"Bymyoldenemies，Watson。BythecharmingsocietywhoseleaderliesintheReichenbachFall。Youmustrememberthattheyknew，andonlytheyknew，thatIwasstillalive。SoonerorlatertheybelievedthatIshouldcomebacktomyrooms。Theywatchedthemcontinuously，andthismorningtheysawmearrive。"
"Howdoyouknow？"
"BecauseIrecognisedtheirsentinelwhenIglancedoutofmywindow。Heisaharmlessenoughfellow，Parkerbyname，agarroterbytrade，andaremarkableperformerupontheJew’sharp。Icarednothingforhim。ButIcaredagreatdealforthemuchmoreformidablepersonwhowasbehindhim，thebosomfriendofMoriarty，themanwhodroppedtherocksoverthecliff，themostcunninganddangerouscriminalinLondon。Thatisthemanwhoisaftermeto—night，Watson，andthatisthemanwhoisquiteunawarethatweareafterHIM。"
Myfriend’splansweregraduallyrevealingthemselves。
Fromthisconvenientretreatthewatcherswerebeingwatchedandthetrackerstracked。Thatangularshadowupyonderwasthebaitandwewerethehunters。Insilencewestoodtogetherinthedarknessandwatchedthehurryingfigureswhopassedandrepassedinfrontofus。Holmeswassilentandmotionless；
butIcouldtellthathewaskeenlyalert，andthathiseyeswerefixedintentlyuponthestreamofpassers—by。Itwasableakandboisterousnight，andthewindwhistledshrillydownthelongstreet。Manypeopleweremovingtoandfro，mostofthemmuffledintheircoatsandcravats。OnceortwiceitseemedtomethatIhadseenthesamefigurebefore，andIespeciallynoticedtwomenwhoappearedtobeshelteringthemselvesfromthewindinthedoorwayofahousesomedistanceupthestreet。
Itriedtodrawmycompanion’sattentiontothem，buthegavealittleejaculationofimpatienceandcontinuedtostareintothestreet。Morethanoncehefidgetedwithhisfeetandtappedrapidlywithhisfingersuponthewall。Itwasevidenttomethathewasbecominguneasyandthathisplanswerenotworkingoutaltogetherashehadhoped。Atlast，asmidnightapproachedandthestreetgraduallycleared，hepacedupanddowntheroominuncontrollableagitation。IwasabouttomakesomeremarktohimwhenIraisedmyeyestothelightedwindowandagainexperiencedalmostasgreatasurpriseasbefore。IclutchedHolmes’sarmandpointedupwards。
"Theshadowhasmoved！"Icried。
Itwas，indeed，nolongertheprofile，buttheback，whichwasturnedtowardsus。
Threeyearshadcertainlynotsmoothedtheasperitiesofhistemperorhisimpatiencewithalessactiveintelligencethanhisown。
"Ofcourseithasmoved，"saidhe。"AmIsuchafarcicalbungler，Watson，thatIshoulderectanobviousdummyandexpectthatsomeofthesharpestmeninEuropewouldbedeceivedbyit？
Wehavebeeninthisroomtwohours，andMrs。Hudsonhasmadesomechangeinthatfigureeighttimes，oronceineveryquarterofanhour。Sheworksitfromthefrontsothathershadowmayneverbeseen。Ah！"Hedrewinhisbreathwithashrill，excitedintake。InthedimlightIsawhisheadthrownforward，hiswholeattituderigidwithattention。Outside，thestreetwasabsolutelydeserted。Thosetwomenmightstillbecrouchinginthedoorway，butIcouldnolongerseethem。Allwasstillanddark，saveonlythatbrilliantyellowscreeninfrontofuswiththeblackfigureoutlineduponitscentre。AgainintheuttersilenceIheardthatthin，sibilantnotewhichspokeofintensesuppressedexcitement。Aninstantlaterhepulledmebackintotheblackestcorneroftheroom，andIfelthiswarninghanduponmylips。Thefingerswhichclutchedmewerequivering。NeverhadIknownmyfriendmoremoved，andyetthedarkstreetstillstretchedlonelyandmotionlessbeforeus。
ButsuddenlyIwasawareofthatwhichhiskeenersenseshadalreadydistinguished。Alow，stealthysoundcametomyears，notfromthedirectionofBakerStreet，butfromthebackoftheveryhouseinwhichwelayconcealed。Adooropenedandshut。
