Holmes deduces the culprit to be Charles Milverton, the most feared blackmailer in London, who leaked evidence of Lady Huxley's infidelity after she refused to pay.

Holmes' older brother Mycroft recruits the pair to deal with a similar case of Lady Eva Blackwell, set to be married.

Holmes destroys several stacks of letters including Blackwell's and the pair flee, though Watson loses a shoe in the process.

Holmes states the evidence he provided to Inspector Lestrade means Moriarty's ring is mere days away from being dissolved.

He finds a final letter to him from Holmes, declaring Moriarty to have been the greatest case of his career and instructing Watson to monitor Adair.

Discussing their adventures by the fire, Holmes explains he had spotted a ledge beneath where he and Morairty would fight, which he used to feign his death in order to fool Moran.