
How did Major Sholto's father die?
Thaddeus tells the story of his father, Major John Sholto, who returned from India eleven years ago with a large sum of money and treasures. He explains how, on his father's deathbed, he confessed that Morstan died after an argument about the treasure. Major Sholto regretted that he had left Miss Morstan without her share of the wealth.
Who was Major Sholto and what did he do?
Major Sholto is the father of Bartholomew and Thaddeus Sholto and was a friend to Captain Morstan, with whom he served in India. Jonathan Small relates how he brought Sholto into the Agra treasure scheme, hoping to secure his release from the Andaman Islands penal colony where Sholto was an authority figure.
What happened to Major Sholto in the sign of the four?
On his deathbed, he had a slight change of heart and instructed his sons to share the treasure with Miss Morstan —but he died before revealing the treasure’s location after seeing the face of Jonathan Small at the window. The The Sign of the Four quotes below are all either spoken by Major Sholto or refer to Major Sholto.
What happened to Sholto's staff?
Small had successfully seduced each female member of Sholto's staff and discovered the wedding, the one time Sholto would be away from his private security and in a publicly accessible place. He was nearly killed when Small stabbed him with a thin knife through his belt while supposedly setting up a picture with Sholto in it.

When did Major Sholto die?
Holmes takes the case and soon discovers that Major Sholto had died in 1882 and that within a short span of time Mary began to receive the pearls, implying a connection.
What was Major Sholto afraid of?
He was very fearful of going out along, and he always employed two prize-fighters to act as porters at Pondicherry Lodge. Sholto lives under a self-imposed house arrest as a result of his greed and fear of being discovered.
Does Thaddeus Sholto die?
Thaddeus Sholto's home He also explains how Major Sholto died of apparent shock before telling his sons, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, where the Agra treasure was hidden.
Who killed morstan?
It is revealed that Captain Morstan suffered a stroke when confronting John Sholto over the fate of the Agra Treasure. Sholto, knowing he would be blamed for the death, chose to cover it up and disposed of Morstan's body with the help of his manservant, Lal Chowdar.
Why does Thaddeus Sholto use a hookah?
Thaddeus smokes a hookah pipe as he explains that he has had a disagreement with his brother, Bartholomew. They will need to visit him later, he says.
Why is Watson angry with Thaddeus Sholto?
Holmes, Watson and Miss Morstan are introduced to Thaddeus Sholto. He is presented as an unusual character, living in an unusual house. Sholto confirms that Miss Morstan's father is dead. Watson is angry with him for revealing this news so bluntly.
What happened to Captain Morstan?
According to Thaddeus Sholto—which in turn is according to Major Sholto—Captain Morstan died from a heart attack during an argument with Sholto. Sholto then hid his body to avoid suspicion and the detection of the treasure.
How did Mary Watson die in the books?
She was killed by Vivian Norbury when trying to save Sherlock from being shot.
Who was Major Sholto?
Major Sholto is the father of Bartholomew and Thaddeus Sholto and was a friend to Captain Morstan, with whom he served in India. Jonathan Small relates how he brought Sholto into the Agra treasure scheme, hoping to secure his release from the Andaman Islands penal colony where Sholto was an authority figure.
Why did Miss Morstan receive a pearl every year?
Based on Holmes' deduction, the pearls were being sent to Miss Morstan as compensation for being deprived of her father.
What did Doctor Watson find inside the treasure chest when he opened it?
On returning to 221B Baker Street with the empty treasure chest, Watson finds Holmes, Athelney Jones and the handcuffed Jonathan Small there. Small says that he emptied the treasure chest into the Thames when he saw that the police boat had almost caught up with the Aurora.
How Sherlock Holmes discovered the connection between Miss Morstan receiving precious pearls with Major Sholto?
It is Sherlock Holmes who is the detective and the leading character. Mary Morstan had come to ask his advice about a problem that she was facing. Holmes was the one who took the lead and found out about Major Sholto; it was Holmes who analysed the handwriting in the letter that Mary had received.
Who was Major Sholto?
