WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:05.559 The final problem. It is with a heavy heart that 2 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:08.039 I take up my pen to write these the last 3 00:00:08.119 --> 00:00:11.320 words in which I shall ever record the singular gifts 4 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:15.839 by which my friend mister Sherlock Holmes was distinguished in 5 00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:20.239 an incoherent and, as I deeply feel, an entirely inadequate fashion. 6 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:23.280 I have endeavored to give some account of my strange 7 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:26.960 experiences in his company, from the chance which first brought 8 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:29.679 us together at the period of the study in Scarlet, 9 00:00:30.359 --> 00:00:32.600 up to the time of his interference in the matter 10 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:37.159 of the Naval Treaty, an interference which had the unquestionable 11 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:42.039 effect of preventing a serious international complication. It was my 12 00:00:42.119 --> 00:00:45.200 intention to have stopped there and to have said nothing 13 00:00:45.240 --> 00:00:47.560 of that event, which has created a void in my 14 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:50.600 life which the lapse of two years has done little 15 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:54.640 to fill. My hand has been forced, however, by the 16 00:00:54.679 --> 00:00:58.240 recent letters in which Colonel James Moriarty defends the memory 17 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:01.799 of his brother, no choice but to lay the facts 18 00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:06.400 before the public exactly as they occurred. I alone know 19 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:09.680 the absolute truth of the matter, and I am satisfied 20 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:12.120 that the time has come when no good purpose is 21 00:01:12.159 --> 00:01:15.760 to be served by its suppression. As far as I know, 22 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:18.920 there have been only three accounts in the public press, 23 00:01:20.519 --> 00:01:23.719 that in the Jean Val de Geneve on May sixth, 24 00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:27.719 eighteen ninety one, the Reuter's Dispatch in the English papers 25 00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:31.159 on May seventh, and finally the recent letter to which 26 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:34.920 I have alluded. Of these, the first and second were 27 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:39.879 extremely condensed, while the last is, as I shall now show, 28 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:44.439 an absolute perversion of the facts. It lies with me 29 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:47.200 to tell for the first time what really took place 30 00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:53.040 between Professor Moriarty and mister Sherlock Holmes. It may be 31 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:55.879 remembered that after my marriage and my subsequent start in 32 00:01:55.959 --> 00:02:00.000 private practice, the very intimate relations which had existed between 33 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:05.079 Holmes and myself became, to some extent modified. He still 34 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:07.480 came to me from time to time when he desired 35 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:11.599 a companion in his investigation, but these occasions grew more 36 00:02:11.639 --> 00:02:14.680 and more seldom, until I found that in the year 37 00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:18.039 eighteen ninety there were only three cases of which I 38 00:02:18.120 --> 00:02:22.360 retain any record. During the winter of that year and 39 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:25.639 the early spring of eighteen ninety one, I saw in 40 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:27.919 the papers that he had been engaged by the French 41 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:32.280 government upon a matter of supreme importance, and I received 42 00:02:32.280 --> 00:02:35.800 two notes from homes dated from Nalboonne and from Nim, 43 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:38.800 from which I gathered that his stay in France was 44 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:42.919 likely to be a long one. It was with some surprise, therefore, 45 00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:45.719 that I saw him walk into my consulting room upon 46 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:48.960 the evening of April twenty fourth. It struck me that 47 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:53.400 he was looking even paler and thinner than usual. Yes, 48 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:57.000 I have been using myself up rather too freely, he remarked, 49 00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.599 in answer to my look, rather than to my words. 50 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:02.639 I have been a little pressed of late. Have you 51 00:03:02.680 --> 00:03:06.639 any objection to my closing your shutters? The only light 52 00:03:06.680 --> 00:03:08.599 in the room came from the lamp upon the table 53 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:11.759 at which I had been reading. Holmes edged his way 54 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:15.400 round the wall, and, flinging the shutters together, he bolted 55 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:20.960 them securely. You are afraid of something, I asked, well, 56 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:26.840 I am of what of air guns? My dear Holmes, 57 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:30.360 What do you mean? I think that you know me 58 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.479 well enough Watson to understand that I am, by no 59 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:37.680 means a nervous man. At the same time, it is stupidity, 60 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:41.639 rather than courage, to refuse to recognize danger when it 61 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:45.199 is close upon you. Might I trouble you for a match? 