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 be 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
5
… Page 6…
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
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
spring 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 gavea 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； Watsonthis 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 doctoryou 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
6
… Page 7…
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
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 trouser pocket。 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 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
7
… Page 8…
The Adventure of the Dying Detective
would not find him in his study。 If you could persuade him to e 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 gave 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 minda dying mana
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 wondering！ 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； WatsonI
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 meonly
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 e。
And then you will return in front of him。 Make any excuse so as not to
e with him。 Don't forget； Watson。 You won't fail me。 You n