The Valley of Fear

Wa

ned to thin

Sherlock Holmes re

uffering of mortals; but I'll admit that I

I severely, "you are a

d, with his untasted breakfast before him, and he stared at the slip of paper which he had just drawn from its envelop

iting, though I have seen it only twice before. The Greek e with the peculiar top flourish i

to me; but my vexation disappeared in

is Porlock

among the teeming millions of this great city. Porlock is important, not for himself, but for the great man with whom he is in touch. Picture to yourself the pilot fish with the shark, the jackal with the lion-anything that

ic criminal, as famo

" Holmes murmured in

ay, as he is unkn

rworld, a brain which might have made or marred the destiny of nations-that's the man! But so aloof is he from general suspicion, so immune from criticism, so admirable in his management and self-effacement, that for those very words that you have uttered he could hale you to a court and emerge with your year's pension as a solatium for his wounded character. Is he not the celebrate

laimed devoutly. "But you were

its great attachment. Porlock is not quite a sound link-between ourselves

stronger than i

of an occasional ten-pound note sent to him by devious methods, he has once or twice given me advance information which has been of value-that highest value which an

ed plate. I rose and, leaning over him, stared dow

127 36 31

9 293 5 37

STONE 9

u make of i

attempt to convey

of a cipher message

nstance, n

say 'in this

such crude devices amuse the intelligence without fatiguing it. But this is different. It is clearly a r

uglas' and '

words which were not contai

he not indic

in the same envelope. Should it miscarry, you are undone. As it is, both have to go wrong before any harm comes from it. Our second post is now overdue, and

few minutes by the appearance of Billy, the pag

igned," he added in an exultant voice as he unfolded the epistle. "Come, we are

son, that all our expectations come to nothing. I

HOLMES [

fter I had actually addressed this envelope with the intention of sending you the key to the cipher. I was able to cover it up. If he had s

POR

ng this letter between his fingers, an

may be only his guilty conscience. Knowing himself to be a t

, I presume, Pro

out 'He' you know whom they mean. There

at can

, there are infinite possibilities. Anyhow, Friend Porlock is evidently scared out of his senses-kindly compare the writing in the note t

t all? Why did he n

me inquiry after him in that case,

bending my brows over it. "It's pretty maddening to think that an important secret ma

s. "I wonder!" said he, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. "Perhaps there are points which have escaped your Machiavellian in

what va

ocus my mind upon it, it seems rather less impene

on

hypothesis that 534 is the particular page to which the cipher refers. So our book has already become a large book which is surely some

he second,

, the number of the chapter is immaterial. Also that if page 534 finds us only in

n!" I

, we begin to visualize a large book printed in double columns which are each of a considerable length, since one of the w

that w

tead of that, he had intended, before his plans were nipped, to send me the clue in this envelope. He says so in his note. This would seem to indicate that the book is

certainly soun

search to a large book, printed in

" I cried t

less likely to lie at the elbow of one of Moriarty's associates. Besides, the editions of Holy Writ are so numerous that he could hardly suppose that two cop

oks would corres

earch is narrowed down to standardized book

ads

The selection of words would hardly lend itself to the sending of general messages. We will eli

alma

, quite garrulous towards the end." He picked the volume from his desk. "Here is page 534, column two, a substantial block of print dealing, I perceive, with the trade and resources of British India. Jot down the words, Watson! Number thirteen is 'Mahratta.' Not, I fear, a very auspicious beginni

tion. I sat helpless and unhappy, staring into the fire. A long silence was broken by a sudden exclamation f

planation been written. Now let us see what page 534 has in store for us. Number thirteen is 'There,' which is much more promising. Number one hundred and twenty-seven is 'is'-'There is'"-Holmes's eyes were gleaming with excitement, and his thin, nervous fingers twitched as he counted the words-"'danger.' Ha! Ha! Capital!

hich I had scrawled, as he deciphered

ling way of expressin

nt. You are bound to leave something to the intelligence of your correspondent. The purport is perfectly clear. Some deviltry is intended against one Douglas, whoever he may be, residing as st

hen it fell below the high level to which he aspired. He was still chuckling over his success wh

ve force, who had distinguished himself in several cases which had been entrusted to him. His tall, bony figure gave promise of exceptional physical strength, while his great cranium and deep-s

ed them by the frankness with which he consulted Holmes in every difficulty. Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius, and MacDonald had talent enough for his profession to enable him to perceive that

"I wish you luck with your worm. I fear thi

a knowing grin. "Well, maybe a wee nip would keep out the raw morning chill. No, I won't smoke, I thank you. I'll have to b

look of absolute amazement at a paper upon the table. It wa

Mr. Holmes? Man, it's witchcraft! Where in the nam

d I have had occasion to solve. Bu

astonishment. "Just this," said he, "that Mr. Douglas of