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had endeavoured to succeed where his comrade had failed。
〃I did not take long to think about it； Watson。 Again I saw that
grim face look over the cliff； and I knew that it was the precursor of
another stone。 I scrambled down on to the path。 I don't think I
could have done it in cold blood。 It was a hundred times more
difficult than getting up。 But I had no time to think of the danger；
for another stone sang past me as I hung by my hands from the edge
of the ledge。 Halfway down I slipped； but； by the blessing of God； I
landed； torn and bleeding； upon the path。 I took to my heels； did
ten miles over the mountains in the darkness； and a week later I found
myself in Florence； with the certainty that no one in the world knew
what had become of me。
〃I had only one confidant… my brother Mycroft。 I owe you many
apologies； my dear Watson； but it was all…important that it should
be thought I was dead； and it is quite certain that you would not have
written so convincing an account of my unhappy end had you not
yourself thought that it was true。 Several times during the last three
years I have taken up my pen to write to you； but always I feared lest
your affectionate regard for me should tempt you to some
indiscretion which would betray my secret。 For that reason I turned
away from you this evening when you upset my books； for I was in
danger at the time； and any show of surprise and emotion upon your
part might have drawn attention to my identity and led to the most
deplorable and irreparable results。 As to Mycroft； I had to confide in
him in order to obtain the money which I needed。 The course of
events in London did not run so well as I had hoped； for the trial
of the Moriarty gang left two of its most dangerous members； my own
most vindictive enemies； at liberty。 I travelled for two years in
Tibet； therefore； and amused myself by visiting Lhassa； and spending
some days with the head lama。 You may have read of the remarkable
explorations of a Norwegian named Sigerson； but I am sure that it
never occurred to you that you were receiving news of your friend。 I
then passed through Persia； looked in at Mecca； and paid a short but
interesting visit to the Khalifa at Khartoum the results of which I
have communicated to the Foreign Office。 Returning to France； I
spent some months in a research into the coal…tar derivatives； which I
conducted in a laboratory at Montpellier； in the south of France。
Having concluded this to my satisfaction and learning that only one of
my enemies was now left in London I was about to return when my
movements were hastened by the news of this very remarkable Park
Lane Mystery； which not only appealed to me by its own merits； but
which seemed to offer some most peculiar personal opportunities。 I
came over at once to London； called in my own person at Baker
Street； threw Mrs。 Hudson into violent hysterics； and found that
Mycroft had preserved my rooms and my papers exactly as they had
always been。 So it was； my dear Watson； that at two o'clock to…day I
found myself in my old armchair in my own old room； and only wishing
that I could have seen my old friend Watson in the other chair which
he has so often adorned。〃
Such was the remarkable narrative to which I listened on that
April evening… a narrative which would have been utterly incredible to
me had it not been confirmed by the actual sight of the tall； spare
figure and the keen； eager face； which I had never thought to see
again。 In some manner he had learned of my own sad bereavement； and
his sympathy was shown in his manner rather than in his words。 〃Work
is the best antidote to sorrow； my dear Watson；〃 said he； 〃and I
have a piece of work for us both to…night which； if we can bring it to
a successful conclusion； will in itself justify a man's life on this
planet。〃 In vain I begged him to tell me more。 〃You will hear and
see enough before morning；〃 he answered。 〃We have three years of the
past to discuss。 Let that suffice until half…past nine； when we
start upon the notable adventure of the empty house。〃
It was indeed like old times when； at that hour； I found myself
seated beside him in a hansom； my revolver in my pocket； and the
thrill of adventure in my heart。 Holmes was cold and stern and silent。
As the gleam of the street…lamps flashed upon his austere features；
I saw that his brows were drawn down in thought and his thin lips
compressed。 I knew not what wild beast we were about to hunt down in
