", "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone more cunning than himself upon his track. ', "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in your sleep? ", "I could not sleep that night. 50). I took a step forward. It swelled up louder and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled in the one dreadful shriek. But I don't know why if should be tied. Violence of temper approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been intensified by his long residence in the tropics. (d) A resting … "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago. As I opened my door I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had fallen. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. See here." ", "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until lately lonelier than ever. There was no slit through which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. His name is Armitage -- Percy Armitage -- the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. Her features and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with premature gray, and her expression was weary and haggard. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in order to put the matter to the proof. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his room. I have traced her. he yelled. ", "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and if she died from some sudden fright. My stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to be married in the course of the spring. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. There is no communication between them, but they all open out into the same corridor. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's death. ", "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. | Pray proceed with your statement. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “The Speckled Band” by Arthur Conan Doyle. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. he asked at last pointing to a thick belt-rope which hung down beside the bed, the tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. With your permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the inner apartment.". Use of this site indicates your consent to the. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's house. Watson gets dressed, and they find their client waiting in Holmes' waiting room. What will he say when he returns? Two hours passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Thank you. The trap drove on, and a few minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. Revise unseen fiction is an exam-focused, student-friendly workbook filled with activities designed to consolidate your students’ skills and prepare them for … No servant would stay with us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. The lady colored deeply and covered over her injured wrist. A month ago, however, a dear friend, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honor to ask my hand in marriage. "lt is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low voice, changing her seat as requested. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest.". “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” represents an example of a “locked-room” mystery. "You see it, Watson?" It is not necessary that I should prolong a narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly playing with a dangerous pet. whispered Holmes. Violence does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls into the pit which he digs for another. it's a wicked world, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst of all. Watson explains that he had promised not to write about the case earlier. You must lock yourself up from him to-night. 'I'm afraid! Finally he took the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. ", "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the alarm took place. There was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders at any moment. As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "What has she been saying to you?" Now, of course that suggested at once that there must be a communication between the two rooms. In her right hand was found the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box. Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I daresay. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. Copyright © East of the Web and contributors 2018. At dusk we saw Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the little figure of the lad who drove him. I have myself some small business matters to attend to. In one of these wings the windows were broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly caved in, a picture of ruin. My companion sat in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the deepest thought. The story takes place in April 1883. The idea of using a form of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had an Eastern training. Helen's sister's bedroom 221B Baker Street Solicitors Office Helen Stoner walks The Speckled Band Summary. From amid the branches there jutted out the gray gables and high roof-tree of a very old mansion. ", "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the bed beside him. Then he did the same with the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Ha! Helens sister has died almost two years earlier, shortly before she was to be married. "I have been waiting so eagerly for you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. Your life may depend upon your compliance. I deduced a ventilator. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a logical basis wlth which he unravelled the problems which were submitted to him. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. I think that there was probably some more tangible cause. "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. Revise unseen fiction. 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? ", "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. It may stop his gossip. But I am now sleeping in the middle one. A ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the bed dies. It was the band! It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where the poison fangs had done their work. 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! ", "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. ", "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Ah, yes, of course! "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should absolutely follow my advice in every respect. It is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even more terrible than the truth. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely that he will be back before evening.". The chimney is wide, but is barred up by four large staples. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we had noticed during the day. Twelve struck, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for whatever might befall. His chin was cocked upward and his eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the ceiling. "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I could gather together that I was able to avert another public exposure. Should it prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to follow it from the outset. she cried, "he has followed me, then. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or on some definite business. Privacy | Terms of Service, Endpaper from Journeys Through Bookland, Charles Sylvester, 1922. ", "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything.". Then suddenly another sound became audible -- a very gentle, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually from a kettle. Spoke her joy to details, '' said Holmes lady who sleeps in the middle.! 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