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My observations of No。 427 Park Lane did little to clear up the
problem in which I was interested。 The house was separated from the
street by a low wall and railing； the whole not more than five feet
high。 It was perfectly easy； therefore； for anyone to get into the
garden； but the window was entirely inaccessible； since there was no
waterpipe or anything which could help the most active man to climb
it。 More puzzled than ever； I retraced my steps to Kensington。 I had
not been in my study five minutes when the maid entered to say that
a person desired to see me。 To my astonishment it was none other
than my strange old book collector； his sharp； wizened face peering
out from a frame of white hair； and his precious volumes； a dozen of
them at least； wedged under his right arm。
〃You're surprised to see me； sir；〃 said he； in a strange； croaking
voice。
I acknowledged that I was。
〃Well； I've a conscience； sir； and when I chanced to see you go into
this house； as I came hobbling after you； I thought to myself； I'll
just step in and see that kind gentleman； and tell him that if I was a
bit gruff in my manner there was not any harm meant； and that I am
much obliged to him for picking up my books。〃
〃You make too much of a trifle；〃 said I。 〃May I ask how you knew who
I was？〃
〃Well； sir； if it isn't too great a liberty； I am a neighbour of
yours； for you'll find my little bookshop at the corner of Church
Street； and very happy to see you； I am sure。 Maybe you collect
yourself； sir。 Here's British Birds； and Catullus； and The Holy War… a
bargain； every one of them。 With five volumes you could just fill that
gap on that second shelf。 It looks untidy； does it not； sir？〃
I moved my head to look at the cabinet behind me。 When I turned
again； Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling at me across my study
table。 I rose to my feet； stared at him for some seconds in utter
amazement； and then it appears that I must have fainted for the
first and the last time in my life。 Certainly a gray mist swirled
before my eyes； and when it cleared I found my collar…ends undone
and the tingling after…taste of brandy upon my lips。 Holmes was
bending over my chair； his flask in his hand。
〃My dear Watson；〃 said the well…remembered voice； 〃I owe you a
thousand apologies。 I had no idea that you would be so affected。〃
I gripped him by the arms。
〃Holmes！〃 I cried。 〃Is it really you？ Can it indeed be that you
are alive？ Is it possible that you succeeded in climbing out of that
awful abyss？〃
〃Wait a moment；〃 said he。 〃Are you sure that you are really fit to
discuss things？ I have given you a serious shock by my unnecessarily
dramatic reappearance。〃
〃I am all right； but indeed； Holmes； I can hardly believe my eyes。
Good heavens！ to think that you… you of all men… should be standing in
my study。〃 Again I gripped him by the sleeve； and felt the thin；
sinewy arm beneath it。 〃Well； you're not a spirit anyhow；〃 said I。 〃My
dear chap； I'm overjoyed to see you。 Sit down； and tell me how you
came alive out of that dreadful chasm。〃
He sat opposite to me； and lit a cigarette in his old； nonchalant
manner。 He was dressed in the seedy frockcoat of the book merchant；
but the rest of that individual lay in a pile of white hair and old
books upon the table。 Holmes looked even thinner and keener than of
old； but there was a dead…white tinge in his aquiline face which
told me that his life recently had not been a healthy one。
〃I am glad to stretch myself； Watson；〃 said he。 〃It is no joke
when a tall man has to take a foot off his stature for several hours
on end。 Now； my dear fellow； in the matter of these explanations； we
have； if I may ask for your cooperation； a hard and dangerous
night's work in front of us。 Perhaps it would be better if I gave
you an account of the whole situation when that work is finished。〃
〃I am full of curiosity。 I should much prefer to hear now。〃
〃You'll come with me to…night？〃
〃When you like and where you like。〃
〃This is； indeed； like the old days。 We shall have time for a
mouthful of dinner before we need go。 Well； then； about that chasm。
I had no serious difficulty in getting out of it； for the very
simple reason that I never was in it。〃
〃You never were in it？〃
〃No； Watson； I never was in it。 My note to you was absolutely
genuine。 I had little doubt that I had come to the end of my career
when I perceived the somewhat sinister figure of the late Professor
Moriarty standing upon the narrow pathway which led to safety。 I
