The Adventure of the Dying Detective* by Arthur Conan Doyle
Section [1 | 2]
often have I_said that I_am, not to_be disturbed in my hours of study ? "

there came a gentle flow of soothing explanation from_the butler .

" well, I won't see him, Staples . I_can't have my work interrupted like this . I_am not at home . say so . tell him to_come in_the morning if he really must see me ."

again the gentle murmur .

" well, well, give him that message . he_can come in_the morning, or he_can stay away . my work must not be hindered ."

i_thought of Holmes tossing upon his bed of sickness and counting the minutes, perhaps, until I_could bring help to him . it_was not a time to stand upon ceremony . his life depended upon my promptness . before_the apologetic butler had delivered his message I had pushed past him and was in_the room .

with a shrill cry of anger a man rose from areclining chair beside the fire . I_saw a great yellow face, coarse- grained and greasy, with heavy, double- chin, and two sullen, menacing gray eyes which glared at me from under tufted and sandy brows .a high bald head had a small velvet smoking-cap poised coquettishly upon one side of_its pink curve . the skull was of enormous capacity, and yet as I looked down I_saw to my amazement that_the figure of_the man was small and frail, twisted in_the shoulders and back like one who has suffered from rickets in_his childhood .

" what's this ? " he cried in a high, screaming voice ." what_is the meaning of_this intrusion ? Didn't I send_you word that i_would see you to- morrow morning ? "

" I_am sorry," said I, " but the matter cannot_be delayed .Mr Sherlock Holmes-"

the mention of_my friend's name had an extraordinary effect upon_the little man . the look of anger passed in an instant from_his face . his features became tense and alert .

" have_you come from Holmes ? " he asked .

" I_have just left him ."

" what about Holmes ? how is he ? "

" he_is desperately ill . that_is why I_have come ."

the man motioned me to a chair, and turned to resume his own . as he_did so I caught a glimpse of_his face in_the mirror over the mantelpiece . I_could_have sworn that_it_was set in a malicious and abominable smile . yet I persuaded myself that_it must_have been some nervous contraction which I had surprised, for he turned to_me an instant later with genuine concern upon his features .

" I_am sorry to hear this," said he ."I only know Mr Holmes through some business dealings which we_have_had, but I_have every respect for_his talents and_his character . he_is an amateur of crime, as I_am of disease . for him the villain, for_me the microbe . there_are my prisons," he continued, pointing to a row of bottles and jars which stood upon a side table ." among those gelatine cultivations some_of_the very worst offenders in_the_world are now doing time ."

" it_was on account of your special knowledge that Mr Holmes desired to_see you . he has a high opinion of you and thought that you were the one man in London who_could help him ."

the little man started, and_the jaunty smoking-cap slid to_the floor .

" why ? " he asked ." why should Mr Holmes think that I_could help him in_his trouble ? "

" because of your knowledge of eastern diseases ."

" but why should he think that_this disease which he has contracted is eastern ? "

" because, in some professional inquiry, he has_been working among Chinese sailors down in_the docks ."

Mr Culverton smith smiled pleasantly and picked up his smoking-cap .

"Oh, that's it- is_it ? " said he ."I trust the matter is_not so grave as_you suppose . how long has he been ill ? "

" about three days ."

" is he delirious ? "

" occasionally ."

"Tut, tut ! this sounds serious . it would_be inhuman not to answer his call .I very_much resent any interruption to my work, Dr .Watson, but this_case is certainly exceptional . i_will come with_you at once ."

I remembered Holmes's injunction .

" I_have another appointment," said I .

" very_good . i_will go alone . I_have a note of Mr Holmes's address . you_can rely upon my being there within half an hour at most ."

it_was with asinking heart that I reentered Holmes's bedroom . for all that I_knew the worst might_have happened in my absence . to my enormous relief, he had improved greatly in_the interval . his appearance was as ghastly as ever, but all trace of delirium had left him and he spoke in a feeble voice, it_is true, but with even more than his usual crispness and lucidity .

" well, did you_see him, Watson ? "

" yes; he_is coming ."

" admirable, Watson ! admirable ! you_are the best of messengers ."

" he_wished to return with me ."

" that_would never do, Watson . that_would_be obviously impossible . did he ask what ailed me ? "

" i_told him about_the Chinese in_the east end ."

" exactly ! well, Watson, you have_done all that a good friend could . you_can now disappear from_the scene ."

" I_must wait and hear his opinion, Holmes ."

" of_course you_must . but I_have reasons to suppose that_this opinion would_be very_much more frank and valuable if he imagines that we_are alone . there_is just room behind the head of_my bed, Watson ."

