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〃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； 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 despatch 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；
handling 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 though 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 precaution 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 groups of
travellers and leave…takers for the little figure of
my friend。 There was no sign of him。 I spent a few
minutes in assisting a venerable Italian priest； who
was endeavoring to make a porter understand； in his
broken English； that his luggage was to be booked
th