Adventure number 11 in the Memoirs of Sherlock, Holmes by
Sir, Arthur Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Adventure 11, the final problem.
It is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen to write these
the last words in which I shall ever record the singular gifts
by, which my friend. Mr. Sherlock Holmes was
distinguished in an incoherent and as I deeply feel an entirely
inadequate fashion. I have endeavored to give some
account of My Strange experiences in his company from
the chance which first brought us together at the period of the
study in Scarlet, up to the time of his interference in the
matter of the naval treaty. T, an interference, which had
the unquestionable effect of preventing a serious
International complication. It was my intention to have
stopped there and to have said nothing of that event, which has
created a void in my life, which the lapse of two years has done
little to fill. My hand has been forced.
However, by the recent letters in, which Colonel James Moriarty
defends the memory of his brother and I have no choice but
to lay the facts before the public exactly as they occurred.
I alone know the absolute truth of the matter.
And I am satisfied that the time has come, when no good purpose
is to be served by its suppression.
As far as I know, there have been only three accounts in the
public press. That in the journal de genève
on, May 6th 1891 the Reuters dispatch in the English papers
on May 7th. And finally, the recent letter
to, which I have alluded of these, the first.
And second were extremely condensed.
While the last is, As I Shall now show an absolute perversion
of the facts. It lies with me to tell for the
first time what really took place between Professor Moriarty
and mr. Sherlock Holmes.
It may be remembered that after my marriage, and my subsequent
start in private practice, the very intimate relations, which
had existed between homes and myself became to some extent
modified. He still came to me from time to
time when he desired a companion in his investigation, but these
occasions grew more and more seldom until I find that in the
year 1890 there were only three cases of which I retain any
record. During the winter of that year.
And the early spring of 1891. I saw in the papers that he had
been engaged by the French government upon a matter of
supreme importance. And I received two notes from
Holmes dated, from now, Bond, and from neem, from which I
gathered, that his stay in France was likely to be a long
one. It was with some surprise
therefore that I saw him walk into my consulting-room upon the
evening of April 24th. It struck me that he was looking
even paler and thinner than usual.
Yes, I have been using myself up rather to freely.
He remarked in answer to my look rather than to my words.
I have been a little pressed of late.
Have you any objection to my closing, your shutters?
The only light in the room came from the lamp upon the table,
which I had been reading homes, edged his way around the wall
and flinging the shutters together.
He bolted them securely. You're afraid of something.
I asked. Well, I am of, what of air guns,
my dear Holmes. What do you mean?
I think that, you know me, well enough Watson to understand that
I am by no means a nervous man. At the same time.
It is stupidity. Rather than courage to refuse to
recognize danger when it is close upon.
You might I trouble you for a match.
He drew in the Smoke of his cigarette as if the soothing
influence was grateful to him. I must apologize for calling.
So late said, he and I must further beg you to be.
So unconventional, as to allow me to leave your house,
presently by scrambling over your back Garden Wall.
But what does it all mean? I asked he held out his hand and
I saw in the light of the lamp that two of his knuckles were
burst and bleeding. It is not an Airy.
Nothing. You see said he smiling on the
contrary. It is solid enough for a man to
break. His hand.
Over is Mrs. Watson in, she's away Upon A Visit indeed.
You are alone quite then it makes it easier for me to
propose that you should come away with me for a week to the
continent where Oh anywhere, it's all the same to me.
It was something very strange in all this it was not Holmes is
nature to take a nameless holiday and something about his
pale worn face. Told me that his nerves were at
their highest tension. He saw the question in my eyes
and putting his fingertips together and his elbows upon his
knees. He explained the situation.
You have probably never heard of Professor.
Moriarty said he never Aye. There's the genius, and The
Wonder of the thing, he cried, the man pervades.
London, and no one has heard of him.
That's what puts him on a pinnacle in the records of
crime. I tell you what, sun' in all
seriousness, that if I could beat that, man, if I could free
Society of him, I should feel that my own career had reached
its Summit, and I should be prepared to turn to some more
Placid line in life between ourselves.
