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The Adventure of the Dying Detective
The Adventure of the
Dying Detective
By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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The Adventure of the Dying Detective
Mrs。 Hudson； the landlady of Sherlock Holmes； was a long… suffering
woman。 Not only was her first…floor flat invaded at all hours by throngs
of singular and often undesirable characters but her remarkable lodger
showed an eccentricity and irregularity in his life which must have sorely
tried her patience。 His incredible untidiness； his addiction to music at
strange hours； his occasional revolver practice within doors； his weird and
often malodorous scientific experiments； and the atmosphere of violence
and danger which hung around him made him the very worst tenant in
London。 On the other hand； his payments were princely。 I have no doubt
that the house might have been purchased at the price which Holmes paid
for his rooms during the years that I was with him。
The landlady stood in the deepest awe of him and never dared to
interfere with him； however outrageous his proceedings might seem。 She
was fond of him； too； for he had a remarkable gentleness and courtesy in
his dealings with women。 He disliked and distrusted the sex； but he was
always a chivalrous opponent。 Knowing how genuine was her regard for
him； I listened earnestly to her story when she came to my rooms in the
second year of my married life and told me of the sad condition to which
my poor friend was reduced。
〃He's dying； Dr。 Watson；〃 said she。 〃For three days he has been
sinking； and I doubt if he will last the day。 He would not let me get a
doctor。 This morning when I saw his bones sticking out of his face and
his great bright eyes looking at me I could stand no more of it。 'With
your leave or without it； Mr。 Holmes； I am going for a doctor this very
hour；' said I。 'Let it be Watson； then；' said he。 I wouldn't waste an hour
in ing to him； sir； or you may not see him alive。〃
I was horrified for I had heard nothing of his illness。 I need not say
that I rushed for my coat and my hat。 As we drove back I asked for the
details。
〃There is little I can tell you； sir。 He has been working at a case
down at Rotherhithe； in an alley near the river； and he has brought this
illness back with him。 He took to his bed on Wednesday afternoon and
has never moved since。 For these three days neither food nor drink has
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The Adventure of the Dying Detective
passed his lips。〃
〃Good God！ Why did you not call in a doctor？〃
〃He wouldn't have it； sir。 You know how masterful he is。 I didn't
dare to disobey him。 But he's not long for this world； as you'll see for
yourself the moment that you set eyes on him。〃
He was indeed a deplorable spectacle。 In the dim light of a foggy
November day the sick room was a gloomy spot； but it was that gaunt；
wasted face staring at me from the bed which sent a chill to my heart。
His eyes had the brightness of fever； there was a hectic flush upon either
cheek； and dark crusts clung to his lips； the thin hands upon the coverlet
twitched incessantly； his voice was croaking and spasmodic。 He lay
listlessly as I entered the room； but the sight of me brought a gleam of
recognition to his eyes。
〃Well； Watson； we seem to have fallen upon evil days；〃 said he in a
feeble voice； but with something of his old carelessness of manner。
〃My dear fellow！〃 I cried； approaching him。
〃Stand back！ Stand right back！〃 said he with the sharp imperiousness
which I had associated only with moments of crisis。 〃If you approach me；
Watson； I shall order you out of the house。〃
〃But why？〃
〃Because it is my desire。 Is that not enough？〃
Yes； Mrs。 Hudson was right。 He was more masterful than ever。 It
was pitiful； however； to see his exhaustion。
〃I only wished to help；〃 I explained。
〃Exactly！ You will help best by doing what you are told。〃
〃Certainly； Holmes。〃
He relaxed the austerity of his manner。
〃You are not angry？〃 he asked； gasping for breath。
Poor devil； how could I be angry when I saw him lying in such a plight
before me？
〃It's for your own sake； Watson；〃 he croaked。
〃For MY sake？〃
〃I know what is the matter with me。 It is a coolie disease from
Sumatraa thing that the Dutch know more about than we； though they
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The Adventure of the Dying Detective
have made little of it up to date。 One thing only is certain。 It is
infallibly deadly； and it is horribly contagious。〃
He spoke now with a feverish energy； the long hands twitching and
jerking as he motioned me away。
〃Contagious by touch； Watsonthat's it； by touch。 Keep your
distance and all is well。〃
〃Good heavens； Holmes！ Do you suppose that such a consideration
weighs with me of an instant？ It would not affect me in the case of a
stranger。 Do you imagine it would prevent me from doing my duty to so
old a friend？〃
Again I advanced； but he repulsed me with a look of furious anger。
〃If you will stand there I will talk。 If you do not you must leave the
room。〃
I have so deep a respect for the extraordinary qualities of Holmes that I
have always deferred to his wishes； even when I least understood them。
But now all my professional instincts were aroused。 Let him be my
master elsewhere； I at least was his in a sick room。
〃Holmes；〃 said I； 〃you are not yourself。 A sick man is but a child；
and so I will treat you。 Whether you like it or not； I will examine your
symptoms and treat you for them。〃
He looked at me with venomous eyes。
〃If I am to have a doctor whether I will or not； let me at least have
someone in whom I have confidence；〃 said he。
〃Then you have none in me？〃
〃In your friendship； certainly。