Aninstantlaterstepscreptdownthepassage——stepswhichweremeanttobesilent，butwhichreverberatedharshlythroughtheemptyhouse。HolmescrouchedbackagainstthewallandI
didthesame，myhandclosinguponthehandleofmyrevolver。
Peeringthroughthegloom，Isawthevagueoutlineofaman，ashadeblackerthantheblacknessoftheopendoor。Hestoodforaninstant，andthenhecreptforward，crouching，menacing，intotheroom。Hewaswithinthreeyardsofus，thissinisterfigure，andIhadbracedmyselftomeethisspring，beforeI
realizedthathehadnoideaofourpresence。Hepassedclosebesideus，stoleovertothewindow，andverysoftlyandnoiselesslyraiseditforhalfafoot。Ashesanktothelevelofthisopeningthelightofthestreet，nolongerdimmedbythedustyglass，fellfulluponhisface。Themanseemedtobebesidehimselfwithexcitement。Histwoeyesshonelikestarsandhisfeatureswereworkingconvulsively。Hewasanelderlyman，withathin，projectingnose，ahigh，baldforehead，andahugegrizzledmoustache。Anopera—hatwaspushedtothebackofhishead，andaneveningdressshirt—frontgleamedoutthroughhisopenovercoat。Hisfacewasgauntandswarthy，scoredwithdeep，savagelines。Inhishandhecarriedwhatappearedtobeastick，butashelaiditdownupontheflooritgaveametallicclang。Thenfromthepocketofhisovercoathedrewabulkyobject，andhebusiedhimselfinsometaskwhichendedwithaloud，sharpclick，asifaspringorbolthadfallenintoitsplace。Stillkneelinguponthefloorhebentforwardandthrewallhisweightandstrengthuponsomelever，withtheresultthattherecamealong，whirling，grindingnoise，endingoncemoreinapowerfulclick。Hestraightenedhimselfthen，andIsawthatwhatheheldinhishandwasasortofgun，withacuriouslymisshapenbutt。Heopeneditatthebreech，putsomethingin，andsnappedthebreech—block。Then，crouchingdown，herestedtheendofthebarrelupontheledgeoftheopenwindow，andIsawhislongmoustachedroopoverthestockandhiseyegleamasitpeeredalongthesights。Iheardalittlesighofsatisfactionashecuddledthebuttintohisshoulder，andsawthatamazingtarget，theblackmanontheyellowground，standingclearattheendofhisforesight。Foraninstanthewasrigidandmotionless。Thenhisfingertightenedonthetrigger。Therewasastrange，loudwhizandalong，silverytinkleofbrokenglass。AtthatinstantHolmesspranglikeatigerontothemarksman’sbackandhurledhimflatuponhisface。Hewasupagaininamoment，andwithconvulsivestrengthheseizedHolmesbythethroat；butIstruckhimontheheadwiththebuttofmyrevolverandhedroppedagainuponthefloor。
Ifelluponhim，andasIheldhimmycomradeblewashrillcalluponawhistle。Therewastheclatterofrunningfeetuponthepavement，andtwopolicemeninuniform，withoneplain—clothesdetective，rushedthroughthefrontentranceandintotheroom。
"Thatyou，Lestrade？"saidHolmes。
"Yes，Mr。Holmes。Itookthejobmyself。It’sgoodtoseeyoubackinLondon，sir。"
"Ithinkyouwantalittleunofficialhelp。Threeundetectedmurdersinoneyearwon’tdo，Lestrade。ButyouhandledtheMoleseyMysterywithlessthanyourusual——that’stosay，youhandleditfairlywell。"
Wehadallrisentoourfeet，ourprisonerbreathinghard，withastalwartconstableoneachsideofhim。Alreadyafewloiterershadbeguntocollectinthestreet。Holmessteppeduptothewindow，closedit，anddroppedtheblinds。Lestradehadproducedtwocandlesandthepolicemenhaduncoveredtheirlanterns。
Iwasableatlasttohaveagoodlookatourprisoner。
Itwasatremendouslyvirileandyetsinisterfacewhichwasturnedtowardsus。Withthebrowofaphilosopheraboveandthejawofasensualistbelow，themanmusthavestartedwithgreatcapacitiesforgoodorforevil。Butonecouldnotlookuponhiscruelblueeyes，withtheirdrooping，cynicallids，oruponthefierce，aggressivenoseandthethreatening，deep—linedbrow，withoutreadingNature’splainestdanger—signals。Hetooknoheedofanyofus，buthiseyeswerefixeduponHolmes’sfacewithanexpressioninwhichhatredandamazementwereequallyblended。
