The Sign of Four :  By A .  Conan Doyle  Author of ' Micah Clarke , ' ' The firm of Girdlestone , ' ' The Captain of the polestar , ' etc. etc.  London  Spencer Blackett  Milton House , 35 , St Bride Street , E.C.  1890  [ All rights reserved ]  CHAPTER I .  THE SCIENCE OF DEDUCTION .  Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantelpiece , and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case .  With his long , white , nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle , and rolled back his left shirt-cuff .  For some little time his eyes rested thoughtfully upon the sinewy forearm and wrist , all dotted and scarred with innumerable puncture-marks .  Finally , he thrust the sharp point home , pressed down the tiny piston , and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction .  Three times a day for many months I had witnessed this performance , but custom had not reconciled my mind to it .  On the contrary , from day to day I had become more irritable at the sight , and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest .  Again and again I had registered a vow that I should deliver my soul upon the subject ; but there was that in the cool , nonchalant air of my companion which made him the last man with whom one would care to take anything approaching to a liberty .  His great powers , his masterly manner , and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities , all made me diffident and backward in crossing him .  Yet upon that afternoon , whether it was the Beaune which I had taken with my lunch , or the additional exasperation produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner , I suddenly felt that I could hold out no longer .  ' Which is it to-day , ' I asked , ' morphine or cocaine ?  '  He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened .  ' It is cocaine , ' he said , ' a seven-per-cent .  solution .  Would you care to try it ?  '  ' No , indeed , ' I answered brusquely .  ' My constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet .  I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it .  '  He smiled at my vehemence .  ' Perhaps you are right , Watson , ' he said .  ' I suppose that its influence is physically a bad one .  I find it , however , so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment .  '  ' But consider !  ' I said earnestly .  ' Count the cost !  Your brain may , as you say , be roused and excited , but it is a pathological and morbid process , which involves increased tissue-change and may at last leave a permanent weakness .  You know , too , what a black reaction comes upon you .  Surely the game is hardly worth the candle .  Why should you , for a mere passing pleasure , risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed ?  Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another , but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable .  "  He did not seem offended .  On the contrary , he put his finger-tips together , and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair , like one who has a relish for conversation .  ' My mind , ' he said , ' rebels at stagnation .  Give me problems , give me work , give me the most abstruse cryptogram , or the most intricate analysis , and I am in my own proper atmosphere .  I can dispense then with artificial stimulants .  But I abhor the dull routine of existence .  I crave for mental exaltation .  That is why I have chosen my own particular profession , or rather created it , for I am the only one in the world .  '  ' The only unofficial detective ?  ' I said , raising my eyebrows .  ' The only unofficial consulting detective , ' he answered .  ' I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection .  When , Gregson , or Lestrade , or Athelney Jones are out of their depths — which , by the way , is their normal state — the matter is laid before me .  I examine the data , as an expert , and pronounce a specialist 'sopinion .  I claim no credit in such cases .  My name figures in no newspaper .  The work itself , the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers , is my highest reward .  But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case .  '  ' Yes , indeed , ' said I cordially .  ' I was never so struck by anything in my life .  I even embodied it in a small brochure , with the somewhat fantastic title of " A Study in Scarlet .  " '  He shook his head sadly .  ' I glanced over it , ' said he .  ' Honestly , I cannot congratulate you upon it .  Detection is , or ought to be , an exact science , and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner .  You have attempted to tinge it with romanticism , which produces much the same effect as if you worked a lovestory or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid .  '  ' But the romance was there , ' I remonstrated .  ' I could not tamper with the facts .  '  ' Some facts should be suppressed , or , at least , a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them .  The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes , by which I succeeded in unravelling it .  '  I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him .  I confess , too , that I was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings .  More than once during the years that I had lived with him in Baker Street I had observed that a small vanity underlay my companion 'squiet and didactic manner .  I made no remark , however , but sat nursing my wounded leg .  I had had a Jezail bullet through it some time before , and , though it did not prevent me from walking , it ached wearily at every change of the weather .  ' My practice has extended recently to the Continent , ' said Holmes , after awhile , filling up his old briar-root pipe .  ' I was consulted last week by François le Villard , who , as you probably know , has come rather to the front lately in the French detective service .  He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition , but he is deficient in the wide range of exact knowledge which is essential to the higher developments of his art .  The case was concerned with a will , and possessed some features of interest .  I was able to refer him to two parallel cases , the one at Riga in 1857 , and the other at St. Louis in 1871 , which have suggested to him the true solution .  Here is the letter which I had this morning acknowledging my assistance .  '  He tossed over , as he spoke , a crumpled sheet of foreign notepaper .  I glanced my eyes down it , catching a profusion of notes of admiration , with stray 'magnifiques , ' 'coup-de-maîtres , ' and ' tours-de-force , ' all testifying to the ardent admiration of the Frenchman .  ' He speaks as a pupil to his master , ' said I .  ' Oh , he rates my assistance too highly , ' said Sherlock Holmes lightly .  ' He has considerable gifts himself .  He possesses two out of the three qualities necessary for the ideal detective .  He has the power of observation and that of deduction .  He is only wanting in knowledge , and that may come in time .  He is now translating my small works into French .  '  ' Your works ?  '  ' Oh , did n't you know ?  ' he cried , laughing .  ' Yes , I have been guilty of several monographs .  They are all upon technical subjects .  Here , for example , is one " Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the Various Tobaccos .  " In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar , cigarette , and pipe tobacco , with coloured plates illustrating the difference in the ash .  It is a point which is continually turning up in criminal trials , and which is sometimes of supreme importance as a clue .  If you can say definitely , for example , that some murder had been done by a man who was smoking an Indian lunkah , it obviously narrows your field of search .  To the trained eye there is as much difference between the black ash of a Trichinopoly and the white fluff of bird's-eye as there is between a cabbage and a potato .  '  ' You have an extraordinary genius for minutiæ , ' I remarked .  ' I appreciate their importance .  Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps , with some remarks upon the uses of plaster of Paris as a preserver of impresses .  Here , too , is a curious little work upon the influènce of a trade upon the form of the hand , with lithotypes of the hands of slaters , sailors , cork-cutters , compositors , weavers , and diamond-polishers .  That is a matter of great practical interest to the scientific detective — especially in cases of unclaimed bodies , or in discovering the antecedents of criminals .  But I weary you with my hobby .  '  ' Not at all , ' I answered earnestly .  ' It is of the greatest interest to me , especially since I have had the opportunity of observing your practical application of it .  But you spoke just now of observation and deduction .  