Chapter V The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge

-chair,themasterofthehousewasseatedallinaheap,withhisheadsunkuponhisleftshoulder,andthatghastly,inscrutablesmileuponhisface.Hewasstiffandcold,andhadclearlybeendeadmanyhours.Itseemedtomethatnotonlyhisfeaturesbutallhislimbsweretwistedandturnedinthemostfantasticfashion.Byhishanduponthetabletherelayapeculiarinstrument,—abrown,close-grainedstick,withastoneheadlikeahammer,rudelylashedonwithcoarsetwine.Besideitwasatornsheetofnote-paperwithsomewordsscrawleduponit.Holmesglancedatit,andthenhandedittome. “Yousee,”hesaid,withasignificantraisingoftheeyebrows. InthelightofthelanternIread,withathrillofhorror,“Thesignofthefour.” “InGod’sname,whatdoesitallmean?”Iasked. “Itmeansmurder,”saidhe,stoopingoverthedeadman.“Ah,Iexpectedit.Lookhere!”Hepointedtowhatlookedlikealong,darkthornstuckintheskinjustabovetheear. “Itlookslikeathorn,”saidI. “Itisathorn.Youmaypickitout.Butbecareful,foritispoisoned.” Itookitupbetweenmyfingerandthumb.Itcameawayfromtheskinsoreadilythathardlyanymarkwasleftbehind.Onetinyspeckofbloodshowedwherethepuncturehadbeen. “Thisisallaninsolublemysterytome,”saidI.“Itgrowsdarkerinsteadofclearer.” “Onthecontrary,”heanswered,“itclearseveryinstant.Ionlyrequireafewmissinglinkstohaveanentirelyconnectedcase.” Wehadalmostforgottenourcompanion’spresencesinceweenteredthechamber.Hewasstillstandinginthedoorway,theverypictureofterror,wringinghishandsandmoaningtohimself.Suddenly,however,hebrokeoutintoasharp,querulouscry. “Thetreasureisgone!”hesaid.“Theyhaverobbedhimofthetreasure!Thereistheholethroughwhichweloweredit.Ihelpedhimtodoit!Iwasthelastpersonwhosawhim!Ilefthimherelastnight,andIheardhimlockthedoorasIcamedownstairs.” “Whattimewasthat?” “Itwasteno’clock.Andnowheisdead,andthepolicewillbecalledin,andIshallbesuspectedofhavinghadahandinit.Oh,yes,IamsureIshall.Butyoudon’tthinkso,gentlemen?Surelyyoudon’tthinkthatitwasI?IsitlikelythatIwouldhavebroughtyouhereifitwereI?Oh,dear!oh,dear!IknowthatIshallgomad!”Hejerkedhisarmsandstampedhisfeetinakindofconvulsivefrenzy. “Youhavenoreasonforfear,Mr.Sholto,”saidHolmes,kindly,puttinghishanduponhisshoulder.“Takemyadvice,anddrivedowntothestationtoreportthismattertothepolice.Offertoassistthemineveryway.Weshallwaithereuntilyourreturn.” Thelittlemanobeyedinahalf-stupefiedfashion,andweheardhimstumblingdownthestairsinthedark.