Thank you. Now some of that litter from the mantelpiece.
Excellent, Watson! There is a sugar-tongs there. Kindly raise
that small ivory box with its assistance. Place it here among
the papers. Good! You can now go and fetch Mr. Culverton Smith,
of 13 Lower Burke Street."

To tell the truth, my desire to fetch a doctor had somewhat
weakened, for poor Holmes was so obviously delirious that it
seemed dangerous to leave him. However, he was as eager now to
consult the person named as he had been obstinate in refusing.

"I never heard the name," said I.

"Possibly not, my good Watson. It may surprise you to know that
the man upon earth who is best versed in this disease is not a
medical man, but a planter. Mr. Culverton Smith is a well-known
resident of Sumatra, now visiting London. An outbreak of the
disease upon his plantation, which was distant from medical aid,
caused him to study it himself, with some rather far-reaching
consequences. He is a very methodical person, and I did not
desire you to start before six, because I was well aware that you
would not find him in his study. If you could persuade him to
come here and give us the benefit of his unique experience of
this disease, the investigation of which has been his dearest
hobby, I cannot doubt that he could help me."

I gave Holmes's remarks as a consecutive whole and will not
attempt to indicate how they were interrupted by gaspings for
breath and those clutchings of his hands which indicated the pain
from which he was suffering. His appearance had changed for the