A very patient man was that inspector in the cab, for it was a weary time before I rejoined him. His face clouded over when I showed him the empty box. “There goes the reward!” said he gloomily. “Where there is no money there is no pay. This night’s work would have been worth a…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 12: The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had done so much and waited so long to gain. He was a sunburned reckless-eyed fellow, with a network of lines and wrinkles all over his mahogany features, which told of a hard, open-air life. There was a singular prominence about his…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 11: The Great Agra Treasure
Our meal was a merry one. Holmes could talk exceedingly well when he chose, and that night he did choose. He appeared to be in a state of nervous exaltation. I have never known him so brilliant. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects — on miracle plays, on medieval pottery, on Stradivarius violins,…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 10: The End of the Islander
It was late in the afternoon before I woke, strengthened and refreshed. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. He looked across at me as I stirred, and I noticed that his face was dark and troubled. “You…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 9: Break in the Chain
“What now?” I asked. “Toby has lost his character for infallibility. ” “He acted according to his lights,” said Holmes, lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard. “If you consider how much creosote is carted about London in one day, it is no great wonder that our trail should…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 8: The Baker Street Irregulars
The police had brought a cab with them, and in this I escorted Miss Morstan back to her home. After the angelic fashion of women, she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was someone weaker than herself to support, and I had found her bright and placid by the side…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 7: The Episode of the Barrel
“Now, Watson,” said Holmes, rubbing his hands, “we have half an hour to ourselves. Let us make good use of it. My case is, as I have told you, almost complete; but we must not err on the side of overconfidence. Simple as the case seems now, there may be something deeper underlying it.” “Simple!”…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 6: Sherlock Holmes gives a Demonstration
It was nearly eleven o’clock when we reached this final stage of our night’s adventures. 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…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 5: The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge
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…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 4: The Story of the Bald-headed Man
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…
Continue reading The Sign of Four – Chapter 3: In Quest of a Solution