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The Sign of the Four
in and tell her our adventures。 I explained； however； the importance of
my errand； and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which
we might make with the case。 As we drove away I stole a glance back；
and I still seem to see that little group on the step； the two graceful；
clinging figures； the half…opened door； the hall light shining through
stained glass； the barometer； and the bright stair…rods。 It was soothing to
catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home in the midst of
the wild； dark business which had absorbed us。
And the more I thought of what had happened； the wilder and darker it
grew。 I reviewed the whole extraordinary sequence of events as I rattled
on through the silent gas…lit streets。 There was the original problem：
that at least was pretty clear now。 The death of Captain Morstan； the
sending of the pearls； the advertisement； the letter；we had had light upon
all those events。 They had only led us； however； to a deeper and far more
tragic mystery。 The Indian treasure； the curious plan found among
Morstan's baggage； the strange scene at Major Sholto's death； the
rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the
discoverer； the very singular accompaniments to the crime； the footsteps；
the remarkable weapons； the words upon the card； corresponding with
those upon Captain Morstan's chart；here was indeed a labyrinth in which
a man less singularly endowed than my fellow…lodger might well despair
of ever finding the clue。
Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two…storied brick houses in the
lower quarter of Lambeth。 I had to knock for some time at No。 3 before I
could make my impression。 At last； however； there was the glint of a
candle behind the blind； and a face looked out at the upper window。
〃Go on； you drunken vagabone；〃 said the face。 〃If you kick up any
more row I'll open the kennels and let out forty…three dogs upon you。〃
〃If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for；〃 said I。
〃Go on！〃 yelled the voice。 〃So help me gracious； I have a wiper in
the bag； an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it。〃
〃But I want a dog；〃 I cried。
〃I won't be argued with！〃 shouted Mr。 Sherman。 〃Now stand clear；
for when I say 'three；' down goes the wiper。〃
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The Sign of the Four
〃Mr。 Sherlock Holmes〃 I began； but the words had a most magical
effect； for the window instantly slammed down； and within a minute the
door was unbarred and open。 Mr。 Sherman was a lanky； lean old man；
with stooping shoulders； a stringy neck； and blue… tinted glasses。
〃A friend of Mr。 Sherlock is always welcome；〃 said he。 〃Step in； sir。
Keep clear of the badger； for he bites。 Ah； naughty； naughty； would you
take a nip at the gentleman？〃 This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head
and red eyes between the bars of its cage。 〃Don't mind that； sir： it's
only a slow…worm。 It hain't got no fangs； so I gives it the run o' the room；
for it keeps the bettles down。 You must not mind my bein' just a little
short wi' you at first； for I'm guyed at by the children； and there's many a
one just comes down this lane to knock me up。 What was it that Mr。
Sherlock Holmes wanted； sir？〃
〃He wanted a dog of yours。〃
〃Ah！ that would be Toby。〃
〃Yes； Toby was the name。〃
〃Toby lives at No。 7 on the left here。〃 He moved slowly forward with
his candle among the queer animal family which he had gathered round
him。 In the uncertain； shadowy light I could see dimly that there were
glancing； glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and
corner。 Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls；
who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices
disturbed their slumbers。
Toby proved to an ugly； long…haired； lop…eared creature； half spaniel
and half lurcher； brown…and…white in color； with a very clumsy waddling
gait。 It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old
naturalist handed to me； and； having thus sealed an alliance； it followed
me to the cab； and made no difficulties about accompanying me。 It had
just struck three on the Palace clock when I found myself back once more
at Pondicherry Lodge。 The ex…prize…fighter McMurdo had； I found； been
arrested as an accessory； and both he and Mr。 Sholto had been marched off
to the station。 Two constables guarded the narrow gate； but they allowed
me to pass with the dog on my mentioning the detective's name。
Holmes was standing on the door…step； with his hands in his pockets；
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The Sign of the Four
smoking his pipe。
〃Ah； you have him there！〃 said he。 〃Good dog； then！ Atheney
Jones has gone。 We have had an immense display of energy since you
left。 He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus； but the gatekeeper； the
housekeeper； and the Indian servant。 We have the place to ourselves； but
for a sergeant up…stairs。 Leave the dog here； and come up。〃
We tied Toby to the hall table； and reascended the stairs。 The room
was as he had left it； save that a sheet had been draped over the central
figure。 A weary…looking police…sergeant reclined in the corner。
〃Lend me your bull's…eye； sergeant；〃 said my companion。 〃Now tie
this bit of card round my neck； so as to hang it in front of me。 Thank you。
Now I must kick off my boots and stockings。Just you carry them down
with you； Watson。 I am going to do a little climbing。 And dip my
handkerchief into the creasote。 That will do。 Now come up into the
garret with me for a moment。〃
We clambered up through the hole。 Holmes turned his light once
more upon the footsteps in the dust。
〃I wish you particularly to notice these footmarks；〃 he said。 〃Do you
observe anything noteworthy about them？〃
〃They belong；〃 I said； 〃to a child or a small woman。〃
〃Apart from their size； though。 Is there nothing else？〃
〃They appear to be much as other footmarks。〃
〃Not at all。 Look here！ This is the print of a right foot in the dust。
Now I make one with my naked foot beside it。 What is the chief
difference？〃
〃Your toes are all cramped together。 The other print has each toe
distinctly divided。〃
〃Quite so。 That is the point。 Bear that in mind。 Now； would you
kindly step over to that flap…window and smell the edge of the wood…work？
I shall stay here； as I have this handkerchief in my hand。〃
I did as he directed； and was instantly conscious of a strong tarry smell。
〃That is where he put his foot in getting out。 If YOU can trace him； I
should think that Toby will have no difficulty。 Now run down…stairs；
loose the dog； and look out for Blondin。〃
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By the time that I got out into the grounds Sherlock Holmes was on
the roof； and I could see him like an enormous glow…worm crawling very
slowly along the ridge。 I lost sight of him behind a stack of chimneys；
but he presently reappeared； and then vanished once more upon the
opposite side。 When I made my way round there I found him seated at
one of the corner eaves。
〃That You； Watson？〃 he cried。
〃Yes。〃
〃This is the place。 What is that black thing down there？〃
〃A water…barrel。〃
〃Top on it？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃No sign of a ladder？〃
〃No。〃
〃Confound the fellow！ It's a most break…neck place。 I ought to be
able to come down where