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was the dead man and there the revolver bullet； which had mushroomed
out； as soft…nosed bullets will； and so inflicted a wound which must
have caused instantaneous death。 Such were the circumstances of the
Park Lane Mystery； which were further complicated by entire absence of
motive； since； as I have said； young Adair was not known to have any
enemy； and no attempt had been made to remove the money or valuables
in the room。
All day I turned these facts over in my mind； endeavouring to hit
upon some theory which could reconcile them all； and to find that line
of least resistance which my poor friend had declared to be the
starting…point of every investigation。 I confess that I made little
progress。 In the evening I strolled across the Park； and found
myself about six o'clock at the Oxford Street end of Park Lane。 A
group of loafers upon the pavements； all staring up at a particular
window； directed me to the house which I had come to see。 A tall； thin
man with coloured glasses； whom I strongly suspected of being a
plain…clothes detective； was pointing out some theory of his own；
while the others crowded round to listen to what he said。 I got as
near him as I could； but his observations seemed to me to be absurd；
so I withdrew again in some disgust。 As I did so I struck against an
elderly； deformed man； who had been behind me； and I knocked down
several books which he was carrying。 I remember that as I picked
them up； I observed the title of one of them； The Origin of Tree
Worship； and it struck me that the fellow must be some poor
bibliophile； who； either as a trade or as a hobby； was a collector
of obscure volumes。 I endeavoured to apologize for the accident； but
it was evident that these books which I had so unfortunately
maltreated were very precious objects in the eyes of their owner。 With
a snarl of contempt he turned upon his heel； and I saw his curved back
and white side…whiskers disappear among the throng。
My observations of No。 427 Park Lane did little to clear up the
problem in which I was interested。 The house was separated from the
street by a low wall and railing； the whole not more than five feet
high。 It was perfectly easy； therefore； for anyone to get into the
garden； but the window was entirely inaccessible； since there was no
waterpipe or anything which could help the most active man to climb
it。 More puzzled than ever； I retraced my steps to Kensington。 I had
not been in my study five minutes when the maid entered to say that
a person desired to see me。 To my astonishment it was none other
than my strange old book collector； his sharp； wizened face peering
out from a frame of white hair； and his precious volumes； a dozen of
them at least； wedged under his right arm。
〃You're surprised to see me； sir；〃 said he； in a strange； croaking
voice。
I acknowledged that I was。
〃Well； I've a conscience； sir； and when I chanced to see you go into
this house； as I came hobbling after you； I thought to myself； I'll
just step in and see that kind gentleman； and tell him that if I was a
bit gruff in my manner there was not any harm meant； and that I am
much obliged to him for picking up my books。〃
〃You make too much of a trifle；〃 said I。 〃May I ask how you knew who
I was？〃
〃Well； sir； if it isn't too great a liberty； I am a neighbour of
yours； for you'll find my little bookshop at the corner of Church
Street； and very happy to see you； I am sure。 Maybe you collect
yourself； sir。 Here's British Birds； and Catullus； and The Holy War… a
bargain； every one of them。 With five volumes you could just fill that
gap on that second shelf。 It looks untidy； does it not； sir？〃
I moved my head to look at the cabinet behind me。 When I turned
again； Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling at me across my study
table。 I rose to my feet； stared at him for some seconds in utter
amazement； and then it appears that I must have fainted for the
first and the last time in my life。 Certainly a gray mist swirled
before my eyes； and when it cleared I found my collar…ends undone
and the tingling after…taste of brandy upon my lips。 Holmes was
bending over my chair； his flask in his hand。
〃My dear Watson；〃 said the well…remembered voice； 〃I owe you a
thousand apologies。 I had no idea that you would be so affected。〃
I gripped him by the arms。
〃Holmes！〃 I cried。 〃Is it really you？ Can it indeed be that you
are alive？ Is it possible that you succeeded in climbing out of that
awful abyss？〃
〃Wait a moment；〃 said he。 〃Are you sure that you are really fit to
discuss things？ I have given you a serious shock by my unnecessarily
dramatic reappearance。〃
〃I am all right； but indeed； Holmes； I can hardly believe my eyes。
Good heavens！ to think that you… you of all men… should be standing in
my study。〃 Again I gripped him by the sleeve； and felt the thin；
sinewy arm beneath it。 〃Well； you're not a spirit anyhow；〃 said I。 〃My
dear chap； I'm overjoyed to see you。 Sit down； and tell me how you
came alive out of that dreadful chasm。〃
He sat opposite to me； and lit a cigarette in his old； nonchalant
manner。 He was dressed in the seedy frockcoat of the book merchant；
but the rest of that individual lay in a pile of white hair and old
books upon the table。 Holmes looked even thinner and keener than of
old； but there was a dead…white tinge in his aquiline face which
told me that his life recently had not been a healthy one。
〃I am glad to stretch myself； Watson；〃 said he。 〃It is no joke
when a tall man has to take a foot off his stature for several hours
on end。 Now； my dear fellow； in the matter of these explanations； we
have； if I may ask for your cooperation； a hard and dangerous
night's work in front of us。 Perhaps it would be better if I gave
you an account of the whole situation when that work is finished。〃
〃I am full of curiosity。 I should much prefer to hear now。〃
〃You'll come with me to…night？〃
〃When you like and where you like。〃
〃This is； indeed； like the old days。 We shall have time for a
mouthful of dinner before we need go。 Well； then； about that chasm。
I had no serious difficulty in getting out of it； for the very
simple reason that I never was in it。〃
〃You never were in it？〃
〃No； Watson； I never was in it。 My note to you was absolutely
genuine。 I had little doubt that I had come to the end of my career
when I perceived the somewhat sinister figure of the late Professor
Moriarty standing upon the narrow pathway which led to safety。 I
read an inexorable purpose in his gray eyes。 I exchanged some
remarks with him； therefore； and obtained his courteous permission
to write the short note which you afterwards received。 I left it
with my cigarette…box and my stick； and I walked along the pathway；
Moriarty still at my heels。 When I reached the end I stood at bay。
He drew no weapon； but he rushed at me and threw his long arms
around me。 He knew that his own game was up； and was only anxious to
revenge himself upon me。 We tottered together upon the brink of the
fall。 I have some knowledge； however； of baritsu； or the