Major Sholto is the father of Bartholomew and Thaddeus Sholto and was a friend to Captain Morstan, with whom he served in India. Jonathan Small relates how he brought Sholto into the Agra treasure scheme, hoping to secure his release from the Andaman Islands penal colony where Sholto was an authority figure.
What were major Sholto and Captain Morstan arguing about when captain Morstan died?
Thaddeus tells the story of his father, Major John Sholto, who returned from India eleven years ago with a large sum of money and treasures. He explains how, on his father's deathbed, he confessed that Morstan died after an argument about the treasure.
Who is Thaddeus Sholto?
Thaddeus Sholto is a character from the novel The Sign Of The Four (1890). He was the son of Major John Sholto, who brought the priceless Agra Treasure to England from India and the twin brother of Bartholomew Sholto.
How is athelney Jones presented?
Mr Athelney Jones is presented as a somewhat comic character. His blustering nature is in contrast with the composure of Sherlock Holmes. When he 'discovers' the trapdoor to the roof at Pondicherry Lodge, he is quickly 'crestfallen' when Holmes explains that he was the one who opened it.
Behind the scenes
Major John Sholto was a British officer of the 34th Bombay Infantry in India. Although he is already deceased by the time the story begins, he is a central character in The Sign of the Four .
Appearances
Major John Sholto was a British officer of the 34th Bombay Infantry in India. Although he is already deceased by the time the story begins, he is a central character in The Sign of the Four .
How did Sholto get killed?
He was nearly killed when Small stabbed him with a thin knife through his belt while supposedly setting up a picture with Sholto in it. The tight belt held the wound closed, delaying the harm caused by the stabbing, allowing the photographer to be far away from the scene and thus appear blameless when Sholto removed his belt and shortly thereafter bleed to dead. His life was saved by Sherlock Holmes who successfully deduced that Sholto was the target of a murder attempt how it was done.
How did Sholto's life change?
Sholto's military career ended (and his life was changed forever) after he led a group of men of new recruits, or crows, into battle. Though this was standard army procedure in Afghanistan they were ambushed by Afghan infantry. A brief battle broke out, during which Sholto's face was badly mutilated by an explosive blast. In addition, his ability to use his left arm became highly limited and he was forced to perform most functions one handed. All the new recruits, including the eighteen year old Peter Small, died and he was left as the only survivor. He received the Victoria Cross medal for surviving the battle, but many people viewed him badly for letting the new soldiers die.
Why did Sholto open the belt?
Initially Sholto was tempted to open the belt, arguing that if so many wanted him dead, it would simply be rude to deny them (clearly still haunted by the incident), only for Sherlock to argue that neither of them would ever let themselves die at John's wedding ; as it would ruin the day (since John would be highly distressed by a friends death on what should have been the happiest day of his life). Swayed Sholto relented and allowed John to administer the medical care needed to save him.
Why is Sholto a recluse?
After the incident in Afghanistan, Sholto became a recluse due to the death threats he received from the families of the men who died under his command. For a brief period while under the threat Small's knife wound, Sholto; influenced by the sheer guilt he felt at his soldiers loss and the hatred he received from the families seemed ready to give up and let the knife wound kill him, but his loyalty to his friends (John specifically) stopped him.
What was James' job after the attack?
He employed a fairly large number of private staff, including: Gail as a gardener, Charlotte as a cook, Tessa as a private nurse, Robyn as a security guard and Vicky as a maid. He was allowed to retain his uniform due to a special dispensation. In addition he secretly retained possession of a handgun.
What happened to Sholto's face?
A brief battle broke out, during which Sholto's face was badly mutilated by an explosive blast. In addition, his ability to use his left arm became highly limited and he was forced to perform most functions one handed.
Is Sholto a brave man?
Sholto appears to be a selfless, intelligent, and brave man, as he was a decorated officer in Afghanistan. He is also an extremely honourable person, and he is unafraid of death and shows no bitterness at the blame placed on him by the families of the men who died whilst under his command.
Why did Sholto fight his own sluagh?