Surely the one to some extent implies the other .  '  ' Why , hardly , ' he answered , leaning back luxuriously in his armchair , and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe .  ' For example , observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning , but deduction lets me know that when there you despatched a telegram .  '  ' Right !  ' said I .  ' Right on both points !  But I confess that I do n't see how you arrived at it .  It was a sudden impulse upon my part , and I have mentioned it to no one .  '  ' It is simplicity itself , ' he remarked , chuckling at my surprise — ' so absurdly simple that an explanation is superfluous ; and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction .  Observation tells me that you have a little reddish mould adhering to your instep .  Just opposite the Wigmore Street Office they have taken up the pavement and thrown up some earth , which lies in such a way that it is difficult to avoid treading in it in entering .  The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found , as far as I know , nowhere else in the neighbourhood .  So much is observation .  The rest is deduction .  '  ' How , then , did you deduce the telegram ?  '  ' Why , of course I knew that you had not written a letter , since I sat opposite to you all morning .  I see also in your open desk there that you have a sheet of stamps and a thick bundle of postcards .  What could you go into the post-office for , then , but to send a wire ?  Eliminate all other factors , and the one which remains must be the truth .  '  ' In this case it certainly is so , ' I replied , after a little thought .  ' The thing , however , is , as you say , of the simplest .  Would you think me impertinent if I were to put your theories to a more severe test ?  '  ' On the contrary , ' he answered ; ' it would prevent me from taking a second dose of cocaine .  I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me .  '  ' I have heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it .  Now , I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession .  Would you have the kindness to let me have an opinion upon the character or habits of the late owner ?  '  I handed him over the watch with some slight feeling of amusement in my heart , for the test was , as I thought , an impossible one , and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed .  He balanced the watch in his hand , gazed hard at the dial , opened the back , and examined the works , first with his naked eyes and then with a powerful convex lens .  I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back .  ' There are hardly any data , ' he remarked .  ' The watch has been recently cleaned , which robs me of my most suggestive facts .  '  ' You are right , ' I answered .  ' It was cleaned before being sent to me .  '  In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure .  What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch ?  ' Though unsatisfactory , my research has not been entirely barren , ' he observed , staring up at the ceiling with dreamy , lacklustre eyes .  ' Subject to your correction , I should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother , who inherited it from your father .  '  ' That you gather , no doubt , from the H .  W .  upon the back ?  '  ' Quite so .  The W .  suggests your own name .  The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back , and the initials are as old as the watch : so it was made for the last generation .  Jewellery usually descends to the eldest son , and he is most likely to have the same name as the father .  Your father has , if I remember right , been dead many years .  It has , therefore , been in the hands of your eldest brother .  '  ' Right , so far , ' said I .  ' Anything else ?  '  ' He was a man of untidy habits — very untidy and careless .  He was left with good prospects , but he threw away his chances , lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity , and finally , taking to drink , he died .  That is all I can gather .  '  I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart .  ' This is unworthy of you , Holmes , ' I said .  ' I could not have believed that you would have descended to this .  You have made inquiries into the history of my unhappy brother , and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way .  You cannot expect me to believe that you have read all this from his old watch !  It is unkind , and , to speak plainly , has a touch of charlatanism in it .  '  ' My dear doctor , ' said he kindly , ' pray accept my apologies .  Viewing the matter as an abstract problem , I had forgotten how personal and painful a thing it might be to you .  I assure you , however , that I never even knew that you had a brother until you handed me the watch .  '  ' Then how in the name of all that is wonderful did you get these facts ?  They are absolutely correct in every particular .  '  ' Ah , that is good luck .  I could only say what was the balance of probability .  I did not at all expect to be so accurate .  '  ' But it was not mere guess-work ?  '  ' No , no : I never guess .  It is a shocking habit — destructive to the logical faculty .  What seems strange to you is only so because you do not follow my train of thought or observe the small facts upon which large inferences may depend .  For example , I began by stating that your brother was careless .  When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places , but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects , such as coins or keys , in the same pocket .  Surely it is no great feat to assume that a man who treats a fifty-guinea watch so cavalierly must be a careless man .  Neither is it a very farfetched inference that a man who inherits one article of such value is pretty well provided for in other respects .  '  I nodded , to show that I followed his reasoning .  ' It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England , when they take a watch , to scratch the number of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case .  It is more handy than a label , as there is no risk of the number being lost or transposed .  There are no less than four such numbers visible to my lens on the inside of this case .  Inference — that your brother was often at low water .  Secondary inference — that he had occasional bursts of prosperity , or he could not have redeemed the pledge .  Finally , I ask you to look at the inner plate , which contains the keyhole .  Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole — marks where the key has slipped .  What sober man 'skey could have scored those grooves ?  But you will never see a drunkard 'swatch without them .  He winds it at night , and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand .  Where is the mystery in all this ?  '  ' It is as clear as daylight , ' I answered .  ' I regret the injustice which I did you .  I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty .  May I ask whether you have any professional inquiry on foot at present ?  '  ' None .  Hence the cocaine .  I cannot live without brain-work .  What else is there to live for ?  Stand at the window here .  Was ever such a dreary , dismal , unprofitable world ?  See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the duncoloured houses .  What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material ?  What is the use of having powers , doctor , when one has no field upon which to exert them ?  Crime is commonplace , existence is commonplace , and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth .  '  I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade , when , with a crisp knock , our landlady entered , bearing a card upon the brass salver .  ' A young lady for you , sir , ' she said , addressing my companion .  ' Miss Mary Morstan , ' he read .  ' Hum !  I have no recollection of the name .  Ask the young lady to step up , Mrs. Hudson .  Do n't go , doctor .  I should prefer that you remain .  '  CHAPTER II .  THE STATEMENT OF THE CASE .  Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and an outward composure of manner .  She was a blonde young lady , small , dainty , well gloved , and dressed in the most perfect taste .  There was , however , a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means .  The dress was a sombre grayish beige , untrimmed and unbraided , and she wore a small turban of the same dull hue , relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side .  Her face had neither regularity of feature nor beauty of complexion , but her expression was sweet and amiable , and her large blue eyes were singularly spiritual and sympathetic .  In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents , I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature .  I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her , her lip trembled , her hand quivered , and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation .  ' I have come to you , Mr. Holmes , ' she said , ' because you once enabled my employer , Mrs. Cecil Forrester , to unravel a little domestic complication .  She was much impressed by your kindness and skill .  '  ' Mrs .  Cecil Forrester , ' he repeated thoughtfully .  ' I believe that I was of some slight service to her .  The case , however , as I remember it , was a very simple one .  '  ' She did not think so .  But at least you cannot say the same of mine .  I can hardly imagine anything more strange , more utterly inexplicable , than the situation in which I find myself .  '  Holmes rubbed his hands , and his eyes glistened .  He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear-cut , hawk-like features .  ' State your case , ' said he , in brisk , business tones .  I felt that my position was an embarrassing one .  ' You will , I am sure , excuse me , ' I said , rising from my chair .  To my surprise , the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me .  ' If your friend , ' she said , ' would be good enough to stop , he might be of inestimable service to me .  '  I relapsed into my chair .  ' Briefly , ' she continued , ' the facts are these .  My father was an officer in an Indian regiment , who sent me home when I was quite a child .  My mother was dead , and I had no relative in England .  I was placed , however , in a comfortable boarding establishment at Edinburgh , and there I remained until I was seventeen years of age .  In the year 1878 my father , who was senior captain of his regiment , obtained twelve months 'leave and came home .  He telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe , and directed me to come down at once , giving the Langham Hotel as his address .  His message , as I remember , was full of kindness and love .  On reaching London I drove to the Langham , and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there , but that he had gone out the night before and had not returned .  I waited all day without news of him .  That night , on the advice of the manager of the hotel , I communicated with the police , and next morning we advertised in all the papers .  Our inquiries led to no result ; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father .  He came home with his heart full of hope , to find some peace , some comfort , and instead — '  She put her hand to her throat , and a choking sob cut short the sentence .  ' The date ?  ' asked Holmes , opening his note-book .  ' He disappeared upon the 3rd of December , 1878 — nearly ten years ago .  '  ' His luggage ?  '  'Remained at the hotel .  There was nothing in it to suggest a clue — some clothes , some books , and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands .  He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there .  '  ' Had he any friends in town ?  '  ' Only one that we know of — Major Sholto , of his own regiment , the 34th Bombay Infantry .  The Major had retired some little time before , and lived at Upper Norwood .  We communicated with him , of course , but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England .  '  ' A singular case , ' remarked Holmes .  ' I have not yet described to you the most singular part .  About six years ago — to be exact , upon the 4th of May , 1882 — an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan , and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward .  There was no name or address appended .  I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess .  By her advice I published my address in the advertisement column .  The same day there arrived through the post a small cardboard box addressed to me , which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl .  No word of writing was enclosed .  Since then every year upon the same date there has always appeared a similar box , containing a similar pearl , without any clue as to the sender .  They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value .  You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome .  '  She opened a flat box as she spoke , and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen .  ' Your statement is most interesting , ' said Sherlock Holmes .  ' Has anything else occurred to you ?  '  ' Yes , and no later than to-day .  That is why I have come to you .  This morning I received this letter , which you will perhaps read for yourself .  '  ' Thank you , ' said Holmes .  ' The envelope too , please .  Post-mark , London , S.W. Date , July 7. Hum !  Man 'sthumb-mark on corner — probably postman .  Best quality paper .  Envelopes at sixpence a packet .  Particular man in his stationery .  No address .  " Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to-night at seven o'clock .  If you are distrustful bring two friends .  You are a wronged woman , and shall have justice .  Do not bring police .  If you do , all will be in vain .  Your unknown friend .  " Well , really , this is a very pretty little mystery !  What do you intend to do , Miss Morstan ?  '  ' That is exactly what I want to ask you .  '  ' Then we shall most certainly go — you and I and — yes , why Dr. Watson is the very man .  Your correspondent says two friends .  He and I have worked together before .  '  ' But would he come ?  ' she asked , with something appealing in her voice and expression .  ' I shall be proud and happy , ' said I , fervently , ' if I can be of any service .  '  ' You are both very kind , ' she answered .  ' I have led a retired life , and have no friends whom I could appeal to .  If I am here at six it will do , I suppose ?  '  ' You must not be later , ' said Holmes .  ' There is one other point , however .  Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearlbox addresses ?  '  ' I have them here , ' she answered , producing half a dozen pieces of paper .  ' You are certainly a model client .  You have the correct intuition .  Let us see , now .  ' He spread out the papers upon the table , and gave little darting glances from one to the other .  ' They are disguised hands , except the letter , ' he said presently ; ' but there can be no question as to the authorship .  See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out , and see the twirl of the final s .  They are undoubtedly by the same person .  I should not like to suggest false hopes , Miss Morstan , but is there any resemblance between this hand and that of your father ?  '  ' Nothing could be more unlike .  '  ' I expected to hear you say so .  We shall look out for you , then , at six .  Pray allow me to keep the papers .  I may look into the matter before then .  It is only half-past three .  Au revoir , then .  '  ' Au revoir , ' said our visitor ; and with a bright , kindly glance from one to the other of us , she replaced her pearl-box in her bosom and hurried away .  Standing at the window , I watched her walking briskly down the street , until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd .  ' What a very attractive woman !  ' I exclaimed , turning to my companion .  He had lit his pipe again , and was leaning back with drooping eyelids .  ' Is she ?  ' he said languidly ; ' I did not observe .  '  ' You really are an automaton — a calculating machine , ' I cried .  ' There is something positively inhuman in you at times .  '  He smiled gently .  ' It is of the first importance , ' he said , ' not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities .  A client is to me a mere unit , a factor in a problem .  The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning .  I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money , and the most repellant man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist who has spent nearly a quarter of a million upon the London poor .  '  ' In this case , however — '  ' I never make exceptions .  An exception disproves the rule .  Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting ?  What do you make of this fellow 'sscribble ?  '  ' It is legible and regular , ' I answered .  ' A man of business habits and some force of character .  '  Holmes shook his head .  ' Look at his long letters , ' he said .  ' They hardly rise above the common herd .  That d might be an a , and that l an e .  Men of character always differentiate their long letters , however illegibly they may write .  There is vacillation in his k 'sand self-esteem in his capitals .  I am going out now .  I have some few references to make .  Let me recommend this book — one of the most remarkable ever penned .  It is Winwood Reade 's" Martyrdom of Man .  " I shall be back in an hour .  '  I sat in the window with the volume in my hand , but my thoughts were far from the daring speculations of the writer .  