"Youfiend！"hekeptonmuttering。"Youclever，cleverfiend！"
"Ah，Colonel！"saidHolmes，arranginghisrumpledcollar；
"`journeysendinlovers’meetings，’astheoldplaysays。
Idon’tthinkIhavehadthepleasureofseeingyousinceyoufavouredmewiththoseattentionsasIlayontheledgeabovetheReichenbachFall。"
TheColonelstillstaredatmyfriendlikeamaninatrance。
"Youcunning，cunningfiend！"wasallthathecouldsay。
"Ihavenotintroducedyouyet，"saidHolmes。"This，gentlemen，isColonelSebastianMoran，onceofHerMajesty’sIndianArmy，andthebestheavygameshotthatourEasternEmpirehaseverproduced。IbelieveIamcorrect，Colonel，insayingthatyourbagoftigersstillremainsunrivalled？"
Thefierceoldmansaidnothing，butstillglaredatmycompanion；
withhissavageeyesandbristlingmoustachehewaswonderfullylikeatigerhimself。
"Iwonderthatmyverysimplestratagemcoulddeceivesooldashikari，"saidHolmes。"Itmustbeveryfamiliartoyou。
Haveyounottetheredayoungkidunderatree，lainaboveitwithyourrifle，andwaitedforthebaittobringupyourtiger？
Thisemptyhouseismytreeandyouaremytiger。Youhavepossiblyhadothergunsinreserveincasethereshouldbeseveraltigers，orintheunlikelysuppositionofyourownaimfailingyou。These，"hepointedaround，"aremyotherguns。
Theparallelisexact。"
ColonelMoransprangforward，withasnarlofrage，buttheconstablesdraggedhimback。Thefuryuponhisfacewasterribletolookat。
"Iconfessthatyouhadonesmallsurpriseforme，"saidHolmes。
"Ididnotanticipatethatyouwouldyourselfmakeuseofthisemptyhouseandthisconvenientfrontwindow。Ihadimaginedyouasoperatingfromthestreet，wheremyfriendLestradeandhismerrymenwereawaitingyou。WiththatexceptionallhasgoneasIexpected。"
ColonelMoranturnedtotheofficialdetective。
"Youmayormaynothavejustcauseforarrestingme，"saidhe，"butatleasttherecanbenoreasonwhyIshouldsubmittothegibesofthisperson。IfIaminthehandsofthelawletthingsbedoneinalegalway。"
"Well，that’sreasonableenough，"saidLestrade。"Nothingfurtheryouhavetosay，Mr。Holmes，beforewego？"
Holmeshadpickedupthepowerfulair—gunfromthefloorandwasexaminingitsmechanism。
"Anadmirableanduniqueweapon，"saidhe，"noiselessandoftremendouspower。IknewVonHerder，theblindGermanmechanic，whoconstructedittotheorderofthelateProfessorMoriarty。
ForyearsIhavebeenawareofitsexistence，thoughIhaveneverbeforehadtheopportunityofhandlingit。Icommenditveryspeciallytoyourattention，Lestrade，andalsothebulletswhichfitit。"
"Youcantrustustolookafterthat，Mr。Holmes，"saidLestrade，asthewholepartymovedtowardsthedoor。"Anythingfurthertosay？"
"Onlytoaskwhatchargeyouintendtoprefer？"
"Whatcharge，sir？Why，ofcourse，theattemptedmurderofMr。
SherlockHolmes。"
"Notso，Lestrade。Idonotproposetoappearinthematteratall。
Toyou，andtoyouonly，belongsthecreditoftheremarkablearrestwhichyouhaveeffected。Yes，Lestrade，Icongratulateyou！Withyourusualhappymixtureofcunningandaudacityyouhavegothim。"
"Gothim！Gotwhom，Mr。Holmes？"
"Themanthatthewholeforcehasbeenseekinginvain——
ColonelSebastianMoran，whoshottheHonourableRonaldAdairwithanexpandingbulletfromanair—gunthroughtheopenwindowofthesecond—floorfrontofNo。427，ParkLane，uponthe30thoflastmonth。That’sthecharge，Lestrade。Andnow，Watson，ifyoucanendurethedraughtfromabrokenwindow，Ithinkthathalfanhourinmystudyoveracigarmayaffordyousomeprofitableamusement。"
OuroldchambershadbeenleftunchangedthroughthesupervisionofMycroftHolmesandtheimmediatecareofMrs。Hudson。
