“ ‘You evidently don’t know me,’ said he.
“ ‘On the contrary,’ I answered, ‘I think it is fairly evident that I do. Pray take a chair. I can spare you five minutes if you have anything to say.’
“ ‘All that I have to say has already crossed your mind,’ said he.
“ ‘Then possibly my answer has crossed yours,’ I replied.
“ ‘You stand fast?’
“ ‘Absolutely.’
“He clapped his hand into his pocket, and I raised the pistol from the table. But he merely drew out a memorandum-book in which he had scribbled some dates.
“ ‘You crossed my path on the 4th of January ,’ said he. ‘On the 23rd you incommoded me; by the middle of February I was seriously inconvenienced by you; at the end of March I was absolutely hampered in my plans; and now, at the close of April, I find myself placed in such a position through your continual persecution that I am in positive danger of losing my liberty. The situation is becoming an impossible one.’
“ ‘Have you any suggestion to make?’ I asked.
“ ‘You must drop it, Mr. Holmes,’ said he, swaying his face about. ‘You really must, you know.’
“ ‘After Monday,’ said I.