The Adventure of the Dying Detective

By

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Mrs. Hudson, the landlady of Sherlock Holmes, was a long-sufferingwoman. Not only was her first-floor flat invaded at all hours bythrongs of singular and often undesirable characters but her remarkablelodger showed an eccentricity and irregularity in his life which musthave sorely tried her patience. His incredible untidiness, hisaddiction to music at strange hours, his occasional revolver practicewithin doors, his weird and often malodorous scientific experiments, and the atmosphere of violence and danger which hung around him madehim the very worst tenant in London. On the other hand, his paymentswere princely. I have no doubt that the house might have been purchasedat the price which Holmes paid for his rooms during the years that Iwas with him. 

The landlady stood in the deepest awe of him and never dared tointerfere with him, however outrageous his proceedings might seem. Shewas fond of him, too, for he had a remarkable gentleness and courtesyin his dealings with women. He disliked and distrusted the sex, but hewas always a chivalrous opponent. Knowing how genuine was her regardfor him, I listened earnestly to her story when she came to my rooms inthe second year of my married life and told me of the sad condition towhich my poor friend was reduced. 

"He's dying, Dr. Watson, " said she. "For three days he has beensinking, and I doubt if he will last the day. He would not let me geta doctor. This morning when I saw his bones sticking out of his faceand 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 doctorthis very hour, ' said I. 'Let it be Watson, then, ' said he. Iwouldn't waste an hour in coming to him, sir, or you may not see himalive. "

I was horrified for I had heard nothing of his illness. I need not saythat I rushed for my coat and my hat. As we drove back I asked for thedetails. 

"There is little I can tell you, sir. He has been working at a casedown at Rotherhithe, in an alley near the river, and he has broughtthis illness back with him. He took to his bed on Wednesday afternoonand has never moved since. For these three days neither food nor drinkhas 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'tdare to disobey him. But he's not long for this world, as you'll seefor yourself the moment that you set eyes on him. "

He was indeed a deplorable spectacle. In the dim light of a foggyNovember 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 uponeither cheek, and dark crusts clung to his lips; the thin hands uponthe coverlet twitched incessantly, his voice was croaking andspasmodic. He lay listlessly as I entered the room, but the sight ofme brought a gleam of recognition to his eyes. 

"Well, Watson, we seem to have fallen upon evil days, " said he in afeeble 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 imperiousnesswhich I had associated only with moments of crisis. "If you approachme, 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 waspitiful, 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 plightbefore 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 fromSumatra--a thing that the Dutch know more about than we, though theyhave made little of it up to date. One thing only is certain. It isinfallibly deadly, and it is horribly contagious. "

He spoke now with a feverish energy, the long hands twitching andjerking as he motioned me away. 

"Contagious by touch, Watson--that's it, by touch. Keep your distanceand all is well. "

"Good heavens, Holmes! Do you suppose that such a consideration weighswith me of an instant? It would not affect me in the case of astranger. Do you imagine it would prevent me from doing my duty to soold 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 theroom. "

I have so deep a respect for the extraordinary qualities of Holmes thatI have always deferred to his wishes, even when I least understoodthem. But now all my professional instincts were aroused. Let him bemy 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 examineyour 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 havesomeone 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 limitedexperience and mediocre qualifications. It is painful to have to saythese things, but you leave me no choice. "

I was bitterly hurt. 

"Such a remark is unworthy of you, Holmes. It shows me very clearlythe state of your own nerves. But if you have no confidence in me Iwould not intrude my services. Let me bring Sir Jasper Meek or PenroseFisher, 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 seeyou die without either helping you myself or bringing anyone else tohelp you, then you have mistaken your man. "

"You mean well, Watson, " said the sick man with something between a soband a groan. "Shall I demonstrate your own ignorance? What do youknow, pray, of Tapanuli fever? What do you know of the black Formosacorruption?"

"I have never heard of either. "

"There are many problems of disease, many strange pathologicalpossibilities, in the East, Watson. " He paused after each sentence tocollect his failing strength. "I have learned so much during somerecent researches which have a medico-criminal aspect. It was in thecourse of them that I contracted this complaint. You can do nothing. "

"Possibly not. But I happen to know that Dr. Ainstree, the greatestliving authority upon tropical disease, is now in London. Allremonstrance 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, thedying 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 pantingafter his one tremendous outflame of energy. 