AsIenteredIsaw，itistrue，anunwontedtidiness，buttheoldlandmarkswereallintheirplace。Therewerethechemicalcornerandtheacid—stained，deal—toppedtable。Thereuponashelfwastherowofformidablescrap—booksandbooksofreferencewhichmanyofourfellow—citizenswouldhavebeensogladtoburn。
Thediagrams，theviolin—case，andthepipe—rack——eventhePersianslipperwhichcontainedthetobacco——allmetmyeyesasIglancedroundme。Thereweretwooccupantsoftheroom——
oneMrs。Hudson，whobeameduponusbothasweentered；
theotherthestrangedummywhichhadplayedsoimportantapartintheevening’sadventures。Itwasawax—colouredmodelofmyfriend，soadmirablydonethatitwasaperfectfacsimile。Itstoodonasmallpedestaltablewithanolddressing—gownofHolmes’ssodrapedrounditthattheillusionfromthestreetwasabsolutelyperfect。
"Ihopeyoupreservedallprecautions，Mrs。Hudson？"saidHolmes。
"Iwenttoitonmyknees，sir，justasyoutoldme。"
"Excellent。Youcarriedthethingoutverywell。Didyouobservewherethebulletwent？"
"Yes，sir。I’mafraidithasspoiltyourbeautifulbust，foritpassedrightthroughtheheadandflatteneditselfonthewall。
Ipickeditupfromthecarpet。Hereitis！"
Holmeshelditouttome。"Asoftrevolverbullet，asyouperceive，Watson。There’sgeniusinthat，forwhowouldexpecttofindsuchathingfiredfromanair—gun。Allright，Mrs。
Hudson，Iammuchobligedforyourassistance。Andnow，Watson，letmeseeyouinyouroldseatoncemore，forthereareseveralpointswhichIshouldliketodiscusswithyou。"
Hehadthrownofftheseedyfrock—coat，andnowhewastheHolmesofoldinthemouse—coloureddressing—gownwhichhetookfromhiseffigy。
"Theoldshikari’snerveshavenotlosttheirsteadinessnorhiseyestheirkeenness，"saidhe，withalaugh，asheinspectedtheshatteredforeheadofhisbust。
"Plumbinthemiddleofthebackoftheheadandsmackthroughthebrain。HewasthebestshotinIndia，andIexpectthattherearefewbetterinLondon。Haveyouheardthename？"
"No，Ihavenot。"
"Well，well，suchisfame！But，then，ifIrememberaright，youhadnotheardthenameofProfessorJamesMoriarty，whohadoneofthegreatbrainsofthecentury。Justgivemedownmyindexofbiographiesfromtheshelf。"
Heturnedoverthepageslazily，leaningbackinhischairandblowinggreatcloudsfromhiscigar。
"MycollectionofM’sisafineone，"saidhe。
"Moriartyhimselfisenoughtomakeanyletterillustrious，andhereisMorganthepoisoner，andMerridewofabominablememory，andMathews，whoknockedoutmyleftcanineinthewaiting—roomatCharingCross，and，finally，hereisourfriendofto—night。"
Hehandedoverthebook，andIread：
"MORAN，SEBASTIAN，COLONEL。Unemployed。Formerly1stBengalorePioneers。BornLondon，1840。SonofSirAugustusMoran，C。B。，onceBritishMinistertoPersia。EducatedEtonandOxford。
ServedinJowakiCampaign，AfghanCampaign，Charasiab（despatches），Sherpur，andCabul。Authorof`HeavyGameoftheWesternHimalayas，’
1881；`ThreeMonthsintheJungle，’1884。Address：ConduitStreet。
Clubs：TheAnglo—Indian，theTankerville，theBagatelleCardClub。"
Onthemarginwaswritten，inHolmes’sprecisehand：
"ThesecondmostdangerousmaninLondon。"
"Thisisastonishing，"saidI，asIhandedbackthevolume。
"Theman’scareeristhatofanhonourablesoldier。"
"Itistrue，"Holmesanswered。"Uptoacertainpointhedidwell。Hewasalwaysamanofironnerve，andthestoryisstilltoldinIndiahowhecrawleddownadrainafterawoundedman—eatingtiger。Therearesometrees，Watson，whichgrowtoacertainheightandthensuddenlydevelopsomeunsightlyeccentricity。Youwillseeitofteninhumans。Ihaveatheorythattheindividualrepresentsinhisdevelopmentthewholeprocessionofhisancestors，andthatsuchasuddenturntogoodorevilstandsforsomestronginfluencewhichcameintothelineofhispedigree。Thepersonbecomes，asitwere，theepitomeofthehistoryofhisownfamily。"
