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in the world are now doing time。〃
〃It was on account of your special knowledge that Mr。 Holmes desired
to see you。 He has a high opinion of you and thought that you were the
one 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 in his trouble？〃
〃Because of your knowledge of Eastern diseases。〃
〃But why should he think that this disease which he has contracted is
Eastern？〃
〃Because； in some professional inquiry； he has been working among
Chinese sailors down in the docks。〃
Mr。 Culverton Smith smiled pleasantly and picked up his smoking…
cap。
〃Oh； that's itis it？〃 said he。 〃I trust the matter is not so grave as 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
his call。 I very much resent any interruption to my work； Dr。 Watson； but
this case is certainly exceptional。 I will e 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 all
that I knew the worst might have happened in my absence。 To my
enormous relief； he had improved greatly in the interval。 His appearance
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was as ghastly as ever； but all trace of delirium had left him and he spoke
in a feeble voice； it is true； but with even more than his usual crispness and
lucidity。
〃Well； did you see him； Watson？〃
〃Yes； he is ing。〃
〃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。
Did he 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 opinion
would be very much more frank and valuable if he imagines that we are
alone。 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 itself
to concealment； which is as well； as it is the less likely to arouse suspicion。
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't budge； whatever
happenswhatever happens； do you hear？ Don't speak！ Don't move！
Just listen with all your ears。〃 Then in an instant his sudden access of
strength departed； and his masterful； purposeful talk droned away into the
low； vague murmurings of a semi…delirious man。
》From the hiding…place into which I had been so swiftly hustled I
heard the footfalls upon the stair； with the opening and the closing of the
bedroom door。 Then； to my surprise； there came a long silence； broken
only by the heavy breathings and gaspings of the sick man。 I could
imagine that our visitor was standing by the bedside and looking down at
the sufferer。 At last that strange hush was broken。
〃Holmes！〃 he cried。 〃Holmes！〃 in the insistent tone of one who
awakens a sleeper。 〃Can't you hear me； Holmes？〃 There was a rustling；
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as if he had shaken the sick man roughly by the shoulder。
〃Is that you； Mr。 Smith？〃 Holmes whispered。 〃I hardly dared hope
that you would e。〃
The other laughed。
〃I should imagine not；〃 he said。 〃And yet； you see； I am here。 Coals
of fire； Holmescoals of fire！〃
〃It is very good of youvery noble of you。 I appreciate your special
knowledge。〃
Our visitor sniggered。
〃You do。 You are； fortunately； the only man in London who does。 Do
you know 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 if it
WERE the same。 A bad lookout for you if it is。 Poor Victor was a dead
man on the fourth daya strong； hearty young fellow。 It was certainly； as
you said； very surprising that he should have contracted and out…of…the…
way Asiatic disease in the heart of Londona disease； too； of which I had
made such a very special study。 Singular coincidence； Holmes。 Very
smart of you to notice it； but rather uncharitable 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
what do you think of yourself spreading reports about me like that； and
then crawling to me for help the moment you are in trouble？ What sort
of a game is thateh？〃
I heard the rasping； laboured breathing of the sick man。