62 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:48.479 He drew in the smoke of his cigarette, as if 63 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:53.000 the soothing influence was grateful to him. I must apologize 64 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:56.400 for calling so late, said he. And I must further 65 00:03:56.439 --> 00:03:59.479 beg you to be so unconventional as to allow me 66 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:02.719 to leave your house presently by scrambling over your back 67 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:06.840 garden wall. But what does it all mean? I asked. 68 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:09.800 He held out his hand, and I saw in the 69 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:12.439 light of the lamp that two of his knuckles were 70 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:17.240 burst and bleeding. It is not an airy nothing, you see, 71 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:22.240 said he, smiling. On the contrary, it is solid enough 72 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:25.759 for a man to break his hand over is missus 73 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:30.759 Watson in she is away upon a visit? Indeed, you 74 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:35.360 are alone quite then it makes it easier for me 75 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:37.839 to propose that you should come away with me for 76 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:43.199 a week to the continent, where, oh anywhere. It's all 77 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:46.639 the same to me. There was something very strange in 78 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:49.399 all this. It was not Holmes's nature to take an 79 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:53.680 aimless holiday, and something about his pale, worn face told 80 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.959 me that his nerves were at their highest tension. He 81 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:59.360 saw the question in my eyes, and, putting his finger 82 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:03.279 tips together and his elbows upon his knees, he explained 83 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:08.120 the situation. You have probably never heard of Professor Moriarty 84 00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:14.519 said he never Aye. There's the genius and the wonder 85 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:18.240 of the thing, he cried. The man pervades London and 86 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:21.160 no one has heard of him. That's what puts him 87 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:25.000 on a pinnacle in the records of crime. I tell you, Watson, 88 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:28.439 in all seriousness, that if I could beat that man, 89 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:31.720 if I could free society of him, I should feel 90 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:34.600 that my own career had reached its summit, and I 91 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:37.199 should be prepared to turn to some more placid line 92 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:41.600 in life between ourselves. The recent cases in which I 93 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:44.879 have been of assistance to the Royal family of Scandinavia 94 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:48.079 and to the French Republic have left me in such 95 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.720 a position that I could continue to live in the 96 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:54.160 quiet fashion which is most congenial to me, and to 97 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:58.839 concentrate my attention upon my chemical researches. But I could 98 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:02.040 not rest Watson. I could not sit quiet in my 99 00:06:02.199 --> 00:06:05.160 chair if I thought that such a man as Professor 100 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:10.279 Moriarty were walking the streets of London unchallenged. What has 101 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:14.639 he done? Then? His career has been an extraordinary one. 102 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:18.000 He is a man of good birth and excellent education, 103 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:23.720 endowed by nature with a phenomenal mathematical faculty. At the 104 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:26.639 age of twenty one, he wrote a treatise upon the 105 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:31.079 binomial theorem, which has had a European vogue. On the 106 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:34.079 strength of it, he won the mathematical chair at one 107 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:37.600 of our smaller universities, and had, to all appearances, a 108 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:41.920 most brilliant career before him. But the man had hereditary 109 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:47.240 tendencies of the most diabolical kind. A criminal strain ran 110 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:51.399 in his blood, which, instead of being modified, was increased 111 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:55.839 and rendered infinitely more dangerous by his extraordinary mental powers. 