Produced by Toby F Charkin  HTML version by Al HainesThe Valley Of FearbySir Arthur Conan DoyleCONTENTSPART 1The Tragedy of BirlstoneChapter  1  The Warning  2  Sherlock Holmes Discourses  3  The Tragedy of Birlstone  4  Darkness  5  The People Of the Drama  6  A Dawning Light  7  The SolutionPART 2The Scowrers  1  The Man  2  The Bodymaster  3  Lodge 341 Vermissa  4  The Valley of Fear  5  The Darkest Hour  6  Danger  7  The Trapping of Birdy EdwardsPART 1The Tragedy of BirlstoneChapter 1The WarningI am inclined to think said II should do so Sherlock Holmes remarked impatientlyI believe that I am one of the most longsuffering of mortals but Illadmit that I was annoyed at the sardonic interruptionReally Holmes said I severely you are a little trying at timesHe was too much absorbed with his own thoughts to give any immediateanswer to my remonstrance He leaned upon his hand with his untastedbreakfast before him and he stared at the slip of paper which he hadjust drawn from its envelope Then he took the envelope itself held itup to the light and very carefully studied both the exterior and theflapIt is Porlocks writing said he thoughtfully I can hardly doubtthat it is Porlocks writing though I have seen it only twice beforeThe Greek e with the peculiar top flourish is distinctive But if it isPorlock then it must be something of the very first importanceHe was speaking to himself rather than to me but my vexationdisappeared in the interest which the words awakenedWho then is Porlock I askedPorlock Watson is a nomdeplume a mere identification mark butbehind it lies a shifty and evasive personality In a former letter hefrankly informed me that the name was not his own and defied me everto trace him among the teeming millions of this great city Porlock isimportant not for himself but for the great man with whom he is intouch Picture to yourself the pilot fish with the shark the jackalwith the lionanything that is insignificant in companionship withwhat is formidable not only formidable Watson but sinisterin thehighest degree sinister That is where he comes within my purview Youhave heard me speak of Professor MoriartyThe famous scientific criminal as famous among crooks asMy blushes Watson Holmes murmured in a deprecating voiceI was about to say as he is unknown to the publicA touch A distinct touch cried Holmes You are developing acertain unexpected vein of pawky humour Watson against which I mustlearn to guard myself But in calling Moriarty a criminal you areuttering libel in the eyes of the lawand there lie the glory and thewonder of it The greatest schemer of all time the organizer of everydeviltry the controlling brain of the underworld a brain which mighthave made or marred the destiny of nationsthats the man But soaloof is he from general suspicion so immune from criticism soadmirable in his management and selfeffacement that for those verywords that you have uttered he could hale you to a court and emergewith your years pension as a solatium for his wounded character Is henot the celebrated author of The Dynamics of an Asteroid a book whichascends to such rarefied heights of pure mathematics that it is saidthat there was no man in the scientific press capable of criticizingit Is this a man to traduce Foulmouthed doctor and slanderedprofessorsuch would be your respective roles Thats genius WatsonBut if I am spared by lesser men our day will surely comeMay I be there to see I exclaimed devoutly But you were speakingof this man PorlockAh yesthe socalled Porlock is a link in the chain some little wayfrom its great attachment Porlock is not quite a sound linkbetweenourselves He is the only flaw in that chain so far as I have been ableto test itBut no chain is stronger than its weakest linkExactly my dear Watson Hence the extreme importance of Porlock Ledon by some rudimentary aspirations towards right and encouraged by thejudicious stimulation of an occasional tenpound note sent to him bydevious methods he has once or twice given me advance informationwhich has been of valuethat highest value which anticipates andprevents rather than avenges crime I cannot doubt that if we had thecipher we should find that this communication is of the nature that IindicateAgain Holmes flattened out the paper upon his unused plate I rose andleaning over him stared down at the curious inscription which ran asfollows         534 C2    13 127 36 31   4  17   21 41           DOUGLAS 109 293  5  37   BIRLSTONE             26   BIRLSTONE 9   47     171What do you make of it HolmesIt is obviously an attempt to convey secret informationBut what is the use of a cipher message without the cipherIn this instance none at allWhy do you say in this instanceBecause there are many ciphers which I would read as easily as I dothe apocrypha of the agony column such crude devices amuse theintelligence without fatiguing it But this is different It is clearlya reference to the words in a page of some book Until I am told whichpage and which book I am powerlessBut why Douglas and BirlstoneClearly because those are words which were not contained in the pagein questionThen why has he not indicated the bookYour native shrewdness my dear Watson that innate cunning which isthe delight of your friends would surely prevent you from inclosingcipher and message in the same envelope Should it miscarry you areundone As it is both have to go wrong before any harm comes from itOur second post is now overdue and I shall be surprised if it does