Colonel Moran sprang forward, with a snarl of rage, but the constables dragged him back.The fury upon his face was terrible to look at.
"I confess that you had one small surprise for me," said Holmes.
"I did not anticipate that you would yourself make use of this empty house and this convenient front window.I had imagined you as operating from the street, where my friend Lestrade and his merry men were awaiting you.With that exception all has gone as I expected."Colonel Moran turned to the official detective.
"You may or may not have just cause for arresting me," said he, "but at least there can be no reason why I should submit to the gibes of this person.If I am in the hands of the law let things be done in a legal way.""Well, that's reasonable enough," said Lestrade."Nothing further you have to say, Mr.Holmes, before we go?"Holmes had picked up the powerful air-gun from the floor and was examining its mechanism.
"An admirable and unique weapon," said he, "noiseless and of tremendous power.I knew Von Herder, the blind German mechanic, who constructed it to the order of the late Professor Moriarty.
For years I have been aware of its existence, though I have never before had the opportunity of handling it.I commend it very specially to your attention, Lestrade, and also the bullets which fit it.""You can trust us to look after that, Mr.Holmes," said Lestrade, as the whole party moved towards the door."Anything further to say?""Only to ask what charge you intend to prefer?""What charge, sir? Why, of course, the attempted murder of Mr.
Sherlock Holmes."
"Not so, Lestrade.I do not propose to appear in the matter at all.
To you, and to you only, belongs the credit of the remarkable arrest which you have effected.Yes, Lestrade, I congratulate you! With your usual happy mixture of cunning and audacity you have got him.""Got him! Got whom, Mr.Holmes?"
"The man that the whole force has been seeking in vain --Colonel Sebastian Moran, who shot the Honourable Ronald Adair with an expanding bullet from an air-gun through the open window of the second-floor front of No.427, Park Lane, upon the 30th of last month.That's the charge, Lestrade.And now, Watson, if you can endure the draught from a broken window, I think that half an hour in my study over a cigar may afford you some profitable amusement."Our old chambers had been left unchanged through the supervision of Mycroft Holmes and the immediate care of Mrs.Hudson.