"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 Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very useful to me. I slipped through his grip, and he with a horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds, and clawed the air with both his hands. But for all his efforts he could not get his balance, and over he went. With my face over the brink, I saw him fall for a long way. Then he struck a rock, bounded off, and splashed into the water."

"Work is the best antidote to sorrow."

"There is no prospect of danger, or I should not dream of stirring out without you."

"What one man can invent another can discover."

"It was vain to urge that his time was already fully occupied, for the young lady had come with the determination to tell her story, and it was evident that nothing short of force could get her out of the room until she had done so. With a resigned air and a somewhat weary smile, Holmes begged the beautiful intruder to take a seat and to inform us what it was that was troubling her."

"We had got as far as this, when who should walk in but the gentleman himself, who had been drinking his beer in the tap-room and had heard the whole conversation. Who was I? What did I want? What did I mean by asking questions? He had a fine flow of language, and his adjectives were very vigorous. He ended a string of abuse by a vicious back-hander, which I failed to entirely avoid. The next few minutes were delicious. It was a straight left against a slogging ruffian. I emerged as you see me. Mr. Woodley went home in a cart. So ended my country trip, and it must be confessed that, however enjoyable, my day on the Surrey border has not been much more profitable than your own."

"I have never been in Africa in my life, so you can put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Busybody Holmes!"

"It is impossible as I state it, and therefore I must in some respect have stated it wrong."

"We're not jealous of you down at Scotland Yard. No, sir, we are proud of you, and if you come down to-morrow there's not a man, from the oldest inspector to the youngest constable, who wouldn't be glad to shake you by the hand."

"There can be no question, my dear Watson, of the value of exercise before breakfast."

"One should always look for a possible alternative, and provide against it. It is the first rule of criminal investigation."

"Let us hear the suspicions. I will look after the proofs."

"For once you have fallen low. Let us see, in the future, how high you can rise."

"There is so much red tape in these matters."

"Dr Leslie Armstrong "I have heard your name, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and I am aware of your profession — one of which I by no means approve."Holmes "In that, Doctor, you will find yourself in agreement with every criminal in the country.""

"A draghound will follow aniseed from here to John o' Groat's, and our friend, Armstrong, would have to drive through the Cam before he would shake Pompey off his trail."

"Think of Mycroft's note, of the Admiralty, the Cabinet, the exalted person who waits for news. We are bound to go." My answer was to rise from the table. "You are right, Holmes. We are bound to go."

"Quick Watson, the needle."

"Elementary, my dear Watson."

"Things must be done decently and in order."

"Cut out the poetry, Watson."

"Dogs don't make mistakes."

"I am an omnivorous reader with a strangely retentive memory for trifles."

"That the dog should die was after the beautiful, faithful nature of dogs."

"When one tries to rise above Nature one is liable to fall below it. The highest type of man may revert to the animal if he leaves the straight road of destiny."

"Come at once if convenient — if inconvenient come all the same."

"We can but try."

"We must look for consistency. Where there is a want of it we must suspect deception."

"It was worth a wound; it was worth many wounds; to know the depth of loyalty and love which lay behind that cold mask. The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking. For the one and only time I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain. All my years of humble but single-minded service culminated in that moment of revelation."

"Well, Watson, we can but possess our souls in patience and see what the hour may bring."

"In my profession all sorts of odd knowledge comes useful, and this room of yours is a storehouse of it."

"It is simpler to deal direct."

"Of course I remembered him," said I as I laid down the letter. "Big Bob Ferguson, the finest three-quarter Richmond ever had. He was always a good-natured chap. It's like him to be so concerned over a friend's case." Holmes looked at me thoughtfully and shook his head. "I never get your limits, Watson," said he. "There are unexplored possibilities about you. Take a wire down, like a good fellow. 'Will examine your case with pleasure.'" --"Your case!" --"We must not let him think that this agency is a home for the weak-minded."

"Matilda Briggs was not the name of a young woman, Watson," said Holmes in a reminiscent voice. "It was a ship which is associated with the giant rat of Sumatra, a story for which the world is not yet prepared."

"I am not the law, but I represent justice so far as my feeble powers go."

"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

"I have found out who our client is," I cried, bursting with my great news. "Why, Holmes, it is —""It is a loyal friend and a chivalrous gentleman," said Holmes, holding up a restraining hand. "Let that now and forever be enough for us."

"I have my plans. The first thing is to exaggerate my injuries. They'll come to you for news. Put it on thick, Watson. Lucky if I live the week out — concussion — delirium — what you like! You can't overdo it."

"A complex mind. All great criminals have that."

"I am sorry. I am accustomed to have mystery at one end of my cases, but to have it at both ends is too confusing. I fear, Sir James, that I must decline to act."

"I should say that there is no more dangerous man in Europe." "I have had several opponents to whom that flattering term has been applied."

"It may be some fussy, self-important fool; it may be a matter of life or death."

"Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age. There's an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast. But it's God's own wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared."

"Some fumes which are not poisonous would be a welcome change."

"I followed you.""I saw no one.""That is what you may expect to see when I follow you."

"I have heard your reasons and regard them as unconvincing and inadequate. We will pass that."

"Surely the clearest proof of it is that, knowing what I know, I have sent for you and not for the police."

"I owe you both my thanks and an apology. It was an unjustifiable experiment even for one's self, and doubly so for a friend. I am really very sorry."

"It is not for me, my dear Watson, to stand in the way of the official police force."