around me. 

662
00:41:22,300 --> 00:41:26,600
It had darkened since I left and
now I could only see here and 

663
00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:29,500
there, the glistening of 
moisture upon the Black Walls 

664
00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:33,200
and far away down at the end of 
the shaft, The Gleam of the 

665
00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:38,000
broken water. 
I shouted, but only the same 

666
00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:41,500
half human Cry of the Fall, was 
born back to my ears. 

667
00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:45,400
But it was destined that I 
should, after all have a last 

668
00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:49,200
word of greeting from my friend.
And comrade, I have said that 

669
00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:52,400
his alpine-stock have been left 
leaning against a rock, which 

670
00:41:52,400 --> 00:41:57,100
jutted onto the path from the 
top of this Boulder, The Gleam 

671
00:41:57,100 --> 00:42:01,000
of something bright, caught my 
eye and raising my hand. 

672
00:42:01,300 --> 00:42:04,400
I found that it came from the 
silver, cigarette case, which he

673
00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:08,400
used to carry. 
As I took it up as small square 

674
00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:12,200
of paper upon which it had Lain 
fluttered down onto the ground 

675
00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:16,100
unfolding it. 
I found that it consisted of 

676
00:42:16,100 --> 00:42:20,100
three pages torn from his 
notebook and addressed to me. 

677
00:42:21,200 --> 00:42:24,400
It was characteristic of the man
that the direction was as 

678
00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:26,700
precise. 
And the writing is firm and 

679
00:42:26,700 --> 00:42:29,700
clear, as though it had been 
written in his study. 

680
00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:34,900
My dear Watson is said, I write 
these few lines through the 

681
00:42:34,900 --> 00:42:37,500
courtesy of mr. 
Moriarty who awaits my 

682
00:42:37,500 --> 00:42:40,900
convenience for the final 
discussion of those questions, 

683
00:42:40,900 --> 00:42:44,600
which lie between us he has been
giving me a sketch of the 

684
00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:48,400
methods by which he avoided the 
English police and kept himself 

685
00:42:48,400 --> 00:42:52,500
informed of our movements. 
They certainly confirm the very 

686
00:42:52,500 --> 00:42:55,100
high opinion, which I had formed
of his abilities. 

687
00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:58,900
I am pleased to think that I 
shall be able to free Society 

688
00:42:58,900 --> 00:43:02,000
from any further effects of his 
presence though. 

689
00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:06,500
I fear that it is at cost which 
will give pain to my friends and

690
00:43:06,500 --> 00:43:08,900
especially my dear Watson to 
you. 

691
00:43:10,100 --> 00:43:13,500
I have already explained to you.
However, that my career had, in 

692
00:43:13,500 --> 00:43:17,600
any case, reached its crisis and
that no possible conclusion to 

693
00:43:17,600 --> 00:43:21,700
it could be more congenial to me
than this indeed. 

694
00:43:22,100 --> 00:43:24,000
If I may make a full confession 
to you. 

695
00:43:24,700 --> 00:43:28,400
I was quite That the letter from
meiringen was a hoax. 

696
00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:32,600
And I allowed you to depart on 
that errand under the persuasion

697
00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:36,600
that some development of this 
sort would follow tell 

698
00:43:36,600 --> 00:43:39,300
inspector. 
Patterson at the papers, which 

699
00:43:39,300 --> 00:43:42,500
he needs to convict. 
The gang are in pigeonhole EM. 

700
00:43:42,900 --> 00:43:46,300
Done up in a blue envelope and 
inscribed, Moriarty. 

701
00:43:47,500 --> 00:43:50,700
I made every disposition of my 
property before leaving England 

702
00:43:51,000 --> 00:43:53,000
and handed it to my brother 
Mycroft. 

703
00:43:53,800 --> 00:43:55,400
Pray. 
Give my greetings to Mrs. 

704
00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:58,500
Watson. 
Ian and believe me to be my dear

705
00:43:58,500 --> 00:44:02,500
fellow, very sincerely yours 
Sherlock Holmes. 

706
00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:08,200
A few words may suffice to tell 
the little that remains an 

707
00:44:08,200 --> 00:44:12,100
examination by experts leaves. 
Little doubt that a personal 

708
00:44:12,100 --> 00:44:16,100
contest between the two men 
Ended as it could hardly fail to

709
00:44:16,100 --> 00:44:20,500
end in such a situation in 
there, reeling over locked in 

710
00:44:20,500 --> 00:44:23,900
each others arms. 
Any attempt at recovering, the 

711
00:44:23,900 --> 00:44:28,300
bodies was absolutely hopeless. 
And they're deep down in that 

712
00:44:28,300 --> 00:44:32,800
Dreadful, caldron of swirling 
water, and seething foam will 

713
00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:37,100
lie for all time the most 
dangerous criminal, and the 

714
00:44:37,100 --> 00:44:39,900
foremost champion of the law of 
their Generation. 

715
00:44:41,100 --> 00:44:45,200
The Swiss youth was never found 
again, and there can be no doubt

716
00:44:45,200 --> 00:44:48,500
that he was one of the numerous 
agents who Moriarty kept in his 

717
00:44:48,500 --> 00:44:52,300
employ. 
As to the gang, it will be 

718
00:44:52,300 --> 00:44:55,200
within the memory of the public,
how completely the evidence, 

719
00:44:55,200 --> 00:45:00,200
which Holmes had accumulated 
exposed their organization and 

720
00:45:00,200 --> 00:45:04,600
how heavily the hand of the dead
man weighed upon them of their 

721
00:45:04,600 --> 00:45:07,600
terrible. 
Chief few details came out 

722
00:45:07,600 --> 00:45:10,900
during the proceedings. 
And if I have now been compelled

723
00:45:10,900 --> 00:45:14,800
to make a clear statement of his
career, it is due to those in 

724
00:45:14,800 --> 00:45:18,300
judicious Champions who have 
endeavored to clear his memory 

725
00:45:18,300 --> 00:45:22,500
by a tax upon him. 
My shall ever regard as the best

726
00:45:22,800 --> 00:45:25,900
and the wisest man whom I have 
ever known. 

727
00:45:28,300 --> 00:45:34,400
End of the final problem and of 
the Memoirs of Sherlock, Holmes 

728
00:45:34,600 --> 00:45:38,600
by Sir, Arthur Conan Doyle. 
This LibriVox recording is in 

729
00:45:38,607 --> 00:45:43,000
the public domain. 
Read by David Clark, BG, David 

730
00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:46,200
dot wordpress.com, and BG coffee
dotnet. 

731
00:45:46,900 --> 00:45:49,800
I appreciate your time. 
Thank you for listening.