and quivering with eagerness and rage. The professor squatteddown very deliberately just out of reach of the hound and beganto provoke it in every possible way. He took handfuls of pebblesfrom the drive and threw them in the dog’s face, prodded himwith a stick which he had picked up, flicked his hands about onlyfew inches from the gaping mouth, and endeavoured in every wayto increase the animal’s fury, which was already beyond all control.
In all our adventures I do not know that I have ever seen a morestrange sight than this impassive and still dignified figure crouchingfrog-like upon the ground and goading to a wilder exhibition ofpassion the maddened hound, which ramped and raged in front ofhim, by all manner of ingenious and calculated cruelty.
And then in a moment it happened! It was not the chain thatbroke, but it was the collar that slipped, for it had been madefor a thick-necked Newfoundland. We heard the rattle of fallingmetal, and the next instant dog and man were rolling on theground together, the one roaring in rage, the other screaming instrange shrill falsetto of terror. It was a very narrow thing forthe professor’s life. The savage creature had him fairly by thethroat, its fangs had bitten deep, and he was senseless before wecould reach them and drag the two apart. It might have been adangerous task for us, but Bennett’s voice and presence broughtthe great wolfhound instantly to reason. The uproar had broughtthe sleepy and astonished coachman from his room above thestables. “I’m not surprised,” said he, shaking his head. “I’ve seenhim at it before. I knew the dog would get him sooner or later.”
The hound was secured, and together we carried the professorup to his room, where Bennett, who had a medical degree,helped me to dress his torn throat. The sharp teeth had passeddangerously near the carotid artery, and the haemorrhage wasserious. In half an hour the danger was past, I had given thepatient an injection of morphia, and he had sunk into deep sleep.
Then, and only then, were we able to look at each other and totake stock of the situation.
“I think a first-class surgeon should see him,” said I.
“For God’s sake, no!” cried Bennett. “At present the scandalconfined to our own household. It is safe with us. If it getsbeyond these walls it will never stop. Consider his position at theuniversity, his European reputation, the feelings of his daughter.”
“Quite so,” said Holmes. “I think it may be quite possible tokeep the matter to ourselves, and also to prevent its recurrencenow that we have a free hand. The key from the watch-chain,Mr. Bennett. Macphail will guard the patient and let us know ifthere is any change. Let us see what we can find in the professor’smysterious box.”
The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes 1361
There was not much, but there was enough—an empty phial,another nearly full, a hypodermic syringe, several letters in acrabbed, foreign hand. The marks on the envelopes showed thatthey were those which had disturbed the routine of the secretary,and each was dated from the Commercial Road and signed “A.Dorak.” They were mere invoices to say that a fresh bottle wasbeing sent to Professor Presbury, or receipt to acknowledge money.
There was one other envelope, however, in a more educated handand bearing the Austrian stamp with the postmark of Prague. “Herewe have our material!” cried Holmes as he tore out the enclosure.
HONOURED COLLEAGUE
Since your esteemed visit I have thought much of your case, andthough in your circumstances there are some special reasons for thetreatment, I would none the less enjoin caution, as my results haveshown that it is not without danger of a kind.
It is possible that the serum of anthropoid would have beenbetter. I have, as I explained to you, used black-faced langur becausea specimen was accessible. Langur is, of course, a crawler andclimber, while anthropoid walks erect and is in all ways nearer.
I beg you to take every possible precaution that there be nopremature revelation of the process. I have one other client inEngland, and Dorak is my agent for both.
Weekly reports will oblige.
Yours with high esteem,
H. LOWENSTEIN.
Lowenstein! The name brought back to me the memory ofsome snippet from a newspaper which spoke of an obscurescientist who was striving in some unknown way for the secretof rejuvenescence and the elixir of life. Lowenstein of Prague!
Lowenstein with the wondrous strength-giving serum, tabooedby the profession because he refused to reveal its source. In a fewwords I said what I remembered. Bennett had taken a manual ofzoology from the shelves. “ ‘Langur.’ ” he read. “ ‘the great blackfacedmonkey of the Himalayan slopes, biggest and most humanof climbing monkeys.’ Many details are added. Well, thanks toyou, Mr. Holmes, it is very clear that we have traced the evil to itssource.”
“The real source,” said Holmes, “lies, of course, in that untimelylove affair which gave our impetuous professor the idea that hecould only gain his wish by turning himself into a younger man.
When one tries to rise above Nature one is liable to fall belowit. The highest type of man may revert to the animal if he leavesthe straight road of destiny.” He sat musing for a little with thephial in his hand, looking at the clear liquid within. “When I1362 The Complete Sherlock Holmes have written to this man and told him that I hold him criminallyresponsible for the poisons which he circulates, we will have nomore trouble. But it may recur. Others may find a better way.
There is danger there—a very real danger to humanity. Consider,Watson, that the material, the sensual, the worldly would allprolong their worthless lives. The spiritual would not avoid thecall to something higher. It would be the survival of the least fit.
What sort of cesspool may not our poor world become?” Suddenlythe dreamer disappeared, and Holmes, the man of action, sprangfrom his chair. “I think there is nothing more to be said, Mr.