The Adventure of the Dying Detective (Part 3) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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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. And marble Watson. Admirable. You are the best of messengers. He wished to return with May. That would never do. Once it would be obviously impossible. Did he ask what ailed me? I told him about the Chinese in the East End. Exactly. Watson, you have done all that, good friend. Could you can now disappear from the scene. I must wait in here is 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 intent nous upon his haggard face. There are the wheels. What's in 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 heirs. 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 bean so swiftly hustled, I heard the foot falls 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 breathing and gasping Sze 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 homes in the insistent tone of one who awakens a sleeper. Can't you hear me, Holmes? There was a rustling as if he had shaken the sick man roughly by the shoulder. Is that you, Mr Smith? Holmes whispered. I hardly dared. Hoped that you would come. The other laughed. I should imagine not, he said. And yet you see, I am here. Cools of fire homes, coz ofthe fire. It is very good. A few very noble of you. I appreciate your special knowledge. Ah, visitor sniggers. You do. You are fortunately the only man in London who does. Do you know what is the matter with you? The same said homes. Ah, you recognise the symptoms only do will. Well, I shouldn't be surprised, Homes. I shouldn't be surprised if it were the same. A bad look out for you If it is poor. Victor was a dead man on the fourth day. A strong, hearty young fellow. It was certainly, as you said, very surprising that he should have contracted and out of the way ese attic disease in the heart of London. A disease, two of which I made such a various special study. Singular. Who incidents, homes. They're smart of you to notice it, but rather un charitable to suggest that it was cause and effect I know that you did it. Oh, you did, did you? Where you couldn't prove it and ****. But what do you think of yourself? Spreading reports about me like that and then crawling to me for help? The moment you are in trouble, What sort of a game is that day? I heard the rasping laboured breathing of the sick man. Give me water! He gasps your precious near your end, my friend. But I don't want you to go till I've had a word with you. That's why I give you water there. Don't slough it about. That's right. Can you understand what I say? Holmes groaned. Do what you can for me. Let bygones be bygones. He was good. I'll put the words out of my head. I swear I will only kill me and I'll forget it. Forget what? Well, about Victor Savages. Death us Good. It's admitted just now that you had done it. I don't forget it. You can forget it all. Remember, it's just a CZ you like. I don't see you in the witness box. Quite another shaped box, My good homes. I assure you it matters nothing to me that you should know how my nephew died. It's not him we're talking about. It's you. Yes, Yes. The fellow who came for May I forgot in his name said that you'd contracted it down in the East end. Among the sailors. I could only account for it. So you are proud of your brain zones? Are you not? Think yourself smart, don't you? You came across someone who was smarter this time. Now cost your mind back. Can you think of no other way? You could have got to this thing. I can't think my mind is gone. For heaven's sake, help me. Yes, I will help you. I'll help you to understand just where you are and how you got there. I'd like you to know before you die. Give me something to ease my pain. Painful, is it? Yes. The coolies used to do some squealing towards the end takes you as cramp. I fancy Yes. Yes, it is cramped. Well, you can hear what I say and how. Listen, now can you remember any unusual incident in your life? Just about the time your symptoms began? Now, now Nothing. Think again. I'm too evil to think. Well, then, I'll help you. Did anything come by post by post a box by Johns? I'm fainting. I'm gone. Listen, Helen's there was a sound as if he was shaking the dying man. And it was all that I could do to hold myself quiet in my hiding place. You must heal me. You shall him. Do you remember a books and every box? It came on Wednesday. You opened it. Do you remember? Yes. Yes, I opened it. There was a shop spring inside some joke. It was no joke. As you will find to your cost, you fool! You would have it. And you have got it. Who asked you to cross my path? If you had left me alone, I would not have heard you. I remember who mes gassed the spring. It drew blood. This box. It's sort of achievable. The very one by George. And it may as well leave the room in my pocket. There goes your last shred of evidence. But you have the truth now, homes. And you can die with the knowledge that I killed you. You knew too much of the fate of Victor Savage. So I have sent you to share it. You are very new. Your end homes that was