"You won't take the key from be by force, Watson, I've got you, myfriend. Here you are, and here you will stay until I will otherwise. But I'll humour you. " (All this in little gasps, with terriblestruggles for breath between. ) "You've only my own good at heart. Ofcourse I know that very well. You shall have your way, but give metime 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 youcontent to wait?"

"I seem to have no choice. "

"None in the world, Watson. Thank you, I need no help in arranging theclothes. You will please keep your distance. Now, Watson, there isone other condition that I would make. You will seek help, not fromthe man you mention, but from the one that I choose. "

"By all means. "

"The first three sensible words that you have uttered since you enteredthis room, Watson. You will find some books over there. I am somewhatexhausted; I wonder how a battery feels when it pours electricity intoa non-conductor? At six, Watson, we resume our conversation. "

But it was destined to be resumed long before that hour, and incircumstances which gave me a shock hardly second to that caused by hisspring to the door. I had stood for some minutes looking at the silentfigure in the bed. His face was almost covered by the clothes and heappeared to be asleep. Then, unable to settle down to reading, Iwalked slowly round the room, examining the pictures of celebratedcriminals with which every wall was adorned. Finally, in my aimlessperambulation, I came to the mantelpiece. A litter of pipes, tobacco-pouches, syringes, penknives, revolver-cartridges, and otherdebris was scattered over it. In the midst of these was a small blackand 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 hearddown the street. My skin went cold and my hair bristled at thathorrible scream. As I turned I caught a glimpse of a convulsed faceand frantic eyes. I stood paralyzed, with the little box in my hand. 

"Put it down! Down, this instant, Watson--this instant, I say!" Hishead sank back upon the pillow and he gave a deep sigh of relief as Ireplaced the box upon the mantelpiece. "I hate to have my thingstouched, Watson. You know that I hate it. You fidget me beyondendurance. You, a doctor--you are enough to drive a patient into anasylum. Sit down, man, and let me have my rest!"

The incident left a most unpleasant impression upon my mind. Theviolent and causeless excitement, followed by this brutality of speech, so far removed from his usual suavity, showed me how deep was thedisorganization of his mind. Of all ruins, that of a noble mind is themost deplorable. I sat in silent dejection until the stipulated timehad 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 feverishanimation 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, suchas they are you can put them in your watchpocket. And all the rest ofyour money in your left trouser pocket. Thank you. It will balance youso much better like that. "

This was raving insanity. He shuddered, and again made a sound betweena cough and a sob. 

"You will now light the gas, Watson, but you will be very careful thatnot for one instant shall it be more than half on. I implore you to becareful, Watson. Thank you, that is excellent. No, you need not drawthe blind. Now you will have the kindness to place some letters andpapers upon this table within my reach. Thank you. Now some of thatlitter from the mantelpiece. Excellent, Watson! There is a sugar-tongsthere. Kindly raise that small ivory box with its assistance. Placeit 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 toleave him. However, he was as eager now to consult the person named ashe had been obstinate in refusing. 

"I never heard the name, " said I. 

"Possibly not, my good Watson. It may surprise you to know that theman 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 ofSumatra, now visiting London. An outbreak of the disease upon hisplantation, which was distant from medical aid, caused him to study ithimself, with some rather far-reaching consequences. He is a verymethodical 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. Ifyou could persuade him to come here and give us the benefit of hisunique experience of this disease, the investigation of which has beenhis dearest hobby, I cannot doubt that he could help me. "

I gave Holmes's remarks as a consecutive whole and will not attempt toindicate how they were interrupted by gaspings for breath and thoseclutchings of his hands which indicated the pain from which he wassuffering. His appearance had changed for the worse during the fewhours that I had been with him. Those hectic spots were morepronounced, the eyes shone more brightly out of darker hollows, and acold sweat glimmered upon his brow. He still retained, however, thejaunty gallantry of his speech. To the last gasp he would always be themaster. 

