Orakel Classics
The Sign of the Four
The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle, prepared as a public-domain Orakel edition with 12 chapter-aware companion links.
Chapters
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Chapter I: The Science of Deduction
Chapter I: The Science of Deduction from The Sign of the Four. Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantel-piece and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case. With his long, white, nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle, and rolled back his left shirt-cuff. For some little time his eyes rested thoughtfully upon the sinewy forearm and wrist all dotted and scarred with innumerable puncture-marks. Finally he thrust the sharp point home, pressed
Open2Chapter II: The Statement of the Case
Chapter II: The Statement of the Case from The Sign of the Four. 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 greyish beige, untrimmed and unbraided, and she wore a small turban of the same dull hue, relieved
Open3Chapter III: In Quest of a Solution
Chapter III: In Quest of a Solution from The Sign of the Four. It was half-past five before Holmes returned. He was bright, eager, and in excellent spirits,—a mood which in his case alternated with fits of the blackest
Open4Chapter IV: The Story of the Bald-Headed Man
Chapter IV: The Story of the Bald-Headed Man from The Sign of the Four. We followed the Indian down a sordid and common passage, ill-lit and worse furnished, until he came to a door upon the right, which he threw open. A blaze of yellow light streamed out upon us, and in the centre of the glare there stood a small man with a very high head, a bristle of red hair all round the fringe of it, and a bald, shining scalp which shot out from among it like a mountain-peak from fir-trees. He
Open5Chapter V: The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge
Chapter V: The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge from The Sign of the Four. It was nearly eleven o’clock when we reached this final stage of our night’s adventures. We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us, and the night was fairly fine. A warm wind blew from the westward, and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky, with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts. It was clear enough to see for some distance, but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the
Open6Chapter VI: Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration
Chapter VI: Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration from The Sign of the Four. “Now, Watson,” said Holmes, rubbing his hands, “we have half an hour to ourselves. Let us make good use of it. My case is, as I have told you, almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confidence. Simple as the case seems now, there may be something deeper underlying
Open7Chapter VII: The Episode of the Barrel
Chapter VII: The Episode of the Barrel from The Sign of the Four. The police had brought a cab with them, and in this I escorted Miss Morstan back to her home. After the angelic fashion of women, she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one weaker than herself to support, and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. In the cab, however, she first turned faint, and then burst into a passion of weeping,—so sorely had she
Open8Chapter VIII: The Baker Street Irregulars
Chapter VIII: The Baker Street Irregulars from The Sign of the Four. “He acted according to his lights,” said Holmes, lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard. “If you consider how much creasote is carted about London in one day, it is no great wonder that our trail should have been crossed. It is much used now, especially for the seasoning of wood. Poor Toby is not to
Open9Chapter IX: A Break in the Chain
Chapter IX: A Break in the Chain from The Sign of the Four. It was late in the afternoon before I woke, strengthened and refreshed. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him, save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. He looked across at me, as I stirred, and I noticed that his face was dark and
Open10Chapter X: The End of the Islander
Chapter X: The End of the Islander from The Sign of the Four. Our meal was a merry one. Holmes could talk exceedingly well when he chose, and that night he did choose. He appeared to be in a state of nervous exaltation. I have never known him so brilliant. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects,—on miracle-plays, on mediæval pottery, on Stradivarius violins, on the Buddhism of Ceylon, and on the war-ships of the future,—handling each as though he had made a special study
Open11Chapter XI: The Great Agra Treasure
Chapter XI: The Great Agra Treasure from The Sign of the Four. Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had done so much and waited so long to gain. He was a sunburned, reckless-eyed fellow, with a network of lines and wrinkles all over his mahogany features, which told of a hard, open-air life. There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to be easily turned from his purpose. His age may have been fifty or
Open12Chapter XII: The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
Chapter XII: The Strange Story of Jonathan Small from The Sign of the Four. A very patient man was that inspector in the cab, for it was a weary time before I rejoined him. His face clouded over when I showed him the empty
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