[SPEAKER_00]: Hello and welcome to the Sherlock Holmes Bedtime Stories podcast.
[SPEAKER_00]: Each episode is a section from a classic Sherlock Holmes story with relaxing music to help you fall asleep.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for joining us this evening.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now it's time to relax.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let your body fall into a comfortable position in your bed and drift gently into a state of total relaxation with tonight's story.
[SPEAKER_00]: The adventure of the dying detective
[SPEAKER_00]: part 2.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was with a sinking heart that I re-entered Holmes' bedroom.
[SPEAKER_00]: For all that I knew the worst might have happened in my absence.
[SPEAKER_00]: To my enormous relief, he had improved greatly in the interval.
[SPEAKER_00]: His appearance was as ghastly as ever, but all trace of delirium had left him, and he spoke in a feeble voice, it is true.
[SPEAKER_00]: But with even more than his usual crispness and lucidity.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, did you see him Watson?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, he is coming.
[SPEAKER_00]: Admirable Watson, admirable, you are the best of messengers.
[SPEAKER_00]: he wished to return with me.
[SPEAKER_00]: That would never do what's and that would be obviously impossible.
[SPEAKER_00]: Did he ask what ailed me?
[SPEAKER_00]: I told him about the Chinese in the East End.
[SPEAKER_00]: Exactly well what's and you have done all that a good friend could.
[SPEAKER_00]: You can now disappear from the scene.
[SPEAKER_00]: Of course you must, but I have reasons to suppose that this opinion would be very much more frank and valuable if he imagines that we are alone.
[SPEAKER_00]: There is just room behind the head of my bed Watson.
[SPEAKER_00]: My dear homes.
[SPEAKER_00]: I fear there is no alternative Watson.
[SPEAKER_00]: The room does not lend itself to concealment, which is as well, as it is the less likely to a rouse suspicion, but just there Watson, I fancy that it could be done.
[SPEAKER_00]: Suddenly he sat up with a rigid intentness upon his haggard face.
[SPEAKER_00]: There are the wheels Watson quick, man if you love me, and don't budge whatever happens whatever happens to you here, don't speak, don't move, just listen with all your ears,
[SPEAKER_00]: Then, in an instant, his sudden access of strength departed, and his masterful purposeful talk, drawn away into the low vague murmurings of a semi-delirious man.
[SPEAKER_00]: From the hiding place into which I had been so swiftly hustled, I heard the footfalls upon the stair, with the opening and the closing of the bedroom door.
[SPEAKER_00]: Then to my surprise, there came a long silence, broken only by the heavy breathings and
[SPEAKER_00]: I could imagine that our visitor was standing by the bedside and looking down at the sufferer.
[SPEAKER_00]: At last that strange hush was broken.
[SPEAKER_00]: Homes, he cried, homes in the insistent tone of one who awakens a sleeper, can't you hear me homes.
[SPEAKER_00]: There was a rustling, as if he had shaken the sick man roughly by the shoulder.
[SPEAKER_00]: Is that you, Mr. Smith?
[SPEAKER_00]: Holmes whispered.
[SPEAKER_00]: I hardly dared hope that you would come.
[SPEAKER_00]: The other laughed.
[SPEAKER_00]: I should imagine not, he said.
[SPEAKER_00]: And yet you see I am here.
[SPEAKER_00]: Coles of fire, Holmes.
[SPEAKER_00]: Coles of fire.
[SPEAKER_00]: It is very good of you.
[SPEAKER_00]: Very noble of you.
[SPEAKER_00]: I appreciate your special knowledge.
[SPEAKER_00]: are visitors snigged.
[SPEAKER_00]: You do.
[SPEAKER_00]: You are fortunately the only man in London who does.
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you know what is the matter with you?
[SPEAKER_00]: The same said Holmes.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, I shouldn't be surprised, Holmes.
[SPEAKER_00]: I shouldn't be surprised if it were the same.
[SPEAKER_00]: A bad look out for you if it is.
[SPEAKER_00]: Paul Victor was a dead man on the fourth day, a strong, hearty young fellow.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was certainly as you said very surprising that he should have contracted and out of the way agiatic disease in the heart of London, a disease too of which I had made such a very special study.
[SPEAKER_00]: Singular coincidence homes, very smart of you to notice it, but rather uncharitable to suggest that it was cause and effect.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, you did, did you?
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, you couldn't prove it anyhow.
[SPEAKER_00]: But what do you think of yourself spreading reports about me like that?
[SPEAKER_00]: And then crawling to me for help the moment you're in trouble.
[SPEAKER_00]: What sort of a game is that, eh?
[SPEAKER_00]: I heard the rasping, labored breathing of the sick man.
[SPEAKER_00]: Give me the water, he gasped.
