阿瑟•柯南•道尔（Arthur Conan Doyle，1859—1930），英国杰出的侦探小说家、剧作家，堪称侦探悬疑小说的鼻祖，被誉为“英国侦探小说之父”。他因成功塑造了侦探人物――夏洛克•福尔摩斯而成为侦探小说历史上重要的小说家之一。代表作品有“福尔摩斯探案全集系列”等。

      《福尔摩斯探案全集之最后的致意》是英国侦探小说家柯南·道尔所著的故事集，共收录了《硬纸盒》《红圈会》《威斯特里亚寓所》《魔鬼之足》《最后的致意》等八个短篇故事。在本书中，福尔摩斯又出色地将智慧与实践结合，取得了历史性的战果。

Preface

His Last Bow

The friends of Mr. Sherlock Holmes will be glad to learn that he is still alive and well, though somewhat crippled by occasional attacks of rheumatism. He has, for many years, lived in a small farm upon the downs five miles from Eastbourne, where his time is divided between philosophy and agriculture. During this period of rest he has refused the most princely offers to take up various cases, having determined that his retirement was a permanent one. The approach of the German war caused him, however, to lay his remarkable combination of intellectual and practical activity at the disposal of the government, with historical results which are recounted in His Last Bow. Several previous experiences which have lain long in my portfolio have been added to His Last Bow so as to complete the volume.

John H. Watson, M. D.

Preface…………………………………………………………… 001

The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge...……………………………… 001

The Adventure of the Cardboard Box.…………………………… 040

The Adventure of the Red Circle.………………………………… 068

The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans.…………………… 093

The Adventure of the Dying Detective....………………………… 131

The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax……………………… 152

The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot..……………………………… 178

His Last Bow....…………………………………………………… 211