# Sherlock Holmes — The Sign of the Four character guide > Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Holmes, Mr. Sherlock Holmes **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-science-of-deduction ## Snapshot A detective who cannot rest while a problem outwits him, pacing his rooms at night until the Agra case yields its secrets. ## Who they are Holmes takes the Agra mystery as a personal duel of intellect, and when the trail goes cold on the Thames he turns feverish, sleepless, and sharp with his own landlady. Watson and Mrs. Hudson watch him chafe against enforced inaction, his keen spirit visibly consuming itself. His restless brilliance drives the investigation forward even when every lead seems to dissolve into fog. ## Relationships ### [Thaddeus Sholto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/thaddeus_sholto) _professional_ Holmes interviews Thaddeus as a client and key witness in the case of the Sholto fortune and Captain Morstan's disappearance. ### [Athelney Jones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/athelney_jones) _rivalry_ Inspector Jones initially competes with Holmes for credit in the case, but later respects his superior deductive abilities. ### [Mary Morstan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/mary_morstan) _professional_ Mary Morstan consults Holmes to solve the mystery of her father's disappearance and the pearl she receives annually. ### [Jonathan Small](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/jonathan_small) _rivalry_ Jonathan Small is the primary antagonist whom Holmes pursues and ultimately captures for the murder of Bartholomew Sholto. ### [Mordecai Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/mordecai_smith) _rivalry_ Mordecai Smith aids Jonathan Small's escape by providing his steam launch, becoming a target of Holmes's pursuit. ### [Dr. John Watson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/dr_john_watson) _friendship_ Watson is Holmes's loyal friend, biographer, and companion in the investigation, providing medical insight and moral support. ### [Sherman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/sherman) _professional_ Sherman is the keeper of the dog Toby, which Holmes borrows to track the scent of Jonathan Small and Tonga. ### [Mrs. Hudson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/mrs_hudson) _professional_ Mrs. Hudson is Holmes's landlady at 221B Baker Street, providing domestic services and occasional assistance. ### [Toby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/toby) _professional_ Holmes uses Toby, a mongrel dog with an excellent sense of smell, to track the fugitives through London. ### [Bartholomew Sholto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/bartholomew_sholto) _professional_ Bartholomew Sholto is found murdered in his locked room, and Holmes investigates his death as part of the case. ### [Tonga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/tonga) _rivalry_ Tonga is Jonathan Small's Andaman Islander accomplice who murders Bartholomew Sholto and is hunted down by Holmes. ### [Mrs. Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/mrs_smith) _rivalry_ Mrs. Smith is Mordecai Smith's wife, who misleads Holmes about her husband's whereabouts during the pursuit. ## In the story ### [The Science of Deduction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/i-the-science-of-deduction) Injects cocaine, defends his drug use as necessary for mental stimulation, explains his role as consulting detective, criticizes Watson's romanticized account, demonstrates deduction with Watson's watch, and receives Miss Morstan's visit. ### [II: The Statement of the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/ii-the-statement-of-the-case) Takes on Miss Morstan's case, analyzing the letter and pearl-box handwriting. ### [In Quest of a Solution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/iii-in-quest-of-a-solution) Returns in high spirits, deduces Major Sholto's death date from the Times, examines the mysterious paper, and leads the expedition. ### [IV: The Story of the Bald-Headed Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/iv-the-story-of-the-bald-headed-man) Listens intently to Thaddeus's narrative, recognizing the complexity of the case. ### [The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/v-the-tragedy-of-pondicherry-lodge) Leads the investigation, examines the crime scene with his lens, deduces the murder method, and reassures Thaddeus. ### [VI: Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/vi-sherlock-holmes-gives-a-demonstration) Leads the crime scene analysis, demonstrating his deductive reasoning and methodical approach. ### [VII: The Episode of the Barrel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/vii-the-episode-of-the-barrel) Directs Watson to fetch Toby, performs barefoot analysis of footprints, deduces the crime's details, and prepares for the chase. ### [VIII: The Baker Street Irregulars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/viii-the-baker-street-irregulars) Organizes the Baker Street Irregulars to search for the Aurora; deduces the assailant is from the Andaman Islands; strategizes after Toby loses the scent. ### [A Break in the Chain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/ix-a-break-in-the-chain) Holmes is frustrated by the lack of progress, goes undercover as an elderly sailor, and later reveals his disguise to Watson and Jones, outlining a plan to capture the criminals. ### [X: The End of the Islander](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/x-the-end-of-the-islander) In a state of nervous exaltation, Holmes displays brilliant conversation and leads the river chase, having deduced the launch's hiding place. ### [XI: The Great Agra Treasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/xi-the-great-agra-treasure) Interrogates Small, offers him a cigar and flask, and plans to take his statement at Baker Street. ### [The Strange Story of Jonathan Small](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/chapters/xii-the-strange-story-of-jonathan-small) Present at Baker Street, lounging in his armchair as Small tells his story. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters/sherlock_holmes - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sign_of_the_four_se/characters