" my dear Holmes ! "

" I_fear there_is no alternative, Watson . the room does_not lend itself to concealment, which_is as_well, as it_is_the less likely to arouse suspicion . but just there, Watson, I fancy that_it could_be_done ." suddenly he sat up with a rigid intentness upon his haggard face ." there_are the wheels, Watson . quick, man, if_you love me ! and don't budge, whatever happens- whatever happens, do_you hear ? Don't speak ! Don't move ! just listen with all your ears ." then in an instant his sudden access of strength departed, and_his masterful, purposeful talk droned away into_the low, vague murmurings of asemi- delirious man .

from_the hiding- place into which I had_been so swiftly hustled I heard the footfalls upon_the stair, with_the opening and_the closing of_the bedroom door ." then, to my surprise, there came a long silence, broken only by_the heavy breathings and gaspings of_the sick man . I_could imagine that_our visitor was standing by_the bedside and looking down at_the sufferer . at last that strange hush was broken .

"Holmes ! " he cried ."Holmes ! " in_the insistent tone of one who awakens a sleeper ." can't you hear me, Holmes ? " there_was arustling, as_if he had shaken the sick man roughly by_the shoulder .

" is_that you, Mr smith ? " Holmes whispered ."I hardly dared hope_that you_would come ."

the other laughed .

" i_should imagine not," he_said ." and yet, you_see, I_am here .Coals of fire, Holmes- coals of fire ! "

" it_is very_good of you- very noble of you .I appreciate your special knowledge ."

our visitor sniggered, " you_do . you_are, fortunately, the only man in London who does . do_you_know what_is the matter with_you ? "

" the same," said Holmes .

"Ah ! you recognize the symptoms ? "

" only too well ."

" well, I shouldn't be surprised, Holmes .I shouldn't be surprised if_it were the same .a bad lookout for_you if_it_is . poor victor was a dead man on_the fourth day- a strong, hearty young fellow . it_was certainly, as_you said, very surprising that he_should_have contracted an out- of- the- way Asiatic disease in_the heart of London- a disease, too, of_which I had made such a very special study . singular coincidence, Holmes . very smart of you to notice it, but rather uncharitable to suggest_that it_was cause and effect ."

" I_knew that you_did it ."

"Oh, you_did, did you ? well, you couldn't prove it, anyhow . but what do_you_think of yourself spreading reports about me like that, and then crawling to_me for help the moment you_are in trouble ? what sort of a game is_that- eh ? "

I heard the rasping, laboured breathing of_the sick man ." give_me the water ! " he gasped .

" you're precious near your end, my friend, but I don't want you to_go till I_have_had a word with_you . that's why I give_you water . there, don't slop it about ! that's right . can_you understand what I_say ? "

Holmes groaned .

" do what you_can for_me . let bygones be bygones," he whispered ."I'll put the words out of_my head- I swear i_will . only cure me, and I'll forget it ."

" forget what ? "

" well, about victor savage's death . you as good as admitted just now that you had done it .I'll forget it ."

" you_can forget it or remember it, just as_you like .I don't see you in_the witnessbox . quite another shaped box, my good Holmes, I assure you . it matters nothing to_me that you_should know how my nephew died . it's not him we_are talking about . it's you ."

" yes, yes ."

" the fellow who came for_me- I've forgotten his name- said that you contracted it down in_the east end among_the sailors ."

" I_could only account for_it so ."

" you_are proud of your brains, Holmes, are_you not ? think yourself smart, don't you ? you came across someone who was smarter this_time . now cast your mind back, Holmes . can you_think of no other way you_could_have got this thing ? "

" I_can't think . my mind is gone . for heaven's sake help me ! "

" yes, i_will help_you .I'll help_you to understand just where you_are and how you got there .I'd like you to_know before_you die ."

" give_me something to ease my pain ."

" painful, is_it ? yes, the coolies used to_do some squealing towards the end .Takes you as cramp, I fancy ."

" yes, yes; it_is cramp ."

" well, you_can hear what I_say, anyhow . listen now ! can_you remember any unusual incident in your life just about_the_time your symptoms began ? "

" no, no; nothing ."

" think again ."

"I'm too ill to_think ."

" well, then, I'll help_you . did anything come by post ? "

" by post ? "

"A box by chance ? "

"I'm fainting- I'm gone ! "

" listen, Holmes ! " there_was a sound as_if he_was shaking the dying man, and it_was all that I_could do to hold myself quiet in my hiding- place ." you_must hear me . you shall hear me . do_you remember a box- an ivory box ? it came on Wednesday . you opened it- do_you remember ? "

" yes, yes, I opened it . there_was a sharp spring inside it . some joke-"

" it_was no joke, as_you_will_find to your cost . you fool, you_would_have it and you_have got it . who asked you to cross my path ? if_you had left me alone i_would_not have hurt you ."

"I remember," Holmes gasped ." the spring ! it drew blood . this box- this on_the table ."

" the very one, by George ! and it may as_well leave the room in my pocket . there goes your last shred of evidence . but you_have the truth now, Holmes, and you_can die with_the knowledge that I killed you . you_knew too_much of_the fate of victor savage, so I_have sent you to share it . you_are very near your end, Holmes . i_will sit here and_I_will watch you die ."