My mind ran upon our late visitor — her smiles , the deep rich tones of her voice , the strange mystery which overhung her life .  If she were seventeen at the time of her father 'sdisappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now — a sweet age , when youth has lost its self-consciousness and become a little sobered by experience .  So I sat and mused , until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology .  What was I , an army surgeon with a weak leg and a weaker banking account , that I should dare to think of such things ?  She was a unit , a factor — nothing more .  If my future were black , it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will-o'-the-wisps of the imagination .  CHAPTER III .  IN QUEST OF A SOLUTION .  It was half-past five before Holmes returned .  He was bright , eager , and in excellent spirits , a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest depression .  ' There is no great mystery in this matter , ' he said , taking the cup of tea which I had poured out for him ; ' the facts appear to admit of only one explanation .  '  ' What !  you have solved it already ?  '  ' Well , that would be too much to say .  I have discovered a suggestive fact , that is all .  It is , however , very suggestive .  The details are still to be added .  I have just found , on consulting the back files of the Times , that Major Sholto , of Upper Norwood , late of the 34th Bombay Infantry , died upon the 28th of April , 1882. ' ' I may be very obtuse , Holmes , but I fail to see what this suggests .  '  ' No ?  You surprise me .  Look at it in this way , then .  Captain Morstan disappears .  The only person in London whom he could have visited is Major Sholto .  Major Sholto denies having heard that he was in London .  Four years later Sholto dies .  Within a week of his death Captain Morstan 'sdaughter receives a valuable present , which is repeated from year to year , and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman .  What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father ?  And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto 'sdeath , unless it is that Sholto 'sheir knows something of the mystery and desires to make compensation ?  Have you any alternative theory which will meet the facts ?  '  ' But what a strange compensation !  And how strangely made !  Why , too , should he write a letter now , rather than six years ago ?  Again , the letter speaks of giving her justice .  What justice can she have ?  It is too much to suppose that her father is still alive .  There is no other injustice in her case that you know of .  '  ' There are difficulties ; there are certainly difficulties , ' said Sherlock Holmes pensively ; ' but our expedition of to-night will solve them all .  Ah , here is a four-wheeler , and Miss Morstan is inside .  Are you all ready ?  Then we had better go down , for it is a little past the hour .  '  I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick , but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket .  It was clear that he thought that our night 'swork might be a serious one .  Miss Morstan was muffled in a dark cloak , and her sensitive face was composed , but pale .  She must have been more than woman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the strange enterprise upon which we were embarking , yet her self-control was perfect , and she readily answered the few additional questions which Sherlock Holmes put to her .  ' Major Sholto was a very particular friend of papa 's, ' she said .  ' His letters were full of allusions to the Major .  He and papa were in command of the troops at the Andaman Islands , so they were thrown a great deal together .  By the way , a curious paper was found in papa 'sdesk which no one could understand .  I do n't suppose that it is of the slightest importance , but I thought you might care to see it , so I brought it with me .  It is here .  '  Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee .  He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens .  ' It is paper of native Indian manufacture , ' he remarked .  ' It has at some time been pinned to a board .  The diagram upon it appears to be a plan of part of a large building with numerous halls , corridors , and passages .  At one point is a small cross done in red ink , and above it is " 3.37 from left , " in faded pencil-writing .  In the lefthand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching .  Beside it is written , in very rough and coarse characters , " The sign of the four — Jonathan Small , Mahomet Singh , Abdullah Khan , Dost Akbar .  " No , I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter .  Yet it is evidently a document of importance .  It has been kept carefully in a pocket-book ; for the one side is as clean as the other .  '  ' It was in his pocket-book that we found it .  '  ' Preserve it carefully , then , Miss Morstan , for it may prove to be of use to us .  I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed .  I must reconsider my ideas .  '  He leaned back in the cab , and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently .  Miss Morstan and I chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome , but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey .  It was a September evening , and not yet seven o'clock , but the day had been a dreary one , and a dense drizzly fog lay low upon the great city .  Mud-coloured clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets .  Down the Strand the lamps were but misty splotches of diffused light which threw a feeble circular glimmer upon the slimy pavement .  The yellow glare from the shop-windows streamed out into the steamy , vaporous air , and threw a murky , shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare .  There was , to my mind , something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light — sad faces and glad , haggard and merry .  Like all human kind , they flitted from the gloom into the light , and so back into the gloom once more .  I am not subject to impressions , but the dull , heavy evening , with the strange business upon which we were engaged , combined to make me nervous and depressed .  I could see from Miss Morstan 'smanner that she was suffering from the same feeling .  Holmes alone could rise superior to petty influences .  He held his open notebook upon his knee , and from time to time he jotted down figures and memoranda in the light of his pocket-lantern .  At the Lyceum Theatre the crowds were already thick at the side-entrances .  In front a continuous stream of hansoms and four-wheelers were rattling up , discharging their cargoes of shirt-fronted men and be-shawled , be-diamonded women .  We had hardly reached the third pillar , which was our rendezvous , before a small , dark , brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us .  ' Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan ?  ' he asked .  ' I am Miss Morstan , and these two gentlemen are my friends , ' said she .  He bent a pair of wonderfully penetrating and questioning eyes upon us .  ' You will excuse me , miss , ' he said , with a certain dogged manner , ' but I was to ask you to give me your word that neither of your companions is a police-officer .  '  ' I give you my word on that , ' she answered .  He gave a shrill whistle , on which a street arab led across a four-wheeler and opened the door .  The man who had addressed us mounted to the box , while we took our places inside .  We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse , and we plunged away at a furious pace through the foggy streets .  The situation was a curious one .  We were driving to an unknown place , on an unknown errand .  Yet our invitation was either a complete hoax — which was an inconceivable hypothesis — or else we had good reason to think that important issues might hang upon our journey .  Miss Morstan 'sdemeanour was as resolute and collected as ever .  I endeavoured to cheer and amuse her by reminiscences of my adventures in Afghanistan ; but , to tell the truth , I was myself so excited at our situation , and so curious as to our destination , that my stories were slightly involved .  To this day she declares that I told her one moving anecdote as to how a musket looked into my tent at the dead of night , and how I fired a double-barrelled tiger cub at it .  At first I had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving ; but soon , what with our pace , the fog , and my own limited knowledge of London , I lost my bearings , and knew nothing , save that we seemed to be going a very long way .  Sherlock Holmes was never at fault , however , and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-streets .  ' Rochester Row , ' said he .  ' Now Vincent Square .  Now we come out on the Vauxhall Bridge Road .  