БИЛЕТ №21

3. Mind the text “The Adventure of the Dying Detective” by A. Conan Doyleand with the help of the questions describe the events in 10-15 sentences.

1. Why was Watson shocked when he saw Holmes?

2. Why did Holmes think that he had an Eastern disease?

3. Where did Holmes ask doctor Watson to hide?

4. Why did Inspector Morton suddenly come and what did Holmes tell him about Smith?

Watson was called to 221B Baker Street to tend Holmes, who was dying of a rare Asian disease contracted while he was on a case at Rotherhithe. Watson was shocked, having heard nothing about his friend’s illness. Mrs. Hudson said that he had neither eaten nor drunk anything in three days. When Watson came Holmes demanded not to come near him for the illness is highly contagious

At six o’clock, Holmes told Watson to turn the gaslight on, but only half-full. Then he told him to fetch Culverton Smith but return to Baker Street separately. Smith was not a doctor, but an expert on the illness that Holmes had. Also, Holmes explains that Smith does not particularly like him, for Holmes once cast the suspicion for Smith's nephew’s murder on him.

Watson went to the address, invited Smith to Holmes. Smith agreed to come. Watson arrived back at Baker Street before Smith got there. Holmes ordered Watson to hide behind a decorative screen next to the bed.

Believing that they were alone, Smith was also frank enough to admit that he murdered his nephew with this disease, which he had been studying. He saw the little ivory box, which Smith sent by post, and which contained a sharp spring infected with the illness. He took it. Soon Inspector Morton came in — the gaslight was the signal to move in. Holmes told him to arrest Smith for his nephew’s murder. Watson emerged from behind the screen to present himself as a witness to the conversation.

Holmes was not really dying, of course. He pretended to be ill to get Smith to confess to his nephew’s murder.