The recent cases in Try have been of assistance to the royal
family of Scandinavia. And the French Republic have
left me in such a position that I could continue to live in the
quiet fashion, which is most congenial to me, and to
concentrate my attention upon my chemical researches.
But I could not rest Watson. I could not sit quiet in my
chair. If I thought that such a man, as
Professor, Moriarty were walking the streets of London
unchallenged. What has he done then?
His career has been an extraordinary one.
He is a man of good birth and excellent education endowed by
Nature with a phenomenal mathematical faculty.
At the age of 21, he wrote A Treatise upon the binomial
theorem, which has had a European Vogue on the strength
of it. He won the mathematical chair at
one of our smaller universities and had to all appearances, a
most brilliant career before him.
But the man had hereditary Tendencies of the most
diabolical, kind a criminal strain run in his blood which
instead of being modified was increased and rendered
infinitely more dangerous. A spy, his extraordinary mental
Powers Dark Rumors, gathered round him in the University town
and eventually he was compelled to resign his chair and to come
down to London where he set up as an army coach.
So much is known to the world. But what I am telling you now is
what I have myself discovered. As you are aware Watson, there
is no one who knows the higher criminal world of London.
So well, as I do four years past, I have continually been
conscious of some power behind the malefactor, some deep
organizing power, which forever stands in the way of the law and
throws its Shield over the wrongdoer.
Again, and again, in cases of the most varying source for
jury, cases, robberies, murders. I have felt the presence of this
Force. And I have deduced, its action
in many of those undiscovered crimes in which I have not been
personally consulted, for years. I have endeavored to break
through the veil, which shrouded it.
And at last the time came, when I seized my thread and followed
it until it led me after 1000, cunning windings to ex-professor
Moriarty of mathematical celebrity.
He is the Napoleon of crime Watson.
He is the organiser of half that is evil, have nearly all that is
undetected in this great City. He is a genius, a philosopher,
an abstract thinker, he has a brain of the first order.
He sits motionless. Like a spider in the center of
its web but that web has 1,000 radiations and he knows well
every quiver of each of them. He does little himself, he only
plans, but his agents are numerous and splendidly
organized. Is there a crime to be done a
paper to be abstracted? We will say a house to be
rifled, a man to be removed. The word is passed to the
professor. The matter is, organized and
carried out, the agent may be caught in that case.
Money is found for his bail or his defense, but the central
power, which uses the agent. Never caught.
Never so much as suspected. This was the organization, which
I deduced Watson and which I devoted my whole energy to
exposing and breaking up. But the professor was fenced
around with Safeguard so cunningly devised that do what I
would. It seemed impossible to get
evidence which would convict in a court of law.
You know, my Powers my dear Watson and yet at the end of
three months, I was forced to confess that I had at last met
an antagonist. Who is my intellectual equal.
My horror at his crimes was lost in my admiration at his skill.
But at last he made a trip, only a little little trip, but it was
more than he could afford when I was so close upon him.
I had my chance and starting from that point.
I have woven my net around him until now it is already too
close in three days, that is to say on Monday.
Next matters will be ripe and the professor with all the
principal members of Gang will be in the hands of the police.
Then will come the greatest criminal trial of the century.
The clearing up of over 40 Mysteries and the Rope for all
of them. But if we move at all,
prematurely, you understand they may slip out of our hands even
at the last moment. Now, if I could have done this
without the knowledge of Professor, Moriarty all would
have been well, but he was too Wiley for that.
He saw every step, which I took to draw my toils round him
again, and again, he strove to break away.
But I as often headed him off. I tell you my friend, have a
detailed account of that silent contest could be written.
It would take its place as the most brilliant bit of thrust and
Parry work in the history of I should never have.
I risen to such a height. I never have.
I been so hard pressed by an opponent.
He cut deep and yet I just undercut him this morning.
The last steps were taken and three days.
Only were wanted to complete the business.
I was sitting in my room thinking the matter over when
the door opened and Professor Moriarty stood before me.
