No. 8 The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Arthur Conan Doyle
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sleep more heavily than you .'

" ' well, it_is of no great consequence, at any rate .' she smiled back at me, closed my door, and a few_moments later I heard her key turn in_the lock ."

" indeed," said Holmes ." was_it your custom always to lock yourselves in at night ? "

" always ."

" and why ? "

" i_think that I mentioned to_you that_the doctor kept acheetah and a baboon . we had no feeling of security unless our doors were locked ."

" quite so . pray proceed with your statement ."

" I_could_not sleep that night .a vague feeling of impending misfortune impressed me . my sister and I, you_will recollect, were twins, and you_know how subtle are the links which bind two souls which are so closely allied . it_was a wild night . the wind was howling outside, and_the rain was beating and splash- ing against the windows . suddenly, amid all the hubbub of_the gale, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman . I_knew that_it_was my sister's voice .I sprang from my bed, wrapped a shawl round me, and rushed into_the corridor . as I opened my door I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and a few_moments later aclanging sound, as_if a mass of metal had fallen . as I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, and revolved slowly upon its hinges .I stared at it horror- stricken, not knowing what_was about to issue from_it . by_the light of_the corridor- lamp I_saw my sister appear at_the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a drunkard .I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at_that moment her knees seemed to_give way and she fell to_the ground . she writhed as one who_is in terrible pain, and her limbs were dreadfully convulsed . at first i_thought that she had_not recognized me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I_shall never forget, 'Oh, my god ! Helen ! it was_the band ! the speckled band ! ' there_was something else which she_would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into_the air in_the direction of_the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion seized her and choked her words .I rushed out, calling loudly for_my stepfather, and I met him hastening from_his room in_his dressing- gown . when he reached my sister's side she was unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent for medical aid from_the village, all efforts were in vain, for she slowly sank and died without having recovered her consciousness . such was_the dreadful end of_my beloved sister ." Josef Friedrich, 1906

one moment," said Holmes, " are_you sure about_this whis- tle and metallic sound ? could you swear to_it ? "

" that was what the county coroner asked me at_the inquiry . it_is my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among_the crash of_the gale and_the creaking of an old house, I_may possibly have_been deceived ."

" was your sister dressed ? "

" no, she was in her night- dress . in her right hand was found the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match- box ."

"Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when_the alarm took place . that_is important . and what conclu- sions did the coroner come to ? "

" he investigated the case with great care, for Dr .Roylott's conduct had long been notorious in_the county, but he_was unable to_find any satisfactory cause of death . my evidence showed that_the door had_been fastened upon_the inner side, and_the windows were blocked by old- fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, which were secured every night . the walls were carefully sounded, and were shown to_be quite solid all round, and_the flooring was also thoroughly examined, with_the same result . the chimney is wide, but is barred up by four large staples . it_is certain, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end . besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her ."

" how about poison ? "

" the doctors examined her for_it, but without success ."

" what do_you_think that_this unfortunate lady died of, then ? "

" it_is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, though what it was_that frightened her I_cannot imagine ."

" were there gypsies in_the plantation at_the_time ? "

" yes, there_are nearly always some there ."

"Ah, and what did you gather from_this allusion to a band -- a speckled band ? "

"Sometimes I_have thought that_it_was merely the wild talk of delirium, sometimes that_it may_have referred to some band of people, perhaps to_these very gypsies in_the plantation . I_do_not know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so_many_of_them wear over their heads might_have suggested the strange adjective which she used ."

Holmes shook his head like a man who_is far from being satisfied .

" these are very deep waters," said he; " pray go on with your narrative ."

" two years have passed since then, and my life has_been until lately lonelier than ever .a month ago, however, a dear friend, whom I_have known for many years, has_done me the honour to ask my hand in marriage . his name is Armitage -- Percy Armitage -- the second son of Mr Armitage, of crane water, near Reading . my stepfather has offered no opposition to_the match, and we_are to_be married in_the course of_the spring . two days_ago some repairs were started in_the west wing of_the building, and my bedroom wall has_been pierced, so_that I_have_had to move into_the chamber in_which my sister died, and to sleep in_the very bed in_which she slept . imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I suddenly heard in_the silence of_the night the low whistle which had_been the herald of her own death .I sprang up and lit the lamp, but nothing was to_be seen in_the room . i_was too shaken to_go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as_soon_as it_was daylight I slipped down, got a dog- cart at_the crown inn, which_is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I_have come on this_morning with_the one object of seeing you and asking your advice ."

" you have_done wisely," said my friend ." but have_you told me all ? "

" yes, all ."

" miss Roylott, you_have_not . you_are screening your stepfather ."

" why, what do_you_mean ? "

for answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee .Five little livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed upon_the white wrist .

" you_have_been cruelly used," said Holmes .

the lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist ." he_is a hard man," she said, " and perhaps he hardly knows his own strength ."

there_was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin upon his hands and stared into_the crackling fire .

" this_is a very deep business," he_said at last ." there_are a thousand details which i_should desire to_know before I decide upon our course of action . yet we_have_not a moment to lose . if_we were to_come to stoke Moran to- day, would it be possible for_us to_see over these rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather ? "

" as it happens, he spoke of coming into town to- day upon some most important business . it_is probable that he_will_be away all day, and_that there would_be nothing to disturb you . we_have a housekeeper now, but she_is old and foolish, and I_could easily get her out_of_the way ."

