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broken English； that his luggage was to be booked
through to Paris。 Then； having taken another look
round； I returned to my carriage； where I found that
the porter； in spite of the ticket； had given me my
decrepit Italian friend as a traveling companion。 It
was useless for me to explain to him that his presence
was an intrusion； for my Italian was even more limited
than his English； so I shrugged my shoulders
resignedly； and continued to look out anxiously for my
friend。 A chill of fear had come over me； as I
thought that his absence might mean that some blow had
fallen during the night。 Already the doors had all
been shut and the whistle blown； when
〃My dear Watson；〃 said a voice； 〃you have not even
condescended to say good…morning。〃
I turned in uncontrollable astonishment。 The aged
ecclesiastic had turned his face towards me。 For an
instant the wrinkles were smoothed away； the nose drew
away from the chin； the lower lip ceased to protrude
and the mouth to mumble； the dull eyes regained their
fire； the drooping figure expanded。 The next the
whole frame collapsed again； and Holmes had gone as
quickly as he had come。
〃Good heavens！〃 I cried； 〃how you startled me！〃
〃Every precaution is still necessary；〃 he whispered。
〃I have reason to think that they are hot upon our
trail。 Ah； there is Moriarty himself。〃
The train had already begun to move as Holmes spoke。
Glancing back； I saw a tall man pushing his way
furiously through the crowd； and waving his hand as if
he desired to have the train stopped。 It was too
late； however； for we were rapidly gathering momentum；
and an instant later had shot clear of the station。
〃With all our precautions； you see that we have cut it
rather fine；〃 said Holmes； laughing。 He rose； and
throwing off the black cassock and hat which had
formed his disguise； he packed them away in a
hand…bag。
〃Have you seen the morning paper； Watson？〃
〃No。〃
〃You haven't' seen about Baker Street； then？〃
〃Baker Street？〃
〃They set fire to our rooms last night。 No great harm
was done。〃
〃Good heavens； Holmes！ this is intolerable。〃
〃They must have lost my track completely after their
bludgeon…man was arrested。 Otherwise they could not
have imagined that I had returned to my rooms。 They
have evidently taken the precaution of watching you；
however； and that is what has brought Moriarty to
Victoria。 You could not have made any slip in
coming？〃
〃I did exactly what you advised。〃
〃Did you find your brougham？〃
〃Yes； it was waiting。〃
〃Did you recognize your coachman？〃
〃No。〃
〃It was my brother Mycroft。 It is an advantage to get
about in such a case without taking a mercenary into
your confidence。 But we must plant what we are to do
about Moriarty now。〃
〃As this is an express； and as the boat runs in
connection with it； I should think we have shaken him
off very effectively。〃
〃My dear Watson； you evidently did not realize my
meaning when I said that this man may be taken as
being quite on the same intellectual plane as myself。
You do not imagine that if I were the pursuer I should
allow myself to be baffled by so slight an obstacle。
Why； then； should you think so meanly of him？〃
〃What will he do？〃
〃What I should do？〃
〃What would you do； then？〃
〃Engage a special。〃
〃But it must be late。〃
〃By no means。 This train stops at Canterbury； and
there is always at least a quarter of an hour's delay
at the boat。 He will catch us there。〃
〃One would think that we were the criminals。 Let us
have him arrested on his arrival。〃
〃It would be to ruin the work of three months。 We
should get the big fish； but the smaller would dart
right and left out of the net。 On Monday we should
have them all。 No； an arrest is inadmissible。〃
〃What then？〃
〃We shall get out at Canterbury。〃
〃And then？〃
〃Well； then we must make a cross…country journey to
Newhaven； and so over to Dieppe。 Moriarty will again
do what I should do。 He will get on to Paris； mark
down our luggage； and wait for two days at the depot。
In the meantime we shall treat ourselves to a couple
of carpet…bags； encourage the manufactures of the
countries through which we travel； and make our way at
our leisure into Switzerland； via Luxembourg and
Basle。〃
At Canterbury； therefore； we alighted； only to find
that we should have to wait an hour before we could
get a train to Newhaven。
I was still looking rather ruefully after the rapidly
disappearing luggage…van which contained my wardrobe；
when Holmes pulled my sleeve and pointed up the line。
〃Already； you see；〃 said he。
Far away； from among the Kentish woods there rose a
thin spray of smoke。 A minute later a carriage and
engine could be seen flying along the open curve which
leads to the station。 We had hardly time to take our
place behind a pile of luggage when it passed with a
rattle and a roar； beating a blast of hot air into our
faces。
〃There he goes；〃 said Holmes； as we watched the
carriage swing and rock over the point。 〃There are
limits； you see； to our friend's intelligence。 It
would have been a coup…de…ma顃re had he deduced what I
would deduce and acted accordingly。〃
〃And what would he have done had he overtaken us？〃
〃There cannot be the least doubt that he would have
made a murderous attack upon me。 It is； however； a
game at which two may play。 The question； now is
whether we should take a premature lunch here； or run
our chance of starving before we reach the buffet at
Newhaven。〃
We made our way to Brussels that night and spent two
days there； moving on upon the third day as far as
Strasburg。 On the Monday morning Holmes had
telegraphed to the London police； and in the evening
we found a reply waiting for us at our hotel。 Holmes
tore it open； and then with a bitter curse hurled it
into the grate。
〃I might have known it！〃 he groaned。 〃He has
escaped！〃
〃Moriarty？〃
〃They have secured the whole gang with the exception
of him。 He has given them the slip。 Of course； when
I had left the country there was no one to cope with
him。 But I did think that I had put the game in their
hands。 I think that you had better return to England；
Watson。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because you will find me a dangerous companion now。
This man's occupation is gone。 He is lost if he
returns to London。 If I read his character right he
will devote his whole energies to revenging himself
upon me。 He said as much in our short interview； and
I fancy that he meant it。 I should certainly
recommend you to return to your practice。〃
It was hardly an appeal to be successful with one who
was an old campaigner as well as an old friend。 We
sat in the Strasburg salle…唷璵anger arguing the
question for half an hour； but the same night we had