[SPEAKER_00]: Your precious near your end, my friend, but I don't want you to go till I have had a word with you.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's why I give you water.
[SPEAKER_00]: They're don't stop it about.
[SPEAKER_00]: That's right.
[SPEAKER_00]: Can you understand what I say?
[SPEAKER_00]: Homes grown.
[SPEAKER_00]: Do what you can for me.
[SPEAKER_00]: Let bygons be bygons.
[SPEAKER_00]: He whispered.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll put the words out of my head I swear I will.
[SPEAKER_00]: Only cure me, and I'll forget it.
[SPEAKER_00]: Forget what.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well about Victor Savage's death you as good as admitted just now that you had done it.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll forget it.
[SPEAKER_00]: You can forget it or remember it just as you like.
[SPEAKER_00]: I don't see you in the witness box.
[SPEAKER_00]: Quite another shaped box my good homes I assure you.
[SPEAKER_00]: It matters nothing to me that you should know how my nephew died.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, yes.
[SPEAKER_00]: The fellow who came for me, I forgot in his name, said that you contracted it down in the east end among the sailors.
[SPEAKER_00]: I could only account for it, sir.
[SPEAKER_00]: You are proud of your brain's homes, are you not?
[SPEAKER_00]: Think yourself smart, don't you?
[SPEAKER_00]: You came across someone who was smarter this time.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now cast your mind back homes.
[SPEAKER_00]: Can you think of no other way you could have got this thing?
[SPEAKER_00]: I can't think my mind is gone for heaven's sake help me.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I will help you.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'll help you to understand just where you are and how you got there.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'd like you to know before you die.
[SPEAKER_00]: Give me something to ease my pain.
[SPEAKER_00]: Painful is it?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, the coolies used to do some squealing towards the end takes you as cramp, I fancy.
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, yes, it is cramp.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, you can hear what I say anyhow.
[SPEAKER_00]: Listen now.
[SPEAKER_00]: Can you remember any unusual incident in your life just about the time your symptoms began?
[SPEAKER_00]: No, nothing.
[SPEAKER_00]: think again.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm too ill to think.
[SPEAKER_00]: Well, then I'll help you.
[SPEAKER_00]: Did anything come by post?
[SPEAKER_00]: By post?
[SPEAKER_00]: A box by chance.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm fainting I'm gone.
[SPEAKER_00]: Listen, Holmes, there was a sound as if he was shaking the dying man, and it was all that I could do to hold myself quiet in my hiding place.
[SPEAKER_00]: You must hear me.
[SPEAKER_00]: You shall hear me.
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you remember a box?
[SPEAKER_00]: An Ivory box.
[SPEAKER_00]: It came on Wednesday.
[SPEAKER_00]: You opened it.
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you remember?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, yes, I opened it.
[SPEAKER_00]: There was a sharp spring inside it some joke.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was no joke as you will find to your cost.
[SPEAKER_00]: You fool you would have it and you have got it who asked you to cross my path.
[SPEAKER_00]: If you had left me alone, I would not have hurt you.
[SPEAKER_00]: I remember, homes passed, the spring, it drew blood, this box, this, on the table.
[SPEAKER_00]: The very one by George, and it may as well leave the room in my pocket.
[SPEAKER_00]: There goes your last shred of evidence.
[SPEAKER_00]: But you have the truth now, Holmes, and you can die with the knowledge that I killed you.
[SPEAKER_00]: You're new to much of the fate of Victor Savage, so I have sent you to share it.
[SPEAKER_00]: You are very near your end, Holmes.
[SPEAKER_00]: I will sit here and I will watch you die.
[SPEAKER_00]: Holmes' voice had sunk to an almost inordable whisper.
[SPEAKER_00]: What is that?
[SPEAKER_00]: Ah, the shadows begin to fall, do they?
[SPEAKER_00]: Yes, I will turn it up.
[SPEAKER_00]: That I may see you the better.
[SPEAKER_00]: He crossed the room and the light suddenly brightened.
[SPEAKER_00]: Is there any other little service that I can do you, my friend?
[SPEAKER_00]: A match and a cigarette.
[SPEAKER_00]: I nearly called out in my joy and my amazement.
[SPEAKER_00]: He was speaking in his natural voice, a little weak, perhaps, but the very voice I knew.
[SPEAKER_00]: There was a long pause, and I felt that Culvert and Smith was standing in silent amazement looking down at his companion.
[SPEAKER_00]: What's the meaning of this?
[SPEAKER_00]: I heard him say at last in a dry, rasping tone,
[SPEAKER_00]: The best way of successfully acting a part is to be it, said Holmes.
[SPEAKER_00]: I give you my word that for three days I have tasted neither food nor drink until you were good enough to pour me out that glass of water.
[SPEAKER_00]: But it is the tobacco which I find most Erksom.
