title: The Sherlock Holmes Reference Library: The Valley of Fear
author: Arthur Conan Doyle
description: The standards of scholarship and production [of the series]...have never faltered. A wonderful project, excellently carried out. Highest recommendation. --<i>Roger Johnson, The District Messenger, 26 June 2005</i>
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  # The Valley of Fear
  
  
  ## Arthur Conan Doyle
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ###  PART 1: The Tragedy of Birlstone
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ###  Chapter 1. The Warning
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  "I am inclined to think -- " said I.
  
  
    
  
  
  "I should do so," Sherlock Holmes remarked impatiently.
  
  
    
  
  
  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.
  
  
    
  
  
  "Really, Holmes," said I severely, "you are a little trying at
  
  
  times."
  
  
    
  
  
  He was too much absorbed with his own thoughts to give any
  
  
  immediate answer to my remonstrance. 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. Then he
  
  
  took the envelope itself, held it up to the light, and very carefully
  
  
  studied both the exterior and the flap.
  
  
    
  
  
  "It is Porlock's writing," said he thoughtfully. "I can hardly
  
  
  doubt that it is Porlock