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

With shrill cry of anger man rose from reclining chair beside the fire 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 high bald head had small velvet smoking-cap poised coquettishly upon one side pink curve The skull was of enormous capacity, and yet as I looked down to my amazement figure man was small and frail, twisted shoulders and back like one who has suffered from rickets childhood

"What's this ? " he cried in high, screaming voice " the meaning intrusion ? Didn't I word that see you to-morrow morning ? "

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

The mention friend's name had an extraordinary effect little man The look of anger passed in an instant face His features became tense and alert

" come from Holmes ? " he asked

" just left him "

"What about Holmes ? How is he ? "

" desperately ill why come "

The man motioned me to chair, and turned to resume his own As so I caught glimpse face mirror over the mantelpiece sworn set in malicious and abominable smile Yet I persuaded myself must some nervous contraction which I had surprised, for he turned an instant later with genuine concern upon his features

" sorry to hear this," said he "I only know Mr Holmes through some business dealings which , but every respect talents character an amateur of crime, as of disease For him the villain, the microbe my prisons," he continued, pointing to row of bottles and jars which stood upon side table "Among those gelatine cultivations very worst offenders are now doing time "

" on account of your special knowledge that Mr Holmes desired you He has high opinion of you and thought that you were the one man in London help him "

The little man started, jaunty smoking-cap slid floor

"Why ? " he asked "Why should Mr Holmes think that help him trouble ? "

"Because of your knowledge of Eastern diseases "

"But why should he think disease which he has contracted is Eastern ? "

"Because, in some professional inquiry, he working among Chinese sailors down docks "

Mr Culverton Smith smiled pleasantly and picked up his smoking-cap

"Oh, that's it- ? " said he "I trust the matter so grave suppose How long has he been ill ? "

"About three days "

"Is he delirious ? "

"Occasionally "

"Tut, tut ! This sounds serious It inhuman not to answer his call I resent any interruption to my work, Dr Watson, but is certainly exceptional come at once "

I remembered Holmes's injunction

" another appointment," said I

" go alone note of Mr Holmes's address rely upon my being there within half an hour at most "

with sinking heart that I reentered Holmes's bedroom For all that the worst happened in my absence To my enormous relief, he had improved greatly interval His appearance was as ghastly as ever, but all trace of delirium had left him and he spoke in feeble voice, true, but with even more than his usual crispness and lucidity

"Well, did him, Watson ? "

"Yes; coming "

"Admirable, Watson ! Admirable ! the best of messengers "

" to return with me "

" never do, Watson obviously impossible Did he ask what ailed me ? "

" him Chinese East End "

"Exactly ! Well, Watson, you all that good friend could now disappear scene "

" wait and hear his opinion, Holmes "

" But reasons to suppose opinion more frank and valuable if he imagines that alone just room behind the head bed, Watson "

"My dear Holmes ! "

" no alternative, Watson The room lend itself to concealment, , as less likely to arouse suspicion But just there, Watson, I fancy " Suddenly he sat up with rigid intentness upon his haggard face " the wheels, Watson Quick, man, love me ! And don't budge, whatever happens- whatever happens, hear ? Don't speak ! Don't move ! Just listen with all your ears " Then in an instant his sudden access of strength departed, masterful, purposeful talk droned away low, vague murmurings of semi-delirious man

hiding-place into which I so swiftly hustled I heard the footfalls stair, opening closing bedroom door "Then, to my surprise, there came long silence, broken only heavy breathings and gaspings sick man imagine visitor was standing bedside and looking down sufferer At last that strange hush was broken

"Holmes ! " he cried "Holmes ! " insistent tone of one who awakens sleeper "Can't you hear me, Holmes ? " rustling, he had shaken the sick man roughly shoulder

" you, Mr Smith ? " Holmes whispered "I hardly dared come "

The other laughed

" imagine not," "And yet, , here Coals of fire, Holmes- coals of fire ! "

" of you- very noble of you I appreciate your special knowledge "

Our visitor sniggered, " , fortunately, the only man in London who does the matter ? "

"The same," said Holmes

"Ah ! You recognize the symptoms ? "

"Only too well "

"Well, I shouldn't be surprised, Holmes I shouldn't be surprised were the same bad lookout Poor Victor was dead man fourth day- strong, hearty young fellow certainly, said, very surprising that contracted an out-of-the-way Asiatic disease heart of London- disease, too, I had made such very special study Singular coincidence, Holmes Very smart of you to notice it, but rather uncharitable to cause and effect "

" that it "

"Oh, , did you ? Well, you couldn't prove it, anyhow But what of yourself spreading reports about me like that, and then crawling for help the moment in trouble ? What sort of game - eh ? "

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

"You're precious near your end, my friend, but I don't want you till word That's why I water There, don't slop it about ! That's right understand what ? "

Holmes groaned

"Do what Let bygones be bygones," he whispered "I'll put the words out head- I swear 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 "