The Valley of Fear
The Complete Sherlock Holmes
THE VALLEY OF FEAR
The Strand Magazine from Sept. 1914 with the first
two chapters of the novel.
PART 1:
The Tragedy of Birlstone
Chapter 1. The Warning
Chapter 2. Sherlock Holmes Discourses
Chapter 3. The Tragedy of Birlstone
Chapter 4. Darkness
Chapter 5. The People of the Drama
Chapter 6. A Dawning Light
Chapter 7. The Solution
PART 2:
The Scowres
Chapter 1. The Man
Chapter 2. The Bodymaster
Chapter 3. Lodge 341, Vermissa
Chapter 4. The Valley of Fear
Chapter 5. The Darkest Hour
Chapter 6. Danger
Chapter 7. The Trapping of Biry Edwards
Epilogue
First published in the Strand Magazine, Sept. 1914 - May 1915, with 31 illustrations by
Frank Wiles. First book edition on 27 Feb. 1915 by G. H. Doran Co. of New York (the
story wasn't still published in the Strand). First British book edition by Smith, Elder &
Co. on 3 June 1915, in an edition of 6,000 copies
David Soucek, 1998
The Valley of Fear
PART 1
THE TRAGEDY OF BIRLSTONE
Chapter 1
THE WARNING
"I AM inclined to think- -" said I.
"I should do so," Sherlock Holmes remarked impatiently.
I believe that I am one of the most long-suffering of mortals; but I'll
admit that I was annoyed at the sardonic interruption. "Really, Holmes,"
said I severely, "you are a little trying at times."
He was too much absorbed with his own thoughts to give any
immediate answer to my remonstrance. He leaned upon his hand, with his
untasted breakfast before him, and he stared at the slip of paper which he
had just drawn from its envelope. Then he took the envelope itself, held it
up to the light, and very carefully studied both the exterior and the flap.
"It is Porlock's writing," said he thoughtfully. "I can hardly doubt that
it is Porlock's writing, though I have seen it only twice before. The Greek
e with the peculiar top flourish is distinctive. But if it is Porlock, then it
must be something of the very first importance."
He was speaking to himself rather than to me; but my vexation
disappeared in the interest which the words awakened.
"Who then is Porlock?" I asked.
"Porlock, Watson, is a nom-de-plume, a mere identification mark; but
behind it lies a shifty and evasive personality. In a former letter he frankly
informed me that the name was not his own, and defied me ever to trace
him 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 is insignificant in companionship with what is formidable: not only
formidable, Watson, but sinister-in the highest degree sinister. That is
where he comes within my purview. You have heard me speak of
Professor Moriarty?"
"The famous scientific criminal, as famous among crooks as- -"
"My blushes, Watson!" Holmes murmured in a deprecating voice.
"I was about to say, as he is unknown to the public."
"A touch! A distinct touch!" cried Holmes. "You are developing a
certain unexpected vein of pawky humour, Watson, against which I must
learn to guard myself. But in calling Moriarty a criminal you are uttering
libel in the eyes of the law-and there lie the glory and the wonder of it!
The greatest schemer of all time, the organizer of every deviltry, the
controlling brain of the underworld, a brain which might have made or
marred the destiny of nations -that's the man! But so [770] 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 celebrated author of
The Dynamics of an Asteroid, a book which ascends to such rarefied
heights of pure mathematics that it is said that there was no man in the
scientific press capable of criticizing it? Is this a man to traduce? Foulmouthed
doctor and slandered professor-such would be your respective
roles! That's genius, Watson. But if I am spared by lesser men, our day
will surely come."
"May I be there to see!" I exclaimed devoutly. "But you were speaking
of this man Porlock."
"Ah, yes-the so-called Porlock is a link in the chain some little way
from its great attachment. Porlock is not quite a sound link-between
ourselves. He is the only flaw in that chain so far as I have been able to
test it."
"But no chain is stronger than its weakest link."