The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle

“You are developing a certain unexpected vein of pawky humour, Watson, against which I must learn to guard myself. “A touch! A distinct touch!” cried Holmes. “I was about to say, as he is unknown to the public.” “My blushes, Watson!” Holmes murmured in a deprecating voice. “The famous scientific criminal, as famous among crooks as–“ You have heard me speak of Professor Moriarty?”

That is where he comes within my purview. Picture to yourself the pilot fish with the shark, the jackal with the lion–anything that is insignificant in companionship with what is formidable: not only formidable, Watson, but sinister–in the highest degree sinister. Porlock is important, not for himself, but for the great man with whom he is in touch. In a former letter he frankly informed me that the name was not his own, and defied me ever to trace him among the teeming millions of this great city. “Porlock, Watson, is a nom-de-plume, a mere identification mark but behind it lies a shifty and evasive personality. He was speaking to himself rather than to me but my vexation disappeared in the interest which the words awakened. But if it is Porlock, then it must be something of the very first importance.” The Greek e with the peculiar top flourish is distinctive. “I can hardly doubt that it is Porlock’s writing, though I have seen it only twice before. “It is Porlock’s writing,” said he thoughtfully. Then he took the envelope itself, held it up to the light, and very carefully studied both the exterior and the flap. He leaned upon his hand, with his untasted breakfast before him, and he stared at the slip of paper which he had just drawn from its envelope. He was too much absorbed with his own thoughts to give any immediate answer to my remonstrance. “Really, Holmes,” said I severely, “you are a little trying at times.” I believe that I am one of the most long-suffering of mortals but I’ll admit that I was annoyed at the sardonic interruption. “I should do so,” Sherlock Holmes remarked impatiently.

The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle