The Sign of Four Page #3

And it was all I could

do was to persuade him

to allow me to

send Miss Morstan

a detached pearl at

regular intervals

so that she would

not feel destitute.

It was a kindly thought.

No it was very

good of you.

We were your trustees

that was the way

I looked at it,

although my brother

did not altogether

see it in that light.

We had plenty of

money ourselves.

It would have been

in such bad taste

to have treated

a young lady

in so scurvy a fashion.

Yesterday an event

of extreme

importance occurred.

We, found of

the treasure.

Hence my instant communication

to you Miss Morstan.

Now all we have to do

is to drive to Norwood

and claim our share.

We shall be expected,

if not entirely

welcome, visitors.

You have done well from

first to last Mr. Sholto.

My health is

somewhat fragile.

I am compelled to

be a valetudinarian.

Please?

We dug up every

inch of the garden

without discovering

anything.

Brother Bartholomew is

such a clever fellow.

Do you know how

he found out

where the treasure was?

Tell me.

He made measurements

everywhere,

all along the top,

along the side, inside

and he found out

he was 4 foot

out at the top.

We found our father

made a false room

So he smashed through

the lath and the plaster

and there was the

treasure chest

lying across the rafters.

He has computed the

value of the treasure

to be more than one

half million sterling.

[scream]

It's Mrs. Bernstone.

Mrs. Bernstone is the

only lady in the house

wait here.

Oh, Mr. Thaddeus I'm

so glad you've come!

I'm so glad

you've come, sir!

What a strange place!

It looks as if all

the moles in England

have been let

loose in it.

There's something

amiss with Bartholomew

Into the house!

bless your

sweet, calm face.

Oh, but I have been

sorely tried this day.

How Mrs. Bernstone?

Mr. Bartholomew shut

himself in his room

and I can't get a

word out of him.

His bed hasn't

been slept in

and he hasn't been

down for any food.

I dare not disturb

him at his work.

You know what he's like

when it's his work.

Look after her

Miss Morstan.

There, there do

try to calm down.

Look I'm sure everything

will be all right.

I do hope your right Miss.

Sit down over there.

Come.

Which is the door?

There's something

devilish in this, Watson.

The sign of

the four again.

What in God's name

does it all mean?

It means murder.

We brought the treasure

down there last night.

Now its gone.

What time is that?

I don't know.

I think six, or seven.

I heard him lock the

door after I left.

I must have been the last

person to see him alive.

And now he's dead

you think I did it?

I didn't,

why should I,

I wouldn't have

wanted you...

I wouldn't have

asked you to...

I'll go mad.

Gentle, gently,

gentle Mr. Sholto.

I suggest that you go

down to the police station

and tell them everything

that you know.

We shall wait here

until you return.

Holmes look at this.

Careful!

Forgive me,

its poisoned.

Well Watson we

have a little time

let's make the

most of it.

Awe this is an

Insoluble mystery to me.

It grows darker

instead of clearer.

No, no, no, no it

clears every instant.

I only require a

few missing links

to have an entirely

connected case.

Simple as the

case seems now

there may be something

deeper underlying it.

How did these

people come

and how did they go?

People?

Well it takes more than

one, perhaps more than 2

to remove a heavy

treasure chest

from a place like this.

The door hasn't been

opened since last night.

So how about

these windows?

Snibbed on the inside.

No hinges.

Roof quite out of reach.

No drainpipe near.

Yet someone has

entered this way look.

Watson.

See that a scuff

on the sill.

Look at this Watson

and this and this.

This is a very

pretty demonstration.

But that's not a footmark.

Something much more

valuable to us.

This is mark of

a boot and this

this the mark of

the timber toe.

It is a

wooden-legged man.

And someone else.

A very able and

efficient ally.

Could you scale

that wall, Watson?

Absolutely impossible.

I aid it is so

but suppose you

had a friend

who lowered you

this good stout rope

securing it first

to this ring.

I think if you

were an active man,

you'd be able

to swarm up,

wooden leg and all.

You would depart,

of course,

in the same fashion,

and then your friend

would pull up the rope,

close the window,

snib it on the inside,

and depart in the manner

he originally came.

Well the thing grows more

unintelligible than ever.

How about this

mysterious ally?

How did he get

into the room?

Yes, this ally.

He lifts this case

from the regions of

the commonplace.

Well the door is locked;

the window inaccessible.

The grate's too small.

How then?

You will not

follow my precept.

How often have

I said to you

that once you have

eliminated the impossible,

whatever remains,

however improbable,

must be the truth?

He must of come in

through the roof.

Excellent Watson,

hold this lamp.

Let us carry our research

to the room above

the secret room in which

the treasure was found.

The skylight.

Holmes a child has

done this horrid thing.

My memory failed me,

for I should have been

able to foretell it.

There is nothing we

can learn from here.

Let us go down.

What is your theory

about those footmarks?

My dear Watson, try a

little analysis yourself.

You know my methods.

Apply them.

I cannot conceive

of anything

that will cover

the facts.

You will soon.

We're in luck.

Our little ally

has trod in

the creosote.

[Voices from afar].

Ahh, look at that.

Quite a nice little

place you got here.

Holmes!

representatives of the law

unless I'm very,

very much mistaken.

Now Watson

before they come

what do you make of

this poor fellow?

The muscles are

stiff as a board.

A state of extreme

contraction,

far exceeding the

usual rigor mortis.

Quite so.

Coupled with this

distortion of the face,

the Hippocratic smile,

risus sardonicus, as the

old writers called it,

what would that

suggest to your mind?

Death from a powerful

vegetable alkaloid

some strychnine-like

substance

that produces tetanus.

Well,

to the right,

come on along

gentleman to the right.

Up these stairs.

This thorn.

old English thorn.

I think it is not right

that Miss Morstan

remain in this

stricken house.

I suggest you slip away

and take her home Watson

and then go to

3 Pinchin Lane,

Lambeth and ask for Toby.

3 Pinchin Lane.

I'd rather have Toby's

help than that of the

whole protective

force London.

Well here's a

pretty business!

Place is as full

as a rabbit-warren!

I think you better

recollect me,

Mr. Athelney Jones.

Why, of course I do!

Mr. Sherlock Holmes,

the theorist.

I'll never forget that

you lectured us all

about the Bishopgate

jewel case,

True you set us on

the right track then

I think you'll own now

it is more by good luck

than good guidance.

It was a piece of

very simple reasoning.

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