He was indeed a deplorable spectacle. In the dim light of afoggy November day the sick room was a gloomy spot, but it wasthat gaunt, wasted face staring at me from the bed which sent achill to my heart. His eyes had the brightness of fever, there washectic flush upon either cheek, and dark crusts clung to his lips;the thin hands upon the coverlet twitched incessantly, his voicewas croaking and spasmodic. He lay listlessly as I entered theroom, but the sight of me brought a gleam of recognition to hiseyes.
“Well, Watson, we seem to have fallen upon evil days,” said hein a feeble voice, but with something of his old carelessness ofmanner.
“My dear fellow!” I cried, approaching him.
The Adventure of Wisteria Lodge 1171
“Stand back! Stand right back!” said he with the sharpimperiousness which I had associated only with moments of crisis.
“If you approach me, Watson, I shall order you out of the house.”
“But why?”
“Because it is my desire. Is that not enough?”
Yes, Mrs. Hudson was right. He was more masterful than ever.
It was pitiful, however, to see his exhaustion.
“I only wished to help,” I explained.
“Exactly! You will help best by doing what you are told.”
“Certainly, Holmes.”
He relaxed the austerity of his manner.
“You are not angry?” he asked, gasping for breath.
Poor devil, how could I be angry when I saw him lying in such aplight before me?
“It’s for your own sake, Watson,” he croaked.
“For my sake?”
“I know what is the matter with me. It is a coolie disease fromSumatra—a thing that the Dutch know more about than we,though they have made little of it up to date. One thing only iscertain. It is infallibly deadly, and it is horribly contagious.”
He spoke now with a feverish energy, the long hands twitchingand jerking as he motioned me away.
“Contagious by touch, Watson—that’s it, by touch. Keep yourdistance and all is well.”
“Good heavens, Holmes! Do you suppose that such aconsideration weighs with me for an instant? It would not affectme in the case of a stranger. Do you imagine it would prevent mefrom doing my duty to so old a friend?”
Again I advanced, but he repulsed me with a look of furiousanger.
“If you will stand there I will talk. If you do not you must leavethe room.”
I have so deep a respect for the extraordinary qualities of Holmesthat I have always deferred to his wishes, even when I leastunderstood them. But now all my professional instincts werearoused. Let him be my master elsewhere, I at least was his in asick room.
“Holmes,” said I, “you are not yourself. A sick man is but a child,and so I will treat you. Whether you like it or not, I will examineyour symptoms and treat you for them.”
He looked at me with venomous eyes.
“If I am to have a doctor whether I will or not, let me at leasthave someone in whom I have confidence,” said he.
“Then you have none in me?”
“In your friendship, certainly. But facts are facts, Watson, and,1172 The Complete Sherlock Holmes
after all, you are only a general practitioner with very limitedexperience and mediocre qualifications. It is painful to have to saythese things, but you leave me no choice.”
I was bitterly hurt.
“Such a remark is unworthy of you, Holmes. It shows me veryclearly the state of your own nerves. But if you have no confidencein me I would not intrude my services. Let me bring Sir JasperMeek or Penrose Fisher, or any of the best men in London. Butsomeone you must have, and that is final. If you think that Iam going to stand here and see you die without either helpingyou myself or bringing anyone else to help you, then you havemistaken your man.”
“You mean well, Watson,” said the sick man with somethingbetween a sob and a groan. “Shall I demonstrate your ownignorance? What do you know, pray, of Tapanuli fever? What doyou know of the black Formosa corruption?”
“I have never heard of either.”
“There are many problems of disease, many strange pathologicalpossibilities, in the East, Watson.” He paused after each sentenceto collect his failing strength. “I have learned so much duringsome recent researches which have a medico-criminal aspect. Itwas in the course of them that I contracted this complaint. Youcan do nothing.”
“Possibly not. But I happen to know that Dr. Ainstree, thegreatest living authority upon tropical disease, is now in London.
All remonstrance is useless, Holmes, I am going this instant tofetch him.” I turned resolutely to the door.
Never have I had such a shock! In an instant, with a tiger-spring,the dying man had intercepted me. I heard the sharp snap of atwisted key. The next moment he had staggered back to his bed,exhausted and panting after his one tremendous outflame of energy.
“You won’t take the key from me by force, Watson, I’ve gotyou, my friend. Here you are, and here you will stay until I willotherwise. But I’ll humour you.” (All this in little gasps, withterrible struggles for breath between.) “You’ve only my own goodat heart. Of course I know that very well. You shall have your way,but give me time to get my strength. Not now, Watson, not now.
It’s four o’clock. At six you can go.”
“This is insanity, Holmes.”
“Only two hours, Watson. I promise you will go at six. Are youcontent to wait?”
“I seem to have no choice.”
“None in the world, Watson. Thank you, I need no help inarranging the clothes. You will please keep your distance. Now,Watson, there is one other condition that I would make. You willThe Adventure of Wisteria Lodge 1173
seek help, not from the man you mention, but from the one that Ichoose.”
“By all means.”
“The first three sensible words that you have uttered since youentered this room, Watson. You will find some books over there.
I am somewhat exhausted; I wonder how a battery feels when itpours electricity into a non-conductor? At six, Watson, we resumeour conversation.”