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he could afford when I was so close upon him。 I had
my chance； and； starting from that point； I have woven
my net round him until now it is all ready to close。
In three daysthat is to say； on Monday nextmatters
will be ripe； and the Professor； with all the
principal members of his gang； will be in the hands of
the police。 Then will come the greatest criminal
trial of the century； the clearing up of over forty
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 wily 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； that if 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 detection。
Never have I risen to such a height； and 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 had
been so much in my thoughts standing there on my
thresh…hold。 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 this 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 that 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 revolved
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 now 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 patch on the 4th of January；' said
he。 'On the 23d 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。 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；
abut 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 might 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 will fall。 I have the best 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
mid…day 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 dare say； 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 neighbor。 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