Question

Discuss the importance of the following statement in light of the extract.

Holmes carefully examined the paper given by Mary.

Answer 1

The paper that Mary gave to Holmes was found in her father’s desk. Mary told Holmes that no one had been able to understand the contents of the paper. Though she didn’t think it was relevant to the case, she thought Holmes would like to see it and that’s why she had brought it with her. Holmes, too, did not think that the paper was relevant to the case at hand. However, he told Mary that it was an important document and that she should preserve it carefully as it may prove to be of use later. After examining the paper, Holmes also declared that the matter was deeper and more complicated than he had initially thought and that he might have to reconsider his approach to the case. The paper, in fact, contained the location of the treasure that Jonathan Small and his three conspirators had hidden in the Agra Fort. This statement is important because this is the first time the location of the treasure surfaces in the story. Though at this point, the characters are unaware of even the existence of such a treasure, the paper is proof that the story narrated by Jonathan Small, upon his arrest, is actually true. It is also important because it is the first moment when the titular ‘the sign of four’ is introduced to the story. Finally, Sherlock makes many quick deductions from the paper which serves to demonstrate his intellectual abilities, yet again.