SherlockHolmestookhisbottlefromthecornerofthemantel-pieceandhishypodermicsyringefromitsneatmoroccocase.Withhislong,white,nervousfingersheadjustedthedelicateneedle,androlledbackhisleftshirt-cuff.Forsomelittletimehiseyesrestedthoughtfullyuponthesinewyforearmandwristalldottedandscarredwithinnumerablepuncture-marks.Finallyhethrustthesharppointhome,presseddownthetinypiston,andsankbackintothevelvet-linedarm-chairwithalongsighofsatisfaction.
ThreetimesadayformanymonthsIhadwitnessedthisperformance,butcustomhadnotreconciledmymindtoit.Onthecontrary,fromdaytodayIhadbecomemoreirritableatthesight,andmyconscienceswellednightlywithinmeatthethoughtthatIhadlackedthecouragetoprotest.AgainandagainIhadregisteredavowthatIshoulddelivermysouluponthesubject,buttherewasthatinthecool,nonchalantairofmycompanionwhichmadehimthelastmanwithwhomonewouldcaretotakeanythingapproachingtoaliberty.Hisgreatpowers,hismasterlymanner,andtheexperiencewhichIhadhadofhismanyextraordinaryqualities,allmademediffidentandbackwardincrossinghim.
Yetuponthatafternoon,whetheritwastheBeaunewhichIhadtakenwithmylunch,ortheadditionalexasperationproducedbytheextremedeliberationofhismanner,IsuddenlyfeltthatIcouldholdoutnolonger.
“Whichisitto-day?”Iasked,—“morphineorcocaine?”
Heraisedhiseyeslanguidlyfromtheoldblack-lettervolumewhichhehadopened.“Itiscocaine,”hesaid,—“aseven-per-cent.solution.Wouldyoucaretotryit?”
“No,indeed,”Ianswered,brusquely.“MyconstitutionhasnotgotovertheAfghancampaignyet.Icannotaffordtothrowanyextrastrainuponit.”
Hesmiledatmyvehemence.“Perhapsyouareright,Watson,”hesaid.“Isupposethatitsinfluenceisphysicallyabadone.Ifindit,however,sotranscendentlystimulatingandclarifyingtothemindthatitssecondaryactionisamatterofsmallmoment.”
“Butconsider!”Isaid,earnestly.“Countthecost!Yourbrainmay,asyousay,berousedandexcited,butitisapathologicalandmorbidprocess,whichinvolvesincreasedtissue-changeandmayatlastleaveapermanentweakness.Youknow,too,whatablackreactioncomesupon