[SPEAKER_00]: I hear some cigarettes.
[SPEAKER_00]: I heard the striking of a match.
[SPEAKER_00]: That is very much better.
[SPEAKER_00]: Hello.
[SPEAKER_00]: Do I hear the step of a friend?
[SPEAKER_00]: There were footfalls outside the door opened and inspect a modern appeared.
[SPEAKER_00]: All is in order, and this is your man, said Holmes.
[SPEAKER_00]: The officer gave the usual cautions.
[SPEAKER_00]: I arrest you on the charge of the murder of one Victor Savage.
[SPEAKER_00]: He concluded.
[SPEAKER_00]: and you might add of the attempted murder of one Sherlock Holmes, remarked my friend with a chuckle.
[SPEAKER_00]: To save an invalid trouble inspector, Mr. Colverton Smith was good enough to give our signal by turning up the gas.
[SPEAKER_00]: 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.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you.
[SPEAKER_00]: I would handle it gingerly if I were you.
[SPEAKER_00]: Put it down here.
[SPEAKER_00]: It may play its part in the trial.
[SPEAKER_00]: There was a sudden rush and a scuffle followed by the clash of iron and a cry of pain.
[SPEAKER_00]: You'll only get yourself hurt, said the inspector.
[SPEAKER_00]: Stand still, will you?
[SPEAKER_00]: There was the click of the closing handcuffs.
[SPEAKER_00]: A nice trap, cried the high, snarling voice.
[SPEAKER_00]: It will bring you into the dark homes, not me.
[SPEAKER_00]: He asked me to come here to cure him.
[SPEAKER_00]: I was sorry for him and I came.
[SPEAKER_00]: Now he will pretend no doubt that I have said anything which he may invent which will corroborate his insane suspicions.
[SPEAKER_00]: You can lie as you like homes.
[SPEAKER_00]: My word is always as good as yours.
[SPEAKER_00]: Good heavens, cried homes.
[SPEAKER_00]: I had totally forgotten him.
[SPEAKER_00]: My dear Watson.
[SPEAKER_00]: I owe you a thousand apologies, to think that I should have overlooked you.
[SPEAKER_00]: I need not introduce you to Mr. Colvert and Smith since I understand that you met somewhat earlier in the evening.
[SPEAKER_00]: Have you the cab below?
[SPEAKER_00]: I will follow you when I'm dressed for I may be of some use of the station.
[SPEAKER_00]: I never needed it more, said Holmes as he refreshed himself with a glass of
[SPEAKER_00]: However, as you know, my habits are irregular, and such a feat means less to me than to most men.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was very essential 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.
[SPEAKER_00]: You won't be offended Watson.
[SPEAKER_00]: 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 come to look upon his handiwork.
[SPEAKER_00]: But your appearance homes, your ghastly face,
[SPEAKER_00]: The three days of absolute fast does not improve one's beauty Watson.
[SPEAKER_00]: For the rest, there is nothing which a sponge may not cure.
[SPEAKER_00]: With Vaseline upon one's forehead, Belladonna in one's eyes, rules over the cheekbones and crusts of beeswax round one's lips, a very satisfying effect can be produced.
[SPEAKER_00]: Malingering is a subject upon which I have sometimes thought of writing a monograph.
[SPEAKER_00]: A little occasional talk about half crowns, oysters, or any other extraneous subject produces a pleasing effect of delirium.
[SPEAKER_00]: But why would you not let me near you since there was in truth no infection?
[SPEAKER_00]: Can you ask my dear Watson?
[SPEAKER_00]: Do you imagine that I have no respect for your medical talents?
[SPEAKER_00]: Could I fancy that your astute judgment would pass a dying man who, however weak had no rise of pulse or temperature?
[SPEAKER_00]: At four yards I could deceive you.
[SPEAKER_00]: If I failed to do so, who would bring my Smith within my grasp?
[SPEAKER_00]: No what's and I would not touch that box.
[SPEAKER_00]: You can just see if you look at its sideways where the sharp spring like a Viper's tooth emerges as you open it.
[SPEAKER_00]: I dare say it was by some such device that poor savage, who stood between this monster
[SPEAKER_00]: My correspondence, however, is, as you know, a varied one, and I'm somewhat upon my guard against any packages which reach me.
[SPEAKER_00]: It was clear to me, however, that by pretending that he had really succeeded in his design, I might surprise a confession.
[SPEAKER_00]: That pretence I have carried out with the thoroughness of the true artist.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thank you Watson, you must help me on with my coat.
[SPEAKER_00]: When we have finished at the police station, I think that something nutritious at Simpsons would not be out of place.
[UNKNOWN]: You
[UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
[UNKNOWN]: You
[UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
[UNKNOWN]: You
[UNKNOWN]: Thank you.