My nerves are fairly proof Watson, but I must confess to a
start. When I saw the very man who been
so much in my thoughts standing there on my threshold.
His appearance was quite familiar to me.
He is extremely tall and thin his forehead domes out in a
white curve and his two eyes are deeply.
Sunken in his head. He's clean shaven, pale and
acetic looking retaining something of the professor in
his features. His shoulders are rounded from
much study and his face protrudes forward and is forever
slowly oscillating from side to side in a curiously.
Reptilian fashion. He peered at me with great
curiosity in his puckered eyes. You have less frontal
development than I should have expected said he last.
It is a dangerous Habit to finger loaded firearms in the
pocket of one's dressing gown. The fact is that upon his
entrance. I had instantly recognize the
extreme personal danger in which I lay the only conceivable
Escape for him. Lay in silencing my tongue in an
instant. I had slipped the revolver, from
the draw into my pocket and was covering him through the cloth.
This remark, I drew the weapon out and laid it cocked upon the
table. He still smiled and blinked but
there was something about his eyes which made me feel very
glad that I had it there. You evidently don't know.
Me said he on the contrary. I answered.
I think it is fairly evident that I do.
Pray take a chair. I can spare you five minutes if
you have anything to say. All that I have to say has
already crossed your mind said. He then possibly my answer has
crossed yours. I replied.
You Stand Fast? Absolutely.
He clapped his hand into his pocket and I raised the pistol
from the table, but he merely Drew out a memorandum book in
which he had scribbled some dates.
You crossed my path on the 4th of January.
Said he on the 23rd. You incommoded me by the middle
of February. I was seriously inconvenience by
you at the end of March. I was absolutely hampered in my
plans. And now at the close of April, I
find myself placed in such a position through your continual
persecution, a time in positive danger of losing my Liberty.
The situation is becoming Having an impossible one.
Have you any suggestion to make? I asked you must drop it?
Mr. Holmes said he swaying his face about you really must you
know. after Monday said, I Tapped at said, he I am quite
sure that a man of your intelligence will see that there
can be, but one outcome to this affair.
It is necessary that you should withdraw.
You have worked things in such a fashion that we have.
Only one resource left. It has been an intellectual
treat to me to see the way in which you have grappled with
this affair and I say unaffectedly that, it would be a
grief to Need to be forced to take any extreme measure, you
smile, sir, but I assure you that it really would.
Danger is part of my trade. I remarked that is not danger
said he it is inevitable destruction.
You stand in the way, not merely of an individual but of a mighty
organization, the full extent of which you with all your
cleverness have been unable to realize you must stand clear.
Mr. Holmes or be trodden Under Foot.
I'm afraid said I Rising that in the pleasure of this
conversation. I am neglecting business of
importance which awaits me elsewhere.
Heroes also, and looked at me in silence shaking his head.
Sadly. Well, well said he at last, it
seems a Pity but I have done what I could, I know every move
of your game. You can do nothing before
Monday. It has been a duel between you
and me. Mr. Holmes, you hope to place me
in the dock. I tell you that I will never
stand in the dock. You hope to beat me.
I tell you that you will never beat me if you are clever.
Enough to bring destruction upon me, rest assured that I shall do
as much to you. You have paid me.
Several compliments. Mr. Moriarty said I, let me pay
you one in return. When I say that, if I were
assured of the former eventuality, I would in the
interests of the public cheerfully accept the latter.
I can promise you the one, but not the other he snarled.
And so turned, his rounded back upon me and went peering and
blinking out of the room. That was my singular interview,
is Professor. Moriarty?
I confess that it left an unpleasant effect.
Upon my mind, his soft precise, fashion of speech, leaves, a
conviction of sincerity, which are mere bully.
Could not produce. Of course, you will say, why not
take police precautions against him.
The reason is that? I am well convinced that it is
from his agents to blow will fall.
I have the best proofs that it would be.
So you've already been assaulted.
My dear Watson. Professor Moriarty is, not a man
who lets the grass grow under his feet.
