<s> MRS. HUDSON THE LANDLADY OF SHERLOCK HOLMES WAS A LONGSUFFERING WOMAN </s><s> NOT ONLY WAS HER FIRST FLOOR FLAT INVADED AT ALL HOURS BY THRONGS OF SINGULAR AND OFTEN UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERS BUT HER REMARKABLE LODGER SHOWED AN ECCENTRICITY AND IRREGULARITY IN HIS LIFE WHICH MUST HAVE SORELY TRIED HER PATIENCE </s><s> HIS INCREDIBLE UNTIDINESS HIS ADDICTION TO MUSIC AT STRANGE HOURS HIS OCCASIONAL REVOLVER PRACTICE WITHIN DOORS HIS WEIRD AND OFTEN MALODOROUS SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS AND THE ATMOSPHERE OF VIOLENCE AND DANGER WHICH HUNG AROUND HIM MADE HIM THE VERY WORST TENANT IN LONDON </s><s> ON THE OTHER HAND HIS PAYMENTS WERE PRINCELY </s><s> I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE HOUSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AT THE PRICE WHICH HOLMES PAID FOR HIS ROOMS DURING THE YEARS THAT I WAS WITH HIM </s><s> THE LANDLADY STOOD IN THE DEEPEST AWE OF HIM AND NEVER DARED TO INTERFERE WITH HIM HOWEVER OUTRAGEOUS HIS PROCEEDINGS MIGHT SEEM </s><s> SHE WAS FOND OF HIM TOO FOR HE HAD A REMARKABLE GENTLENESS AND COURTESY IN HIS DEALINGS WITH WOMEN </s><s> HE DISLIKED AND DISTRUSTED THE SEX BUT HE WAS ALWAYS A CHIVALROUS OPPONENT </s><s> KNOWING HOW GENUINE WAS HER REGARD FOR HIM I LISTENED EARNESTLY TO HER STORY WHEN SHE CAME TO MY ROOMS IN THE SECOND YEAR OF MY MARRIED LIFE AND TOLD ME OF THE SAD CONDITION TO WHICH MY POOR FRIEND WAS REDUCED </s><s> QUOTE HE'S DYING DOCTOR WATSON QUOTE SAID SHE </s><s> FOR THREE DAYS HE HAS BEEN SINKING AND I DOUBT IF HE WILL LAST THE DAY </s><s> HE WOULD NOT LET ME GET A DOCTOR </s><s> THIS MORNING WHEN I SAW HIS BONES STICKING OUT OF HIS FACE AND HIS GREAT BRIGHT EYES LOOKING AT ME I COULD STAND NO MORE OF IT </s><s> WITH YOUR LEAVE OR WITHOUT IT MR. HOLMES I AM GOING FOR A DOCTOR THIS VERY HOUR SAID I. LET IT BE WATSON THEN SAID HE </s><s> I WOULDN'T WASTE AN HOUR IN COMING TO HIM SIR OR YOU MAY NOT SEE HIM ALIVE </s><s> I WAS HORRIFIED FOR I HAD HEARD NOTHING OF HIS ILLNESS </s><s> I NEED NOT SAY THAT I RUSHED FOR MY COAT AND MY HAT </s><s> AS WE DROVE BACK I ASKED FOR THE DETAILS </s><s> THERE IS LITTLE I CAN TELL YOU SIR </s><s> HE HAS BEEN WORKING AT A CASE DOWN AT ROTHERHITHE IN AN ALLEY NEAR THE RIVER AND HE HAS BROUGHT THIS ILLNESS BACK WITH HIM </s><s> HE TOOK TO HIS BED ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND HAS NEVER MOVED SINCE </s><s> FOR THESE THREE DAYS NEITHER FOOD NOR DRINK HAS PASSED HIS LIPS </s><s> GOOD GOD </s><s> WHY DID YOU NOT CALL IN A DOCTOR QUOTE </s><s> HE WOULDN'T HAVE IT SIR </s><s> YOU KNOW HOW MASTERFUL HE IS </s><s> I DIDN'T DARE TO DISOBEY HIM </s><s> BUT HE'S NOT LONG FOR THIS WORLD AS YOU'LL SEE FOR YOURSELF THE MOMENT THAT YOU SET EYES ON HIM </s><s> HE WAS INDEED A DEPLORABLE SPECTACLE </s><s> IN THE DIM LIGHT OF A FOGGY NOVEMBER 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 </s><s> HIS EYES HAD THE BRIGHTNESS OF FEVER THERE WAS A HECTIC FLUSH UPON EITHER CHEEK AND DARK