112 00:06:56.720 --> 00:07:00.560 Dark rumors gathered round him in the university town, and 113 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:04.079 eventually he was compelled to resign his chair and to 114 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:07.000 come down to London, where he set up as an 115 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:11.360 army coach. So much is known to the world, but 116 00:07:11.480 --> 00:07:13.839 what I am telling you now is what I have 117 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:19.000 myself discovered. As you are aware, Watson, there is no 118 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:21.879 one who knows the higher criminal world of London so 119 00:07:21.959 --> 00:07:25.759 well as I do. For years past, I have continually 120 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:29.720 been conscious of some power behind the malefactor, some deep 121 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:33.120 organizing power which forever stands in the way of the 122 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:37.560 law and throws its shield over the wrong doer again 123 00:07:37.639 --> 00:07:43.399 and again. In cases of the most varying sorts forgery cases, robberies, murders. 124 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:46.839 I have felt the presence of this force, and I 125 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:50.360 have deduced its action in many of those undiscovered crimes 126 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:54.360 in which I have not been personally consulted. For years, 127 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:57.160 I have endeavored to break through the veil which shrouded it. 128 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:00.319 And at last the time came when I see my 129 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:04.079 thread and followed it until it led me after a 130 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:09.480 thousand cunning windings to ex Professor Moriarty of mathematical celebrity, 131 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:14.319 he is the Napoleon of crime Watson. He is the 132 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:17.800 organizer of half that is evil and nearly all that 133 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:21.879 is undetected in this great city. He is a genius, 134 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:26.120 a philosopher, an abstract thinker. He has a brain of 135 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:30.279 the first order. He sits motionless, like a spider in 136 00:08:30.319 --> 00:08:33.120 the center of its web. But that web has a 137 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:37.600 thousand radiations, and he knows well every quiver of each 138 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:42.480 of them. He does little himself, He only plans, but 139 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:47.320 his agents are numerous and splendidly organized. Is there a 140 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.720 crime to be done, a paper to be abstracted, we 141 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:53.360 will say, a house to be rifled, a man to 142 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:57.159 be removed? The word is pasted to the Professor. The 143 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:01.120 matter is organized and carried out. The agent may be caught. 144 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.480 In that case money is found for his bail or 145 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:08.320 his defense, but the central power which uses the agent 146 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:13.080 is never caught, never so much as suspected. This was 147 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:17.000 the organization which I deduced, Watson, and which I devoted 148 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:21.200 my whole energy to exposing and breaking up. But the 149 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:26.000 Professor was fenced around with safeguards so cunningly devised that 150 00:09:26.120 --> 00:09:29.080 do what I would, it seemed impossible to get evidence 151 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:32.279 which would convict in a court of law. You know 152 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:35.720 my powers, my dear Watson. And yet at the end 153 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:39.279 of three months I was forced to confess that I 154 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:43.440 had at last met an antagonist who was my intellectual equal. 155 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:47.600 My horror at his crimes was lost in my admiration 156 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:50.960 at his skill. But at last he made a trip, 157 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:55.080 only a little little trip, but it was more than 158 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:57.440 he could afford. When I was so close upon him, 159 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:01.879 I had my chance, And starting from that point I 160 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:04.399 have woven my net around him, until now it is 161 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:08.639 all ready to close. In three days, that is to say, 162 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:12.440 on Monday, next matters will be ripe, and the Professor, 163 00:10:12.519 --> 00:10:15.320 with all the principal members of his gang will be 164 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:18.519 in the hands of the police. Then will come the 165 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:21.799 greatest criminal trial of the century, the clearing up of 166 00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:25.480 over forty mysteries, and the rope for all of them. 167 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:29.000 But if we move at all prematurely, you understand, they 168 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:34.120 may slip out of our hands, even at the last moment. Now, 169 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:36.480 if I could have done this without the knowledge of 170 00:10:36.519 --> 00:10:40.840 Professor Moriarty, all would have been well. But he was 171 00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:44.360 too wily for that. He saw every step which I 172 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:48.360 took to draw my toils round him. Again and again 173 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:51.639 he strove to break away, but I as often headed 174 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:54.960 