I went out about midday to transact some business in Oxford
Street, as I passed the corner which leads from Banting Street
onto The Welbeck. Street crossing a two-horse van
furiously driven, was drowned, and was on me like a flash.
I sprang for the footpath and saved myself by the fraction of
a second. The van dashed around by
marylebone Lane and was gone in an instant.
I kept the pavement after that Watson, but as I walked down via
Street, A brick came down from the roof of one of the houses
and was shattered to fragments at my feet.
I called the police and had the place examined.
There were slates and Bricks piled up on the roof Preparatory
to some repairs and they would have me believe that the wind
had toppled over one of these. Of course, I knew better, but I
could prove nothing. I took a cab after that and
reach my brother's rooms in Pall Mall where I spent the day.
Now, I have come round to you. And on my way.
I was attacked by a rough with a bludgeon.
I knocked him down and the police have him in custody, but
I can tell you with the most absolute confidence, that no
possible connection will ever be traced between the gentleman
upon whose front teeth. I have barked my Knuckles and
the retiring, mathematical coach.
Who is I daresay, working out problems Upon A Blackboard 10
miles away. You will not wonder what's in
the my first act on entering your rooms was to close your
shutters. And that I've been compelled to
ask your permission to leave the house by some less conspicuous
exit than the front door. I'd often admired my friends
courage, but never more than now as he sat quietly, checking off
a series of incidents, which must have combined to make up a
day of horror. You'll spend the night here.
I said, no, my friend, you might find me a dangerous guests.
I have my plans laid and all will be well, matters have gone
so far now that they can move without my help.
As far as the arrest goes. Though, my presence is necessary
for a conviction. It is obvious therefore, that I
cannot do better than get away for the few days, which remain
before. The police are at Liberty to
act. It would be a great pleasure to
me. Therefore, if you would come on
to the continent with me. The practice is quiet said, I
and I have an accommodating neighbor.
I should be glad to come and to start tomorrow morning if
necessary. Oh, yes, it is most necessary.
And these are your instructions and I beg my dear Watson that
you will obey them to the letter for your now.
Playing a double-handed game with me against the cleverest
Rogue and the most powerful Syndicate of criminals in
Europe. Now listen, you will dispatch
whatever, luggage you intend to take by a trusty Messenger
unaddressed to Victoria tonight in the morning.
You will send for a handsome Desiring.
Your man to take neither the first nor the second which may
present itself. Into this handsome, you will
jump and you will drive to the Strand end of the lowther arcade
handing the address to the cabman upon a slip of paper with
a request that you will not. Throw it away, have your fare
ready? And the instant that your cab
stops Dash through the arcade, timing yourself to reach the
other side at 9:15. You will find a small breath.
Mmm, waiting close to the curb driven by a fellow with a heavy
black cloak tipped. Color with red into this, you
will step and you'll reach Victoria in time for the
Continental Express. Where shall I meet you at the
station? The second first-class Carriage.
From the front will be reserved for us.
The Carriage is our Rendezvous then.
Yes. It was in vain that I asked
Holmes to remain for the evening.
It was evident to me that he thought he might bring trouble
to the roof. He was under and that, that was
the motive, which impelled him to go.
With a few hurried words as to our plans for the morrow, he
rose and came out with me into the garden.
Clambering over the wall, which leads into Mortimer Street and
immediately whistling for a handsome in which I heard him
drive away. In the morning, I obeyed.
Holmes's injunction to the letter, a handsome was procured
with such precaution as would prevent its being one, which was
placed ready for us. And I drove immediately after
breakfast to the lowther arcade through, which I hurried at the
top of my speed, a broth from was waiting with a very massive
driver wrapped in a dark cloak, who the instant that I had
stepped in whipped up the horse and rattled off to Victoria
Station. On my lighting there.
He turned the carriage and dashed away again without so
much as a look in my direction so far all had gone admirably.
My luggage was waiting for me and I had no difficulty in
finding the carriage which Holmes had indicated the less.
So as it was the only one in the train, which was marked engaged.