"You will tell him exactly how you have left me, " said he. "You willconvey the very impression which is in your own mind--a dying man--adying and delirious man. Indeed, I cannot think why the whole bed ofthe ocean is not one solid mass of oysters, so prolific the creaturesseem. 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, Watson--Ihad suspicions of foul play and I allowed him to see it. The boy diedhorribly. 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. Andthen you will return in front of him. Make any excuse so as not tocome with him. Don't forget, Watson. You won't fail me. You never didfail me. No doubt there are natural enemies which limit the increaseof the creatures. You and I, Watson, we have done our part. Shall theworld, then, be overrun by oysters? No, no; horrible! You'll conveyall that is in your mind. "

I left him full of the image of this magnificent intellect babblinglike a foolish child. He had handed me the key, and with a happythought I took it with me lest he should lock himself in. Mrs. Hudsonwas waiting, trembling and weeping, in the passage. Behind me as Ipassed from the flat I heard Holmes's high, thin voice in somedelirious chant. Below, as I stood whistling for a cab, a man came onme through the fog. 

"How is Mr. Holmes, sir?" he asked. 

It was an old acquaintance, Inspector Morton, of Scotland Yard, dressedin unofficial tweeds. 

"He is very ill, " I answered. 

He looked at me in a most singular fashion. Had it not been toofiendish, I could have imagined that the gleam of the fanlight showedexultation 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 thevague borderland between Notting Hill and Kensington. The particularone at which my cabman pulled up had an air of smug and demurerespectability in its old-fashioned iron railings, its massivefolding-door, and its shining brasswork. All was in keeping with asolemn butler who appeared framed in the pink radiance of a tintedelectrical light behind him. 

"Yes, Mr. Culverton Smith is in. Dr. Watson! Very good, sir, I willtake 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 oftenhave 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 likethis. I am not at home. Say so. Tell him to come in the morning ifhe really must see me. "

Again the gentle murmur. 

"Well, well, give him that message. He can come in the morning, or hecan stay away. My work must not be hindered. "

I thought of Holmes tossing upon his bed of sickness and counting theminutes, perhaps, until I could bring help to him. It was not a timeto stand upon ceremony. His life depended upon my promptness. Beforethe apologetic butler had delivered his message I had pushed past himand was in the room. 

With a shrill cry of anger a man rose from a reclining chair beside thefire. I saw a great yellow face, coarse-grained and greasy, withheavy, double-chin, and two sullen, menacing gray eyes which glared atme from under tufted and sandy brows. A high bald head had a smallvelvet 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 tomy amazement that the figure of the man was small and frail, twisted inthe shoulders and back like one who has suffered from rickets in hischildhood. 

"What's this?" he cried in a high, screaming voice. "What is themeaning of this intrusion? Didn't I send you word that I would see youto-morrow morning?"

"I am sorry, " said I, "but the matter cannot be delayed. Mr. SherlockHolmes--"

The mention of my friend's name had an extraordinary effect upon thelittle man. The look of anger passed in an instant from his face. Hisfeatures 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 hedid so I caught a glimpse of his face in the mirror over themantelpiece. I could have sworn that it was set in a malicious andabominable smile. Yet I persuaded myself that it must have been somenervous contraction which I had surprised, for he turned to me aninstant later with genuine concern upon his features. 

"I am sorry to hear this, " said he. "I only know Mr. Holmes throughsome business dealings which we have had, but I have every respect forhis talents and his character. He is an amateur of crime, as I am ofdisease. For him the villain, for me the microbe. There are myprisons, " he continued, pointing to a row of bottles and jars whichstood upon a side table. "Among those gelatine cultivations some of thevery worst offenders in the world are now doing time. "

"It was on account of your special knowledge that Mr. Holmes desired tosee you. He has a high opinion of you and thought that you were theone 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. Homes think that I could help him inhis trouble?"

"Because of your knowledge of Eastern diseases. "

"But why should he think that this disease which he has contracted isEastern?"

"Because, in some professional inquiry, he has been working amongChinese 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 graveas 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 hiscall. I very much resent any interruption to my work, Dr. Watson, butthis 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 allthat I knew the worst might have happened in my absence. To my enormousrelief, he had improved greatly in the interval. His appearance was asghastly as ever, but all trace of delirium had left him and he spoke ina feeble voice, it is true, but with even more than his usual crispnessand 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. Didhe 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 opinionwould be very much more frank and valuable if he imagines that we arealone. 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 itselfto concealment, which is as well, as it is the less likely to arousesuspicion. 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'tbudge, whatever happens--whatever happens, do you hear? Don't speak!Don't move! Just listen with all your ears. " Then in an instant hissudden access of strength departed, and his masterful, purposeful talkdroned away into the low, vague murmurings of a semi-delirious man. 