him off. I tell you, my friend, that if a 175 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.639 detailed account of that silent contest could be written, it 176 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:01.080 would take its place as the most brilliant bit of 177 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:05.360 thrust and parry work in the history of detection. Never 178 00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:08.399 have I risen to such a height, and never have 179 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:12.320 I been so hard pressed by an opponent. He cut deep, 180 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:16.519 and yet I just undercut him. This morning, the last 181 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:19.519 steps were taken, and three days only were wanted to 182 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:24.200 complete the business. I was sitting in my room, thinking 183 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:28.279 the matter over, when the door opened and Professor Moriarty 184 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:33.679 stood before me. My nerves are fairly proof, Watson, but 185 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:35.960 I must confess to a start. When I saw the 186 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:39.360 very man who's been so much in my thoughts standing 187 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:43.600 there on my threshold, his appearance was quite familiar to me. 188 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:48.240 He is extremely tall and thin. His forehead domes out 189 00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:51.679 in a white curve, and his two eyes are deeply 190 00:11:51.720 --> 00:11:57.039 sunken in his head. He's clean shaven, pale, and acetic looking, 191 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:01.720 retaining something of the professor in his feature. His shoulders 192 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.039 around it from much study, and his face protrudes forward 193 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:09.039 and is forever slowly oscillating from side to side in 194 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:13.240 a curiously reptilian fashion. He peered at me with great 195 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:18.919 curiosity in his puckered eyes. You have less frontal development 196 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:22.559 than I should have expected, said he at last. It 197 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:26.320 is a dangerous habit to finger loaded firearms in the 198 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:30.360 pocket of one's dressing gown. The fact is that upon 199 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:34.919 his entrance I had instantly recognized the extreme personal danger 200 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:38.720 in which I lay. The only conceivable escape for him 201 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:43.360 lay in silencing my tongue. In an instant I had 202 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:46.279 slipped the revolver from the drawer into my pocket and 203 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:50.559 was covering him through the cloth. At this remark, I 204 00:12:50.679 --> 00:12:53.519 drew the weapon out and laid it cocked upon the table. 205 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:58.039 He still smiled and blinked, but there was something about 206 00:12:58.039 --> 00:13:00.519 his eyes which made me feel very glad that I 207 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:04.919 had it there. You evidently don't know me, said he. 208 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:09.600 On the contrary, I answered, I think it is fairly 209 00:13:09.639 --> 00:13:13.519 evident that I do pray. Take a chair. I can 210 00:13:13.559 --> 00:13:15.960 spare you five minutes if you have anything to say. 211 00:13:17.399 --> 00:13:21.320 All that I have to say has already crossed your mind, 212 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:26.879 said he. Then, possibly my answer has crossed yours, I replied, 213 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:33.799 you stand fast. Absolutely. He clapped his hand into his pocket, 214 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:37.159 and I raised the pistol from the table. But he 215 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:39.559 merely drew out a memorandum book in which she had 216 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:44.559 scribbled some dates. You crossed my path on the fourth 217 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:49.480 of January, said he. On the twenty third, you incommoded me. 218 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:53.639 By the middle of February, I was seriously inconvenienced by you. 219 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:57.559 At the end of March I was absolutely hampered in 220 00:13:57.639 --> 00:14:01.080 my plans. And now at the c of April, I 221 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:06.039 find myself placed in such a position through your continual persecution, 222 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:09.799 that I am in positive danger of losing my liberty. 223 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:15.360 The situation is becoming an impossible one. Have you any 224 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:20.159 suggestion to make I asked, you must drop it, mister Holmes, 225 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:24.600 said he, swaying his face about you really must you 226 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:32.320 know after Monday, said I. Tut tut, said he. I 227 00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:35.799 am quite sure that a man of your intelligence will 228 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:39.080 see that there can be but one outcome to this affair. 