My only source of anxiety. Now, was the non-appearance of
homes. The station clock marked, only
seven minutes from the time. When we were due to start in
vain. I searched among the groups of
Travelers and leave takers for the lithe figure of my friend.
There was no sign of him. I spent a few minutes in
assisting, a venerable Italian priest who is endeavoring to
make a porter. Understand in his broken English
as his luggage was to be booked through to Paris then having
taken another look around. I returned to my Carriage where
I found that the porter in spite of the ticket and given me my
decrepit, Italian friend as a traveling companion.
It was useless for me to explain to him that his presence was an
intrusion for my And was even more limited than his English.
So I Shrugged my shoulders resignedly and continue to look
out. Anxiously for my friend.
A chill of fear had come over me as I thought that his absence
might mean that some blow had fallen during the night already.
The doors had all been shut and the whistle blown.
When my dear Watson said a voice, you have not even
condescended to say good morning.
I turned in uncontrollable astonishment.
The agent ecclesiastic had turned his face towards me for
an instant. The wrinkles were smoothed away.
The knows Drew away from the chin.
The lower lips cease to protrude and the mouth to mumble, the
dull eyes regained their fire, the drooping figure expanded the
next, the whole frame collapsed again, and Holmes had gone as
quickly as he had come. Good Heavens.
I cried how you startled, me. Every precaution is still
necessary. He whispered.
I have reason to think that they are hot Upon Our Trail are.
There is Moriarty himself. The train had already begun to
move as home. Spoke glancing back.
I saw a tall man pushing his way furiously through the crowd and
waving his hand as if he desired to have the train stopped.
It was too late. However, for we were rapidly
Gathering momentum and an instant later had shot clear of
the station. With all our precautions, you
see that we have, cut it rather fine said Holmes, laughing
Heroes, and throwing off the black cassock and hat which had
formed his disguise. He packed them away in a
handbag. Have you seen the morning paper
Watson? No, you haven't seen about Baker
Street. Then, Baker Street.
They set fire to our rooms last night.
No, great harm was done. Good Heavens Holmes.
This is intolerable. They must have lost my track
completely after their bludgeon man was arrested.
Otherwise, they could not have imagined that I had returned to
my rooms. They have evidently taken the
precaution of watching you. However, and that is what has
brought Moriarty to Victoria. You could not have made any slip
incoming. I did exactly what you advised.
Did you find your breath? Mmm?
Yes, it was waiting. Did you recognize your Coachman
know? It was my brother Mycroft.
It is an advantage to get about in such a case without taking a
mercenary into your confidence, but we must plan what we are to
do about Moriarty now. As this is an Express and as the
boat runs in connection with it. I should think we've shaken him
off very effectively. My dear Watson you evidently did
not realize my meaning when I said that this man may be taken
as being quite on the same intellectual plane as myself,
you do not imagine that if I were the pursuer I should allow
myself to be baffled by so slight and obstacle.
Why then should you think so meanly of him?
What will he do? What I should do?
What would you do then engage a special but it must be late by.
No means this train stops at Canterbury and there is always,
at least a quarter of an hour's delay at the boat.
He will catch us there. One would think that we were the
criminals, let us have him arrested on his arrival.
It would be to ruin the work of three months.
We should get the big fish. But the smaller would Dart,
right? And left out of the net on
Monday. We should have them all.
No, an arrest is inadmissible. What then we shall get out at
Canterbury and then well then we must make a cross-country
journey to New Haven and so over to Dieppe.
Moriarty will again, do what I should do.
He will get on to Paris mark down our luggage and wait for
two days at the Depot. In the meantime, we shall treat
ourselves to a couple of carpet-bags, encourage the
manufacturers of the countries through which we travel and make
our way at our Leisure into Switzerland via Luxembourg and
Basel. At Canterbury therefore.
We alighted only to find that we should have to wait an hour
before we could get a train to New Haven.
I was still looking rather ruefully after the rapidly
disappearing, luggage van, which contained my wardrobe when
Holmes pulled my sleeve and pointed up the line.