We are making for the Surrey side , apparently .  Yes , I thought so .  Now we are on the bridge .  You can catch glimpses of the river .  '  We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames , with the lamps shining upon the broad , silent water ; but our cab dashed on , and was soon involved in a labyrinth of streets upon the other side .  ' Wordsworth Road , ' said my companion .  ' Priory Road .  Lark Hall Lane .  Stockwell Place .  Robert Street .  Cold Harbour Lane .  Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions .  '  We had indeed reached a questionable and forbidding neighbourhood .  Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public-houses at the corner .  Then came rows of two-storied villas , each with a fronting of miniature garden , and then again interminable lines of new , staring brick buildings — the monster tentacles which the giant city was throwing out into the country .  At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace .  None of the other houses were inhabited , and that at which we stopped was as dark as its neighbours , save for a single glimmer in the kitchen-window .  On our knocking , however , the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant , clad in a yellow turban , white loose-fitting clothes , and a yellow sash .  There was something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the commonplace doorway of a third-rate suburban dwelling-house .  ' The Sahib awaits you , ' said he , and even as he spoke there came a high , piping voice from some inner room .  ' Show them in to me , khitmutgar , ' it cried .  ' Show them straight in to me .  '  CHAPTER IV .  THE STORY OF THE BALD-HEADED MAN .  We followed the Indian down a sordid and common passage , ill-lit and worse furnished , until he came to a door upon the right , which he threw open .  A blaze of yellow light streamed out upon us , and in the centre of the glare there stood a small man with a very high head , a bristle of red hair all round the fringe of it , and a bald , shining scalp which shot out from among it like a mountain-peak from fir-trees .  He writhed his hands together as he stood , and his features were in a perpetual jerk — now smiling , now scowling , but never for an instant in repose .  Nature had given him a pendulous lip , and a too visible line of yellow and irregular teeth , which he strove feebly to conceal by constantly passing his hand over the lower part of his face .  In spite of his obtrusive baldness , he gave the impression of youth .  In point of fact , he had just turned his thirtieth year .  ' Your servant , Miss Morstan , ' he kept repeating , in a thin , high voice .  ' Your servant , gentlemen .  Pray step into my little sanctum .  A small place , miss , but furnished to my own liking .  An oasis of art in the howling desert of South London .  '  We were all astonished by the appearance of the apartment into which he invited us .  In that sorry house it looked as out of place as a diamond of the first water in a setting of brass .  The richest and glossiest of curtains and tapestries draped the walls , looped back here and there to expose some richly-mounted painting or Oriental vase .  The carpet was of amber and black , so soft and so thick that the foot sank pleasantly into it , as into a bed of moss .  Two great tiger-skins thrown athwart it increased the suggestion of Eastern luxury , as did a huge hookah which stood upon a mat in the corner .  A lamp in the fashion of a silver dove was hung from an almost invisible golden wire in the centre of the room .  As it burned it filled the air with a subtle and aromatic odour .  ' Mr .  Thaddeus Sholto , ' said the little man , still jerking and smiling .  ' That is my name .  You are Miss Morstan , of course .  And these gentlemen — '  ' This is Mr. Sherlock Holmes , and this Dr. Watson .  '  ' A doctor , eh ?  ' cried he , much excited .  ' Have you your stethoscope ?  Might I ask you — would you have the kindness ?  I have grave doubts as to my mitral valve , if you would be so very good .  The aortic I may rely upon , but I should value your opinion upon the mitral .  '  I listened to his heart , as requested , but was unable to find anything amiss , save , indeed , that he was in an ecstasy of fear , for he shivered from head to foot .  ' It appears to be normal , ' I said .  ' You have no cause for uneasiness .  '  ' You will excuse my anxiety , Miss Morstan , ' he remarked airily .  ' I am a great sufferer , and I have long had suspicions as to that valve .  I am delighted to hear that they are unwarranted .  Had your father , Miss Morstan , refrained from throwing a strain upon his heart , he might have been alive now .  '  I could have struck the man across the face , so hot was I at this callous and off-hand reference to so delicate a matter .  Miss Morstan sat down , and her face grew white to the lips .  ' I knew in my heart that he was dead , ' said she .  ' I can give you every information , ' said he ; ' and , what is more , I can do you justice ; and I will , too , whatever Brother Bartholomew may say .  I am so glad to have your friends here , not only as an escort to you , but also as witnesses to what I am about to do and say .  The three of us can show a bold front to Brother Bartholomew .  But let us have no outsiders — no police or officials .  We can settle everything satisfactorily among ourselves , without any interference .  Nothing would annoy Brother bartholomew more than any publicity .  '  He sat down upon a low settee , and blinked at us inquiringly with his weak , watery blue eyes .  ' For my part , ' said Holmes , ' whatever you may choose to say will go no further .  '  I nodded to show my agreement .  ' That is well !  That is well !  ' said he .  ' May I offer you a glass of Chianti , Miss Morstan ?  Or of Tokay ?  I keep no other wines .  Shall I open a flask ?  No ?  Well , then , I trust that you have no objection to tobacco-smoke , to the balsamic odour of the Eastern tobacco .  I am a little nervous , and I find my hookah an invaluable sedative .  '  He applied a taper to the great bowl , and the smoke bubbled merrily through the rosewater .  We sat all three in a semicircle , with our heads advanced and our chins upon our hands , while the strange , jerky little fellow , with his high , shining head , puffed uneasily in the centre .  ' When I first determined to make this communication to you , ' said he , ' I might have given you my address ; but I feared that you might disregard my request and bring unpleasant people with you .  I took the liberty , therefore , of making an appointment in such a way that my man Williams might be able to see you first .  I have complete confidence in his discretion , and he had orders , if he were dissatisfied , to proceed no further in the matter .  You will excuse these precautions , but I am a man of somewhat retiring , and I might even say refined tastes , and there is nothing more unæsthetic than a policeman .  I have a natural shrinking from all forms of rough materialism .  I seldom come in contact with the rough crowd .  I live , as you see , with some little atmosphere of elegance around me .  I may call myself a patron of the arts .  It is my weakness .  The landscape is a genuine Corot , and , though a connoisseur might perhaps throw a doubt upon that Salvator Rosa , there cannot be the least question about the Bouguereau .  I am partial to the modern French school .  '  ' You will excuse me , Mr. Sholto , ' said Miss Morstan , ' but I am here at your request to learn something which you desire to tell me .  It is very late , and I should desire the interview to be as short as possible .  '  ' At the best it must take some time , he answered ; ' for we shall certainly have to go to Norwood and see Brother Bartholomew .  We shall all go and try if we can get the better of Brother Bartholomew .  He is very angry with me for taking the course which has seemed right to me .  I had quite high words with him last night .  You cannot imagine what a terrible fellow he is when he is angry .  '  ' If we are to go to Norwood , it would perhaps be as well to start at once , ' I ventured to remark .  He laughed until his ears were quite red .  ' That would hardly do , ' he cried .  ' I do n't know what he would say if I brought you in that sudden way .  No , I must prepare you by showing you how we all stand to each other .  In the first place , I must tell you that there are several points in the story of which I am myself ignorant .  I can only lay the facts before you as far as I know them myself .  ' My father was , as you may have guessed , Major John Sholto , once of the Indian army .  He retired some eleven years ago , and came to live at Pondicherry Lodge in Upper Norwood .  