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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 far…fetched 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 key…hole。
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Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole；marks where the
key has slipped。 What sober man's key could have scored those grooves？
But you will never see a drunkard's watch 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 dun… colored 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。 Don't go； doctor。
I should prefer that you remain。〃
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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； hawklike features。 〃State your case；〃 said he； in brisk； business
tones。
I felt that my position was an embarrassing one。 〃You will； I am sure；
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The Sign of the Four
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 yet 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 let 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 3d 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
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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 agoto be exact； upon the 4th