The Sign of the Four

Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantel piece and his hypodermic syringe from...

He smiled at my vehemence. Perhaps you are right, Watson, he said. I suppose that its influence is...

My mind, he said, rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse...

He shook his head sadly. I glanced over it, said he. Honestly, I cannot congratulate you upon it....

I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him. I...

Oh, he rates my assistance too highly, said Sherlock Holmes, lightly. He has considerable gifts...

I appreciate their importance. Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps, with some...

Why, hardly, he answered, leaning back luxuriously in his arm chair, and sending up thick blue...

Why, of course I knew that you had not written a letter, since I sat opposite to you all morning. I...

I have heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving...

You are right, I answered. It was cleaned before being sent to me. In my heart I accused my...

Quite so. The W. suggests your own name. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back, and the...

This is unworthy of you, Holmes, I said. I could not have believed that you would have descended to...

No, no. I never guess. It is a shocking habit, destructive to the logical faculty. What seems...

None. Hence the cocaine. I cannot live without brain work. What else is there to live for. Stand at...

Briefly, she continued, the facts are these. My father was an officer in an Indian regiment who...

Only one that we know of, Major Sholto, of his own regiment, the 34th Bombay Infantry. The major...

Thank you, said Holmes. The envelope too, please. Postmark, London, S.W. Date, July 7. Hum. Mans...

I expected to hear you say so. We shall look out for you, then, at six. Pray allow me to keep the...

He smiled gently. It is of the first importance, he said, not to allow your judgment to be biased...

I sat in the window with the volume in my hand, but my thoughts were far from the daring...

No. You surprise me. Look at it in this way, then. Captain Morstan disappears. The only person in...

There are difficulties; there are certainly difficulties, said Sherlock Holmes, pensively. But our...

Miss Morstan was muffled in a dark cloak, and her sensitive face was composed, but pale. She must...

It is paper of native Indian manufacture, he remarked. It has at some time been pinned to a board....

It was a September evening, and not yet seven oclock, but the day had been a dreary one, and a...

He bent a pair of wonderfully penetrating and questioning eyes upon us. You will excuse me, miss,...

The situation was a curious one. We were driving to an unknown place, on an unknown errand. Yet our...

We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames with the lamps shining upon the broad,...

We followed the Indian down a sordid and common passage, ill lit and worse furnished, until he came...

We were all astonished by the appearance of the apartment into which he invited us. In that sorry...

I listened to his heart, as requested, but was unable to find anything amiss, save indeed that he...

I could have struck the man across the face, so hot was I at this callous and off hand reference to...

That is well. That is well. said he. May I offer you a glass of Chianti, Miss Morstan. Or of Tokay....

You will excuse me, Mr. Sholto, said Miss Morstan, but I am here at your request to learn something...

He laughed until his ears were quite red. That would hardly do, he cried. I dont know what he would...

I very well remember the sensation which was caused by the disappearance of Captain Morstan. We...

Early in 1882 my father received a letter from India which was a great shock to him. He nearly...

I have only one thing, he said, which weighs upon my mind at this supreme moment. It is my...

For a long time I sat half distracted, wondering what I should do. My first impulse was, of course,...

At this instant a horrible change came over his expression; his eyes stared wildly, his jaw...

The little man stopped to relight his hookah and puffed thoughtfully for a few moments. We had all...

The little man waved his hand deprecatingly. We were your trustees, he said. That was the view...

Our new acquaintance very deliberately coiled up the tube of his hookah, and produced from behind a...

At the mention of this gigantic sum we all stared at one another open eyed. Miss Morstan, could we...

Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds, and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped...

He aint been out o his room to day, Mr. Thaddeus, and I have no orders. You know very well that I...

Very sorry, Mr. Thaddeus, said the porter, inexorably. Folk may be friends o yours, and yet no...

Not Mr. Sherlock Holmes. roared the prize fighter. Gods truth. how could I have mistook you. If...

