" you preserved all precautions, Mrs Hudson ? " said Holmes

"I went on my knees, sir, just told me "

"Excellent You carried the thing out Did you observe where the bullet went ? "

"Yes, sir I'm afraid it has spoilt your beautiful bust, passed right head and flattened itself wall I picked it up carpet Here ! "

Holmes held it out "A soft revolver bullet, perceive, Watson There's genius , for expect such thing fired from an air-gun All right, Mrs Hudson, much obliged for your assistance And now, Watson, let me see you in your old seat once more, for several points which like to discuss "

He had thrown off the seedy frock-coat, and now he Holmes of old mouse-coloured dressing-gown which effigy

"The old shikari's nerves lost their steadiness nor his eyes their keenness," said he, with laugh, as he inspected the shattered forehead bust

"Plumb middle back head and smack brain He best shot in India, and I expect few better in London heard the name ? "

"No, "

"Well, well, such is fame ! But, then, if I remember aright, you heard the name of Professor James Moriarty, who had great brains century Just down my index of biographies shelf "

He turned over the pages lazily, leaning back chair and blowing great clouds cigar

"My collection of M's is fine one," said he "Moriarty himself is enough any letter illustrious, and Morgan the poisoner, and Merridew of abominable memory, and Mathews, who knocked out my left canine waiting-room at Charing Cross, and, finally, our friend of to-night "

He handed over the book, and : "Moran, Sebastian, Colonel Unemployed Formerly 1st Bengalore Pioneers Born London, 1840 Son of Sir Augustus Moran, C B , once British Minister to Persia Educated Eton and Oxford Served in Jowaki Campaign, Afghan Campaign, Charasiab (despatches), Sherpur, and Cabul Author of `Heavy Game Western Himalayas,' 1881; `Three Months Jungle,' 1884 Address: Conduit Street Clubs: The Anglo-Indian, the Tankerville, the Bagatelle Card Club "

margin was written, in Holmes's precise hand: "The second most dangerous man in London "

" astonishing," said I, as I handed back the volume "The man's career of an honourable soldier "

" true," Holmes answered " certain point well always man of iron nerve, story is still told in India how he crawled down drain after wounded man-eating tiger some trees, Watson, which grow to certain height and then suddenly develop some unsightly eccentricity it often in humans theory individual represents development the whole procession ancestors, such sudden turn to good or evil stands for some strong influence which came line pedigree The person becomes, as it were, the epitome history own family "

" surely rather fanciful "

"Well, I don't insist upon it Whatever the cause, Colonel Moran began wrong Without any open scandal he still made India too hot to hold him He retired, came to London, and again acquired an evil name that sought out by Professor Moriarty, for time chief staff Moriarty supplied him liberally with money and used him only in very high-class jobs which no ordinary criminal undertaken some recollection death of Mrs Stewart, of Lauder, in 1887 Not ? Well, Moran was bottom of it; but nothing proved So cleverly Colonel concealed that even Moriarty gang was broken up incriminate him You remember date, when I called upon you in your rooms, how I put up the shutters for fear of air-guns ? you thought me fanciful exactly what doing, for existence remarkable gun, and also that shots behind it When we were in Switzerland he followed us with Moriarty, and undoubtedly he who that evil five minutes Reichenbach ledge

" think that the papers with some attention during my sojourn in France, look-out for any chance of laying him heels as free in London my life would really not worth living Night and day the shadow over me, and sooner or later his chance come What could ? shoot him at sight, or myself be dock no use appealing to magistrate interfere strength of what would appear wild suspicion So do nothing But I watched the criminal news, knowing that sooner or later get him Then came the death Ronald Adair My chance had come at last ! Knowing what , not certain that Colonel Moran had done it ? He had played cards lad; he had followed him home club; he had shot him open window not doubt of it The bullets alone are enough his head in noose over at once seen sentinel, , , direct the Colonel's attention to my presence fail to connect my sudden return crime and terribly alarmed sure that make an attempt me way at once, and would bring round his murderous weapon purpose I left him an excellent mark window, and, having warned the police that needed -- , Watson, you spotted their presence doorway with unerring accuracy -- up what seemed judicious post for observation, never dreaming that choose the same spot attack Now, my dear Watson, does anything remain to explain ? "

"Yes," said I " made it clear Colonel Moran's motive in murdering the Honourable Ronald Adair "

"Ah ! my dear Watson, there we come into those realms of conjecture where the most logical mind at fault Each may form his own hypothesis present evidence, and yours is as likely correct as mine "

" formed one, then ? "

" not difficult to explain the facts It came out in evidence that Colonel Moran and young Adair had won considerable amount of money Now, Moran undoubtedly played foul -- long been aware I believe that day murder Adair had discovered that Moran was cheating Very likely he had spoken to him privately, and had threatened to expose him unless he voluntarily resigned his membership club and promised not to play cards again unlikely that youngster like Adair would at once make hideous scandal by exposing well-known man older than himself Probably he acted as The exclusion clubs would mean ruin to Moran, who lived by his ill-gotten card gains He therefore murdered Adair, who was endeavouring to work out money himself return, since profit by his partner's foul play He locked the door lest the ladies should surprise him and insist upon knowing what doing names and coins Will it pass ? "

" that hit truth "

" verified or disproved trial Meanwhile, come what may, Colonel Moran will trouble us no more, the famous air-gun of Von Herder will embellish the Scotland Yard Museum, and once again Mr Sherlock Holmes is free to devote his life to examining those interesting little problems which the complex life of London so plentifully presents "