By the way, a curious paper
was found in papa's desk which no one could understand. I don't
suppose that it is of the slightest importance, but I thought you
might care to see it, so I brought it with me. It is here."
Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his
knee. He then very methodically examined it all over with his
double lens.
"It is paper of native Indian manufacture," he remarked. "It has
at some time been pinned to a board. The diagram upon it appears
to be a plan of part of a large building with numerous halls,
corridors, and passages. At one point is a small cross done in
red ink, and above it is '3.37 from left,' in faded pencil-
writing. In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like
four crosses in a line with their arms touching. Beside it is
written, in very rough and coarse characters, 'The sign of the
four,--Jonathan Small, Mahomet Singh, Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbar.'
No, I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the matter.
Yet it is evidently a document of importance. It has been kept
carefully in a pocket-book; for the one side is as clean as the
other."
"It was in his pocket-book that we found it."
"Preserve it carefully, then, Miss Morstan, for it may prove to
be of use to us.
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