The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is the second novel featuring the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal companion Dr. John Watson. First published in 1890, it combines mystery, adventure, romance, and colonial intrigue.
Summary:
The story begins when a
young woman named Mary Morstan visits Sherlock Holmes. Ten years ago,
her father disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Since then, she has been
receiving anonymous gifts of rare pearls. Now, she has received a letter asking
her to meet the sender and bring two companions — so she turns to Holmes and
Watson for help.
The meeting leads them to Thaddeus
Sholto, who reveals that Mary's father, Captain Arthur Morstan, died
years ago after visiting Major Sholto, Thaddeus’s father. Major Sholto
had kept the death a secret because he feared it would jeopardize a treasure
both men had discovered in India. The treasure, however, disappeared after
Major Sholto’s death.
The mystery deepens when
Thaddeus’s twin brother, Bartholomew, is found dead in his locked room,
and the treasure is missing again. Holmes investigates and discovers the murder
was committed by a man with a wooden leg named Jonathan Small, who
escaped from prison with the help of a native accomplice named Tonga.
A thrilling boat chase on
the River Thames leads to Small’s capture. He reveals the backstory: he and
three others (the “Sign of Four”) had found a great treasure during the Indian
Rebellion of 1857, but were imprisoned for the crime. Small later made a deal
with Major Sholto to share the treasure in exchange for helping him escape, but
Sholto betrayed him and took the treasure for himself.
In the end, the treasure
is lost forever, but Watson falls in love with Mary Morstan, setting the
stage for future developments in the Holmes series.
Themes:
- Greed and betrayal
- Justice and colonialism
- Romance versus duty
- Logic and deduction
This adventure reveals
both Holmes's unmatched intellect and Watson's emotional growth, blending
Victorian mystery with imperial history.
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