Yes; he has followed my fathers custom. He was the favourite son, you know, and I sometimes think...

He held up the lantern, and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all...

Oh, Mr. Thaddeus, sir, I am so glad you have come. I am so glad you have come, Mr. Thaddeus, sir....

There is something amiss with Bartholomew. he cried. I am frightened. My nerves cannot stand it. He...

Master has locked himself in and will not answer me, she explained. All day I have waited to hear...

The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length, with a great picture in...

The door must come down, he answered, and, springing against it, he put all his weight upon the...

By the table, in a wooden arm chair, the master of the house was seated all in a heap, with his...

The treasure is gone. he said. They have robbed him of the treasure. There is the hole through...

You have no reason for fear, Mr. Sholto, said Holmes, kindly, putting his hand upon his shoulder....

Surely, said he, with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. Just...

I looked out of the open window. The moon still shone brightly on that angle of the house. We were...

Yes, the ally. repeated Holmes, pensively. There are features of interest about this ally. He lifts...

Of course he did. He must have done so. If you will have the kindness to hold the lamp for me, we...

Here you are, you see, said Sherlock Holmes, putting his hand against the sloping wall. This is a...

He had recovered his self possession in an instant. I was staggered for the moment, he said, but...

We are certainly in luck, said he. We ought to have very little trouble now. Number One has had the...

Quite so. They are in a state of extreme contraction, far exceeding the usual rigor mortis. Coupled...

I took it up gingerly and held it in the light of the lantern. It was long, sharp, and black, with...

Why, of course I do. he wheezed. Its Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the theorist. Remember you. Ill never...

Well, well, if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. Thats common...

You are not quite in possession of the facts yet, said Holmes. This splinter of wood, which I have...

Ask Mr. Sholto to step this way. Mr. Sholto, it is my duty to inform you that anything which you...

By no means. I dont think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. I have seen...

And I, said Holmes, shall see what I can learn from Mrs. Bernstone, and from the Indian servant,...

It was nearly two oclock when we reached Mrs. Cecil Forresters. The servants had retired hours ago,...

Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth. I had to...

A friend of Mr. Sherlock is always welcome, said he. Step in, sir. Keep clear of the badger; for he...

Toby proved to be an ugly, long haired, lop eared creature, half spaniel and half lurcher, brown...

We tied Toby to the hall table, and re ascended the stairs. The room was as he had left it, save...

Quite so. That is the point. Bear that in mind. Now, would you kindly step over to that flap window...

The object which he held up to me was a small pocket or pouch woven out of coloured grasses and...

Here you are, doggy. Good old Toby. Smell it, Toby, smell it. He pushed the creasote handkerchief...

On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along, whining eagerly, underneath its shadow, and stopped...

I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great traffic which had passed...

There is credit, and to spare, said I. I assure you, Holmes, that I marvel at the means by which...

It is more than that. It is the only hypothesis which covers the facts. Let us see how it fits in...

Well, now, let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. Let us look at it from his point of...

Quite so. And rather to Jonathans disgust, to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into...

That was like following the brook to the parent lake. He makes one curious but profound remark. It...

We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half rural villa lined roads...

He was indeed off, for after sniffing round again he suddenly made up his mind, and darted away...

He acted according to his lights, said Holmes, lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out...

It tended down towards the river side, running through Belmont Place and Princes Street. At the end...

Close to the rude landing stage was a small brick house, with a wooden placard slung out through...

He might, sir, but it werent his way. Many a time Ive heard him call out at the prices they charge...

But, my dear Mrs. Smith, said Holmes, shrugging his shoulders, You are frightening yourself about...

Thanks. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. Smith. I am going down the river; and if I should...

My dear fellow, it would be a colossal task. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of...

Worse and worse. Our men would know that the chase was hot at their heels, and they would be off...

This is just the case where they might be invaluable. If they fail, I have other resources; but I...

