the final problem-第2部分

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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　had　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　is　clean…shaven；

pale；　and　ascetic…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　at　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　recognized　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　drawer　into　my　pocket　and　was　covering　him　through

the　cloth。　At　his　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　fourth　of　January；'　said　he。　'On　the

twenty…third　you　incommoded　me；　by　the　middle　of　February　I　was

seriously　inconvenienced　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　that　I　am　in　positive　danger　of　losing　my　liberty。　The

situation　is　becoming　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。

　　〃'Tut；　tut！'　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　me　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。

　　〃This　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　am　afraid；'　said　I；　rising；　'that　in　the　pleasure　of　this

conversation　I　am　neglecting　business　of　importance　which　awaits　me

elsewhere。'

　　〃He　rose　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　with　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　a　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　the　blow　would　fall。　I　have　the　best　of

proofs　that　it　would　be　so。〃

　　〃You　have　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

Bentinck　Street　on　to　the　Welbeck　Street　crossing　a　two…horse　van

furiously　driven　whizzed　round　and　was　on　me　like　a　flash。　I　sprang

for　the　foot…path　and　saved　myself　by　the　fraction　of　a　second。　The

van　dashed　round　by　Marylebone　Lane　and　was　gone　in　an　instant。　I　kept

to　the　pavement　after　that；　Watson；　but　as　I　walked　down　Vere　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　reached　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　black…board　ten　miles　away。　You

will　not　wonder；　Watson；　that　my　first　act　on　entering　your　rooms

was　to　close　your　shutters；　and　that　I　have　been　compelled　to　ask　your

permission　to　leave　the　house　by　some　less　conspicuous　exit　than　the

front　door。〃

　　I　had　often　admired　my　friend's　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　will　spend　the　night　here？〃　I　said。

　　〃No；　my　friend；　you　might　find　me　a　dangerous　guest。　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　could　come　on　to　the　Continent　with　me。〃

　　〃The　practice　is　quiet；〃　said　I；　〃and　I　have　an　accommodating

neighbour。　I　should　be　glad　to　come。〃

　　〃And　to　start　to…morrow　morning？〃

　　〃If　necessary。〃

　　〃Oh；　yes；　it　is　most　necessary。　Then　these　are　your　instructions；

and　I　beg；　my　dear　Watson；　that　you　will　obey　them　to　the　letter；

for　you　are　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　to…night。　In　the

morning　you　will　send　for　a　hansom；　desiring　your　man　to　take

neither　the　first　nor　the　second　which　may　present　itself。　Into　this

hansom　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　he　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　a　quarter…past　nine。　You

will　find　a　small　brougham　waiting　close　to　the　curb；　driven　by　a

fellow　with　a　heavy　black　cloak　tipped　at　the　collar　with　red。　Into

this　you　will　step；　and　you　will　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　hansom；　in　which　I

heard　him　drive　away。

　　In　the　morning　I　obeyed　Holmes's　injunctions　to　the　letter。　A　hansom

was　procured　with　such　precautions　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　brougham　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　alighting　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　Holmes。　The　station　clock　marked　only　seven　minutes　from　the　time

when　we　were　due　to　start。　In　vain　I　searched　among　the　gro