Introduction: The author has given an interesting accord of how the detective outsmarted the culprit to zero in on him.
Home’s incurable disease Dr. Watson was informed by Mrs. Hudson, the landlady of Sherlock Holmes that Mr. Holmes was dying. He was bedridden for three days. He had neither taken food nor drinks. He was sinking. The landlady was permitted to inform only Dr. Watson about his ill health. She could not call for a doctor because Sherlock Holmes had prevented her from doing so. When Dr. Watson reached Holmes, he cautioned him to stay away from him as he was suffering from some contagious disease that he had picked up from Rotherhithe. The disease from Sumatra was deadly and could spread even with a touch.
Home’s peculiar behaviour: Watson advanced to examine symptoms but was stopped midway by the stem warning from Holmes. Sherlock Holmes declared that he wanted a doctor in whom he would have confidence. This really upset Dr. Watson. He offered to bring the best doctors of London viz. Sir Jasper Meek or Penrose Fisher.
Holmes reprimanded Dr. Watson’s ignorance and asked him what he knew about Tarpaunli fever or black Formosa plague. When Dr. Watson offered to bring Dr. Ainstree, Holmes bolted the door and ordered him not to move till six in the evening. Dr. Watson did not know what to do for two hours. He just walked around the room slowly. He came across a small black and white ivory box with a sliding lid.
When he was about to examine its contents, he heard a dreadful cry from Holmes. He forbade him from touching his things. In a kind of delirium, Holmes ordered to take out his coins and keep all the half-crowns in his watch pocket. He was instructed to light the gas lamp and keep it half on. He requested him to place some letters on the table within his reach.
He instructed him to slide the lid of the ivory box with Tongs and put the Tongs and the ivory box on the table. He instructed Dr. Watson to bring Mr. Culverton Smith from 13, Lower Burke Street, as Holmes was serious. Dr. Watson was hesitant to go.
Holmes clarified that he was not a doctor but a plantation man with a deep knowledge of the disease. Holmes asked Watson to plead with him to come and save Holmes who was seriously ill. Dr. Watson offered to bring him in a cab. However, Holmes instructed that he should plead with him and reach Holmes before him.
Holmes’ plan: While waiting for the cab, Mr. Morton, in civil dress asked after Holmes. Dr. Watson entered Mr.
Culverton Smith’s room by force. On hearing Mr. Holmes’s name, he enquired how Holmes was doing. When he learnt that he was very ill and believed that only he could save his life, he enquired how Holmes got the eastern disease. Dr. Watson told him all he knew. Dr. Watson, on the pretext of an appointment, returned to Holmes earlier and stayed in a room there as per Holmes order.
Smith’s careless attitude: Smith arrived and called out for Holmes. Holmes responded to his questions in a feeble voice. He asked Holmes to describe the symptoms. When Holmes completed describing the symptoms Smith was strangely happy. He blurted out, “Poor victor Savage was a dead man on the fourth day. A strong and healthy young man. What a coincidence indeed!” Holmes said, “I know that you did it”. Holmes groaned and asked for water. Smith gladly gave him water. He requested Smith to cure him and offered to forget his hand in the murder of Victor.
Smith said that Watson shared the information that Holmes got the fever from Chinese sailors. He wanted to know seriously if there could be any other reason.
Holmes outsmarts Smith: Holmes said, ‘successful acting’. Just then Inspector Morton said to Smith that he was arrested on a charge of murder. There was a scuffle. Inspector Morton overpowered Smith and handcuffed him. Holmes apologized to Dr. Watson for being rude to him and undermining his capability as a doctor. All the acting was done just to bring Smith there. Even the coin trick was to make Watson believe that Holmes was really delirious. Holmes asked Dr.Watson to take him for eating something nutritious at Simpsons.
Conclusion: The author has made us understand a criminal cannot get away for long. Criminal may also be caught by his own words.
