No. 6 The Man with the Twisted Lip by Arthur Conan Doyle
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the man with_the twisted Lip

no .6 from_the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Isa Whitney, brother of_the late Elias Whitney, D .D ., principal of_the theological college of St .Georges, was much addicted to opium . the habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish freak when he_was at college; for having read De Quinceys description of_his dreams and sensations, he had drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to_produce the same effects . he_found, as so_many more have_done, that_the practice is easier to attain than to_get rid of, and for many years he continued to_be a slave to_the drug, an object of mingled horror and pity to_his friends and relatives . I_can_see him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin- point pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble man .

one night- it_was in June, 89- there came a ring to my bell, about_the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at_the clock .I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle- work down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment .

a patient ! said she .Youll have to_go out .

I groaned, for i_was newly come back from a weary day .

we heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps upon_the linoleum . our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room .

you_will excuse my calling so late, she began, and then, suddenly losing her self- control, she ran forward, threw her arms about_my wifes neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder .Oh, im in_such trouble ! she cried; I do_so want a little help .

why, said my wife, pulling up her veil, it_is Kate Whitney . how you startled me, Kate ! I had_not an idea who you were when_you came in .

I didnt know what to_do, so l came straight to_you . that was always the way . folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds to a light- house .

it_was very sweet of you to_come . now, you_must_have some wine and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about_it . or should you rather that I_sent James off to bed ?

Oh, no, no ! i_want the doctors advice and help, too . its about Isa . he has_not_been home for two days . I_am so frightened about him !

it_was not the first time that she had spoken to_us of her husbands trouble, to_me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend and school companion . we soothed and comforted her by such words as we_could find . did she know where her husband was ? was_it possible that we_could bring him back to her ?

it seems that_it_was . she had the surest information that of late he had, when_the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in_the farthest east of_the city . hitherto his orgies had always been confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and shattered, in_the evening . but now the spell had_been upon him eight- and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among_the dregs of_the docks, breathing in_the poison or sleeping off the effects . there he_was to_be found, she was sure of it, at_the bar of gold, in upper Swandam Lane . but what_was she to_do ? how could she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and pluck her husband out from among_the ruffians who surrounded him ?

there_was the case, and of_course there_was but one_way out of it . might I not escort her to_this place ? and then, as a second thought, why should she come at all ? i_was Isa Whitneys medical adviser, and as such I had influence over him . I_could manage it better if I were alone .I promised her on my word that i_would send_him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at_the address which she had given me . and so in ten minutes I had left my armchair and cheery sitting- room behind me, and was speeding eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to_me at_the_time, though the future only could show how strange it_was to_be .

but there_was no great difficulty in_the first stage of_my adventure . upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the high wharves which line the north side of_the river to_the east of London bridge . between a slop- shop and a gin- shop, approached by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the mouth of a cave, I_found the den of_which i_was in search .Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in_the centre by_the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by_the light of aflickering oil- lamp above the door I_found the latch and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with_the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the forecastle of an emigrant ship .

through_the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon_the newcomer . out_of_the black shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, now faint, as_the burning poison waxed or waned in_the bowls of_the metal pipes . the most lay silent, but some muttered to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own thoughts and paying little heed to_the words of_his neighbour . at_the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old man, with_his jaw resting upon his two fists, and_his elbows upon his knees, staring into_the fire .

as I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe for_me and a supply of_the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth .

thank_you . I_have_not come to stay, said I . there_is a friend of_mine here, Mr Isa Whitney, and i_wish to_speak with_him .

there_was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and peering through_the gloom I_saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and unkempt, staring out at me .

my god ! its Watson, said he . he_was in a pitiable state of reaction, with every nerve in a twitter . I_say, Watson, what oclock is_it ?

nearly eleven .

of what day ?

of Friday, June 19th .

good heavens ! i_thought it_was Wednesday . it_is Wednesday . what dyou want to frighten the chap for ? he sank his face onto his arms and began to sob in a high treble key .

I tell you that_it_is Friday, man . your wife has_been waiting this two days for_you . you_should_be ashamed of yourself !

so I_am . but youve got mixed, Watson, for I_have only been here a few hours, three pipes, four pipes-I forget how_many . but ill go home with_you .I wouldnt frighten Kate- poor little Kate . give_me your hand ! have_you a cab ?

yes, I_have one waiting .

then I_shall go in_it . but I_must owe something . find what I owe, Watson . I_am all off colour . I_can do nothing for_myself .

