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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…harp。 I cared
nothing for him。 But I cared a great deal for the much more formidable
person who was behind him； the bosom friend of Moriarty； the man who
dropped the rocks over the cliff； the most cunning and dangerous
criminal in London。 That is the man who is after me to…night Watson；
and that is the man who is quite unaware that we are after him。〃
My friend's plans were gradually revealing themselves。 From this
convenient retreat； the watchers were being watched and the trackers
tracked。 That angular shadow up yonder was the bait； and we were the
hunters。 In silence we stood together in the darkness and watched
the hurrying figures who passed and repassed in front of us。 Holmes
was silent and motionless； but I could tell that he was keenly
alert； and that his eyes were fixed intently upon the stream of
passers…by。 It was a bleak and boisterous night and the wind
whistled shrilly down the long street。 Many people were moving to
and fro； most of them muffled in their coats and cravats。 Once or
twice it seemed to me tha