the adventure of the dying detective-第1章

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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　SHERLOCK　HOLMES

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　ADVENTURE　OF　THE　DYING　DETECTIVE

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　by　Sir　Arthur　Conan　Doyle



　　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　coming　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　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

Sumatra…　a　thing　that　the　Dutch　know　more　about　than　we；　though　they

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；　Watson…　that's　it；　by　touch。　Keep　your

distance　and　all　is　well。〃

　　〃Good　heavens；　Holmes！　Do　you　suppose　that　such　a　consideration

weighs　with　me　for　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。　But　facts　are　facts；　Watson；　and；

after　all；　you　are　only　a　general　practitioner　with　very　limited

experience　and　mediocre　qualifications。　It　is　painful　to　have　to　say

these　things；　but　you　leave　me　no　choice。〃

　　I　was　bitterly　hurt。

　　〃Such　a　remark　is　unworthy　of　you；　Holmes。　It　shows　me　very

clearly　the　state　of　your　own　nerves。　But　if　you　have　no　confidence　in

me　I　would　not　intrude　my　services。　Let　me　bring　Sir　Jasper　Meek　or

Penrose　Fisher；　or　any　of　the　best　men　in　London。　But　someone　you　must

have；　and　that　is　final。　If　you　think　that　I　am　going　to　stand　here

and　see　you　die　without　either　helping　you　myself　or　bringing　anyone

else　to　help　you；　then　you　have　mistaken　your　man。〃

　　〃You　mean　well；　Watson；〃　said　the　sick　man　with　something　between

a　sob　and　a　groan。　〃Shall　I　demonstrate　your　own　ignorance？　What　do

you　know；　pray；　of　Tapanuli　fever？　What　do　you　know　of　the　black

Formosa　corruption？〃

　　〃I　have　never　heard　of　either。〃

　　〃There　are　many　problems　of　disease；　many　strange　pathological

possibilities；　in　the　East；　Watson。〃　He　paused　after　each　sentence

to　collect　his　failing　strength。　〃I　have　learned　so　much　during　some

recent　researches　which　have　a　medico…criminal　aspect。　It　was　in　the

course　of　them　that　I　contracted　this　complaint。　You　can　do　nothing。〃

　　〃Possibly　not。　But　I　happen　to　know　that　Dr。　Ainstree；　the

greatest　living　authority　upon　tropical　disease；　is　now　in　London。　All

remonstrance　is　useless；　Holmes；　I　am　going　this　instant　to　fetch

him。〃　I　turned　resolutely　to　the　door。

　　Never　have　I　had　such　a　shock！　In　an　instant；　with　a　tiger…spring；

the　dying　man　had　intercepted　me。　I　heard　the　sharp　snap　of　a

twisted　key。　The　next　moment　he　had　staggered　back　to　his　bed；

exhausted　and　panting　after　his　one　tremendous　outflame　of　energy。

　　〃You　won't　take　the　key　from　me　by　force；　Watson；　I've　got　you；　my

friend。　Here　you　are；　and　here　you　will　stay　until　I　will　otherwise。

But　I'll　humour　you。〃　（All　this　in　little　gasps；　with　terrible

struggles　for　breath　between）　〃You've　only　my　own　good　at　heart。　Of

course　I　know　that　very　well。　You　shall　have　your　way；　but　give　me

time　to　get　my　strength。　Not　now；　Watson；　not　now。　It's　four

o'clock。　At　six　you　can　go。〃

　　〃This　is　insanity；　Holmes。〃

　　〃Only　two　hours；　Watson。　I　promise　you　will　go　at　six。　Are　you

content　to　wait？〃

　　〃I　seem　to　have　no　choice。〃

　　〃None　in　the　world；　Watson。　Thank　you；　I　need　no　help　in　arranging

the　clothes。　You　will　please　keep　your　distance。　Now；　Watson；　there　is

one　other　condition　that　I　would　make。　You　will　seek　help；　not　from

the　man　you　mention；　but　from　the　one　that　I　choose。〃

　　〃By　all　means。〃

　　〃The　first　three　sensible　words　that　you　have　uttered　since　you

entered　this　room；　Watson。　You　will　find　some　books　over　there。　I　am

somewhat　exhausted；　I　wonder　how　a　battery　feels　when　it　pours

electricity　into　a　non…conductor？　At　six；　Watson；　we　resume　our

conversation。〃

　　But　it　was　destined　to　be　resumed　long　before　that　hour；　and　in

circumstances　which　gave　me　a　shock　hardly　second　to　that　caused　by

his　springing　to　the　door。　I　had　stood　for　some　minutes　looking　at　the

silent　figure　in　the　bed。　His　face　was　almost　covered　by　the　clothes

and　he　appeared　to　be　asleep。　Then；　unable　to　settle　down　to

reading；　I　walked　slowly　round　the　room；　examining　the　pictures　of

celebrated　criminals　with　which　every　wall　was　adorned。　Finally；　in　my

aimless　perambulation；　I　came　to　the　mantelpiece。　A　litter　of　pipes；

tobacco…pouches；　syringes；　penknives；　revolver…cartridges；　and　other

debris　was　scattered　over　it。　In　the　midst　of　these　was　a　small

black　and　white　ivory　box　with　a　sliding　lid。　It　was　a　neat　little

thing；　and　I　had　stretched　out　my　hand　to　examine　it　more　closely

when…

　　It　was　a　dreadful　cry　that　he　gave…　a　yell　which　might　have　been

heard　down　the　street。　My　skin　went　cold　and　my　hair　bristled　at

that　horrible　scream。　As　I　turned　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　convulsed

face　and　frantic　eyes。　I　stood　paralyzed；　with　the　little　box　in　my

hand。

　　〃Put　it　down！　Down；　this　instant；　Watson…　this　instant；　I　say！〃

His　head　sank　back　upon　the　pillow　and　he　gave　a　deep　sigh　of　relief

as　I　replaced　the　box　upon　the　mantelpiece。　〃I　hate　to　have　my

things　touched；　Watson。　You　know　that　I　hate　it。　You　fidget　me

beyond　endurance。　You；　a　doctor…　you　are　enough　to　drive　a　patient

into　an　asylum。　Sit　down；　man；　and　let　me　have　my　rest！〃

　　The　incident　left　a　most　unpleasant　impression　upon　my　mind。　The

violent　and　causeless　excitement；　followed　by　this　brutality　of

speech；　so　far　removed　from　his　usual　suavity；　showed　me　how　deep

was　the　disorganization　of　his　mind。　Of　all　ruins；　that　of　a　noble

mind　is　the　most　deplorable。　I　sat　in　silent　dejection　until　the

stipulated　time　had　passed。　He　seemed　to　have　been　watching　the

clock　as　well　as　I；　for　it　was　hardly　six　before　he　began　to　talk　with

the　same　feverish　animation　as　before。

　　〃Now；　Watson；〃　said　he。　〃Have　you　any　change　in　your　pocket？〃

　　〃Yes。〃

　　〃Any　silver？〃

　　〃A　good　deal。〃

　　〃How　many　half…crowns？〃

　　〃I　have　five。〃

　　〃Ah；　too　few！　Too　few！　How　very　unfortunate；　Watson！　However；　such

as　they　are　you　can　put　them　in　your　watchpocket。　And　all　the　rest

of　your　money　in　your　left　trouserpocket。　Thank　you。　It　will　balance

you　so　much　better　like　that。〃

　　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

th