by Arthur Conan Doyle

with heavy heart that I take up my pen to write these the last words ever record the singular gifts my friend Mr Sherlock Holmes was distinguished In an incoherent and, as I deeply feel, an entirely inadequate fashion, endeavoured some account strange experiences company chance which first brought us together period "Study in Scarlet," time interference matter "Naval Treaty"--and interference which had the unquestionable effect of preventing serious international complication my intention stopped there, and said nothing event created void in my life which the lapse of two years little My hand forced, however, recent letters Colonel James Moriarty defends the memory brother, and no choice but to lay the facts public exactly occurred I alone know the absolute truth matter, and satisfied time when on good purpose served by its suppression As far as , been only three accounts public press: that Journal de Geneve on May 6th, 1891, the Reuter's despatch English papers on May 7th, and finally the recent letter alluded the first and second were extremely condensed, while the last is, as now sow, an absolute perversion facts It lies with me first time what really took place between Professor Moriarty and Mr Sherlock Holmes

It remembered that after my marriage, and my subsequent start in private practice, the very intimate relations which had existed between Holmes and myself became to some extent modified He still came when he desired companion investigation, but these occasions grew more and more seldom, until that year 1890 there were only three cases I retain any record During the winter year early spring of 1891, papers that he engaged French government upon matter of supreme importance, and I received two notes from Holmes, dated from Narbonne and from Nimes, I gathered that his stay in France was likely long one with some surprise, therefore, that him walk into my consulting-room evening of April 24th It struck me that looking even paler and thinner than usual

"Yes, using myself up rather too freely," he remarked, in answer to my look rather than to my words; " little pressed of late any objection to my closing your shutters ? "

The only light room came lamp table at which I reading Holmes edged his way round the wall and flinging the shutters together, he bolted them securely

" afraid of something ? " I asked

"Well, "

"Of what ? "

"Of air-guns "

"My dear Holmes, what ? "

" that me well enough, Watson, to understand that by no means nervous man same time, stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognise danger when close upon you Might I trouble you for match ? " He drew smoke cigarette as soothing influence was grateful to him

" apologise for calling so late," said he, "and further beg you so unconventional allow me to leave your house presently by scrambling over your back garden wall "

"But what does it all mean ? " I asked

He held out his hand, and light lamp that two knuckles were burst and bleeding

" an airy nothing, ," said he, smiling " contrary, solid enough for man to break his hand over Is Mrs Watson in ? "

" away upon visit "

"Indeed ! alone ? "

"Quite "

"Then it makes it the easier to propose that come away with me for week Continent "

"Where ? "

"Oh, anywhere It's all the same "

something very strange in all this not Holmes's nature an aimless holiday, and something about his pale, worn face told me that his nerves were at their highest tension the question in my eyes, and, putting his finger-tips together elbows upon his knees, he explained the situation

" probably never heard of Professor Moriarty ? " said he

"Never "

"Aye, there's the genius wonder thing ! " he cried "The man pervades London, and no one has heard of him That's what puts him on pinnacle records of crime I tell you, Watson, in all seriousness, that if beat that man, if free society of him, feel that my own career had reached its summit, and prepared to some more placid line in life Between ourselves, the recent cases of assistance royal family of Scandinavia, and French republic, have left me position that continue to live quiet fashion most congenial , and to concentrate my attention upon my chemical researches But rest, Watson, sit quiet in my chair, if that such man as Professor Moriarty were walking the streets of London unchallenged "

"What has he done, then ? "

"His career an extraordinary one man of good birth and excellent education, endowed by nature with phenomenal mathematical faculty age of twenty-one he wrote treatise Binomial Theorem, had European vogue strength of it he won the Mathematical Chair at smaller universities, and had, to all appearance, most brilliant career before him But the man had hereditary tendencies most diabolical kind criminal strain ran blood, which, instead of being modified, was increased and rendered infinitely more dangerous by his extraordinary mental powers Dark rumours gathered round him university town, and eventually compelled to resign his chair and down to London, where he set up as an army coach is known world, but what telling you now is what myself discovered

" aware, Watson, no one who knows the higher criminal world of London as For years past continually been conscious of some power behind the malefactor, some deep organising power which forever stands way law, and throws it shield over the wrong-doer Again and again in cases most varying sorts--forgery cases, robberies, murders-- felt the presence force, and deduced its action in undiscovered crimes I personally consulted For years endeavoured to break veil which shrouded it, and at last the time came when I seized my thread and followed it, until it led me, after thousand cunning windings, to ex-Professor Moriarty of mathematical celebrity

He Napoleon of crime, Watson He organiser of half evil and of nearly all undetected great city genius, philosopher, an abstract thinker He has brain first order He sits motionless, like spider centre web, but that web has thousand radiations, and well every quiver of each little himself He only plans But his agents are numerous and splendidly organised crime , paper abstracted, say, house rifled, man removed--the word is passed Professor, the matter is organised and carried out The agent caught case money is found bail or his defence But the central power which uses the agent is never caught--never as suspected the organisation which I deduced, Watson, and which I devoted my whole energy to exposing and breaking up