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It appeared to have been fitted up as a chelass-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 froent, 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 theh for acoil 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 instrurained stick, with a stone head like a hammer, rudely lashed on with coarse twine Beside it was a torn sheet of note-paper with solanced at it, and then handed it toof 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 allover 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 er and thumb It came away from the skin so readily that hardly any mark was left behind One tiny speck of blood shohere the puncture had been

"This is all an insoluble rows darker instead of clearer"

"On the contrary," he answered, "it clears every instant I only require a fewlinks to have an entirely connected case"

We had alotten our companion's presence since we entered the cha in the door-way, the very picture of terror, wringing his hands andto himself Suddenly, however, he broke out into a sharp, querulous cry