From the hiding-place into which I had been so swiftly hustled I heardthe footfalls upon the stair, with the opening and the closing of thebedroom door. Then, to my surprise, there came a long silence, brokenonly by the heavy breathings and gaspings of the sick man. I couldimagine that our visitor was standing by the bedside and looking downat the sufferer. At last that strange hush was broken. 

"Holmes!" he cried. "Holmes!" in the insistent tone of one who awakensa sleeper. "Can't you hear me, Holmes?" There was a rustling, as ifhe had shaken the sick man roughly by the shoulder. 

"Is that you, Mr. Smith?" Holmes whispered. "I hardly dared hope thatyou would come. "

The other laughed. 

"I should imagine not, " he said. "And yet, you see, I am here. Coalsof fire, Holmes--coals of fire!"

"It is very good of you--very noble of you. I appreciate your specialknowledge. "

Our visitor sniggered. 

"You do. You are, fortunately, the only man in London who does. Do youknow what is the matter with you?"

"The same, " said Holmes. 

"Ah! You recognize the symptoms?"

"Only too well. "

"Well, I shouldn't be surprised, Holmes. I shouldn't be surprised ifit WERE the same. A bad lookout for you if it is. Poor Victor was adead man on the fourth day--a strong, hearty young fellow. It wascertainly, as you said, very surprising that he should have contractedan out-of-the-way Asiatic disease in the heart of London--a disease, too, of which I had made such a very special study. Singularcoincidence, Holmes. Very smart of you to notice it, but ratheruncharitable to suggest that it was cause and effect. "

"I knew that you did it. "

"Oh, you did, did you? Well, you couldn't prove it, anyhow. But whatdo you think of yourself spreading reports about me like that, and thencrawling to me for help the moment you are in trouble? What sort of agame is that--eh?"

I heard the rasping, laboured breathing of the sick man. "Give me thewater!" he gasped. 

"You're precious near your end, my friend, but I don't want you to gotill I have had a word with you. That's why I give you water. There, don't slop it about! That's right. Can you understand what I say?"

Holmes groaned. 

"Do what you can for me. Let bygones be bygones, " he whispered. "I'llput the words out of my head--I swear I will. Only cure me, and I'llforget it. "

"Forget what?"

"Well, about Victor Savage's death. You as good as admitted just nowthat you had done it. I'll forget it. "

"You can forget it or remember it, just as you like. I don't see youin the witnessbox. Quite another shaped box, my good Holmes, I assureyou. It matters nothing to me that you should know how my nephew died. It's not him we are talking about. It's you. "

"Yes, yes. "

"The fellow who came for me--I've forgotten his name--said that youcontracted it down in the East End among the sailors. "

"I could only account for it so. "

"You are proud of your brains, Holmes, are you not? Think yourselfsmart, don't you? You came across someone who was smarter this time. Now cast your mind back, Holmes. Can you think of no other way youcould have got 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 areand 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 towardsthe end. Takes you as cramp, I fancy. "

"Yes, yes; it is cramp. "

"Well, you can hear what I say, anyhow. Listen now! Can you rememberany unusual incident in your life just about the time your symptomsbegan?"

"No, no; nothing. "

"Think again. "

"I'm too ill to think. "

"Well, then, I'll help you. Did anything come by post?"

"By post?"

"A box by chance?"

"I'm fainting--I'm gone!"

"Listen, Holmes!" There was a sound as if he was shaking the dyingman, and it was all that I could do to hold myself quiet in myhiding-place. "You must hear me. You SHALL hear me. Do you remembera box--an ivory box? It came on Wednesday. You opened it--do youremember?"

"Yes, yes, I opened it. There was a sharp spring inside it. Somejoke--"

"It was no joke, as you will find to your cost. You fool, you wouldhave it and you have got it. Who asked you to cross my path? If youhad left me alone I would not have hurt you. "

"I remember, " Holmes gasped. "The spring! It drew blood. Thisbox--this on the table. "

"The very one, by George! And it may as well leave the room in mypocket. There goes your last shred of evidence. But you have thetruth now, Holmes, and you can die with the knowledge that I killedyou. You knew too much of the fate of Victor Savage, so I have sentyou to share it. You are very near your end, Holmes. I will sit hereand I will watch you die. "

Holmes's voice had sunk to an almost inaudible whisper. 