" excellent . you_are_not averse to_this trip, Watson ? "

" by no means ."

" then we_shall both come . what_are you going to_do yourself ? "

" I_have one_or_two things which i_would wish to_do now that I_am in town . but I_shall return by_the twelve o'clock train, so as to_be there in_time for your coming ."

" and you_may expect us early in_the afternoon . I_have myself some small business matters to attend to . will_you not wait and breakfast ? "

" no, I_must go . my heart is lightened already since I_have confided my trouble to_you . I_shall look forward to seeing you again this afternoon ." she dropped her thick black veil over her face and glided from_the room .

" and what do_you_think of it all, Watson ? " asked Sherlock Holmes, leaning back in_his chair .

" it seems to_me to_be a most dark and sinister business ."

" dark enough and sinister enough ."

" yet if_the lady is correct in saying that_the flooring and walls are sound, and_that the door, window, and chimney are impass- able, then her sister must_have been undoubtedly alone when she met her mysterious end ."

" what becomes, then, of_these nocturnal whistles, and what of_the very peculiar words of_the dying woman ? "

" I_cannot think ."

" when_you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the pres- ence of a band of gypsies who_are on intimate terms with_this old doctor, the fact that we_have every reason to_believe that_the doctor has an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that miss Helen Stoner heard a metallic clang, which might_have_been caused by one of_those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its place, i_think that_there_is good ground to_think that_the mystery may_be cleared along those lines ."

" but what, then, did the gypsies do ? "

" I_cannot imagine ."

" I_see many objections to any such theory ."

" and so do I . it_is precisely for_that reason that we_are going to stoke Moran this day . i_want_to_see whether the objections are fatal, or if they_may_be explained away . but what in_the name of_the devil ! "

the ejaculation had_been drawn from my companion by_the fact that_our door had_been suddenly dashed open, and_that a huge man had framed himself in_the aperture . his costume was a peculiar mixture of_the professional and of_the agricultural, having a black top- hat, a long frock- coat, and a pair of high gaiters, with ahunting- crop swinging in_his hand . so tall was he that his hat actually brushed the cross bar of_the- doorway, and_his breadth seemed to span it across from side to side .a large face, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with_the sun, and marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to_the other of us, while his deep- set, bile- shot eyes, and_his high, thin, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old bird of prey .

" which of you is Holmes ? " asked this apparition .

" my name, sir; but you_have the advantage of me," said my companion quietly .

" I_am Dr .Grimesby Roylott, of stoke Moran ."

" indeed, doctor," said Holmes blandly ." pray take a seat ."

" i_will do nothing of_the kind . my stepdaughter has_been here . I_have traced her . what has she been saying to_you ? "

" it_is a little cold for_the_time of_the year," said Holmes .

" what has she been saying to_you ? " screamed the old man furiously .

" but I_have heard that_the crocuses promise well," continued my companion imperturbably .

"Ha ! you put me off, do_you ? " said our new visitor, taking a step forward and shaking his hunting- crop ." I_know you, you scoundrel ! I_have heard of you before . you_are Holmes, the meddler ."

my friend smiled .

"Holmes, the busybody ! "

his smile broadened .

"Holmes, the Scotland yard jack- in- office ! "

Holmes chuckled heartily ." your conversation is most enter- taining," said he ." when_you go out close the door, for there_is adecided draught ."

" i_will go when I_have said my say .Don't you dare to meddle with my affairs . I_know that miss Stoner has_been here .I traced her ! I_am a dangerous man to_fall foul of ! see here ." he stepped swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with_his huge brown hands .

" see that you keep yourself out of_my grip," he snarled, and hurling the twisted poker into_the fireplace he strode out_of_the room .

" he seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing ." I_am not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I_might_have shown him that my grip was not much more feeble than his own ." as he spoke he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, straightened it out again .

" fancy his having the insolence to confound me with_the official detective force ! this incident gives zest to our investiga- tion, however, and I only trust that_our little friend will not suffer from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her . and now, Watson, we_shall order breakfast, and afterwards I_shall walk down to Doctors' Commons, where I_hope to_get some data which_may help_us in_this_matter ."

it_was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from_his excursion . he held in_his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures .

" I_have_seen the will of_the deceased wife," said he ." to determine its exact meaning I_have_been obliged to work out the present prices of_the investments with_which it_is concerned . the total income, which at_the_time of_the wife's death was little short of 1100 pounds, is now, through_the fall in agricultural prices, not more than 750 pounds . each daughter can claim an income of 250 pounds, in_case of marriage . it_is evident, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would_have had amere pittance, while even one_of_them would cripple him to a very serious extent . my morning's work has_not_been wasted, since it has proved that he has_the very strongest motives for standing in_the way of anything of_the sort . and now, Watson, this_is too serious for dawdling, especially as_the old man is aware that we_are interesting ourselves in_his affairs; so if_you_are ready, we_shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo . i_should_be very_much obliged if_you_would slip your revolver into your pocket . an Eley's no .2

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