Sherlock Holmes' Deductive Methods

Setting the Scene

• Sherlock Holmes is depicted injecting cocaine.
• Dr. Watson expresses concern over Holmes' drug use.
• Holmes defends his habit by referring to it as a means of mental stimulation
• Holmes states that he cannot tolerate a mundane existence, and needs work to stimulate him
• Holmes mentions his role as the world's only unofficial consulting detective.

Holmes' Methods and Views

• Holmes says detection should be treated as an exact science.
• Holmes criticizes Watson's writing for including romanticism rather than writing factually in a cold and unemotional way; Holmes believes facts should be carefully selected and presented.
• Holmes downplays the importance of observation and deduction separately; it is their combined use that solves mysteries.
• Holmes explains to Watson how he was able to deduce that Watson had visited the post office and sent a telegram.

The Watch

• Watson challenges Holmes to deduce information from a watch.
• Holmes deduces that the watch belonged to Watson's elder brother, who had inherited it from their father.
• Holmes accurately describes Watson's brother's untidy habits, financial struggles, and eventual descent into alcoholism.
• Holmes explains how he inferred these facts from the watch's condition, pawn tickets, and scratches around the keyhole.

Miss Morstan's Visit

• Holmes laments the lack of stimulating cases.
• Their landlady announces the arrival of Miss Mary Morstan.
• Holmes invites her in and asks Watson to stay.
• Miss Morstan seeks Holmes' help with a strange situation.

The Mystery Begins

• Miss Morstan recounts her father's disappearance in 1878 after returning from India. -Her father telegraphed her from London to meet him at the Langham Hotel, but he was gone when she arrived and never returned.
• Her father (Captain Morstan) was an officer in an Indian regiment.
• Her father was in charge of the convict-guard in the Andaman Islands.
• The only friend her father had in town was Major Sholto
• Six years prior, she responded to an advertisement in the Times.
• Since 1882, she has received a valuable pearl annually on the same date.
• She receives a letter instructing her to meet "an unknown friend" at the Lyceum Theatre, promising justice for a wrong.
• Miss Morstan provides Holmes with the pearl-box addresses.
• Holmes notes the handwriting is disguised, but the letter and the addresses were written by the same person.
• Holmes finds nothing similar between Miss Morstan's fathers handwriting and the letter she has received

Forming a Plan

• Holmes agrees to accompany Miss Morstan to the meeting.
• Holmes asks Watson to join them.
• Holmes keeps the papers for examination.

Impressions and Deductions

• Watson expresses admiration for Miss Morstan.
• Holmes emphasizes the importance of avoiding bias based on personal qualities.
• Holmes notes that the handwriting in the letter indicates a business-minded man with some self-esteem, but lacking in strong character.

Further Investigation

• Holmes discovers that Major Sholto died on April 28, 1882.
• Holmes wonders whether Major Sholto's hier knows something of the mystery and desires to make compensation

The Meeting

• Miss Morstan mentions finding a curious paper in her father's desk.
• The paper contains a plan of a building, a red cross mark, and a written phrase: "The sign of the four,—Jonathan Small, Mahomet Singh, Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbar."
• Holmes acknowledges the case may be more complex than initially thought.
• They travel by cab to the Lyceum Theatre, then transfer to a four-wheeler driven by a coachman.
• The coachman asks for reassurance that her companions are not police officers.

Into the Unknown

• The group is driven through London, eventually reaching a less fashionable suburban area.
• They arrive at a dark house where they are greeted by an Indian servant.
• A voice calls out, summoning them inside.

Thaddeus Sholto

• They enter a lavishly decorated room and meet the small, nervous Thaddeus Sholto.
• Thaddeus expresses concern about his mitral valve and seeks Dr. Watson's opinion.