I walked down the narrow passage between_the double row of sleepers, holding my breath to_keep out the vile, stupefying fumes of_the drug, and looking about for_the manager . as I passed the tall man who sat by_the brazier I_felt a sudden pluck at my skirt, and a low voice whispered, walk past me, and then look back at me . the words fell quite distinctly upon my ear .I glanced down . they_could only have come from_the old man at my side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between his knees, as_though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from_his fingers . i_took two steps forward and looked back . it took all my self- control to_prevent me from breaking out into a cry of astonishment . he had turned his back so_that none could_see him but I . his form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by_the fire and grinning at my surprise, was none other_than Sherlock Holmes . he_made a slight motion to_me to approach him, and instantly, as he turned his face half round to_the company once more, subsided into adoddering, loose-lipped senility .

Holmes ! I whispered, what on earth are_you doing in_this den ?

as low as_you_can, he answered; I_have excellent ears . if_you_would_have the great kindness to_get rid of_that sottish friend of yours i_should_be exceedingly glad_to_have a little talk with_you .

I_have a cab outside .

then pray send_him home in_it . you_may safely trust him, for he appears to_be too limp to_get into any mischief . i_should recommend you also to send a note by_the cabman to your wife to_say that you_have thrown in your lot with me . if_you_will wait outside, I_shall_be with_you in five minutes .

it_was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmess requests, for they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with_such a quiet air of mastery . I_felt, however, that when Whitney was once confined in_the cab my mission was practically accomplished; and for_the rest, I_could_not wish anything better than to_be associated with my friend in one of_those singular adventures which were the normal condition of_his existence . in_a_few_minutes I had written my note, paid Whitneys bill, led him out to_the cab, and seen him driven through_the darkness . in a very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from_the opium den, and i_was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes . for two streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot . then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and burst into a hearty fit of laughter .

I suppose, Watson, said he, that you imagine that I_have added opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little weaknesses on_which you_have favoured me with your medical views .

i_was certainly surprised to_find you there .

but not more so than I to_find you .

I_came to_find a friend .

and I to_find an enemy .

an enemy ?

yes; one of_my natural enemies, or, shall I_say, my natural prey . briefly, Watson, I_am in_the midst of a very remarkable inquiry, and I_have hoped to_find a clew in_the incoherent ramblings of_these sots, as I_have_done before now . had I been recognised in_that den my life would_not_have_been worth an hours purchase; for I_have used it before now for_my own purposes, and_the rascally lascar who runs it has sworn to_have vengeance upon me . there_is a trap- door at_the back of_that building, near the corner of Pauls wharf, which could tell some strange tales of what has passed through it upon_the moonless nights .

what ! you_do_not mean bodies ?

Ay, bodies, Watson . we_should_be rich men if_we had 1000 pounds for every poor devil who has_been_done to death in_that den . it_is_the vilest murder- trap on_the whole riverside, and I_fear that Neville St .Clair has entered it never to leave it more . but our trap should_be here . he put his two forefingers between his teeth and whistled shrilly-a signal which_was answered by a similar whistle from_the distance, followed shortly by_the rattle of wheels and_the clink of horses hoofs .

now, Watson, said Holmes, as a tall dog- cart dashed up through_the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from its side lanterns .Youll come with me, wont you ?

if I_can_be of use .

Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still more so . my room at_the Cedars is a double- bedded one .

the Cedars ?

yes; that_is Mr St .Clairs house . I_am staying there while I conduct the inquiry .

where is_it, then ?

near Lee, in Kent . we_have aseven- mile drive before_us .

but I_am all in_the dark .

of_course you_are .Youll know all about_it presently . jump up here . all right, John; we_shall_not need you .Heres half a crown . look out for_me to- morrow, about eleven . give her her head . so_long, then !

he flicked the horse with_his whip, and we dashed away through_the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad balustraded bridge, with_the murky river flowing sluggishly beneath us . beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and mortar, its silence broken only by_the heavy, regular footfall of_the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of revellers .a dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a star or two twinkled dimly here and there through_the rifts of_the clouds .Holmes drove in silence, with_his head sunk upon his breast, and_the air of a man who_is lost in thought, while I sat beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might_be which seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in upon_the current of_his thoughts . we had driven several miles, and were beginning to_get to_the fringe of_the belt of suburban villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up his pipe with_the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he_is acting for_the best .

you_have a grand gift of silence, Watson, said

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