The Final Problem

           ItiswithaheavyheartthatItakeupmypentowritethesethelastwordsinwhichIshalleverrecordthesingulargiftsbywhichmyfriendMr.SherlockHolmeswasdistinguished.Inanincoherentand,asIdeeplyfeel,anentirelyinadequatefashion,Ihaveendeavouredtogivesomeaccountofmystrangeexperiencesinhiscompanyfromthechancewhichfirstbroughtustogetherattheperiodofthe"StudyinScarlet,"uptothetimeofhisinterferenceinthematterofthe"NavalTreaty"—aninterferencewhichhadtheunquestionableeffectofpreventingaseriousinternationalcomplication.Itwasmyintentiontohavestoppedthere,andtohavesaidnothingofthateventwhichhascreatedavoidinmylifewhichthelapseoftwoyearshasdonelittletofill.Myhandhasbeenforced,however,bytherecentlettersinwhichColonelJamesMoriartydefendsthememoryofhisbrother,andIhavenochoicebuttolaythefactsbeforethepublicexactlyastheyoccurred.Ialoneknowtheabsolutetruthofthematter,andIamsatisfiedthatthetimehascomewhennogoodpurposeistobeservedbyitssuppression.AsfarasIknow,therehavebeenonlythreeaccountsinthepublicpress:thatintheJournaldeGeneveonMay6th,1891,theReuter’sdispatchintheEnglishpapersonMay7th,andfinallytherecentletterstowhichIhavealluded.Ofthesethefirstandsecondwereextremelycondensed,whilethelastis,asIshallnowshow,anabsoluteperversionofthefacts.