He had prospered in India , and brought back with him a considerable sum of money , a large collection of valuable curiosities , and a staff of native servants .  With these advantages he bought himself a house , and lived in great luxury .  My twinbrother Bartholomew and I were the only children .  ' I very well remember the sensation which was caused by the disappearance of Captain Morstan .  We read the details in the papers , and , knowing that he had been a friend of our father 's, we discussed the case freely in his presence .  He used to join in our speculations as to what could have happened .  Never for an instant did we suspect that he had the whole secret hidden in his own breast , that of all men he alone knew the fate of Arthur Morstan .  ' We did know , however that some mystery , some positive danger , overhung our father .  He was very fearful of going out alone , and he always employed two prize-fighters to act as porters at Pondicherry Lodge .  Williams , who drove you to-night , was one of them .  He was once light-weight champion of England .  Our father would never tell us what it was he feared , but he had a most marked aversion to men with wooden legs .  On one occasion he actually fired his revolver at a wooden-legged man , who proved to be a harmless tradesman canvassing for orders .  We had to pay a large sum to hush the matter up .  My brother and I used to think this a mere whim of my father 's; but events have since led us to change our opinion .  ' Early in 1882 my father received a letter from India which was a great shock to him .  He nearly fainted at the breakfast-table when he opened it , and from that day he sickened to his death .  What was in the letter we could never discover , but I could see as he held it that it was short and written in a scrawling hand .  He had suffered for years from an enlarged spleen , but he now became rapidly worse , and towards the end of April we were informed that he was beyond all hope , and that he wished to make a last communication to us .  ' When we entered his room he was propped up with pillows and breathing heavily .  He besought us to lock the door and to come upon either side of the bed .  Then , grasping our hands , he made a remarkable statement to us , in a voice which was broken as much by emotion as by pain .  I shall try and give it to you in his own very words .  ' " I have only one thing , " he said , " which weighs upon my mind at this supreme moment .  It is my treatment of poor Morstan 'sorphan .  The cursed greed which has been my besetting sin through life has withheld from her the treasure , half at least of which should have been hers .  And yet I have made no use of it myself , so blind and foolish a thing is avarice .  The mere feeling of possession has been so dear to me that I could not bear to share it with another .  See that chaplet tipped with pearls beside the quinine-bottle .  Even that I could not bear to part with , although I had got it out with the design of sending it to her .  You , my sons , will give her a fair share of the Agra treasure .  But send her nothing — not even the chaplet — until I am gone .  After all , men have been as bad as this and have recovered .  ' " I will tell you how Morstan died , " he continued .  " He had suffered for years from a weak heart , but he concealed it from every one .  I alone knew it .  When in India , he and I , through a remarkable chain of circumstances , came into possession of a considerable treasure .  I brought it over to England , and on the night of Morstan 'sarrival he came straight over here to claim his share .  He walked over from the station , and was admitted by my faithful old Lal Chowdar , who is now dead .  Morstan and I had a difference of opinion as to the division of the treasure , and we came to heated words .  Morstan had sprung out of his chair in a paroxysm of anger , when he suddenly pressed his hand to his side , his face turned a dusky hue , and he fell backwards , cutting his head against the corner of the treasure-chest .  When I stooped over him I found , to my horror , that he was dead .  ' " For a long time I sat half distracted , wondering what I should do .  My first impulse was , of course , to call for assistance ; but I could not but recognise that there was every chance that I would be accused of his murder .  His death at the moment of a quarrel , and the gash in his head , would be black against me .  Again , an official inquiry could not be made without bringing out some facts about the treasure , which I was particularly anxious to keep secret .  He had told me that no soul upon earth knew where he had gone .  There seemed to be no necessity why any soul ever should know .  ' " I was still pondering over the matter , when , looking up , I saw my servant , Lal Chowdar , in the doorway .  He stole in and bolted the door behind him .  ' Do not fear , Sahib , ' he said ; ' no one need know that you have killed him .  Let us hide him away , and who is the wiser ?  ' ' I did not kill him , ' said I .  Lal Chowdar shook his head and smiled .  ' I heard it all , Sahib , ' said he ; ' I heard you quarrel , and I heard the blow .  But my lips are sealed .  All are asleep in the house .  Let us put him away together .  ' That was enough to decide me .  If my own servant could not believe my innocence , how could I hope to make it good before twelve foolish tradesmen in a jury-box ?  Lal Chowdar and I disposed of the body that night , and within a few days the London papers were full of the mysterious disappearance of Captain Morstan .  You will see from what I say that I can hardly be blamed in the matter .  My fault lies in the fact that we concealed not only the body , but also the treasure , and that I have clung to Morstan 'sshare as well as to my own .  I wish you , therefore , to make restitution .  Put your ears down to my mouth .  The treasure is hidden in — "  ' At this instant a horrible change came over his expression ; his eyes stared wildly , his jaw dropped , and he yelled , in a voice which I can never forget , " Keep him out !  For Christ 'ssake keep him out !  " We both stared round at the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed .  A face was looking in at us out of the darkness .  We could see the whitening of the nose where it was pressed against the glass .  It was a bearded , hairy face , with wild cruel eyes and an expression of concentrated malevolence .  My brother and I rushed towards the window , but the man was gone .  When we returned to my father his head had dropped and his pulse had ceased to beat .  ' We searched the garden that night , but found no sign of the intruder , save that just under the window a single footmark was visible in the flower-bed .  But for that one trace , we might have thought that our imaginations had conjured up that wild , fierce face .  We soon , however , had another and a more striking proof that there were secret agencies at work all round us .  The window of my father 'sroom was found open in the morning , his cupboards and boxes had been rifled , and upon his chest was fixed a torn piece of paper , with the words " The sign of the four " scrawled across it .  What the phrase meant , or who our secret visitor may have been , we never knew .  As far as we can judge , none of my father 'sproperty had been actually stolen , though everything had been turned out .  My brother and I naturally associated this peculiar incident with the fear which haunted my father during his life ; but it is still a complete mystery to us .  '  The little man stopped to relight his hookah and puffed thoughtfully for a few moments .  We had all sat absorbed , listening to his extraordinary narrative .  At the short account of her father 'sdeath Miss Morstan had turned deadly white , and for a moment I feared that she was about to faint .  She rallied , however , on drinking a glass of water which I quietly poured our for her from a Venetian carafe upon the side-table .  Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair with an abstracted expression and the lids drawn low over his glittering eyes .  As I glanced at him I could not but think how on that very day he had complained bitterly of the commonplaceness of life .  Here at least was a problem which would tax his sagacity to the utmost .  Mr. Thaddeus Sholto looked from one to the other of us with an obvious pride at the effect which his story had produced , and then continued between the puffs of his overgrown pipe .  ' My brother and I , ' said he , ' were , as you may imagine , much excited as to the treasure which my father had spoken of .  For weeks and for months we dug and delved in every part of the garden without discovering its whereabouts .  It was maddening to think that the hiding-place was on his very lips at the moment that he died .  We could judge the splendour of the missing riches by the chaplet which he had taken out .  