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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