watched the criminal world of London."

"But how did you get to work again?"

"Ah, I have often marvelled at it myself. The Foreign Minister
alone I could have withstood, but when the Premier also deigned
to visit my humble roof--! The fact is, Watson, that this
gentleman upon the sofa was a bit too good for our people. He
was in a class by himself. Things were going wrong, and no one
could understand why they were going wrong. Agents were
suspected or even caught, but there was evidence of some strong
and secret central force. It was absolutely necessary to expose
it. Strong pressure was brought upon me to look into the matter.
It has cost me two years, Watson, but they have not been devoid
of excitement. When I say that I started my pilgrimage at
Chicago, graduated in an Irish secret society at Buffalo, gave
serious trouble to the constabulary at Skibbareen, and so
eventually caught the eye of a subordinate agent of Von Bork, who
recommended me as a likely man, you will realize that the matter
was complex. Since then I have been honoured by his confidence,
which has not prevented most of his plans going subtly wrong and
five of his best agents being in prison. I watched them, Watson,
and I picked them as they ripened. Well, sir, I hope that you
are none the worse!"

The last remark was addressed to Von Bork himself, who after much
gasping and blinking had lain quietly listening to Holmes's
statement. He broke out now into a furious stream of German
invective, his face convulsed with passion. Holmes continued his
swift investigation of documents while his prisoner cursed and