Here it is, said he, laughing, and pointing to an open newspaper. The energetic Jones and the...

As he spoke, there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs, a clatter of high voices,...

The old scale of pay, and a guinea to the boy who finds the boat. Heres a day in advance. Now off...

No; I am not tired. I have a curious constitution. I never remember feeling tired by work, though...

Hardly that, said he. When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the...

Ah, that is more than I can tell. Since, however, we had already determined that Small had come...

It was late in the afternoon before I woke, strengthened and refreshed. Sherlock Holmes still sat...

I took our mongrel accordingly, and left him, together with a half sovereign, at the old...

It is for Mr. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious, she said. Nothing else is of any consequence; but...

Well, hes that strange, sir. After you was gone he walked and he walked, up and down, and up and...

No, I could not sleep, he answered. This infernal problem is consuming me. It is too much to be...

We did not, however. Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. There...

I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me, for I can hardly tell yet where I may find...

That is satisfactory so far as it goes, thought I. Friend Sholto is safe, at any rate. I wonder...

This was clearly Holmess doing. The Baker Street address was enough to prove that. It struck me as...

At three oclock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell, an authoritative voice in the...

Your friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man, sir, said he, in a husky and confidential...

Ah, then he has been at fault too, exclaimed Jones, with evident satisfaction. Even the best of us...

No, no; I aint goin to lose a whole day to please no one. If Mr. Holmes aint here, then Mr. Holmes...

I have been working in that get up all day, said he, lighting his cigar. You see, a good many of...

When we secure the men we shall get the treasure. I think that it would be a pleasure to my friend...

Only that I insist upon your dining with us. It will be ready in half an hour. I have oysters and a...

When the cloth was cleared, Holmes glanced at his watch, and filled up three glasses with port. One...

Well, I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis. One of our greatest...

Quite so. I argued that the launch must be no great way off, in spite of its invisibility. I then...

You have planned it all very neatly, whether they are the right men or not, said Jones; but if the...

While this conversation had been proceeding, we had been shooting the long series of bridges which...

Suppose we go down stream a short way and lie in wait for them, said Jones, eagerly. We were all...

Winwood Reade is good upon the subject, said Holmes. He remarks that, while the individual man is...

She had slipped unseen through the yard entrance and passed behind two or three small craft, so...

At that moment, however, as our evil fate would have it, a tug with three barges in tow blundered...

It was well that we had so clear a view of him. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his...

Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had done so much and waited so long...

Have a cigar, said Holmes; and you had best take a pull out of my flask, for you are very wet. How...

You are under the charge of Mr. Athelney Jones, of Scotland Yard. He is going to bring you up to my...

At this moment Athelney Jones thrust his broad face and heavy shoulders into the tiny cabin. Quite...

Neither he did, cried our prisoner, not a word. I chose his launch because I heard that she was a...

We will be at Vauxhall Bridge presently, said Jones, and shall land you, Dr. Watson, with the...

They landed me at Vauxhall, with my heavy iron box, and with a bluff, genial inspector as my...

I have brought something better than news, said I, putting down the box upon the table and speaking...

No, no, I answered, not to me, but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. With all the will in the world, I...

That is all over, I answered. It was nothing. I will tell you no more gloomy details. Let us turn...

Small threw it into the Thames, I answered. I must borrow Mrs. Forresters poker. There was in the...

As I listened to the words and realised what they meant, a great shadow seemed to pass from my...

His forecast proved to be correct, for the detective looked blank enough when I got to Baker Street...

Easier for me to throw, and easier for you to recover, he answered, with a shrewd, sidelong look....

Well, sir, you have been very fair spoken to me, though I can see that I have you to thank that I...

I wasnt destined to do much soldiering, however. I had just got past the goose step, and learned to...

Well, I was never in lucks way long. Suddenly, without a note of warning, the great mutiny broke...

Nothing but the worst news came to us from every side, which is not to be wondered at, for if you...