CRUSTS CLUNG TO HIS LIPS THE THIN HANDS UPON THE COVERLET TWITCHED INCESSANTLY HIS VOICE WAS CROAKING AND SPASMODIC </s><s> HE LAY LISTLESSLY AS I ENTERED THE ROOM BUT THE SIGHT OF ME BROUGHT A GLEAM OF RECOGNITION TO HIS EYES </s><s> WELL WATSON WE SEEM TO HAVE FALLEN UPON EVIL DAYS SAID HE IN A FEEBLE VOICE BUT WITH SOMETHING OF HIS OLD CARELESSNESS OF MANNER </s><s> MY DEAR FELLOW </s><s> I CRIED APPROACHING HIM </s><s> STAND BACK </s><s> STAND RIGHT BACK QUOTE SAID HE WITH THE SHARP IMPERIOUSNESS WHICH I HAD ASSOCIATED ONLY WITH MOMENTS OF CRISIS </s><s> IF YOU APPROACH ME WATSON I SHALL ORDER YOU OUT OF THE HOUSE </s><s> BUT WHY </s><s> BECAUSE IT IS MY DESIRE </s><s> IS THAT NOT ENOUGH </s><s> YES MRS. HUDSON WAS RIGHT </s><s> HE WAS MORE MASTERFUL THAN EVER </s><s> IT WAS PITIFUL HOWEVER TO SEE HIS EXHAUSTION </s><s> I ONLY WISHED TO HELP I EXPLAINED </s><s> QUOTE EXACTLY </s><s> YOU WILL HELP BEST BY DOING WHAT YOU ARE TOLD </s><s> CERTAINLY HOLMES </s><s> HE RELAXED THE AUSTERITY OF HIS MANNER </s><s> YOU ARE NOT ANGRY HE ASKED GASPING FOR BREATH </s><s> POOR DEVIL HOW COULD I BE ANGRY WHEN I SAW HIM LYING IN SUCH A PLIGHT BEFORE ME </s><s> IT'S FOR YOUR OWN SAKE WATSON HE CROAKED </s><s> FOR MY SAKE </s><s> QUOTE I KNOW WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME </s><s> IT IS A COOLIE DISEASE FROM SUMATRA A THING THAT THE DUTCH KNOW MORE ABOUT THAN WE THOUGH THEY HAVE MADE LITTLE OF IT UP TO DATE </s><s> ONE THING ONLY IS CERTAIN </s><s> IT IS INFALLIBLY DEADLY AND IT IS HORRIBLY CONTAGIOUS </s><s> HE SPOKE NOW WITH A FEVERISH ENERGY THE LONG HANDS TWITCHING AND JERKING AS HE MOTIONED ME AWAY </s><s> CONTAGIOUS BY TOUCH WATSON THAT'S IT BY TOUCH </s><s> KEEP YOUR DISTANCE AND ALL IS WELL </s><s> GOOD HEAVENS HOLMES </s><s> DO YOU SUPPOSE THAT SUCH A CONSIDERATION WEIGHS WITH ME FOR AN INSTANT </s><s> IT WOULD NOT AFFECT ME IN THE CASE OF A STRANGER </s><s> DO YOU IMAGINE IT WOULD PREVENT ME FROM DOING MY DUTY TO SO OLD A FRIEND </s><s> AGAIN I ADVANCED BUT HE REPULSED ME WITH A LOOK OF FURIOUS ANGER </s><s> QUOTE IF YOU WILL STAND THERE I WILL TALK </s><s> IF YOU DO NOT YOU MUST LEAVE THE ROOM </s><s> I HAVE SO DEEP A RESPECT FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY QUALITIES OF HOLMES THAT I HAVE ALWAYS DEFERRED TO HIS WISHES EVEN WHEN I LEAST UNDERSTOOD THEM </s><s> BUT NOW ALL MY PROFESSIONAL INSTINCTS WERE AROUSED </s><s> LET HIM BE MY MASTER ELSEWHERE I AT LEAST WAS HIS IN A SICK ROOM </s><s> HOLMES SAID I YOU ARE NOT YOURSELF </s><s> A SICK MAN IS BUT A CHILD AND SO I WILL TREAT YOU </s><s> WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT I WILL EXAMINE YOUR SYMPTOMS AND TREAT YOU FOR THEM </s><s> HE LOOKED AT ME WITH VENOMOUS EYES </s><s> IF I AM TO HAVE A DOCTOR WHETHER I WILL OR NOT LET ME AT LEAST HAVE SOMEONE IN WHOM I HAVE CONFIDENCE SAID HE </s><s> THEN YOU HAVE NONE IN ME </s><s> QUOTE IN YOUR FRIENDSHIP CERTAINLY </s><s> BUT FACTS ARE FACTS WATSON AND AFTER ALL YOU ARE ONLY A GENERAL PRACTITIONER WITH