The Final Problem - When Colonel Moriarty Wrote a Letter in His Brother’s Defense

The Final Problem

When Colonel Moriarty wrote a letter in his brother’s defense, Dr. Watson was duty

bound to write about his beloved friend, Sherlock Holmes, and describe what had

actually happened between Professor Moriarty and Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes was engaged by the French Government on an important case in

1890, during which Dr. Watson was busy in his private practice after his marriage. Dr.

Watson was taken aback when Sherlock paid him a sudden evening visit on 24th April

1891 in his consulting chambers with bruised knuckles and in highest tension.

Sherlock sat down to narrate the story of Professor Moriarty- a genius and the

backbone of crime in London. Sherlock considered it worthy to free London of him in

spite of being affluent enough to live a quiet life after his last French & Scandinavian

assignment.

Moriarty, a mathematician with great European repute for his work on Binomial

Theorem, had come down to London after a clout of rumors had developed around him.

No matter how hard Sherlock tried to implicate him, he was unable to find success. And

hence considered Moriarty a worthy rival.

Sherlock then described his meeting with Professor Moriarty at his chambers. Moriarty

confronted him and briefly read out the day wise account of how Holmes came between

his action plans and hindered it from his note book. He threatened Holmes to either stop

or face destruction. Sherlock refused to bow and chose to act for public interest.

Since then, Sherlock had had three close shaves. Once, a fast two horse driven van

almost stuck him on road, upon which he struck to the pavement, where a brick almost

hit him and on his way to Watson’s a rouge roughed him up.

Watson offered him stay at his place, which Sherlock refused sensing the danger

around. Sherlock proposed Watson to travel with him to the interior of the continent.

Watson was told an elaborate plan as to how he should go about boarding the

Continental Express’ reserved coach after sending his luggage unaddressed to Victoria.

Watson had to take the third hansom to Strand end of the lower Arcade and from there

to Victoria through a brougham. There Watson would meet Sherlock.