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The Sign of the Four, Chapter 7 summary

Chapter 7 of 12 · 17 min to read the chapter

In Chapter 7, Watson escorts Miss Morstan home, fetches Toby, and joins Holmes in following a creosote trail from Pondicherry Lodge through London. Holmes identifies Jonathan Small as the wooden-legged suspect and reconstructs the crime, but the dog leads them to a creosote barrel rather than the fugitives.

What happens

  1. Watson takes Miss Morstan home but keeps his love unspoken because of her distress and possible wealth.
  2. Watson borrows Toby from Mr. Sherman and returns to find that Athelney Jones has arrested several household members.
  3. Holmes examines the unusual footprints, retraces the escape over the roof, and finds a pouch containing deadly wooden spines.
  4. Toby follows the creosote scent while Holmes explains why he identifies the wooden-legged man as Jonathan Small.
  5. Holmes argues that Small’s companion kills Bartholomew Sholto against Small’s wishes.
  6. After hesitating at a junction, Toby follows a stronger scent to a timber-yard barrel, making Holmes and Watson laugh.

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In this chapter

HolmesWatsonMary MorstanThaddeus SholtoJonathan SmallTheme: Reasoning from evidence

What to notice

Watson challenges Holmes’s reconstruction, drawing attention to the difference between observed clues and explanations built from them.

Quick check

What does Toby find at the end of the trail?

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