The Sign of Four Page #7

Captain Morstan?

He was often in

the dispensary.

The tropical climate

didn't agree with him.

His heart was weak

and his blood was

all poisoned.

Knowing that he

would wish to share

any arrangement

with his friend

the officer in

command, Major Sholto?

Yes sir it seemed

the safest way.

And is there any private

concern over which

of course you have the

power of disposing

as you think best

Thank you for

that advice sir.

Thank you indeed

but the fact is

being in the

position I am

I need help.

What sort of help?

I need a partner.

Well I'm sure Major

Sholto and myself

would like to help

you if we could.

We could at

least talk about,

that is of course if we

can agree as to terms.

There's only one bargain

a man in my

position can make.

In exchange

for my freedom

and that of my

3 companions

we shall give

you a fifth share

to divide between you.

A fifth?

That isn't very much.

50 thousand

at the least.

Anyway how can

we possibly

give you your freedom?

You know it's impossible.

All we need is a

boat and provisions.

There are plenty little

yachts and yawls

in Calcutta or Madras,

Well enough to

serve our purpose.

If only there were

just one of you.

None.

None or all.

We have sworn it.

The 4 of us must

always act together!

Calm yourself Sholto.

Calm yourself,

think about it man,

think about it.

Small is a man

of his word

he will not abandon

his friends.

I think we may very

well trust him.

We met the next morning

in the small hours.

I had our written

agreement in every detail.

We being officers

in the Army

of her majesty

Queen Victoria...

We being officers

in the Army

of her majesty

Queen Victoria...

Do swear on

the Holy Bible

that this agreement

will always remain

sacred and

binding to us.

Do swear on

the Holy Bible

that this agreement

will always remain

sacred and binding to us.

I gave each of

them a plan

showing the position

of the treasure.

Oh that brings

back memories.

Sholto took the

next boat to India,

found the treasure

and took it back

with him to England?

Yes.

When we heard the news

Captain Morstan was

as angry as I was.

He swore to me

he would go home

and settle the

matter with Sholto.

And so he would

if he lived

but that was not to be.

From that day,

I lived only

for vengeance.

I thought of it by day,

I nursed it by night

to get to Sholto,

put my hands

on his throat

that was my one thought.

As luck would have it,

one of the islanders

had been brought in

to my dispensary,

more than half dead

from a snakebite.

And in common humanity

I did my best for him.

Somehow he pulled through

and became very

devoted to me,

a funny little fellow.

Well you gentlemen

caught a glimpse

of him yourselves,

no doubt, last night.

He was staunch and

true little Tonga.

No man ever had a

more faithful mate.

Being by trade

a fisherman

he had a goodish

size native boat

and he had agreed to

try to escape with me.

After 10 days we were

picked up by a trader

with a cargo of pilgrims

from Malay bound for Gito.

After many months

we worked our way

across the world

to London.

A remarkable account.

And now I think

Miss Morstan

might like to see the

Great Agra Treasure,

which will

surely make her

one of the richest young

ladies in England.

Watson?

There's no key.

I'm sure our iron

poker will oblige.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha

This is

your doing Small.

Yes.

Yes I put the

treasure away

where you shall never

lay a hand on it.

No living man or woman

has any right to it

unless it is the 3 men

in the Andaman Convict

Barracks and myself.

I know now that I cannot

have the use of it,

no more can they.

But I have acted all along

for them as much

as for myself.

We have the sign of

four with us always.

Where is it?

Where the key is

and where

little Tonga is.

I saw your launch

might catch us

and I saw little Tonga

go over the side.

I put the loot

in a safe place.

You are deceiving us

Small if you had wished

to throw the treasure

into the Thames

it would have been easier

to have thrown

box and all.

Easier for me to throw

and easier for

you to recover.

A man who's clever

enough to hunt me down

is clever enough

to pick up a box

from the bottom

of the river.

I am sorry.

I am glad the

treasure is lost.

It's been nothing

but a curse

to every man who

has owned it.

And only death to

my poor father.

And slavery for life

to me and my

companions.

We spent the first

half of my life

digging a breakwater

in the Andaman's.

And I'm likely to

spend the other half

digging ditches

on Dartmoor.

Well Holmes duty is duty

and I've gone rather far

in bringing him here.

I shall feel

more at ease

when I have our

storyteller here

under lock and key.

I am obliged to you

for your assistance.

Good day to you.

Doctor Watson,

Miss Morstan.

Awe, after you Small.

you seem a bit handy

with that wooden

leg of yours.

I feel most ashamed

that you Mr. Holmes

and you dear

Doctor Watson

have had to put yourself

into such peril

on my behalf.

Oh that's all over

and forgotten.

Mrs. Forrester has sent her

carriage for Miss Morstan.

I'll impose on you

no longer gentlemen.

You must be exhausted.

Yes I confess the reaction

is already upon me.

I shall be as limp

as a rag for a week.

I'm so very

grateful to you

for clearing my

father's name.

I'm so very grateful

to you both.

Seems so unfair.

You ve done all the

work in this business

and Athelney Jones

gets all the credit.

What remains for you?

For me, the pleasure

of having solved

an interesting case

almost single-handed.

And for you no

doubt the pleasure

of writing it up

in your usual flowery

and romantic style.

What a very

attractive woman.

Was she?

I hadn't noticed.

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