"What is that?" said Smith. "Turn up the gas? Ah, the shadows beginto fall, do they? Yes, I will turn it up, that I may see you thebetter. " He crossed the room and the light suddenly brightened. "Isthere any other little service that I can do you, my friend?"

"A match and a cigarette. "

I nearly called out in my joy and my amazement. He was speaking in hisnatural voice--a little weak, perhaps, but the very voice I knew. There was a long pause, and I felt that Culverton Smith was standing insilent amazement looking down at his companion. 

"What's the meaning of this?" I heard him say at last in a dry, raspingtone. 

"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 nordrink until you were good enough to pour me out that glass of water. But it is the tobacco which I find most irksome. Ah, here ARE somecigarettes. " I heard the striking of a match. "That is very muchbetter. Halloa! halloa! Do I hear the step of a friend?"

There were footfalls outside, the door opened, and Inspector Mortonappeared. 

"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, " heconcluded. 

"And you might add of the attempted murder of one Sherlock Holmes, "remarked my friend with a chuckle. "To save an invalid trouble, Inspector, Mr. Culverton Smith was good enough to give our signal byturning up the gas. By the way, the prisoner has a small box in theright-hand pocket of his coat which it would be as well to remove. Thank you. I would handle it gingerly if I were you. Put it downhere. It may play its part in the trial. "

There was a sudden rush and a scuffle, followed by the clash of ironand 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 intothe dock, Holmes, not me. He asked me to come here to cure him. I wassorry for him and I came. Now he will pretend, no doubt, that I havesaid anything which he may invent which will corroborate his insanesuspicions. You can lie as you like, Holmes. My word is always as goodas yours. "

"Good heavens!" cried Holmes. "I had totally forgotten him. My dearWatson, I owe you a thousand apologies. To think that I should haveoverlooked you! I need not introduce you to Mr. Culverton Smith, sinceI understand that you met somewhat earlier in the evening. Have you thecab below? I will follow you when I am dressed, for I may be of someuse at the station. 

"I never needed it more, " said Holmes as he refreshed himself with aglass of claret and some biscuits in the intervals of his toilet. "However, as you know, my habits are irregular, and such a feat meansless to me than to most men. It was very essential that I shouldimpress Mrs. Hudson with the reality of my condition, since she was toconvey it to you, and you in turn to him. You won't be offended, Watson? You will realize that among your many talents dissimulationfinds no place, and that if you had shared my secret you would neverhave been able to impress Smith with the urgent necessity of hispresence, which was the vital point of the whole scheme. Knowing hisvindictive nature, I was perfectly certain that he would come to lookupon 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. Withvaseline upon one's forehead, belladonna in one's eyes, rouge over thecheek-bones, and crusts of beeswax round one's lips, a very satisfyingeffect can be produced. Malingering is a subject upon which I havesometimes thought of writing a monograph. A little occasional talkabout half-crowns, oysters, or any other extraneous subject produces apleasing effect of delirium. "

"But why would you not let me near you, since there was in truth noinfection?"

"Can you ask, my dear Watson? Do you imagine that I have no respectfor your medical talents? Could I fancy that your astute judgmentwould pass a dying man who, however weak, had no rise of pulse ortemperature? At four yards, I could deceive you. If I failed to doso, who would bring my Smith within my grasp? No, Watson, I would nottouch that box. You can just see if you look at it sideways where thesharp spring like a viper's tooth emerges as you open it. I dare sayit was by some such device that poor Savage, who stood between thismonster and a reversion, was done to death. My correspondence, however, is, as you know, a varied one, and I am somewhat upon my guardagainst any packages which reach me. It was clear to me, however, thatby pretending that he had really succeeded in his design I mightsurprise a confession. That pretence I have carried out with thethoroughness of the true artist. Thank you, Watson, you must help meon with my coat. When we have finished at the police-station I thinkthat something nutritious at Simpson's would not be out of place. "