No. 1 The Adventure of the Empty House by Arthur Conan Doyle
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in_it . my note to_you was absolutely genuine .I had little doubt that I had come to_the end of_my career when I perceived the somewhat sinister figure of_the late professor Moriarty standing upon_the narrow pathway which led to safety . I_read an inexorable purpose in_his grey eyes .I exchanged some remarks with_him, therefore, and obtained his courteous permission to write the short note which you afterwards received .I left it with my cigarette- box and my stick and I walked along the pathway, Moriarty still at my heels . when I reached the end I stood at bay . he drew no weapon, but he rushed at me and threw his long arms around me . he_knew that his own game was up, and was only anxious to revenge himself upon me . we tottered together upon_the brink of_the fall . I_have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, which_has more than once been very useful to_me .I slipped through his grip, and he with a horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds and clawed the air with both his hands . but for all his efforts he_could_not get his balance, and over he went . with my face over the brink I_saw him fall for a long way . then he struck a rock, bounded off, and splashed into_the water ."

I listened with amazement to_this explanation, which Holmes delivered between_the puffs of_his cigarette .

" but the tracks ! " I cried ." I_saw with my own eyes that two went down the path and none returned ."

" it came about in_this_way . the instant that_the professor had disappeared it struck me what a really extraordinarily lucky chance fate had placed in my way . I_knew that Moriarty was not the only man who had sworn my death . there were at_least three others whose desire for vengeance upon me would only be increased by_the death of_their leader . they were all most dangerous men . one or other would certainly get me . on_the other hand, if all the world was convinced that i_was dead they_would take liberties, these men, they_would lay themselves open, and sooner or later I_could destroy them . then it would_be time for_me to announce that i_was still in_the land of_the living . so rapidly does the brain act that I believe I had thought this all out before professor Moriarty had reached the bottom of_the Reichenbach fall .

"I stood up and examined the rocky wall behind me . in your picturesque account of_the matter, which I_read with great interest some months later, you assert that_the wall was sheer . this_was not literally true .a few small footholds presented themselves, and there_was some indication of a ledge . the cliff is so high that to climb it all was an obvious impossibility, and it_was equally impossible to_make my way along the wet path without leaving some tracks . I_might, it_is true, have reversed my boots, as I_have_done on similar occasions, but the sight of three sets of tracks in one direction would certainly have suggested a deception . on_the whole, then, it_was best that i_should risk the climb . it_was not a pleasant business, Watson . the fall roared beneath me . I_am not a fanciful person, but I give_you my word that I seemed to hear Moriarty's voice screaming at me out_of_the abyss .a mistake would_have_been fatal . more than once, as tufts of grass came out in my hand or my foot slipped in_the wet notches of_the rock, i_thought that i_was gone . but I struggled upwards, and at last I reached a ledge several feet deep and covered with soft green moss, where I_could lie unseen in_the most perfect comfort . there i_was stretched when_you, my dear Watson, and all your following were investigating in_the most sympathetic and inefficient manner the circumstances of_my death .

" at last, when_you had all formed your inevitable and totally erroneous conclusions, you departed for_the hotel and i_was left alone .I had imagined that I had reached the end of_my adventures, but a very unexpected occurrence showed me that there were surprises still in store for_me .a huge rock, falling from above, boomed past me, struck the path, and bounded over into_the chasm . for an instant i_thought that_it_was an accident; but a moment later, looking up, I_saw a man's head against the darkening sky, and another stone struck the very ledge upon_which i_was stretched, within a foot of_my head . of_course, the meaning of this_was obvious .Moriarty had_not_been alone .a confederate -- and even that one glance had told me how dangerous a man that confederate was -- had kept guard while the professor had attacked me . from a distance, unseen by me, he had_been a witness of_his friend's death and of_my escape . he had waited, and then, making his way round to_the top of_the cliff, he had endeavoured to succeed where his comrade had failed .

" I_did_not take long to_think about_it, Watson . again I_saw that grim face look over the cliff, and I_knew that_it_was the precursor of another stone .I scrambled down on to_the path .I don't think I_could_have done it in cold blood . it_was a hundred times more difficult than getting up . but I had no time to_think of_the danger, for another stone sang past me as I hung by my hands from_the edge of_the ledge . halfway down I slipped, but by_the blessing of god I landed, torn and bleeding, upon_the path . i_took to my heels, did ten miles over the mountains in_the darkness, and a week later I_found myself in Florence with_the certainty that no one in_the_world knew what had become of me .

"I had only_one confidant -- my brother Mycroft .I owe you many apologies, my dear Watson, but it_was all- important that_it should_be thought i_was dead, and it_is quite certain that you_would_not_have written so convincing an account of_my unhappy end had you not yourself thought that_it_was true . several_times during_the_last three years I_have taken up my pen to write to_you, but always I feared lest your affectionate regard for_me should tempt you to some indiscretion which would betray my secret . for_that reason I turned away from_you this evening when_you upset my books, for i_was in danger at_the_time, and any show of surprise and emotion upon your part might_have drawn attention to my identity and led to_the most deplorable and irreparable results . as_to Mycroft, I had to confide in him in_order_to_obtain the money which I needed . the course of events in London did_not run so_well as I had hoped, for_the trial of_the Moriarty gang left two of_its most dangerous members, my own most vindictive enemies, at liberty .I travelled for two years in Tibet, therefore, and amused myself by visiting Lhassa and spending some days with_the head llama . you_may_have read of_the remarkable explorations of a Norwegian named Sigerson, but I_am_sure that_it never occurred to_you that you were receiving news of your friend .I then passed through Persia, looked in at Mecca, and paid a short but interesting visit to_the Khalifa at Khartoum, the results of_which I_have communicated to_the foreign office .Returning to France I spent some months in a research into_the coal- tar derivatives, which I conducted in a laboratory at Montpelier, in_the south of France .Having concluded this to my satisfaction, and learning that only_one of_my enemies was now left in London, i_was about to return when my movements were hastened by_the news of_this very remarkable park Lane mystery, which not_only appealed to_me by its own merits, but which seemed to offer some most peculiar personal opportunities . I_came over at once to London, called in my own person at baker street, threw Mrs Hudson into violent hysterics, and found that Mycroft had preserved my rooms and my papers exactly as_they had always been . so it_was, my dear Watson, that at two o'clock to- day I_found myself in my old arm- chair 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 forwards 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_our little adventures ? 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 recognised 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

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