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The Adventure of the Dying Detective
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 a reclining 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 e from Holmes？〃 he asked。
〃I have just left him。〃
〃What about Holmes？ How is he？〃
〃He is desperately ill。 That is why I have e。〃
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
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The Adventure of the Dying Detective
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。 Homes 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 itis 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 e 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 a sinking 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
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The Adventure of the Dying Detective
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 ing。〃
〃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
happenswhatever 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 a semi…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