Воспоминания Шерлока Холмса
The Final Problem
AsItookitupasmallsquareofpaperuponwhichithadlainfluttereddownontotheground.Unfoldingit,Ifoundthatitconsistedofthreepagestornfromhisnotebookandaddressedtome.Itwascharacteristicofthemanthatthedirectionwasasprecise,andthewritingasfirmandclear,asthoughithadbeenwritteninhisstudy.
MYDEARWATSONitsaid:
IwritethesefewlinesthroughthecourtesyofMr.Moriarty,whoawaitsmyconvenienceforthefinaldiscussionofthosequestionswhichliebetweenus.HehasbeengivingmeasketchofthemethodsbywhichheavoidedtheEnglishpoliceandkepthimselfinformedofourmovements.TheycertainlyconfirmtheveryhighopinionwhichIhadformedofhisabilities.IampleasedtothinkthatIshallbeabletofreesocietyfromanyfurthereffectsofhispresence,thoughIfearthatitisatacostwhichwillgivepaintomyfriends,andespecially,mydearWatson,toyou.Ihavealreadyexplainedtoyou,however,thatmycareerhadinanycasereacheditscrisis,andthatnopossibleconclusiontoitcouldbemorecongenialtomethanthis.Indeed,ifImaymakeafullconfessiontoyou,IwasquiteconvincedthattheletterfromMeiringenwasahoax,andIallowedyoutodepartonthaterrandunderthepersuasionthatsomedevelopmentofthissortwouldfollow.TellInspectorPattersonthatthepaperswhichheneedstoconvictthegangareinpigeonholeM.,doneupinablueenvelopeandinscribed"Moriarty
