Спогади Шерлока Холмса
The Final Problem
Inthreedays—thatistosay,onMondaynext—matterswillberipe,andtheprofessor,withalltheprincipalmembersofhisgang,willbeinthehandsofthepolice.Thenwillcomethegreatestcriminaltrialofthecentury,theclearingupofoverfortymysteries,andtheropeforallofthem;butifwemoveatallprematurely,youunderstand,theymayslipoutofourhandsevenatthelastmoment.
"Now,ifIcouldhavedonethiswithouttheknowledgeofProfessorMoriarty,allwouldhavebeenwell.Buthewastoowilyforthat.HesaweverystepwhichItooktodrawmytoilsroundhim.Againandagainhestrovetobreakaway,butIasoftenheadedhimoff.Itellyou,myfriend,thatifadetailedaccountofthatsilentcontestcouldbewritten,itwouldtakeitsplaceasthemostbrilliantbitofthrust-and-parryworkinthehistoryofdetection.NeverhaveIrisentosuchaheight,andneverhaveIbeensohardpressedbyanopponent.Hecutdeep,andyetIjustundercuthim.Thismorningthelaststepsweretaken,andthreedaysonlywerewantedtocompletethebusiness.IwassittinginmyroomthinkingthematteroverwhenthedooropenedandProfessorMoriartystoodbeforeme.
"Mynervesarefairlyproof,Watson,butImustconfesstoastartwhenIsawtheverymanwhohadbeensomuchinmythoughtsstandingthereonmythreshold.Hisappearancewasquitefamiliartome.Heisextremelytallandthin,hisforeheaddomesoutinawhitecurve,andhistwoeyesaredeeplysunkeninhishead.
