Nothing?
To tell the truth he sank his face into his thin, white hands I have
felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor rabbits when the
snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in the grasp of some
resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight and no precautions can
guard against.
Tut! tut! cried Sherlock Holmes. You must act, man, or you are lost.
Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for despair.
I have seen the police.
Ah!
But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that the
inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all practical
jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really accidents, as
the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the warnings.
Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. Incredible imbecility! he
cried.
They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in the
house with me.
Has he come with you to-night?
No. His orders were to stay in the house.
Again Holmes raved in the air.
Why did you come to me? he said, and, above all, why did you not
come at once?
I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Prendergast
about my troubles and was advised by him to come to you.
It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have acted
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