VERY LIMITED EXPERIENCE AND MEDIOCRE QUALIFICATIONS </s><s> IT IS PAINFUL TO HAVE TO SAY THESE THINGS BUT YOU LEAVE ME NO CHOICE </s><s> I WAS BITTERLY HURT </s><s> SUCH A REMARK IS UNWORTHY OF YOU HOLMES </s><s> IT SHOWS ME VERY CLEARLY THE STATE OF YOUR OWN NERVES </s><s> BUT IF YOU HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN ME I WOULD NOT INTRUDE MY SERVICES </s><s> LET ME BRING SIR JASPER MEEK OR PENROSE FISHER OR ANY OF THE BEST MEN IN LONDON </s><s> BUT SOMEONE YOU MUST HAVE AND THAT IS FINAL </s><s> IF YOU THINK THAT I AM GOING TO STAND HERE AND SEE YOU DIE WITHOUT EITHER HELPING YOU MYSELF OR BRINGING ANYONE ELSE TO HELP YOU THEN YOU HAVE MISTAKEN YOUR MAN </s><s> YOU MEAN WELL WATSON SAID THE SICK MAN WITH SOMETHING BETWEEN A SOB AND A GROAN </s><s> SHALL I DEMONSTRATE YOUR OWN IGNORANCE </s><s> WHAT DO YOU KNOW PRAY OF TAPANULI FEVER </s><s> WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF THE BLACK FORMOSA CORRUPTION QUOTE </s><s> I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF EITHER </s><s> THERE ARE MANY PROBLEMS OF DISEASE MANY STRANGE PATHOLOGICAL POSSIBILITIES IN THE EAST WATSON </s><s> HE PAUSED AFTER EACH SENTENCE TO COLLECT HIS FAILING STRENGTH </s><s> I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH DURING SOME RECENT RESEARCHES WHICH HAVE A MEDICO CRIMINAL ASPECT </s><s> IT WAS IN THE COURSE OF THEM THAT I CONTRACTED THIS COMPLAINT </s><s> YOU CAN DO NOTHING </s><s> POSSIBLY NOT </s><s> BUT I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT DOCTOR AINSTREE THE GREATEST LIVING AUTHORITY UPON TROPICAL DISEASE IS NOW IN LONDON </s><s> ALL REMONSTRANCE IS USELESS HOLMES I AM GOING THIS INSTANT TO FETCH HIM QUOTE </s><s> I TURNED RESOLUTELY TO THE DOOR </s><s> NEVER HAVE I HAD SUCH A SHOCK </s><s> IN AN INSTANT WITH A TIGERSPRING THE DYING MAN HAD INTERCEPTED ME </s><s> I HEARD THE SHARP SNAP OF A TWISTED KEY </s><s> THE NEXT MOMENT HE HAD STAGGERED BACK TO HIS BED EXHAUSTED AND PANTING AFTER HIS ONE TREMENDOUS OUTFLAME OF ENERGY </s><s> YOU WON'T TAKE THE KEY FROM ME BY FORCE WATSON </s><s> I'VE GOT YOU MY FRIEND </s><s> HERE YOU ARE AND HERE YOU WILL STAY UNTIL I WILL OTHERWISE </s><s> BUT I'LL HUMOUR YOU </s><s> ALL THIS IN LITTLE GASPS WITH TERRIBLE STRUGGLES FOR BREATH BETWEEN </s><s> YOU'VE ONLY MY OWN GOOD AT HEART </s><s> OF COURSE I KNOW THAT VERY WELL </s><s> YOU SHALL HAVE YOUR WAY BUT GIVE ME TIME TO GET MY STRENGTH </s><s> NOT NOW WATSON NOT NOW </s><s> IT'S FOUR O'CLOCK </s><s> AT SIX YOU CAN GO </s><s> THIS IS INSANITY HOLMES </s><s> QUOTE ONLY TWO HOURS WATSON </s><s> I PROMISE YOU WILL GO AT SIX </s><s> ARE YOU CONTENT TO WAIT </s><s> L. SEEM TO HAVE NO CHOICE </s><s> NONE IN THE WORLD WATSON </s><s> THANK YOU I NEED NO HELP IN ARRANGING THE CLOTHES </s><s> YOU WILL PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE </s><s> NOW WATSON THERE IS ONE OTHER CONDITION THAT I WOULD MAKE </s><s> YOU WILL SEEK HELP NOT FROM THE MAN YOU MENTION BUT FROM THE ONE THAT I CHOOSE </s><s> BY ALL