Already, you see said he far away from among the kentish
woods there arose a thin spray of smoke a minute later.
A carriage, and engine could be seen flying along the open curve
which leads to the station. We had hardly time to take our
place behind a pile of luggage when it passed with a Rattle and
a roar beating a blast of hot air into our faces.
There he goes, said, Holmes, as he watched The Carriage, swing
and rock over the points. There are limits.
You see to our friends intelligence.
It would have been a coup de mettre, had he deduced?
What I would deduce and acted accordingly.
And what would he have done? Had he overtaken us?
There cannot be the least doubt that he would have made a
murderous attack upon me. It is however, a game at which
two may play the question. Now, is whether we should take a
premature lunch here, or run, our chance of starving, before
we reach the buffet at New Haven.
We made our way to Brussels that night and spent two days there.
Moving on upon the third day as far as Strasburg on the Monday
morning Holmes had telegraphed to the London Police.
And in the evening. We found a reply waiting for us
at our hotel homes tore it open and then with a bitter curse
hurled it into the Great. I might have known it.
He groaned. He has escaped Moriarty.
They have secured the whole gang with the exception of him.
He has given them the slip, of course, when I had left the
country. There was no one to cope with
him, but I did think that I had put the game in their hands.
I think that you had better return to England Watson.
Why? Because you will find me a
dangerous Companion. Now, this man's occupation is
gone. He is lost.
If he returns to London, if I read his character, right?
He will devote his whole energies to revenging himself
upon me. He said, as much in our short
interview and I fancy that he meant it.
I should certainly recommend you to return to your practice.
It was hardly an appeal to be successful with one who was an
old campaigner as well as an old friend.
We sat in the Strasbourg Salomon.
Jay arguing the question for half an hour, but the same night
we had resumed our journey and were well on our way to Geneva.
For a Charming week. We wondered up the Valley of the
Rhone and then branching off at Luke.
We made our way over the Jamie pass still deep in snow and so
by way of Interlaken to meiringen.
It was a lovely trip. The dainty green of the spring
below the virgin white of the winter above, but it was clear
to me that never for one instant did homes forget the shadow,
which lay across him. In the homely Alpine Villages or
in the Lonely Mountain passes. I could tell by his quick
glancing eyes, and his sharp scrutiny of every face that
passed us, that he was well, convinced that walk where we
would, we could not walk ourselves clear of the danger,
which was dogging. Our footsteps.
Once I remember as we passed over the jemmye and walked along
the border of The Melancholy dallben say a large Rock, which
have been dislodged from the ridge upon our right clattered
down and roared into the lake behind us.
In an instant Holmes, had raced up on to the Ridge and standing
Upon A lofty Pinnacle craned. His neck in every direction.
It was in vain, that our guide assured him, that a fall of
stones was a common chance in the springtime at that spot.
He said nothing, but he smiled at me with the air of a man who
sees the Fulfillment of that, which he had expected.
And yet for all his watchfulness, he was never
depressed. On the contrary.
I can never recollect having seen him in such exuberant
Spirits again. And again here occurred to the
fact that if he could be assured that Society was freed from
Professor Moriarty. He would cheerfully bring his
own career to a conclusion. I think that I may go as far as
to say Watson that I have not lived.
Holy in vain, he remarked, if my record were closed tonight.
I could still serve a it with Equanimity.
The air of London is a sweeter for my presence in over a
thousand cases. I am not aware that I have ever
used my Powers upon the wrong side of late.
I have been tempted to look into the problems furnished by Nature
rather than those more superficial ones for which our
Artificial state of society is responsible.
Your Memoirs will draw to an end Watson upon the day that I Crown
my career by the capture or extinction of the most dangerous
and capable criminal in Europe. I shall be brief, and yet, exact
in the little, which remains for me to tell it is not a subject
on which I would willingly dwell.
And yet, I am conscious that a duty devolves upon me to emit no
detail. It was on the third of May that
we reached the little village of meiringen, where we put up at
the englischer, Hof then kept by Peter steiler.