229 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:44.159 It is necessary that you should withdraw. You have worked 230 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:47.360 things in such a fashion that we have only one 231 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:51.519 resource left. It has been an intellectual treat to me 232 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.000 to see the way in which you have grappled with 233 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:58.399 this affair. And I say, unaffectedly that it would be 234 00:14:58.440 --> 00:15:00.720 a grief to me to be forced to take any 235 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:06.240 extreme measure. You smile, sir, but I assure you that 236 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:12.000 it really would. Danger is part of my trade. I remarked. 237 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:17.879 That is not danger, said he, It is inevitable destruction. 238 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:21.720 You stand in the way, not merely of an individual, 239 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:27.000 but of a mighty organization, the full extent of which you, 240 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:31.559 with all your cleverness, have been unable to realize. You 241 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:35.639 must stand clear, mister Holmes, or be trodden under foot. 242 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:40.279 I am afraid, said I, rising, as in the pleasure 243 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:43.960 of this conversation, I am neglecting business of importance which 244 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:48.600 awaits me elsewhere. He rose also and looked at me 245 00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:54.799 in silence, shaking his head sadly. Well well, said he 246 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:59.200 at last. It seems a pity, But I have done 247 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:03.080 what I could. I know every move of your game. 248 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:07.519 You can do nothing before Monday. It has been a 249 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:10.919 duel between you and me. Mister Holmes. You hope to 250 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:14.000 place me in the dock. I tell you that I 251 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:17.840 will never stand in the dock. You hope to beat me. 252 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:22.039 I tell you that you will never beat me. If 253 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.039 you are clever enough to bring destruction upon me. Rest 254 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:30.480 assured that I shall do as much to you. You 255 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:34.879 have paid me several compliments, mister Moriarty, said, I let 256 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:37.440 me pay you one in return. When I say that, 257 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:40.919 if I were assured of the former eventuality, I would, 258 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:44.159 in the interests of the public, cheerfully accept the latter. 259 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:49.600 I can promise you the one, but not the other. 260 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:53.519 He snarled, and so turned his rounded back upon me 261 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:58.879 and went peering and blinking out of the room. That 262 00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:03.399 was my singular interview with Professor Moriarty. I confess that 263 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:07.119 it left an unpleasant effect upon my mind. His soft, 264 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:11.000 precise fashion of speech leaves a conviction of sincerity which 265 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:15.279 a mere bully could not produce. Of course, you will 266 00:17:15.319 --> 00:17:19.799 say why not take police precautions against him? The reason 267 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:22.160 is that I am well convinced that it is from 268 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:25.319 his agents the blow will fall. I have the best 269 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:29.119 proofs that it would be, so you've already been assaulted, 270 00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:33.839 my dear Watson. Professor Moriarty is not a man who 271 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:38.039 lets the grass grow under his feet. I went out 272 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:42.279 about midday to transact some business in Oxford Street. As 273 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:45.200 I passed the corner which leads from Bentinck Street on 274 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:49.960 to the Welbeck Street crossing, a two horse van furiously driven, 275 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:53.279 whizzed round and was on me like a flash. I 276 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:56.319 sprang for the footpath and saved myself by the fraction 277 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:59.960 of a second. The van dashed round by Marlburne Lay 278 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:03.680 and was gone in an instant. I kept the pavement 279 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:06.960 after that, Watson, But as I walked down Via Street, 280 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:09.599 a brick came down from the roof of one of 281 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.759 the houses and was shattered to fragments at my feet. 282 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:18.000 I called the police and had the place examined. There 283 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:21.200 were slates and bricks piled up on the roof preparatory 284 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:24.039 to some repairs, and they would of me believe that 285 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:27.640 the wind had toppled over one of these. Of course 286 00:18:27.799 --> 00:18:31.880 I knew better, but I could prove nothing. I took 287 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:34.279 a cab after that and reached my brother's rooms in 288 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:37.599 