"Itissurelyratherfanciful。"
"Well，Idon’tinsistuponit。Whateverthecause，ColonelMoranbegantogowrong。WithoutanyopenscandalhestillmadeIndiatoohottoholdhim。Heretired，cametoLondon，andagainacquiredanevilname。ItwasatthistimethathewassoughtoutbyProfessorMoriarty，towhomforatimehewaschiefofthestaff。Moriartysuppliedhimliberallywithmoneyandusedhimonlyinoneortwoveryhigh—classjobswhichnoordinarycriminalcouldhaveundertaken。YoumayhavesomerecollectionofthedeathofMrs。Stewart，ofLauder，in1887。
Not？Well，IamsureMoranwasatthebottomofit；butnothingcouldbeproved。SocleverlywastheColonelconcealedthatevenwhentheMoriartygangwasbrokenupwecouldnotincriminatehim。Yourememberatthatdate，whenIcalleduponyouinyourrooms，howIputuptheshuttersforfearofair—guns？Nodoubtyouthoughtmefanciful。IknewexactlywhatIwasdoing，forIknewoftheexistenceofthisremarkablegun，andIknewalsothatoneofthebestshotsintheworldwouldbebehindit。WhenwewereinSwitzerlandhefolloweduswithMoriarty，anditwasundoubtedlyhewhogavemethatevilfiveminutesontheReichenbachledge。
"YoumaythinkthatIreadthepaperswithsomeattentionduringmysojourninFrance，onthelook—outforanychanceoflayinghimbytheheels。SolongashewasfreeinLondonmylifewouldreallynothavebeenworthliving。Nightanddaytheshadowwouldhavebeenoverme，andsoonerorlaterhischancemusthavecome。WhatcouldIdo？Icouldnotshoothimatsight，orIshouldmyselfbeinthedock。Therewasnouseappealingtoamagistrate。Theycannotinterfereonthestrengthofwhatwouldappeartothemtobeawildsuspicion。
SoIcoulddonothing。ButIwatchedthecriminalnews，knowingthatsoonerorlaterIshouldgethim。ThencamethedeathofthisRonaldAdair。Mychancehadcomeatlast！KnowingwhatI
did，wasitnotcertainthatColonelMoranhaddoneit？Hehadplayedcardswiththelad；hehadfollowedhimhomefromtheclub；hehadshothimthroughtheopenwindow。Therewasnotadoubtofit。Thebulletsaloneareenoughtoputhisheadinanoose。Icameoveratonce。Iwasseenbythesentinel，whowould，Iknew，directtheColonel’sattentiontomypresence。Hecouldnotfailtoconnectmysuddenreturnwithhiscrimeandtobeterriblyalarmed。IwassurethathewouldmakeanattempttogetmeoutofthewayATONCE，andwouldbringroundhismurderousweaponforthatpurpose。Ilefthimanexcellentmarkinthewindow，and，havingwarnedthepolicethattheymightbeneeded——bytheway，Watson，youspottedtheirpresenceinthatdoorwaywithunerringaccuracy——Itookupwhatseemedtometobeajudiciouspostforobservation，neverdreamingthathewouldchoosethesamespotforhisattack。Now，mydearWatson，doesanythingremainformetoexplain？"
"Yes，"saidI。"YouhavenotmadeitclearwhatwasColonelMoran’smotiveinmurderingtheHonourableRonaldAdair。"
"Ah！mydearWatson，therewecomeintothoserealmsofconjecturewherethemostlogicalmindmaybeatfault。
Eachmayformhisownhypothesisuponthepresentevidence，andyoursisaslikelytobecorrectasmine。"
"Youhaveformedone，then？"
"Ithinkthatitisnotdifficulttoexplainthefacts。
ItcameoutinevidencethatColonelMoranandyoungAdairhadbetweenthemwonaconsiderableamountofmoney。Now，Moranundoubtedlyplayedfoul——ofthatIhavelongbeenaware。
IbelievethatonthedayofthemurderAdairhaddiscoveredthatMoranwascheating。Verylikelyhehadspokentohimprivately，andhadthreatenedtoexposehimunlesshevoluntarilyresignedhismembershipoftheclubandpromisednottoplaycardsagain。