The. Elder our landlord was an
intelligent man and spoke. Excellent English having served
for three years as waiter, the Grosvenor hotel in London at his
advice on the afternoon of the fourth.
We set off together with the intention of crossing the hills,
and spending the night at the Hamlet of rosenlaui.
We had strict injunctions, however, on no account to pass.
The Falls of Reichenbach, which are about halfway up the hill
without making a small detour to see them.
It is indeed a fearful place, the torrent swollen by the
melting snow plunges into a tremendous Abyss from which the
spray rolls up like the smoke from a burning house, the shaft
into which the river hurls itself is an immense Chasm lined
by glistening coal-black Rock and narrowing into a creaming
boiling pit of incalculable depths which brims over and
shoots the stream onward over its Jagged lip.
The long sweep of green water roaring forever down and the
sick flickering curtain of spray hissing forever upward.
Turn a man giddy with their constant world and clamor.
We stood near the edge peering down at The Gleam of the
breaking water, far below us against the black rocks and
listening to the half-human. Shout, which came booming up
with the spray out of the Abyss. The path has been cut, halfway,
round the fall to afford a complete view, but it ends
abruptly. And the traveler has to return.
As he came, we had turned to do. So when we saw a Swiss lad come
running along it with a letter in his hand, it bore the mark of
the hotel which we had just left and was addressed to me by the
landlord. It appeared that within a very
few minutes of our leaving an English lady had arrived who is
in the last stage of Should she had wintered at Davos Platz?
And was journeying now to join her friends at Lutz earn when a
sudden Hemorrhage had overtaken her, it was thought that she
could hardly live a few hours, but it would be a great
consolation to her to see an English doctor.
And if I would only return Etc. The good Styler assured.
Me in a PostScript that he would himself look upon my compliance
as a very great favor. Since the lady, absolutely
refused to see a Swiss physician and he could not but feel that
he was incurring a great responsibility.
The appeal was one which could not be ignored.
It was impossible to refuse the request of the fellow
countrywoman dying in a Strange Land yet.
I had my Scruples about leaving homes.
It was finally agreed. However, that he should retain
the young Swiss messenger with him as guide and companion,
while I returned to my ring. And my friend would stay some
little time at the fall. He said and would then walk
slowly over the hill to rosenlaui where I was to rejoin
him in the evening. As I turned away.
I saw Holmes with his back against a rock and his arms
folded gazing down at the rush of the waters.
It was the last that I was ever destined to see of him in this
world. When I was near the bottom of
the Descent, I looked back, it was impossible from that
position to see the fall, but I could see the curving path.
Which winds over the shoulder of the hill and leads to it along
this, A man was I remember walking very rapidly.
I could see this black figure clearly outlined against the
Green behind him. I noted him and the energy with
which he walked, but he passed from my mind again, as I hurried
on upon my errand. It may have been a little over
an hour before I reached my ring and old-style, our was standing
at the porch of his hotel. Well said I as I came hurrying
up. I trust that she is no worse.
Look of surprise passed over his face.
And at the first quiver of his eyebrows, my heart turned to
lead in my breast. You did not write this.
I said pulling the letter from my pocket.
There is no sick englishwoman in the hotel.
Certainly not he cried but it has the hotel Mark upon it, huh.
It must have been written by that tall Englishman who came in
after you are gone. He said, but I waited for none
of the landlord's explanations in A tingle of fear.
I was already running down the Village Street and making for
the path, which I had So lately. You to take me an hour to come
down for all my efforts to more had passed before.
I found myself at the fall of Reichenbach.
Once more. There was Holmes alpine-stock
still leaning against The Rock by, which I had left him, but
there was no sign of him. And it was in vain that I
shouted. My only answer was my own voice,
reverberating, in a rolling Echo from The Cliffs around me.
It was a sight of that alpine-stock, which turned me
cold and sick. He had not gone to rosenlaui.
