the adventure of the dying detective-第2章
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〃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 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 springing 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 gave… a 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； Watson… this 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 doctor… you 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 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 trouserpocket。 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 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