The Story Unfolds

• Thaddeus refers to Miss Morstan's father, implying his death was due to a heart condition.
• Thaddeus wishes to provide information and justice.
• Thaddeus asks that they do not involve the police as his brother Bartholomew does not wish for publicity
• Thaddeus explains he arranged for Williams to see them first, vetting them to ensure they were not member of the police.
• Thaddeus explains his father was Major John Sholto
• The major retired some years prior, and brought back money along with a collection of staff and curiosities
• Thaddeus and his brother Bartholomew are the only children

The Mystery Deepens

• He avoids men with wooden legs and once shot at a tradesman who had one.
• Major Sholto received a shocking letter from India in 1882, after which his health declined.
• He confessed to his sons about his involvement in Captain Morstan's death.
• Morstan had come to claim his share of a treasure they found together in India.
• They had a disagreement, during which Morstan had a heart attack and died, hitting his head on a treasure chest as he fell.
• Lal Chowdar, a servant, helped Major Sholto hide the body to avoid suspicion of murder.
• Sholto reveals that he desires him and his brother to make restitution

The Interruption

• As Major Sholto describes the treasure's location, he sees something terrifying outside the window that causes his death.
• The brothers find a footmark in the garden and a note reading "The sign of the four."

Pearls and Discord

• Thaddeus explains that he and Bartholomew searched for the treasure without success.
• Bartholomew was reluctant to share the pearls, but Thaddeus insisted on sending Miss Morstan a pearl annually.
• Thaddeus left Pondicherry Lodge and set up his own rooms.
• Thaddeus has now learned that Bartholomew discovered the treasure and wishes to share it with Miss Morstan
• Thaddeus explains because of this, he informed Bartholomew of her visit with himself and her companions

A Visit to Norwood

• Holmes commends Thaddeus.
• Thaddeus states Bartholomew is a clever fellow.
• Bartholomew worked out the cubic space inside the home, and found the top of the building was 4 feet short
• He then knocked a hole in the ceiling and found a secret garret which contained the treasure

Hypochondria and Foreboding

• Thaddeus speaks of his symptoms of being a hypochondriac
• They arrive at Pondicherry Lodge in Upper Norwood, surrounded by a high wall.
• A gatekeeper named McMurdo initially refuses entry to Holmes and Watson due to lack of instructions.
• Holmes recognizes McMurdo from a previous boxing match, gaining them entry.

Impenetrable Reserve

• The house appears dark and silent, causing unease. Thaddeus notes there is no light in his brothers window
• Thaddeus explains that his brother likes to keep the premises guarded
• Holmes observes a light in the housekeeper's room.
• A woman's frightened whimpering is heard from inside the house.
• Thaddeus identifies it as Mrs. Bernstone, the housekeeper, and goes to investigate.

Hand in Hand

• Holmes examines the property while Thaddeus is inside, whilst Miss Morstan and Watson stand hand-in-hand
• Holmes notes the grounds looks like a gravel pit
• He believes the grounds are as such because of the treasure-seekers searching for the loot
• Thaddeus's returns and announces that Bartholomew is in distress.

Revelation

• They enter the house and find Mrs. Bernstone, who says Bartholomew has locked himself in his room and will not respond.
• Holmes leads the way upstairs to Bartholomew's room.
• Holmes examines marks on the stair-carpet.
• They find the door locked from the inside, but Holmes sees something through the keyhole that frightens him.

The Chamber of Death

• Watson looks and sees a face that looks the same as Thaddeus' peering back at him.
• They break down the door and enter a chemical laboratory.
• Bartholomew Sholto is found dead in an armchair with a fixed, unnatural grin on his face.
• A peculiar instrument lies nearby, along with torn note-paper.
• Holmes points out a poisoned thorn in the skin above Bartholomew's ear.
• Holmes says the mystery is now clear

Missing Treasure

• Thaddeus notices the treasure is gone.
• Thaddeus states last seeing Bartholomew at 10pm the night before locking the door
• Holmes advises Thaddeus to report the matter to the police.

Deduction and Analysis

• Holmes asks Watson to sit in the corner so the footprints doesn't interfere with the crime scene
• Holmes examines the room to determine how the murderer entered and exited.
• The window is snibbed on the inside and inaccessible from outside.
• Holmes finds a print that is of a foot in mold on the sill, and a circular muddy mark, near the floor and the table
• Holmes identifies a muddy mark on the floor as the impression of a wooden stump.
• Conclusion can be drawn that someone was an ally , and was able to hoist someone up
• The wooden-legged man was not a professional sailor due to blood marks from rope burn
• Since the door, window and chimney were deemed impossible to enter, Holmes believes the only other option could be the truth

The Garret

• Concluding that access must've been through the hole in the roof, using a rope, he heads to the room above
• He goes up the steps into the garret, helping Watson up after so they can inspect the room further