Then he had remained on that three foot path with Shear wall
on one side and sheer drop on the other until his enemy had
overtaken him. The young Swiss had gone to, he
had probably been in the pay of Moriarty and had left the two
men together. And then what had happened, who
is to tell us what had happened, then.
I stood for a moment or two to collect myself for, I was Dazed
with the horror of the thing. Then I began to think, of homes,
his own methods and to try to practice them in.
Reading this tragedy. It was alas only too easy to do
during our conversation. We had not gone to the end of
the path and the Alpine stock markets, a place where we had
stood, the Black-ish soil is kept forever soft by the
incessant drift of spray. And the bird would leave its
tread upon it. Two lines of footmarks were
clearly marked along the farther end of the path, both leading
away from me. There were non returning a few
yards from the end. The soil was all plowed up into
a patch of mud and the branches and ferns, which fringed the
chasm with torn and bedraggled. I lay upon my face and peered
over with the spray spouting up all around me.
It had darkened since I left and now I could only see here and
there, the glistening of moisture upon the Black Walls
and far away down at the end of the shaft, The Gleam of the
broken water. I shouted, but only the same
half human Cry of the Fall, was born back to my ears.
But it was destined that I should, after all have a last
word of greeting from my friend. And comrade, I have said that
his alpine-stock have been left leaning against a rock, which
jutted onto the path from the top of this Boulder, The Gleam
of something bright, caught my eye and raising my hand.
I found that it came from the silver, cigarette case, which he
used to carry. As I took it up as small square
of paper upon which it had Lain fluttered down onto the ground
unfolding it. I found that it consisted of
three pages torn from his notebook and addressed to me.
It was characteristic of the man that the direction was as
precise. And the writing is firm and
clear, as though it had been written in his study.
My dear Watson is said, I write these few lines through the
courtesy of mr. Moriarty who awaits my
convenience for the final discussion of those questions,
which lie between us he has been giving me a sketch of the
methods by which he avoided the English police and kept himself
informed of our movements. They certainly confirm the very
high opinion, which I had formed of his abilities.
I am pleased to think that I shall be able to free Society
from any further effects of his presence though.
I fear that it is at cost which will give pain to my friends and
especially my dear Watson to you.
I have already explained to you. However, that my career had, in
any case, reached its crisis and that no possible conclusion to
it could be more congenial to me than this indeed.
If I may make a full confession to you.
I was quite That the letter from meiringen was a hoax.
And I allowed you to depart on that errand under the persuasion
that some development of this sort would follow tell
inspector. Patterson at the papers, which
he needs to convict. The gang are in pigeonhole EM.
Done up in a blue envelope and inscribed, Moriarty.
I made every disposition of my property before leaving England
and handed it to my brother Mycroft.
Pray. Give my greetings to Mrs.
Watson. Ian and believe me to be my dear
fellow, very sincerely yours Sherlock Holmes.
A few words may suffice to tell the little that remains an
examination by experts leaves. Little doubt that a personal
contest between the two men Ended as it could hardly fail to
end in such a situation in there, reeling over locked in
each others arms. Any attempt at recovering, the
bodies was absolutely hopeless. And they're deep down in that
Dreadful, caldron of swirling water, and seething foam will
lie for all time the most dangerous criminal, and the
foremost champion of the law of their Generation.
The Swiss youth was never found again, and there can be no doubt
that he was one of the numerous agents who Moriarty kept in his
employ. As to the gang, it will be
within the memory of the public, how completely the evidence,
which Holmes had accumulated exposed their organization and
how heavily the hand of the dead man weighed upon them of their
terrible. Chief few details came out
during the proceedings. And if I have now been compelled
to make a clear statement of his career, it is due to those in
judicious Champions who have endeavored to clear his memory
by a tax upon him. My shall ever regard as the best
and the wisest man whom I have ever known.
End of the final problem and of the Memoirs of Sherlock, Holmes
by Sir, Arthur Conan Doyle. This LibriVox recording is in
the public domain. Read by David Clark, BG, David
dot wordpress.com, and BG coffee dotnet.
I appreciate your time. Thank you for listening.