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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 e 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。
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The Adventure of the Dying Detective
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 e to look upon his handiwork。〃
〃But your appearance； Holmesyour 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 by
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 think that something
nutritious at Simpson's would not be out of place。〃
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