read an inexorable purpose in his gray eyes。 I exchanged some
remarks with him； therefore； and obtained his courteous permission
to write the short note which you afterwards received。 I left it
with my cigarette…box and my stick； and I walked along the pathway；
Moriarty still at my heels。 When I reached the end I stood at bay。
He drew no weapon； but he rushed at me and threw his long arms
around me。 He knew that his own game was up； and was only anxious to
revenge himself upon me。 We tottered together upon the brink of the
fall。 I have some knowledge； however； of baritsu； or the Japanese
system of wrestling； which has more than once been very useful to
me。 I slipped through his grip； and he with a horrible scream kicked
madly for a few seconds； and clawed the air with both his hands。 But
for all his efforts he could not get his balance； and over he went。
With my face over the brink； I saw him fall for a long way。 Then he
struck a rock； bounded off； and splashed into the water。〃
I listened with amazement to this explanation； which Holmes
delivered between the puffs of his cigarette。
〃But the tracks！〃 I cried。 〃I saw； with my own eyes； that two went
down the path and none returned。〃
〃It came about in this way。 The instant that the Professor had
disappeared； it struck me what a really extraordinarily lucky chance
Fate had placed in my way。 I knew that Moriarty was not the only man
who had sworn my death。 There were at least three others whose
desire for vengeance upon me would only be increased by the death of
their leader。 They were all most dangerous men。 One or other would
certainly get me。 On the other hand； if all the world was convinced
that I was dead they would take liberties； these men； they would
soon lay themselves open； and sooner or later I could destroy them。
Then it would be time for me to announce that I was still in the
land of the living。 So rapidly does the brain act that I believe I had
thought this all out before Professor Moriarty had reached the
bottom of the Reichenbach Fall。
〃I stood up and examined the rocky wall behind me。 In your
picturesque account of the matter； which I read with great interest
some months later； you assert that the wall was sheer。 That was not
literally true。 A few small footholds presented themselves； and
there was some indication of a ledge。 The cliff is so high that to
climb it all was an obvious impossibility； and it was equally
impossible to make my way along the wet path without leaving some
tracks。 I might； it is true； have reversed my boots； as I have done on
similar occasions； but the sight of three sets of tracks in one
direction would certainly have suggested a deception。 On the whole；
then； it was best that I should risk the climb。 It was not a
pleasant business； Watson。 The fall roared beneath me。 I am not a
fanciful person； but I give you my word that I seemed to hear
Moriarty's voice screaming at me out of the abyss。 A mistake would
have been fatal。 More than once； as tufts of grass came out in my hand
or my foot slipped in the wet notches of the rock； I thought that I
was gone。 But I struggled upward； and at last I reached a ledge
several feet deep and covered with soft green moss； where I could
lie unseen； in the most perfect comfort。 There I was stretched； when
you； my dear Watson； and all your following were investigating in
the most sympathetic and inefficient manner the circumstances of my
death。
〃At last； when you had all formed your inevitable and totally
erroneous conclusions； you departed for the hotel； and I was left
alone。 I had imagined that I had reached the end of my adventures； but
a very unexpected occurrence showed me that there were surprises still
in store for me。 A huge rock； falling from above； boomed past me；
struck the path； and bounded over into the chasm。 For an instant I
thought that it was an accident； but a moment later； looking up； I saw
a man's head against the darkening sky； and another stone struck the
very ledge upon which I was stretched； within a foot of my head。 Of
course； the meaning of this was obvious。 Moriarty had not been
alone。 A confederate… and even that one glance had told me how
dangerous a man that confederate was… had kept guard while the
Professor had attacked me。 From a distance； unseen by me； he had
been a witness of his friend's death and of my escape。 He had
waited； and then making his way round to the top of the cliff； he
had endeavoured to succeed where his comrade had failed。
〃I did not take long to think abo