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Our companion patted her thin； work…worn hand； and murmured some
few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into
the others bloodless cheeks。
〃Master has locked himself in and will now answer me；〃 she explained。
〃All day I have waited to hear from him； for he often likes to be alone； but
an hour ago I feared that something was amiss； so I went up and peeped
through the key…hole。 You must go up； Mr。 Thaddeus；you must go up
and look for yourself。 I have seen Mr。 Bartholomew Sholto in joy and in
sorrow for ten long years； but I never saw him with such a face on him as
that。〃
Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way； for Thaddeus Sholto's
teeth were chattering in his head。 So shaken was he that I had to pass my
hand under his arm as we went up the stairs； for his knees were trembling
under him。 Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his
pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere
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shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa…nut matting which served as a
stair… carpet。 He walked slowly from step to step； holding the lamp； and
shooting keen glances to right and left。 Miss Morstan had remained
behind with the frightened housekeeper。
The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length；
with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors
upon the left。 Holmes advanced along it in the same slow and
methodical way； while we kept close at his heels； with our long black
shadows streaming backwards down the corridor。 The third door was
that which we were seeking。 Holmes knocked without receiving any
answer； and then tried to turn the handle and force it open。 It was locked
on the inside； however； and by a broad and powerful bolt； as we could see
when we set our lamp up against it。 The key being turned； however； the
hole was not entirely closed。 Sherlock Holmes bent down to it； and
instantly rose again with a sharp intaking of the breath。
〃There is something devilish in this； Watson；〃 said he； more moved
than I had ever before seen him。 〃What do you make of it？〃
I stooped to the hole； and recoiled in horror。 Moonlight was
streaming into the room； and it was bright with a vague and shifty radiance。
Looking straight at me； and suspended； as it were； in the air； for all
beneath was in shadow； there hung a face；the very face of our companion
Thaddeus。 There was the same high； shining head； the same circular
bristle of red hair； the same bloodless countenance。 The features were set；
however； in a horrible smile； a fixed and unnatural grin； which in that still
and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or
contortion。 So like was the face to that of our little friend that I looked
round at him to make sure that he was indeed with us。 Then I recalled to
mind that he had mentioned to us that his brother and he were twins。
〃This is terrible！〃 I said to Holmes。 〃What is to be done？〃
〃The door must come down；〃 he answered； and； springing against it；
he put all his weight upon the lock。 It creaked and groaned； but did not
yield。 Together we flung ourselves upon it once more； and this time it
gave way with a sudden snap； and we found ourselves within
Bartholomew Sholto's chamber。
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It appeared to have been fitted up as a chemical laboratory。 A double
line of glass…stoppered bottles was drawn up upon the wall opposite the
door； and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners； test…tubes； and
retorts。 In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets。 One of
these appeared to leak or to have been broken； for a stream of dark…colored
liquid had trickled out from it； and the air was heavy with a peculiarly
pungent； tar…like odor。 A set of steps stood at one side of the room； in the
midst of a litter of lath and plaster； and above them there was an opening
in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass through。 at the foot of the
steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together。
By the table； in a wooden arm…chair； the master of the house was
seated all in a heap； with his head sunk upon his left shoulder； and that
ghastly； inscrutable smile upon his face。 He was stiff and cold； and had
clearly been dead many hours。 It seemed to me that not only his features
but all his limbs were twisted and turned in the most fantastic fashion。
By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrument；a brown；
close…grained stick； with a stone head like a hammer； rudely lashed on
with coarse twine。 Beside it was a torn sheet of note…paper with some
words scrawled upon it。 Holmes glanced at it； and then handed it to me。
〃You see；〃 he said； with a significant raising of the eyebrows。
In the light of the lantern I read； with a thrill of horror； 〃The sign of the
four。〃
〃In God's name； what does it all mean？〃 I asked。
〃It means murder；〃 said he； stooping over the dead man。 〃Ah； I
expected it。 Look here！〃 He pointed to what looked like a long； dark
thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear。
〃It looks like a thorn；〃 said I。
〃It is a thorn。 You may pick it out。 But be careful； for it is
poisoned。〃
I took it up between my finger and thumb。 It came away from the
skin so readily that hardly any mark was left behind。 One tiny speck of
blood showed where the puncture had been。
〃This is all an insoluble mystery to me；〃 said I。 〃It grows darker
instead of clearer。〃
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〃On the contrary；〃 he answered； 〃it clears every instant。 I only
require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case。〃