Pall Mall, where I spent the day. Now I have 289 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:40.359 come round to you, and on my way I was 290 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:44.079 attacked by a ruff with a bludgeon. I knocked him down, 291 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:47.079 and the police have him in custody. But I can 292 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:50.440 tell you with the most absolute confidence that no possible 293 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:53.799 connection will ever be traced between the gentlemen upon whose 294 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:57.279 front teeth I have barked my knuckles, and the retiring 295 00:18:57.359 --> 00:19:02.319 mathematical coach who is I dare say, working out problems 296 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:06.720 upon a blackboard ten miles away. You will not wonder, Watson, 297 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:09.720 that my first act on entering your rooms was to 298 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:13.039 close your shutters, and that I have been compelled to 299 00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:15.839 ask your permission to leave the house by some less 300 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:20.960 conspicuous exit than the front door. I had often admired 301 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:24.079 my friend's courage, but never more than now, as he 302 00:19:24.119 --> 00:19:27.519 sat quietly checking off a series of incidents which must 303 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:30.960 have combined to make up a day of horror. You 304 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:34.839 will spend the night here, I said, no, My friend, 305 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:38.680 you might find me a dangerous guest. I have my 306 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:42.400 plans laid, and all will be well. Matters have gone 307 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:45.240 so far now that they can move without my help 308 00:19:45.279 --> 00:19:49.160 as far as the arrest goes. Though my presence is 309 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:53.839 necessary for a conviction. It is obvious therefore that I 310 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:56.279 cannot do better than get away for the few days 311 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:59.640 which remain before the police are at liberty to act. 312 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:02.920 It would be a great pleasure to me. Therefore, if 313 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:06.200 you would come on to the continent with me. The 314 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:10.200 practice is quiet, said I, and I have an accommodating neighbor. 315 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:13.720 I shall be glad to come and to start to 316 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:19.640 morrow morning if necessary. Oh, yes, it is most necessary. 317 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:23.799 Then these are your instructions, and I beg my dear Watson, 318 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:26.799 that you will obey them to the letter, for you 319 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:29.480 are now playing a double handed game with me against 320 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:33.279 the cleverest rogue and the most powerful syndicate of criminals 321 00:20:33.319 --> 00:20:37.799 in Europe. Now listen, you will despatch whatever luggage you 322 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:42.079 intend to take by a trusty messenger unaddressed to Victoria 323 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:46.519 to night. In the morning you will send for a hansom, 324 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:49.640 desiring your man to take neither the first nor the second, 325 00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:55.039 which may present itself into this hansom. You will jump, 326 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:57.440 and you will drive to the strand end of the 327 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:01.279 louther arcade, handing the addressed the cabman upon a slip 328 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:04.400 of paper, with a request that you will not throw 329 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:08.119 it away, have your fare ready, and the instant that 330 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:12.200 your cab stops. Dashed through the arcade, timing yourself to 331 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:15.839 reach the other side. At a quarter past nine, you 332 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:18.799 will find a small brougham waiting close to the curb, 333 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:22.319 driven by a fellow with a heavy black cloak tipped 334 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:25.720 at the collar with red. Into this you will step, 335 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:29.680 and you will reach Victoria in time for the Continental Express. 336 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:34.480 Where shall I meet you at the station? The second 337 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:38.039 first class carriage from the front will be reserved for us. 338 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:43.440 The carriage is our rendezvous. Then, yes, it was in 339 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:45.920 vain that I asked Holmes to remain for the evening. 