The Sign of the Four

Watson takes Mary back home (she is a governess who lives with her employer, Mrs. Forrester). In the carriage ride, Mary’s self-control falters, and she cries while Watson attempts to comfort her. Watson struggles with his feelings, fearing that he will be accused of being a fortune-hunter if he tries to court her now that she is an heiress and believing it would be dishonorable to say anything when she is so vulnerable. They arrive at Mrs. Forrester’s home, where Mrs. Forrester greets Mary and hugs her. Watson is charmed to see that Mrs. Forrester does not treat Mary as a mere employee but as “an honoured friend” (60).

Watson then visits Holmes’s colleague to borrow the dog, Toby. He returns to the Sholto family home, where Holmes awaits him. Holmes informs Watson that Jones has arrested not only Thaddeus, but also the housekeeper and the Indian servant. Together, they investigate more footprints, then Holmes sets Toby to follow the smell of the creosote to track the accomplice.

They follow the dog through London until Toby stops at a street corner, suddenly confused. After a moment, Toby chooses a direction and continues. As they walk, Holmes explains his deductions to Watson, concluding that the wooden-legged man Sholto shot at, and the man at the window the night he died, are both the same man who entered Bartholomew’s room and left the peg-leg print on the carpet.