ItisunlikelythatayoungsterlikeAdairwouldatoncemakeahideousscandalbyexposingawell—knownmansomucholderthanhimself。ProbablyheactedasIsuggest。TheexclusionfromhisclubswouldmeanruintoMoran，wholivedbyhisill—gottencardgains。HethereforemurderedAdair，whoatthetimewasendeavouringtoworkouthowmuchmoneyheshouldhimselfreturn，sincehecouldnotprofitbyhispartner’sfoulplay。Helockedthedoorlesttheladiesshouldsurprisehimandinsistuponknowingwhathewasdoingwiththesenamesandcoins。Willitpass？"
"Ihavenodoubtthatyouhavehituponthetruth。"
"Itwillbeverifiedordisprovedatthetrial。Meanwhile，comewhatmay，ColonelMoranwilltroubleusnomore，thefamousair—gunofVonHerderwillembellishtheScotlandYardMuseum，andonceagainMr。SherlockHolmesisfreetodevotehislifetoexaminingthoseinterestinglittleproblemswhichthecomplexlifeofLondonsoplentifullypresents。"
II。——TheAdventureoftheNorwoodBuilder。
"FROMthepointofviewofthecriminalexpert，"saidMr。
SherlockHolmes，"LondonhasbecomeasingularlyuninterestingcitysincethedeathofthelatelamentedProfessorMoriarty。"
"Icanhardlythinkthatyouwouldfindmanydecentcitizenstoagreewithyou，"Ianswered。
"Well，well，Imustnotbeselfish，"saidhe，withasmile，ashepushedbackhischairfromthebreakfast—table。
"Thecommunityiscertainlythegainer，andnoonetheloser，savethepoorout—of—workspecialist，whoseoccupationhasgone。
Withthatmaninthefieldone’smorningpaperpresentedinfinitepossibilities。Oftenitwasonlythesmallesttrace，Watson，thefaintestindication，andyetitwasenoughtotellmethatthegreatmalignantbrainwasthere，asthegentlesttremorsoftheedgesofthewebremindoneofthefoulspiderwhichlurksinthecentre。Pettythefts，wantonassaults，purposelessoutrage——tothemanwhoheldtheclueallcouldbeworkedintooneconnectedwhole。TothescientificstudentofthehighercriminalworldnocapitalinEuropeofferedtheadvantageswhichLondonthenpossessed。Butnow————"
Heshruggedhisshouldersinhumorousdeprecationofthestateofthingswhichhehadhimselfdonesomuchtoproduce。
AtthetimeofwhichIspeakHolmeshadbeenbackforsomemonths，andI，athisrequest，hadsoldmypracticeandreturnedtosharetheoldquartersinBakerStreet。Ayoungdoctor，namedVerner，hadpurchasedmysmallKensingtonpractice，andgivenwithastonishinglylittledemurthehighestpricethatIventuredtoask——anincidentwhichonlyexplaineditselfsomeyearslaterwhenIfoundthatVernerwasadistantrelationofHolmes’s，andthatitwasmyfriendwhohadreallyfoundthemoney。
Ourmonthsofpartnershiphadnotbeensouneventfulashehadstated，forIfind，onlookingovermynotes，thatthisperiodincludesthecaseofthepapersofEx—PresidentMurillo，andalsotheshockingaffairoftheDutchsteamshipFRIESLAND，whichsonearlycostusbothourlives。Hiscoldandproudnaturewasalwaysaverse，however，toanythingintheshapeofpublicapplause，andheboundmeinthemoststringenttermstosaynofurtherwordofhimself，hismethods，orhissuccesses——aprohibitionwhich，asIhaveexplained，hasonlynowbeenremoved。
Mr。SherlockHolmeswasleaningbackinhischairafterhiswhimsicalprotest，andwasunfoldinghismorningpaperinaleisurelyfashion，whenourattentionwasarrestedbyatremendousringatthebell，followedimmediatelybyahollowdrummingsound，asifsomeonewerebeatingontheouterdoorwithhisfist。Asitopenedtherecameatumultuousrushintothehall，rapidfeetclatteredupthestair，andaninstantlaterawild—eyedandfranticyoungman，pale，dishevelled，andpalpitating，burstintotheroom。Helookedfromonetotheotherofus，andunderourgazeofinquiryhebecameconsciousthatsomeapologywasneededforthisunceremoniousentry。
"I’msorry，Mr。Holmes，"hecried。"Youmustn’tblameme。
Iamnearlymad。Mr。Holmes，IamtheunhappyJohnHectorMcFarlane。"
Hemadetheannouncementasifthenamealonewouldexplainbothhisvisitanditsmanner；butIcouldseebymycompanion’sunresponsivefacethatitmeantnomoretohimthantome。
返回顶部