340 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:49.079 It was evident to me that he thought he might 341 00:21:49.119 --> 00:21:51.880 bring trouble to the roof he was under, and that 342 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:55.640 that was the motive which impelled him to go. With 343 00:21:55.720 --> 00:21:58.480 a few hurried words as to our plans for the morrow, 344 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:01.319 he rose and came came out with me into the garden, 345 00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:05.359 clambering over the wall which leads into Mortimer Street and 346 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:08.640 immediately whistling for a hansom, in which I heard him 347 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:13.440 drive away. In the morning. I obeyed Holmes's injunction to 348 00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:17.400 the letter, a hansom was procured with such precaution as 349 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:20.200 would prevent its being one which was placed ready for us, 350 00:22:20.960 --> 00:22:24.240 and I drove immediately after breakfast to the louther arcade, 351 00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:26.920 through which I hurried at the top of my speed. 352 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:31.319 Abruugham was waiting with a very massive driver wrapped in 353 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:34.559 a dark cloak, who the instant that I had stepped in, 354 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:37.599 whipped up the horse and rattled off to Victoria station. 355 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:42.200 On my alighting there, he turned the carriage and dashed 356 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:45.079 away again without so much as a look in my direction. 357 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:50.960 So far all had gone admirably. My luggage was waiting 358 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:53.920 for me, and I had no difficulty in finding the 359 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:57.880 carriage which Holmes had indicated, the less so as it 360 00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:01.279 was the only one in the train which was my engaged. 361 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:05.599 My only source of anxiety now was the non appearance 362 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:09.960 of homes. The station clock marked only seven minutes from 363 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:13.359 the time when we were due to start in Vain. 364 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:16.559 I searched among the groups of travelers and leave takers 365 00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:19.920 for the lithe figure of my friend, there was no 366 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:23.400 sign of him. I spent a few minutes in assisting 367 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:26.480 a venerable Italian priest who was endeavoring to make a 368 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:30.319 porter understand in his broken English that his luggage was 369 00:23:30.359 --> 00:23:34.559 to be booked through to Paris. Then, having taken another 370 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:38.480 look around, I returned to my carriage, where I found 371 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:41.480 that the porter, in spite of the ticket, had given 372 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:46.200 me my decrepit Italian friend as a traveling companion. It 373 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:48.680 was useless for me to explain to him that his 374 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:52.359 presence was an intrusion, for my Italian was even more 375 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:56.680 limited than his English. So I shrugged my shoulders resignedly, 376 00:23:57.039 --> 00:24:01.119 and continued to look out anxiously for my friend. A 377 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:04.079 chill of fear had come over me, as I thought 378 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:07.599 that his absence might mean that some blow had fallen 379 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:11.680 during the night. Already the doors had all been shut 380 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:15.799 and the whistle blown. When my dear Watson said a 381 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:19.839 voice you have not even condescended to say good morning. 382 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:27.599 I turned in uncontrollable astonishment. The aged ecclesiastic had turned 383 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:31.799 his face towards me for an instant. The wrinkles were 384 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:35.599 smoothed away, the nose drew away from the chin. The 385 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:39.279 lower lips ceased to protrude, and the mouth to mumble. 386 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:44.000 The dull eyes regained their fire. The drooping figure expanded. 387 00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:48.319 The next the whole frame collapsed again, and Holmes had 388 00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:52.640 gone as quickly as he had come. Good Heavens, I cried, 389 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:58.759 how you startle me? Every precaution is still necessary, he whispered. 390 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:01.720 I have reason and to think that they are hot 391 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:07.759 upon our trail. Ah, there is Moriarty himself. The train 392 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:11.640 had already begun to move as Holmes spoke. Glancing back, 393 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:15.079 I saw a tall man pushing his way furiously through 394 00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:17.680 the crowd, and waving his hand as if he desired 395 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:21.079 to have the train stopped. It was too late, however, 396 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:24.920 for we were rapidly gathering momentum, and an instant later 397 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:29.920 had shot clear of the station. With all our precautions. 398 00:25:30.440 --> 00:25:33.880 You see that we have cut it rather fine, said Holmes, laughing. 399 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:37.319 He rose, and throwing off the black cassock and hat 400 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:40.519 which had formed his disguise, he packed them away in 401 00:25:40.559 --> 00:25:45.279