edtogetherinastrange,low,monotonousvoice,theirconversationcomingingushes,andthensuddenlytailingoffintosilence,eachmumblingouthisownthoughtsandpayinglittleheedtothewordsofhisneighbour.Atthefartherendwasasmallbrazierofburningcharcoal,besidewhichonathree-leggedwoodenstooltheresatatall,thinoldman,withhisjawrestinguponhistwofists,andhiselbowsuponhisknees,staringintothefire.
AsIentered,asallowMalayattendanthadhurriedupwithapipeformeandasupplyofthedrug,beckoningmetoanemptyberth.
“Thankyou.Ihavenotcometostay,”saidI.“Thereisafriendofminehere,Mr.IsaWhitney,andIwishtospeakwithhim.”
Therewasamovementandanexclamationfrommyright,andpeeringthroughthegloom,IsawWhitney,pale,haggard,andunkempt,staringoutatme.
“MyGod!It’sWatson,”saidhe.Hewasinapitiablestateofreaction,witheverynerveinatwitter.“Isay,Watson,whato’clockisit?”
“Nearlyeleven.”
“Ofwhatday?”
“OfFriday,June19th.”
“Goodheavens!IthoughtitwasWednesday.ItisWednesday.Whatd’youwanttofrightenachapfor?”Hesankhisfaceontohisarmsandbegantosobinahightreblekey.
“ItellyouthatitisFriday,man.Yourwifehasbeenwaitingthistwodaysforyou.Youshouldbeashamedofyourself!”
“SoIam.Butyou’vegotmixed,Watson,forIhaveonlybeenhereafewhours,threepipes,fourpipes—Iforgethowmany.ButI’llgohomewithyou.Iwouldn’tfrightenKate—poorlittleKate.Givemeyourhand!Haveyouacab?”
“Yes,Ihaveonewaiting.”
“ThenIshallgoinit.ButImustowesomething.FindwhatIowe,Watson.Iamalloffcolour.Icandonothingformyself.”
Iwalkeddownthenarrowpassagebetweenthedoublerowofsleepers,holdingmybreathtokeepoutthevile,stupefyingfumesofthedrug,andlookingaboutforthemanager.AsIpassedthetallmanwhosatbythebrazierIfeltasuddenpluckatmyskirt,andalowvoicewhispered,“Walkpastme,andthenlookbackatme.”Thewordsfellquitedistinctlyuponmyear.Iglanceddown.Theycouldonlyhavecomefromtheoldmanatmyside,andyethesatnowasabsorbedasever,verythin,verywrinkled,bentwithage,anopiumpipedanglingdownfrombetweenhisknees,asthoughithaddroppedinsheerlassitudefromhisfingers.Itooktwostepsforwardandlookedback.Ittookallmyself-controltopreventmefrombreakingoutintoacryofastonishment.HehadturnedhisbacksothatnonecouldseehimbutI.Hisformhadfilledout,hiswrinklesweregone,thedulleyeshadregainedtheirfire,andthere,sittingbythefireandgrinningatmysurprise,wasnoneotherthanSherlockHolmes.Hemadeaslightmotiontometoapproachhim,andinstantly,asheturnedhisfacehalfroundtothecompanyoncemore,subsidedintoadoddering,loose-lippedsenility.
“Holmes!”Iwhispered,“whatonearthareyoudoinginthisden?”
“Aslowasyoucan,”heanswered“Ihaveexcellentears.IfyouwouldhavethegreatkindnesstogetridofthatsottishfriendofyoursIshouldbeexceedinglygladtohavealittletalkwithyou.”
“Ihaveacaboutside.”
“Thenpraysendhimhomeinit.Youmaysafelytrusthim,forheappearstobetoolimptogetintoanymischief.Ishouldrecommendyoualsotosendanotebythecabmantoyourwifetosaythatyouhavethrowninyourlotwithme.Ifyouwillwaitoutside,Ishallbewithyouinfiveminutes.”
ItwasdifficulttorefuseanyofSherlockHolmes’requests,fortheywerealwayssoexceedinglydefinite,andputforwardwithsuchaquietairofmastery.Ifelt,however,thatwhenWhitneywasonceconfinedinthecabmymissionwaspracticallyaccomplishedandfortherest,Icouldnotwishanythingbetterthantobeassociatedwithmyfriendinoneofthosesingularadventureswhichwerethenormalconditionofhisexistence.InafewminutesIhadwrittenmynote,paidWhitney’sbill,ledhimouttothecab,andseenhimdriventhroughthedarkness.Inaveryshorttimeadecrepitfigurehademergedfromtheopiumden,andIwaswalkingdownthestreetwithSherlockHolmes.Fortwostreetsheshuffledalongwithabentbackandanuncertainfoot.Then,glancingquicklyround,hestraightenedhimselfoutandburstintoaheartyfitoflaughter.
“Isuppose,Watson,”saidhe,“thatyouimaginethatIhaveaddedopium-smokingtococaineinjections,andalltheotherlittleweaknessesonwhichyouhavefavouredmewithyourmedicalviews.”
“Iwascertainlysurprisedtofindyouthere.”
“ButnotmoresothanItofindyou.”
“Icametofindafriend.”
“AndItofindanenemy.”
“Anenemy?”
“Yesoneofmynaturalenemies,or,shallIsay,mynaturalprey.Briefly,Watson,Iaminthemidstofaveryremarkableinquiry,andIhavehopedtofindaclueintheincoherentramb