18597 But his agents are numerous and splendidly organized.
18598 Is there a crime to be done, a paper to be abstracted, we will say, a house to be rifled, a man to be removed - the word is passed to the Professor, the matter is organized and carried out.
18599 The agent may be caught.
18600 In that case money is found for his bail or his defence.
18601 But the central power which uses the agent is never caught - never so much as suspected.
18602 This was the organization which I deduced, Watson, and which I devoted my whole energy to exposing and breaking up.
18603 'But the Professor was fenced round with safeguards so cunningly devised that, do what I would, it seemed impossible to get evidence which could convict in a court of law.
18604 You know my powers, my dear Watson, and yet at the end of three months I was forced to confess that I had at last met an antagonist who was my intellectual equal.
18605 My horror at his crimes was lost in my admiration at his skill.
18606 But at last he made a trip - only a little, little trip - but it was more than he could afford, when I was so close upon him.
18607 I had my chance, and, starting from that point, I have woven my net round him until now it is all ready to close.
18608 In three days, that is to say on Monday next, matters will be ripe, and the Professor, with all the principal members of his gang, will be in the hands of the police.
18609 Then will come the greatest criminal trial of the century, the clearing up of over forty mysteries, and the rope for all of them - but if we move at all prematurely, you understand, they may slip out of our hands even at the last moment.