按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
This was raving insanity。 He shuddered； and again made a sound
between a cough and a sob。
〃You will now light the gas； Watson； but you will be very careful that
not for one instant shall it be more than half on。 I implore you to be
careful； Watson。 Thank you； that is excellent。 No； you need not draw the
blind。 Now you will have the kindness to place some letters and papers
upon this table within my reach。 Thank you。 Now some of that litter
from the mantelpiece。 Excellent； Watson！ There is a sugar…tongs there。
Kindly raise that small ivory box with its assistance。 Place it here among
the papers。 Good！ You can now go and fetch Mr。 Culverton Smith； of
13 Lower Burke Street。〃
To tell the truth； my desire to fetch a doctor had somewhat weakened；
for poor Holmes was so obviously delirious that it seemed dangerous to
leave him。 However； he was as eager now to consult the person named
as he had been obstinate in refusing。
〃I never heard the name；〃 said I。
〃Possibly not； my good Watson。 It may surprise you to know that the
man upon earth who is best versed in this disease is not a medical man； but
a planter。 Mr。 Culverton Smith is a well…known resident of Sumatra； now
visiting London。 An outbreak of the disease upon his plantation； which
was distant from medical aid； caused him to study it himself； with some
rather far…reaching consequences。 He is a very methodical person； and I
did not desire you to start before six； because I was well aware that you
7
… Page 8…
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
would not find him in his study。 If you could persuade him to e here
and give us the benefit of his unique experience of this disease； the
investigation of which has been his dearest hobby； I cannot doubt that he
could help me。〃
I gave Holmes's remarks as a consecutive whole and will not attempt
to indicate how they were interrupted by gaspings for breath and those
clutchings of his hands which indicated the pain from which he was
suffering。 His appearance had changed for the worse during the few
hours that I had been with him。 Those hectic spots were more
pronounced； the eyes shone more brightly out of darker hollows； and a
cold sweat glimmered upon his brow。 He still retained； however； the jaunty
gallantry of his speech。 To the last gasp he would always be the master。
〃You will tell him exactly how you have left me；〃 said he。 〃You will
convey the very impression which is in your own minda dying mana
dying and delirious man。 Indeed； I cannot think why the whole bed of
the ocean is not one solid mass of oysters； so prolific the creatures seem。
Ah； I am wondering！ Strange how the brain controls the brain！ What
was I saying； Watson？〃
〃My directions for Mr。 Culverton Smith。〃
〃Ah； yes； I remember。 My life depends upon it。 Plead with him；
Watson。 There is no good feeling between us。 His nephew； WatsonI
had suspicions of foul play and I allowed him to see it。 The boy died
horribly。 He has a grudge against me。 You will soften him； Watson。
Beg him； pray him； get him here by any means。 He can save meonly
he！〃
〃I will bring him in a cab； if I have to carry him down to it。〃
〃You will do nothing of the sort。 You will persuade him to e。
And then you will return in front of him。 Make any excuse so as not to
e with him。 Don't forget； Watson。 You won't fail me。 You never did
fail me。 No doubt there are natural enemies which limit the increase of
the creatures。 You and I； Watson； we have done our part。 Shall the
world； then； be overrun by oysters？ No； no； horrible！ You'll convey all
that is in your mind。〃
I left him full of the image of this magnificent intellect babbling like a
8
… Page 9…
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
foolish child。 He had handed me the key； and with a happy thought I
took it with me lest he should lock himself in。 Mrs。 Hudson was waiting；
trembling and weeping； in the passage。 Behind me as I passed from the
flat I heard Holmes's high； thin voice in some delirious chant。 Below； as
I stood whistling for a cab； a man came on me through the fog。
〃How is Mr。 Holmes； sir？〃 he asked。
It was an old acquaintance； Inspector Morton； of Scotland Yard；
dressed in unofficial tweeds。
〃He is very ill；〃 I answered。
He looked at me in a most singular fashion。 Had it not been too
fiendish； I could have imagined that the gleam of the fanlight showed
exultation in his face。
〃I heard some rumour of it；〃 said he。
The cab had driven up； and I left him。
Lower Burke Street proved to be a line of fine houses lying in the
vague borderland between Notting Hill and Kensington。 The particular
one at which my cabman pulled up had an air of smug and demure
respectability in its old…fashioned iron railings； its massive folding…door；
and its shining brasswork。 All was in keeping with a solemn butler who
appeared framed in the pink radiance of a tinted electrical light behind
him。
〃Yes； Mr。 Culverton Smith is in。 Dr。 Watson！ Very good； sir； I will
take up your card。〃
My humble name and title did not appear to impress Mr。 Culverton
Smith。 Through the half…open door I heard a high； petulant； penetrating
voice。
〃Who is this person？ What does he want？ Dear me； Staples； how
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 e in the morning if he
really must see me。〃
Again the gentle murmur。
〃Well； well； give him that message。 He can e in the morning； or
9
… Page 10…
The Adventure of the Dying