We walked and walked. The rain became heavier
and the streets emptied of people. Then a short fat
man passed me, and soon afterwards a girl. She
looked like a woman of the streets, but younger and
prettier than most I had seen that night. She seemed
a little drunk, and could not walk straight.
As she came near to Holmes, he stopped and spoke
to her.
They both laughed. Further along the street I saw the
short fat man, now standing outside a pub, watching
them. Then Holmes and the girl walked off together
and a few seconds later the man followed them.
How I feared for Holmes's safety! I was sure that the
man and the girl were working for Moriarty. They had
some plan, I knew, to hurt my friend. Perhaps only I
could save him.
Holmes and the girl walked on, the man followed
them, and I followed all three. At last Holmes and the
girl stopped at the entrance to a yard. I heard the
woman's voice. I could not hear Holmes's words, bur
to my surprise I clearly saw him kiss her face. Then
they entered the yard, and the fat man crossed the
street and went into a house further along. Had he
gone to fetch Moriarty, who would now appear and
kill my friend?
Slowly and carefully, I made my way into the yard. It
was dark, but I could see a light at a window. Then I
heard Holmes's voice. He was in that room.
As quietly as I could, I went to the window. The
curtains were a little too short, and I could just see
into the room. The woman was lying on the bed,
drinking from a bottle. Holmes sat with his back to the
window, taking snuff from a little silver box. He
seemed to be in no danger, but who could say when
Moriarty would arrive?
It was cold and wet in the yard, but I felt calm again.
If Moriarty came, I was ready to save my friend. I sat
down with my back to the wall to wait.
I am ashamed to say what happened next, but I
must say it.
I fell asleep. I was asleep for two hours. As I woke up,
cold and uncomfortable, Holmes's words came back
to me, 'He will kill twice tonight.'
I ran to the window, afraid of
what I should see. At first I
could not understand what
terrible thing had happened
there. Was it possible, I
wondered, for a person to
explode? There was blood
everywhere. Then I recognized
the body as the woman who I
had seen drinking and talking
with Sherlock Holmes. He was