Holmes's voice had sunk to an almost inaudible whisper .

" what_is that ? " said smith ." turn up the gas ? Ah, the shadows begin to_fall, do they ? yes, i_will turn it up, that I_may see you the better ." he crossed the room and_the light suddenly brightened ." is_there any_other little service that I_can do_you, my friend ? "

"A match and a cigarette ."

I nearly called out in my joy and my amazement . he_was speaking in_his natural voice- a little weak, perhaps, but the very voice I_knew . there_was a long pause, and I_felt that Culverton smith was standing in silent amazement looking down at his companion .

" what's the meaning of_this ? " I heard him say at last in a dry, rasping tone .

" the best way of successfully acting a part is_to_be it," said Holmes ."I give_you my word that for three days I_have tasted neither food nor drink until you were good enough to pour me out that glass of water . but it_is_the tobacco which I_find most irksome .Ah, here are some cigarettes ." I heard the striking of a match . that_is very_much better .Halloa ! halloa ! do I hear the step of a friend ? "

there were footfalls outside, the door opened, and inspector Morton appeared .

" all is in_order and this_is your man," said Holmes .

the officer gave the usual cautions .

"I arrest you on_the charge of_the murder of one victor savage," he concluded .

" and you_might add of_the attempted murder of one Sherlock Holmes," remarked my friend with a chuckle ." to save an invalid trouble, inspector, Mr Culverton smith was good enough to_give our signal by turning up the gas . by_the_way, the prisoner has a small box in_the right- hand pocket of_his coat which it would_be as_well to remove . thank_you . i_would handle it gingerly if I were you . put it down here . it may play its part in_the trial ."

there_was a sudden rush and a scuffle, followed by_the clash of iron and a cry of pain .

" you'll only get yourself hurt," said the inspector ." stand still, will_you ? " there_was the click of_the closing handcuffs .

"A nice trap ! " cried the high, snarling voice ." it_will bring you into_the dock, Holmes, not me . he asked me to_come here to cure him . i_was sorry for him and I_came . now he_will pretend, no_doubt, that I_have said anything which he_may invent which will corroborate his insane suspicions . you_can lie as_you like, Holmes . my word is always as good as yours ."

" good heavens ! " cried Holmes ."I had totally forgotten him . my dear Watson, I owe you a thousand apologies . to_think that i_should_have overlooked you ! I_need not introduce you to Mr Culverton smith, since I understand that you met somewhat earlier in_the evening . have_you the cab below ? i_will follow you when I_am dressed, for I_may_be of some use at_the station .

"I never needed it more," said Holmes as he refreshed himself with a glass of claret and some biscuits in_the intervals of_his toilet ." however, as_you_know, my habits are irregular, and such a feat means less to_me than to most men . it_was very essential that i_should impress Mrs Hudson with_the reality of_my condition, since she was to convey it to_you, and you in turn to him . you won't be offended, Watson ? you_will realize_that among your many talents dissimulation finds no place, and_that if_you had shared my secret you_would never have_been_able to impress smith with_the urgent necessity of_his presence, which_was the vital point of_the whole scheme .Knowing his vindictive nature, i_was perfectly certain that he_would come to look upon his handiwork ."

" but your appearance, Holmes- your ghastly face ? "

" three days of absolute fast does_not improve one's beauty, Watson . for_the rest, there_is nothing which a sponge may not cure . with Vaseline upon one's forehead, belladonna in one's eyes, rouge over the cheek-bones, and crusts of beeswax round one's lips, a very satisfying effect can_be produced .Malingering is a subject upon_which I_have sometimes thought of writing a monograph .a little occasional talk about half-crowns, oysters, or any_other extraneous subject produces apleasing effect of delirium ."

" but why would you not let me near you, since there_was in truth no infection ? "

" can_you ask, my dear Watson ? do_you imagine that I_have no respect for your medical talents ? could I fancy that your astute judgment would pass adying man who, however weak, had no rise of pulse or temperature ? at four yards, I_could deceive you . if I failed to_do_so, who_would bring my smith within my grasp ? no, Watson, i_would_not touch that box . you_can just see if_you look at it sideways where the sharp spring like a viper's tooth emerges as_you open it .I dare say it_was by some such device that poor savage, who stood between this monster and a reversion, was_done to death . my correspondence, however, is, as_you_know, a varied one, and I_am somewhat upon my guard against any packages which reach me . it_was clear to_me, however, that my pretending that he had really succeeded in_his design I_might surprise a confession . that pretence I_have carried out with_the thoroughness of_the true artist . thank_you, Watson, you_must help me on with my coat . when we_have finished at_the police station I_can think that something nutritious at Simpson's would_not_be out of place ."

Section [1 | 2]