the adventure of the dying detective-第4部分

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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　come　to

look　upon　his　handiwork。〃

　　〃But　your　appearance；　Holmes…　your　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　my　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　can　think　that　something　nutritious　at

Simpson's　would　not　be　out　of　place。〃





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…

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