the dark jungle of criminal London； but I was well assured； from the
bearing of this master huntsman； that the adventure was a most grave
one… while the sardonic smile which occasionally broke through his
ascetic gloom boded little good for the object of our quest。
I had imagined that we were bound for Baker Street； but Holmes
stopped the cab at the corner of Cavendish Square。 I observed that
as he stepped out he gave a most searching glance to right and left；
and at every subsequent street corner he took the utmost pains to
assure that he was not followed。 Our route was certainly a singular
one。 Holmes's knowledge of the byways of London was extraordinary； and
on this occasion he passed rapidly and with an assured step through
a network of mews and stables； the very existence of which I had never
known。 We emerged at last into a small road； lined with old； gloomy
houses； which led us into Manchester Street； and so to Blandford
Street。 Here he turned swiftly down a narrow passage； passed through a
wooden gate into a deserted yard； and then opened with a key the
back door of a house。 We entered together； and he closed it behind us。
The place was pitch dark； but it was evident to me that it was an
empty house。 Our feet creaked and crackled over the bare planking； and
my outstretched hand touched a wall from which the paper was hanging
in ribbons。 Holmes's cold； thin fingers closed round my wrist and
led me forward down a long hall； until I dimly saw the murky
fanlight over the door。 Here Holmes turned suddenly to the right and
we found ourselves in a large； square； empty room； heavily shadowed in
the corners； but faintly lit in the centre from the lights of the
street beyond。 There was no lamp near； and the window was thick with
dust； so that we could only just discern each other's figures
within。 My companion put his hand upon my shoulder and his lips
close to my ear。
〃Do you know where we are？〃 he whispered。
〃Surely that is Baker Street〃 I answered； staring through the dim
window。
〃Exactly。 We are in Camden House； which stands opposite to our own
old quarters。〃
〃But why are we here？〃
〃Because it commands so excellent a view of that picturesque pile。
Might I trouble you； my dear Watson； to draw a little nearer to the
window； taking every precaution not to show yourself； and then to look
up at our old rooms… the starting point of so many of your little
fairy…tales？ We will see if my three years of absence have entirely
taken away my power to surprise you。〃
I crept forward and looked across at the familiar window。 As my eyes
fell upon it； I gave a gasp and a cry of amazement。 The blind was
down； and a strong light was burning in the room。 The shadow of a
man who was seated in a chair within was thrown in hard； black outline
upon the luminous screen of the window。 There was no mistaking the
poise of the head； the squareness of the shoulders； the sharpness of
the features。 The face was turned half…round； and the effect was
that of one of those black silhouettes which our grandparents loved to
frame。 It was a perfect reproduction of Holmes。 So amazed was I that I
threw out my hand to make sure that the man himself was standing
beside me。 He was quivering with silent laughter。
〃Well？〃 said he。
〃Good heavens！〃 I cried。 〃It is marvellous。〃
〃I trust that age doth not wither nor custom stale my infinite
variety；〃 said he； and I recognized in his voice the joy and pride
which the artist takes in his own creation。 〃It really is rather
like me； is it not？〃
〃I should be prepared to swear that it was you。〃
〃The credit of the execution is due to Monsieur Oscar Meunier； of
Grenoble； who spent some days in doing the moulding。 It is a bust in
wax。 The rest I arranged myself during my visit to Baker Street this
afternoon。〃
〃But why？〃
〃Because； my dear Watson； I had the strongest possible reason for
wishing certain people to think that I was there when I was really
elsewhere。〃
〃And you thought the rooms were watched？〃
〃I knew that they were watched。〃
〃By whom？〃
〃By my old enemies； Watson。 By the charming society whose leader
lies in the Reichenbach Fall。 You must remember that they knew； and
only they knew； that I was still alive。 Sooner or later they
believed that I should come back to my rooms。 They watched them
continuously； and this morning they saw me arrive。〃
〃How do you know？〃
〃Because I recognized their sentinel when I glanced out of my
window。 He is a harmless enough fellow； Parker by name； a garroter
by trade； and a remarkable performer upon the jew's…h