His Last Bow

emarkable lodger showed an eccentricity and irregularity in his life which must have sorely tried her patience. His incredible untidiness, his addiction to music at strange hours, his occasional

that the house might have been purchased at the price which H

arkable gentleness and courtesy in his dealings with women. He disliked and distrusted the sex, but he was always a chivalrous opponent. Knowing how genuine was her regard f

en I saw his bones sticking out of his face and his great bright eyes looking at me I could stand no more of it. 'With your leave or without it, Mr. Holmes, I

ness. I need not say that I rushed for my coat and

y near the river, and he has brought this illness back with him. He took to his bed on Wednesday af

did you not cal

dn't dare to disobey him. But he's not long for this world, a

which sent a chill to my heart. 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

il days," said he in a feeble voice, but with

w!" I cried, a

usness which I had associated only with moments of crisis. "If

t w

my desire. Is t

ore masterful than ever. It was piti

ed to help,"

help best by doing

inly,

e austerity o

ry?" he asked, g

angry when I saw him lying

own sake, Watso

my

at the Dutch know more about than we, though they have made little of it up to date.

rgy, the long hands twitching an

- that's it, by touch. Keep y

th me for an instant? It would not affect me in the case of a stranger. D

he repulsed me with a

I will talk. If you do no

eferred to his wishes, even when I least understood them. But now all my professional i

a child, and so I will treat you. Whether you like it or

t me with v

ll or not, let me at least have someon

have non

are only a general practitioner with very limited experience and mediocre quali

bitter

e my services. Let me bring Sir Jasper Meek or Penrose Fisher, or any of the best men in London. But someone you must have, and that is final. If you th

nd a groan. "Shall I demonstrate your own ignorance? What do you know, pr

ver heard

ter each sentence to collect his failing strength. "I have learned so much during some recent researches which h

hority upon tropical disease, is now in London. All remonstrance is useless, H

ntercepted me. I heard the sharp snap of a twisted key. The next moment he had stagger

'll humour you." (All this in little gasps, with terrible struggles for breath between.) "You've only my own good at heart. Of course I know

insanity,

promise you will go at si

o have no

ll please keep your distance. Now, Watson, there is one other condition that I would m

ll me

You will find some books over there. I am somewhat exhausted; I wonder how a battery feels

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 w

elief as I replaced the box upon the mantelpiece. "I hate to have my things touched, Watson. You know that I hate it. You fidget

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 stipu

he. "Have you any ch

es

sil

ood

ny half

ave

you can put them in your watch-pocket. And all the rest of your money in your

shuddered, and again made a s

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, Watso

mes was so obviously delirious that it seemed dangerous to leave him. However, he

ard the nam

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

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

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 oyst

s for Mr. Cul

ephew, Watson - I had suspicions of foul play and I allowed him to see it. The boy died horribly. He has a grudge

a cab, if I have to c

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.

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 fro

Holmes, si

pector Morton, of Scotland Yard

ry ill,"

ot been too fiendish, I could have imagined that the

e rumour of

driven up, a

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

in. Dr. Watson! Very good, si

ess Mr. Culverton Smith. Through the half-open

me, Staples, how often have I said that I a

low of soothing expla

interrupted like this. I am not at home. Say so. Tel

e gentle

can come in the morning, or he can st

ld bring help to him. It was not a time to stand upon ceremony. His life depended upon my promptnes

es which glared at me from under tufted and sandy brows. A high bald head had a small velvet smoking-cap poised coquettishly upon one side of its pink curve. The skull was of enormous capac

"What is the meaning of this intrusion? Didn't I s

the matter cannot be dela

ct upon the little man. The look of anger passed in an in

me from Holm

just l

t Holmes?

ly ill. That is

mantelpiece. I could have sworn that it was set in a malicious and abominable smile. Yet I persuaded myself that it must have b

his character. He is an amateur of crime, as I am of disease. For him the villain, for me the microbe. There are my prisons," he continued, pointing to a r

s desired to see you. He has a high opinion of you and thou

and the jaunty smoking

Mr. Holmes think that I cou

knowledge of Ea

hat this disease which he

quiry, he has been working among

iled pleasantly and pi

trust the matter is not so grave as y

three

delir

siona

s call. I very much resent any interruption to my work, Dr. Watson,

d Holmes's

her appointm

of Mr. Holmes's address. You can rely upon

nce. To my enormous relief, he had improved greatly in the interval. His appearance was as ghastly as ever, but all trace o

you see h

he is

dmirable! You are the

to return

That would be obviously imposs

ut the Chinese

ne all that a good friend could. Yo

nd hear his op

on would be very much more frank and valuable if he imagines that

ear H

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 happens - whatever happens, do you hear? Don't speak!

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

awakens a sleeper. "Can't you hear me, Holmes?" There was a rus

lmes whispered. "I hardly da

her la

And yet, you see, I am here. Coals

ery noble of you. I appreci

itor sn

only man in London who does. Do you

e," said

cognize the

too

, hearty young fellow. It was certainly, as you said, very surprising that he should have contracted an out-of-the-way Asiatic disease in the heart of London - a disease, too

that you

think of yourself spreading reports about me like that, and then crawling to

breathing of the sick man. "

o till I have had a word with you. That's why I give you water. Ther

s gro

he whispered. "I'll put the words out of my head -

get

You as good as admitted just now t

ox. Quite another shaped box, my good Holmes, I assure you. It matters nothing to me

s,

ten his name - said that you contracted i

ly account

n't you? You came across someone who was smarter this time. Now cast your mi

ind is gone. For hea

erstand just where you are and how you got

ething to ea

sed to do some squealing towards th

s; it is

ow! Can you remember any unusual incident in you

o; not

nk a

o ill t

help you. Did anyt

po

by ch

nting -

I could do to hold myself quiet in my hiding-place. "You must hear me. You shall hear me.

There was a sharp spring

u would have it and you have got it. Who asked you to cross

"The spring! It drew blood. T

u have the truth now, Holmes, and you can die with the knowledge that I killed you. You knew too much of the fate of Vic

sunk to an almost

es, I will turn it up, that I may see you the better." He crossed the room and the ligh

and a c

- a little weak, perhaps, but the very voice I knew. There was a long pause, and I fe

is?" I heard him say at l

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, he

ide, the door opened, and

and this is your

gave the usu

e of the murder of one Vic

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

scuffle, followed by the cla

inspector. "Stand still, will you?" Ther

re 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 i

I should have overlooked you! I need not introduce you to Mr. Culverton Smith, since I understand that you met somewhat ea

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

ance, Holmes - y

nna 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 hav

me near you, since there

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