MEANS </s><s> QUOTE THE FIRST THREE SENSIBLE WORDS THAT YOU HAVE UTTERED SINCE YOU ENTERED THIS ROOM WATSON </s><s> YOU WILL FIND SOME BOOKS OVER THERE </s><s> I AM SOMEWHAT EXHAUSTED I WONDER HOW A BATTERY FEELS WHEN IT POURS ELECTRICITY INTO A NON CONDUCTOR </s><s> AT SIX WATSON WE RESUME OUR CONVERSATION </s><s> 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 </s><s> I HAD STOOD FOR SOME MINUTES LOOKING AT THE SILENT FIGURE IN THE BED </s><s> HIS FACE WAS ALMOST COVERED BY THE CLOTHES AND HE APPEARED TO BE ASLEEP </s><s> 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 </s><s> FINALLY IN MY AIMLESS PERAMBULATION I CAME TO THE MANTELPIECE </s><s> A LITTER OF PIPES TOBACCO POUCHES SYRINGES PENKNIVES REVOLVER CARTRIDGES AND OTHER DEBRIS WAS SCATTERED OVER IT </s><s> IN THE MIDST OF THESE WAS A SMALL BLACK AND WHITE IVORY BOX WITH A SLIDING LID </s><s> 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 </s><s> MY SKIN WENT COLD AND MY HAIR BRISTLED AT THAT HORRIBLE SCREAM </s><s> AS I TURNED I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF A CONVULSED FACE AND FRANTIC EYES </s><s> I STOOD PARALYZED WITH THE LITTLE BOX IN MY HAND </s><s> PUT IT DOWN </s><s> DOWN THIS INSTANT WATSON THIS INSTANT I SAY </s><s> HIS HEAD SANK BACK UPON THE PILLOW AND HE GAVE A DEEP SIGH OF RELIEF AS I REPLACED THE BOX UPON THE MANTELPIECE </s><s> I HATE TO HAVE MY THINGS TOUCHED WATSON </s><s> YOU KNOW THAT I HATE IT </s><s> YOU FIDGET ME BEYOND ENDURANCE </s><s> YOU A DOCTOR YOU ARE ENOUGH TO DRIVE A PATIENT INTO AN ASYLUM </s><s> SIT DOWN MAN AND LET ME HAVE MY REST </s><s> THE INCIDENT LEFT A MOST UNPLEASANT IMPRESSION UPON MY MIND </s><s> 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 </s><s> OF ALL RUINS THAT OF A NOBLE MIND IS THE MOST DEPLORABLE </s><s> I SAT IN SILENT DEJECTION UNTIL THE STIPULATED TIME HAD PASSED </s><s> 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 </s><s> QUOTE NOW WATSON QUOTE SAID HE </s><s> HAVE YOU ANY CHANGE IN YOUR POCKET </s><s> YES </s><s> ANY SILVER </s><s> A GOOD DEAL </s><s> HOW MANY HALF CROWNS </s><s> QUOTE I HAVE FIVE QUOTE </s><s> AH TOO FEW </s><s> TOO FEW </s><s> HOW VERY UNFORTUNATE WATSON </s><s> HOWEVER SUCH AS THEY ARE YOU CAN PUT THEM IN YOUR WATCHPOCKET </s><s> AND ALL THE REST OF YOUR MONEY IN YOUR LEFT TROUSERPOCKET </s><s> THANK YOU </s><s> IT WILL BALANCE YOU SO MUCH BETTER LIKE THAT </s><s> THIS WAS RAVING INSANITY </s><s> HE SHUDDERED AND AGAIN MADE A SOUND BETWEEN A COUGH AND A SOB </s><s> 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 </s><s> I IMPLORE YOU TO BE CAREFUL WATSON </s><s> THANK YOU THAT IS EXCELLENT </s><s> NO YOU NEED NOT DRAW THE BLIND </s><s> NOW YOU WILL HAVE THE KINDNESS TO PLACE SOME LETTERS AND PAPERS UPON THIS TABLE WITHIN MY REACH </s><s> THANK YOU </s><s> NOW SOME OF THAT LITTER FROM THE MANTELPIECE </s><s> EXCELLENT WATSON </s><s> THERE IS A SUGAR TONGS THERE </s><s> KINDLY RAISE THAT SMALL IVORY BOX WITH ITS ASSISTANCE </s><s> PLACE IT HERE AMONG THE PAPERS </s>