This imagery captures the physique as well as the mental condition of Sherlock: it reveals that he is a drug addict, and has been for some time it also reveals that his view of himself is clear and critical, almost without emotion.

Finally, he thrust the sharp point home, pressed down the tiny piston, and sank back into the velvet-lined armchair with a long sigh of satisfaction' (89). For some little time his eyes rested thoughtfully upon the sinewy forearm and wrist, all dotted and scarred with innumerable puncture-marks. With his long, white, nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle and rolled back his left shirtcuff. 'Sherlock Holmes took his bottle form the corner of the mantelpiece, and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case. The imagery surrounding Tonga, namely his peculiar build, dwarfish appearance, and hideous appearance, are necessary to substantiate Holmes' deductions at the scene of the crime. The trio waits patiently for the man to begin his story and explain who this man is, but Thaddeus continues to simply allude to Brother Bartholomew until the middle of page 102 where he reveals that Bartholomew is his twin brother. On page 101, Thaddeus makes several allusions to Brother Bartholomew without explaining who he is. So far, Mary has suspected it and our detectives have assumed it, but Thaddeus's allusion to it makes it seem much more likely–though we still don't have concrete proof. This is said by Thaddeus to Mary when they first meet, implying that her father is dead. 'Had your father, Miss Morstan, refrained from throwing a strain upon his hear, he might have been alive now' (101). ''Which is it to-day,' I asked, 'morphine or cocaine?'' (89.) This statement at the very beginning of the story alludes to the fact that Sherlock takes a variety of drugs, and perhaps is a drug addict, since it can feature so prominently in his process. 'The Sign of Four' is an allusion to Small and his three Arab compatriots.

Conan doyle the sign of four