"It must be very familiar to you.
Have you not tethered a young kid under a tree, lain above it
with your rifle, and waited for the bait to bring up your tiger?
This empty house is my tree and you are my tiger. You have
possibly had other guns in reserve in case there should be
several tigers, or in the unlikely supposition of your own aim
failing you. These," he pointed around, "are my other guns.
The parallel is exact."
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.
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