the adventure of the dying detective-第4节

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there　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

his　natural　voice…　a　little　weak；　perhaps；　but　the　very　voice　I

knew。　There　was　a　long　pause；　and　I　felt　that　Culverton　Smith　was

standing　in　silent　amazement　looking　down　at　his　companion。

　　〃What's　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。　Ah；　here　are　some　cigarettes。〃　I　heard　the　striking　of　a

match。　That　is　very　much　better。　Halloa！　halloa！　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

Holmes；〃　remarked　my　friend　with　a　chuckle。　〃To　save　an　invalid

trouble；　Inspector；　Mr。　Culverton　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　as　well　to

remove。　Thank　you。　I　would　handle　it　gingerly　if　I　were　you。　Put　it

down　here。　It　may　play　its　part　in　the　trial。〃

　　There　was　a　sudden　rush　and　a　scuffle；　followed　by　the　clash　of　iron

and　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　dock；　Holmes；　not　me。　He　asked　me　to　come　here　to　cure　him。　I

was　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　lie　as　you　like；　Holmes。　My　word　is

always　as　good　as　yours。〃

　　〃Good　heavens！〃　cried　Holmes。　〃I　had　totally　forgotten　him。　My

dear　Watson；　I　owe　you　a　thousand　apologies。　To　think　that　I　should

have　overlooked　you！　I　need　not　introduce　you　to　Mr。　Culverton

Smith；　since　I　understand　that　you　met　somewhat　earlier　in　the

evening。　Have　you　the　cab　below？　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　it　to　you；　and　you　in　turn　to　him。　You　won't　be　offended；

Watson？　You　will　realize　that　among　your　many　talents　dissimulation

finds　no　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。　Knowing　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　vaseline　upon　one's　forehead；　belladonna　in　one's　eyes；　rouge

over　the　cheek…bones；　and　crusts　of　beeswax　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　you；　since　there　was　in　truth

no　infection？〃

　　〃Can　you　ask；　my　dear　Watson？　Do　you　imagine　that　I　have　no

respect　for　your　medical　talents？　Could　I　fancy　that　your　astute

judgment　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　a　viper's　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　guard　against　any　packages　which　reach　me。　It　was

clear　to　me；　however；　that　my　pretending　that　he　had　really

succeeded　in　his　design　I　might　surprise　a　confession。　That　pretence　I

have　carried　out　with　the　thoroughness　of　the　true　artist。　Thank

you；　Watson；　you　must　help　me　on　with　my　coat。　When　we　have　finished

at　the　police　station　I　can　think　that　something　nutritious　at

Simpson's　would　not　be　out　of　place。〃





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…

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