the adventure of the dying detective-第2章

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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　would　not　find　him　in　his　study。

If　you　could　persuade　him　to　come　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　give　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　mind…　a　dying　man…　a

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　wandering！　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；　Watson…　I　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　me…　only　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　come。　And

then　you　will　return　in　front　of　him。　Make　any　excuse　so　as　not　to

come　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　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

electric　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　come　in　the　morning

if　he　really　must　see　me。〃

　　Again　the　gentle　murmur。

　　〃Well；　well；　give　him　that　message。　He　can　come　in　the　morning；　or

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　come　from　Holmes？〃　he　asked。

　　〃I　have　just　left　him。〃

　　〃What　about　Holmes？　How　is　he？〃

　　〃He　is　desperately　ill。　That　is　why　I　have　come。〃

　　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　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。　Holmes　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　it…　is　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　come　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　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　coming。〃

　　〃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　happens…　whatever　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　ou