Sholto therefore had to battle his own sluagh as he does not desire her death.
Who raised Sholto in the Sluagh?
As a relatively young sidhe, Sholto was not above admitting when he is wrong. He was raised by Black Agnes, one of the night hags of the sluagh.
What is the name of the shadow king in the Unseelie Court?
Nicknames. Shadowspawn. Perverse Creature. Shadow Lord. Sholto was the King of the Sluagh , one of the courts within the Unseelie Court as well as one of the Queen's Ravens. Sholto was half sidhe and half nightflyer. While Sidhe are considered the most beautiful of the fey, night flyers are considered the most horrific.
How old was Sholto in Seduced by Moonlight?
In Seduced by Moonlight, Sholto is said to be under four hundred years old (ch.33)
How old is Sholto in Kiss of Shadows?
Sholto is said to be about 200 years old in A Kiss of Shadows (ch.11). We also know that when he was five years old, his father was still alive (ch.11). In Divine Misdemeanors Sholto says his father died before they came to the USA (ch. 33).
What is the most horrific fey?
While Sidhe are considered the most beautiful of the fey, night flyers are considered the most horrific. Some consider Sholto a sign of the weakening blood of the sidhe, since prior to his birth sidhe genetics always triumphed no matter who or what the sidhe bred with.
Where did Sholto meet Merry?
Sholto met Merry at Maeve Reed's beach house and was assassinated by Trancer on King Taranis' orders.
What did Sholto regret?
Major Sholto regretted that he had left Miss Morstan without her share of the wealth. Thaddeus explains how his father then saw a face at the window and died of shock before he could tell them where the treasure was hidden.
Who is more conscientious, Thaddeus or Bartholomew?
Thaddeus seems to be more conscientious than his brother, Bartholomew, and is the one who has posted the pearls to Miss Morstan. When his brother is found dead, he worries, rightly, that he will be accused of murder. He is arrested by Mr Athelney Jones, but later set free when secure alibis are established.
What did Small leave on Sholto's body?
Active Themes. Hearing that Sholto was dying, Small tracked him down to his deathbed, searching the room for a clue as to where the treasure was now hidden. He left the “sign of the four” on a piece of paper on Sholto’s body as a “token from the men whom [Sholto] had robbed and befooled.”.
Who was the merchant who would travel to Agra to hide the treasure?
The rajah’s merchant, continued Abdullah Khan, would be travelling to Agra to hide part of the treasure there. He would be with Dost Akbar, Abdullah’s foster brother; the men therefore had the opportunity to intercept the treasure and divide it among themselves. Small agreed to the plan.
Why did Small and the others get caught before they can return to the treasure?
India represented a fluid situation, which is why Small and the others get caught before they can return to the treasure.
Who were the two Punjabi men that Small had under his command?
Here, he served as a guard in one of the many outer guardhouses. He had two Punjabi men under his command, Mahomet Singh and Abdullah Khan. One night, one of these men held a knife to Small’s throat.
Did Major Sholto lose money?
Major Sholto eventually lost quite a lot of money playing cards. Small decided to tell him and Captain Morstan about the treasure, offering to share it with them if they aided his escape. The men agreed and allowed Small to get the others from “the sign of the four” to consent to the plan too. Sholto didn’t see why that was necessary: “what have three black fellows to do with our agreement?”

Powers
Possessions
- Sholto appears to be a selfless, intelligent, and brave man, as he was a decorated officer in Afghanistan. He is also an extremely honourable person, and he is unafraid of death and shows no bitterness at the blame placed on him by the families of the men who died whilst under his command. After the incident in Afghanistan, Sholto became a recluse ...
A Kiss of Shadows
A Shiver of Light
Sholto's Age Discrepancy
- The Spear of Bone- A sign of kingship amongst the sluagh.
- A dagger with a hilt of bone and a white blade - It is the heart of the sluagh or was once. It is used to slay the old king and spill his blood on the Island of Bones.
- A sword with a hilt and blade that is bone white but gleam like metal.
- A woven white belt and scabbard.