Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Final Problem
Onthestrengthofithewonthemathematicalchairatoneofoursmalleruniversities,andhad,toallappearances,amostbrilliantcareerbeforehim.Butthemanhadhereditarytendenciesofthemostdiabolicalkind.Acriminalstrainraninhisblood,which,insteadofbeingmodified,wasincreasedandrenderedinfinitelymoredangerousbyhisextraordinarymentalpowers.Darkrumoursgatheredroundhimintheuniversitytown,andeventuallyhewascompelledtoresignhischairandtocomedowntoLondon,wherehesetupasanarmycoach.Somuchisknowntotheworld,butwhatIamtellingyounowiswhatIhavemyselfdiscovered.
"Asyouareaware,Watson,thereisnoonewhoknowsthehighercriminalworldofLondonsowellasIdo.ForyearspastIhavecontinuallybeenconsciousofsomepowerbehindthemalefactor,somedeeporganizingpowerwhichforeverstandsinthewayofthelaw,andthrowsitsshieldoverthewrong-doer.Againandagainincasesofthemostvaryingsorts—forgerycases,robberies,murders—Ihavefeltthepresenceofthisforce,andIhavededuceditsactioninmanyofthoseundiscoveredcrimesinwhichIhavenotbeenpersonallyconsulted.ForyearsIhaveendeavouredtobreakthroughtheveilwhichshroudedit,andatlastthetimecamewhenIseizedmythreadandfollowedit,untilitledme,afterathousandcunningwindings,toex-ProfessorMoriarty,ofmathematicalcelebrity.
"HeistheNapoleonofcrime,Watson.