sitting on him and I would what? You die, Holmes. His voice had sunk to an almost inaudible whisper. What does that said? Smith, Turn up the gas. Ah, the shadows begin to fall, do they? Yes, I will turn it up that I may see you the better. He crossed the room and the lights suddenly brightened. Is that any other little service that Aiken, do you, my friend? A match and a cigarette. I nearly called out in my joy and my amazement. He was speaking in his natural voice on his week, perhaps, but the very voice I knew there was a long pause, and I felt that call button Smith was standing in silent amazement looking down at his companion. What is the meaning of this? I heard him say at last in a dry, rasping tone. The best way of successfully acting a part is to be it, said Holmes. I give you my word that for three days I have tasted neither food nor drink until you were good enough to pour me out that glass of water. But it is the tobacco which I find most irksome. Now here are some cigarettes. I heard the striking of a match. This is very much better. Hello. Do I hear the step of a friend? There were footfalls outside the door opened and Inspector Morton appeared. All is in order. And this is your man, said Holmes. The officer gave the usual cautions. I arrest you on the charge of the murder of one Victor Savage, he concluded, And you might add of the attempted murder of one. Sherlock Helms, remarked my friend with a chuckle, to save an invalid trouble. Inspector, Mr Corbett in Smith was good enough to give our signal by turning up the gas. By the way, the prisoner has a small box in the right hand pocket of his coat, which it would be a CZ well to remove. Thank you. I would handle it gingerly of highway. You'll put it down here. It may play its part in the trial. There was a sudden rush in a scuffle followed by the clash of Iran. A cry of pain. You'll only get yourself hurt, said the inspector. Stand still, will you? There was the click of the closing handcuffs a nice trap. Cried the high, snarling voice. It will bring you into the dark rooms. Not me. He asked me to come here to cure him. I was very sorry for him and I came. Now he will pretend no doubt that I have said anything which he may invent, which will corroborate his insane suspicions. You can lies. You like homes. My word is always as good as yours. Good heavens cried, homes. I had totally forgotten him. My dear Watson, I owe you 1000 apologies. To think that I should have overlooked your I need not introduce you to Mr Corbett in Smith. Since I understand that you met somewhat earlier in the evening, have you the caballo? I will follow you when I am dressed for I may be of some use at the station. I never needed it more, said Holmes as he refreshed himself with a glass of claret and some biscuits in the intervals of his toilet. However, as you know, my habits are irregular and such a feat means less to me than to most men. It was very essential that I should impress Mrs Hudson with the reality of my condition since she was to convey to you and you would turn to him, you won't be offended, Watson. You will realise that among your many talents, dissimulation finds new place and that if you had shared my secret, you would never have been able to impress Smith with the urgent necessity of his presence, which was the vital point of the whole scheme. Nearing his vindictive nature, I was perfectly certain that he would come to look upon his handiwork. But your appearance Holmes, your ghastly face three days of absolute fast does not improve one's beauty. Watson. For the rest, there is nothing which a sponge may not cure with vessel lean upon one's forehead, belladonna in one's eyes, ruled over the cheekbones and crusts of bees wax round one's lips. A very satisfying effect can be produced. Malingering is a subject upon which I have sometimes thought of writing a monograph. A little occasional talk about half crowns, oysters or any other extraneous subject produces a pleasing effect of delirium. But why would you not let me near your since there was, in truth, no infection? Can you ask my dear Watson, though you imagine that I have no respect for your medical talents. Could I fancy that your astute judgement would pass a dying man who, however weak, had no rise of pulse or temperature at four yards. I could deceive you if I failed to do so. Who would bring my Smith within my grasp? No, Watson. I would not touch that box. You can just see if you look at it sideways, where the sharp spring like vipers tooth emerges as you open it. I dare say it was by some such device that poor savage who stood between this monster and a reversion was done to death. My correspondence, however, is, as you know, a varied one. And I am somewhat upon my God against packages which reach me. It was clear to me, however, that by pretending that he had really succeeded in his design, I might surprise a confession that pretends I have carried out with a feather **** of the artist. Thank you, Watson. You must help me on with my coat. When we have finished at the police station. I think that's something nutritious that Simpson's would not be out of place.