Over this chaplet my brother Bartholomew and I had some little discussion .  The pearls were evidently of great value , and he was averse to part with them , for , between friends , my brother was himself a little inclined to my father 'sfault .  He thought , too , that if we parted with the chaplet it might give rise to gossip , and finally bring us into trouble .  It was all that I could do to persuade him to let me find out Miss Morstan 'saddress and send her a detached pearl at fixed intervals , so that at least she might never feel destitute .  '  ' It was a kindly thought , ' said our companion earnestly ; ' it was extremely good of you .  '  The little man waved his hand deprecatingly .  ' We were your trustees , ' he said ; ' that was the view which I took of it , though brother Bartholomew could not altogether see it in that light .  We had plenty of money ourselves .  I desired no more .  Besides , it would have been such bad taste to have treated a young lady in so scurvy a fashion .  " Le mauvais goût mène au crime .  " The French have a very neat way of putting these things .  Our difference of opinion on this subject went so far that I thought it best to set up rooms for myself ; so I left Pondicherry Lodge , taking the old khitmutgar and Williams with me .  Yesterday , however , I learn that an event of extreme importance has occurred .  The treasure has been discovered .  I instantly communicated with Miss Morstan , and it only remains for us to drive out to Norwood and demand our share .  I explained my views last night to brother Bartholomew , so we shall be expected , if not welcome , visitors .  '  Mr. Thaddeus Sholto ceased , and sat twitching on his luxurious settee .  We all remained silent , with our thoughts upon the new development which the mysterious business had taken .  Holmes was the first to spring to his feet .  ' You have done well , sir , from first to last , ' said he .  ' It is possible that we may be able to make you some small return by throwing some light upon that which is still dark to you .  But , as Miss Morstan remarked just now , it is late , and we had best put the matter through without delay .  '  Our new acquaintance very deliberately coiled up the tube of his hookah , and produced from behind a curtain a very long befrogged topcoat with Astrakhan collar and cuffs .  This he buttoned tightly up , in spite of the extreme closeness of the night , and finished his attire by putting on a rabbitskin cap with hanging lappets which covered the ears , so that no part of him was visible save his mobile and peaky face .  ' My health is somewhat fragile , ' he remarked , as he led the way down the passage .  ' I am compelled to be a valetudinarian .  '  Our cab was awaiting us outside , and our programme was evidently prearranged , for the driver started off at once at a rapid pace .  Thaddeus Sholto talked incessantly , in a voice which rose high above the rattle of the wheels .  ' Bartholomew is a clever fellow , ' said he .  ' How do you think he found out where the treasure was ?  He had come to the conclusion that it was somewhere indoors : so he worked out all the cubic space of the house , and made measurements everywhere , so that not one inch should be unaccounted for .  Among other things , he found that the height of the building was seventy-four feet , but on adding together the heights of all the separate rooms , and making every allowance for the space between , which he ascertained by borings , he could not bring the total to more than seventy feet .  There were four feet unaccounted for .  These could only be at the top of the building .  He knocked a hole , therefore , in the lath and plaster ceiling of the highest room , and there , sure enough , he came upon another little garret above it , which had been sealed up and was known to no one .  In the centre stood the treasure-chest , resting upon two rafters .  He lowered it through the hole , and there it lies .  He computes the value of the jewels at not less than half a million sterling .  '  At the mention of this gigantic sum we all stared at one another open-eyed .  Miss Morstan , could we secure her rights , would change from a needy governess to the richest heiress in England .  Surely it was the place of a loyal friend to rejoice at such news ; yet I am ashamed to say that selfishness took me by the soul , and that my heart turned as heavy as lead within me .  I stammered out some few halting words of congratulation , and then sat downcast , with my head drooped , deaf to the babble of our new acquaintance .  He was clearly a confirmed hypochondriac , and I was dreamily conscious that he was pouring forth interminable trains of symptoms , and imploring information as to the composition and action of innumerable quack nostrums , some of which he bore about in a leather case in his pocket .  I trust that he may not remember any of the answers which I gave him that night .  Holmes declares that he overheard me caution him against the great danger of taking more than two drops of castor-oil , while I recommended strychnine in large doses as a sedative .  However that may be , I was certainly relieved when our cab pulled up with a jerk and the coachman sprang down to open the door .  ' This , Miss Morstan , is Pondicherry Lodge , ' said Mr. Thaddeus Sholto , as he handed her out .  CHAPTER V. THE TRAGEDY OF PONDICHERRY LODGE .  It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night 'sadventures .  We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us , and the night was fairly fine .  A warm wind blew from the westward , and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky , with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts .  It was clearenough to see for some distance , but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the sidelamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way .  Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds , and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass .  A single narrow iron-clamped door formed the only means of entrance .  On this our guide knocked with a peculiar postman-like rat-tat .  ' Who is there ?  ' cried a gruff voice from within .  ' It is I , McMurdo .  You surely know my knock by this time .  '  There was a grumbling sound and a clanking and jarring of keys .  The door swung heavily back , and a short , deepchested man stood in the opening , with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his protruded face and twinkling , distrustful eyes .  ' That you , Mr. Thaddeus ?  But who are the others ?  I had no orders about them from the master .  '  ' No , McMurdo ?  You surprise me !  I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends .  '  ' He hai n't been out o ' his room to-day , Mr. Thaddeus , and I have no orders .  You know very well that I must stick to regulations .  I can let you in , but your friends they must just stop where they are .  '  This was an unexpected obstacle .  Thaddeus Sholto looked about him in a perplexed and helpless manner .  ' This is too bad of you , McMurdo !  ' he said .  ' If I guarantee them , that is enough for you .  There is the young lady , too .  She cannot wait on the public road at this hour .  '  ' Very sorry , Mr. Thaddeus , ' said the porter inexorably .  ' Folk may be friends o ' yours , and yet no friends o ' the master 's.  He pays me well to do my duty , and my duty I 'lldo .  I do n't know none o ' your friends .  '  ' Oh yes , you do , McMurdo , ' cried Sherlock Holmes genially .  ' I do n't think you can have forgotten me .  Do n't you remember the amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison 'srooms on the night of your benefit four years back ?  '  ' Not Mr. Sherlock Holmes !  ' roared the prize-fighter .  ' God 'struth !  how could I have mistook you ?  If instead o 'standin 'there so quiet you had just stepped up and given me that cross-hit of yours under the jaw , I 'dha ' known you without a question .  Ah , you 'reone that has wasted your gifts , you have !  You might have aimed high , if you had joined the fancy .  '  ' You see , Watson , if all else fails me , I have still one of the scientific professions open to me , ' said Holmes , laughing .  ' Our friend wo n't keep us out in the cold now , I am sure .  '  ' In you come , sir , in you come — you and your friends , ' he answered .  ' Very sorry , Mr. Thaddeus , but orders are very strict .  Had to be certain of your friends before I let them in .  '  Inside , a gravel path wound through desolate grounds to a huge clump of a house , square and prosaic , all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window .  The vast size of the building , with its gloom and its deathly silence , struck a chill to the heart .  Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease , and the lantern quivered and rattled in his hand .  ' I cannot understand it , ' he said .  ' There must be some mistake .  I distinctly told Bartholomew that we should be here , and yet there is no light in his window .  I do not know what to make of it .  '  ' Does he always guard the premises in this way ?  ' asked Holmes .  ' Yes ; he has followed my father 'scustom .  He was the favourite son , you know , and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me .  That is Bartholomew 'swindow up there where the moonshine strikes .  It is quite bright , but there is no light from within , I think .  '  ' None , ' said Holmes .  ' But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door .  '  ' Ah , that is the housekeeper 'sroom .  That is where old Mrs. Bernstone sits .  She can tell us all about it .  But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two , for if we all go in together , and she has had no word of our coming , she may be alarmed .  But , hush !  what is that ?  '  He held up the lantern , and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us .  Miss Morstan seized my wrist , and we all stood , with thumping hearts , straining our ears .  From the great black house there sounded through the silent night the saddest and most pitiful of sounds — the shrill , broken whimpering of a frightened woman .  ' It is Mrs. Bernstone , ' said Sholto .  ' She is the only woman in the house .  Wait here .  I shall be back in a moment .  '  He hurried for the door , and knocked in his peculiar way .  We could see a tall old woman admit him , and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him .  ' Oh , Mr. Thaddeus , sir , I am so glad you have come !  I am so glad you have come , Mr. Thaddeus , sir !  '  We heard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled monotone .  Our guide had left us the lantern .  Holmes swung it slowly round , and peered keenly at the house , and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds .  Miss Morstan and I stood together , and her hand was in mine .  A wondrous subtle thing is love , for here were we two , who had never seen each other before that day , between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed , and yet now in an hour of trouble our hands instinctively sought for each other .  I have marvelled at it since , but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so , and , as she has often told me , there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection .  So we stood hand-in-hand , like two children , and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us .  ' What a strange place !  ' she said , looking round .  ' It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it .  I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat , where the prospectors had been at work .  '  ' And from the same cause , ' said Holmes .  ' These are the traces of the treasure-seekers .  You must remember that they were six years looking for it .  No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel-pit .  '  At that moment the door of the house burst open , and Thaddeus Sholto came running out , with his hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes .  ' There is something amiss with Bartholomew !  ' he cried .  ' I am frightened !  My nerves cannot stand it .  '  He was , indeed , half blubbering with fear , and his twitching , feeble face peeping out from the great Astrakhan collar had the helpless , appealing expression of a terrified child .  ' Come into the house , ' said Holmes , in his crisp , firm way .  ' Yes , do !  ' pleaded Thaddeus Sholto .  ' I really do not feel equal to giving directions .  '  We all followed him into the housekeeper 'sroom , which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage .  The old woman was pacing up and down with a scared look and restless , picking fingers , but the sight of Miss Morstan appeared to have a soothing effect upon her .  ' God bless your sweet , calm face !  ' she cried , with an hysterical sob .  ' It does me good to see you .  Oh , but I have been sorely tried this day !  '  Our companion patted her thin , work-worn hand , and murmured some few words of kindly , womanly comfort which brought the colour back into the other 'sbloodless cheeks .  ' Master has locked himself in , and will not answer me , ' she explained .  ' All day I have waited to hear from him , for he often likes to be alone ; but an hour ago I feared that something was amiss , so I went up and peeped through the keyhole .  You must go up , Mr. Thaddeus — you must go up and look for yourself .  I have seen Mr. Bartholomew Sholto in joy and in sorrow for ten long years , but I never saw him with such a face on him as that .  '  Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way , for Thaddeus Sholto 'steeth were chattering in his head .  So shaken was he that I had to pass my hand under his arm as we went up the stairs , for his knees were trembling under him .  Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoanut-matting which served as a stair-carpet .  He walked slowly from step to step , holding the lamp low , and shooting keen glances to right and left .  Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper .  The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length , with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left .  Holmes advanced along it in the same slow and methodical way , while we kept close at his heels , with our long black shadows streaming backwards down the corridor .  The third door was that which we were seeking .  Holmes knocked without receiving any answer , and then tried to turn the handle and force it open .  It was locked on the inside , however , and by a broad and powerful bolt , as we could see when we set our lamp up against it .  The key being turned , however , the hole was not entirely closed .  Sherlock Holmes bent down to it , and instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath .  ' There is something devilish in this , Watson , ' said he , more moved than I had ever before seen him .  ' What do you make of it ?  '  I stooped to the hole , and recoiled in horror .  Moonlight was streaming into the room , and it was bright with a vague and shifty radiance .  Looking straight at me , and suspended , as it were , in the air , for all beneath was in shadow , there hung a face — the very face of our companion Thaddeus .  There was the same high , shining head , the same circular bristle of red hair , the same bloodless countenance .  The features were set , however , in a horrible smile , a fixed and unnatural grin , which in that still and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion .  So like was the face to that of our little friend that I looked round at him to make sure that he was indeed with us .  Then I recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins .  ' This is terrible !  ' I said to Holmes .  ' What is to be done ?  '  ' The door must come down , ' he answered , and , springing against it , he put all his weight upon the lock .  It creaked and groaned , but did not yield .  Together we flung ourselves upon it once more , and this time it gave way with a sudden snap , and we found ourselves within Bartholomew Sholto 'schamber .  It appeared to have been fitted up as a chemical laboratory .  A double line of glass-stoppered bottles was drawn up upon the wall opposite the door , and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners , test-tubes , and retorts .  In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets .  One of these appeared to leak or to have been broken , for a stream of dark-coloured liquid had trickled out from it , and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent , tar-like odour .  A set of steps stood at one side of the room , in the midst of a litter of lath and plaster , and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through .  At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together .  By the table , in a wooden arm-chair , the master of the house was seated all in a heap , with his head sunk upon his left shoulder , and that ghastly , inscrutable smile upon his face .  He was stiff and cold , and had clearly been dead many hours .  It seemed to me that not only his features , but all his limbs , were twisted and turned in the most fantastic fashion .  By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrument — a brown , closegrained stick , with a stone head like a hammer , rudely lashed on with coarse twine .  Beside it was a torn sheet of note-paper with some words scrawled upon it .  Holmes glanced at it , and then handed it to me .  ' You see , ' he said , with a significant raising of the eyebrows .  In the light of the lantern I read , with a thrill of horror , ' The sign of the four .