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The Adventures of The Dying Detective
The Adventures of The Dying Detective
Holmes instructed Watson to tell Smith exactly how he was suffering from
the illness. Watson had to persuade Smith to come to meet Holmes. Watson
should return before the arrival of Smith and hide in the next room.
h. Who was responsible for Victor Savage’s death? What was the
evidence for it?
3. Why did Holmes warn Watson against touching his things? What
was Watson’s reaction?
Watson found a small black and white ivory box with a sliding lid on the
table near the mantlepiece.
Holmes asked Watson to place some letters and paper on the table within
his reach. He asked to place the ivory box and slide the lid a bit with
tongs. He asked Watson to light the lamp and leave it half on.
Holmes asked Watson to tell Smith that Holmes was dying and to persuade
Smith to come. Watson should return before the arrival of Smith.
Holmes thought that Smith was the only man in London who knew well
about the deadly disease. So he wanted Smith to treat him
B. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of about 100-150
words.
1. How did Holmes trap Mr. Culverton Smith to confess the murder?
• Introduction
• Holmes’ deception
• Conclusion
Introduction:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a British writer, best known for his fictional
detective character, Sherlock Holmes. This story is narrated by the character,
Dr.Watson, a friend of Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes was a famous detective in London. Dr.Watson was his friend.
Once, Holmes pretended as if he were infected with Tarpaunli fever or black
Formosa plague, a deadly disease from Sumatra. He didn’t take food or drink
for three days. So he was listless. Dr.Watson wanted to treat his illness. But
Holmes didn’t want Watson to know that he was not ill. He pretended to be ill
just to get Smith there.
He sent Watson to get Culverton Smith for treating his illness. Holmes
instructed Watson to tell Smith exactly how he was suffering from the illness.
Watson had to persuade Smith to come and meet Holmes. „
Culverton Smith-the villain:
Mr.Culverton Smith was a planter from Sumatra. He was the culprit. He had
killed his nephew Victor Savage in order to usurp the property. He came to
visit London in order to know the consequences of his plot of killing Holmes.
But Holmes wanted Smith’s confession for his crime of murdering his nephew
Victor. In order to capture Smith, Holmes pretended to be ill.
Holmes’ deception:
While Holmes and Smith were discussing, Watson overheard them from the
next room. As they were discussing, Smith confessed that he had killed his
nephew, Victor and also sent an infected ivory box to kill Holmes in the same
way. Holmes asked Smith to turn up the gas light which was a signal for
Inspector Morton. Inspector Morton came in and arrested Smith for his crime.
Conclusion:
This mystery is also called “The Adventure of the Dying Detective.” Arthur
Conan Doyle created these two characters Sherlock Holmes and Watson as if
they were real ones.