1 ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. 109 poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from 1\11 s. A dvelZtures of Sherlock Ilolmes. Farintosh, whom you helped in the hour of her VIII.-THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND. sore need. It was from her that I By A. CONAN DOYLE. had your address. N glancing over my notes of Oh, sir, do you lady has arrived in a considerable state of . not think that the seventy odd cases in which excitement, who insists upon seeing me. I have during the last eight She is waiting now in the sitting-room. you could help me too, and at years studied the methods of N ow, when young ladies wander about the , my friend Sherlock Holmes, Metropolis at this hour of the morning, least throw a ~ I find many tragic, some and knock sleepy people up out of their little light Ucomic, a large number merely strange, but through the beds,. I pres';1me that it is something very none commonplace; for, working as he did pressmg whtch they have to communicate. dense darkness rather for the love of his art than for the Should it prove to be an interesting case which surrounds acquirement of wealth, he refused to asso­ you would, I am sure, wish to follow it me ? At present ciate himself with any investigation which from the outset. I thought at any rate it is out of my did not tend towards the unusual, and even power to reward that I should call you, and give you the I' SHE RAISED HER VEIL." the fantastic. Of all these varied cases, chance." you for your ser­ vices, but in a however, I cannot recall any which presented "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for more singular features than that which was anything." but her hair was shot with premature grey, month or six weeks I shall be married, associated with the well-known Surrey I had no keener pleasure than in following and her expression was weary and haggard. with the control of my own income, and family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. Holmes in his professional investicrations Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of then at least you shall not find me ungrate­ The events in question occurred in the and in admiring the rapid deductions, a~ his quick, all-comprehensive glances. ful." early days of my association with Holmes, swift as intuitions, and yet always founded "You must not fear," said he, soothingly, Holmes turned to his desk, and unlocking when we were sharing rooms as bachelors, on a logical basis, with which he unravelled bending forward and patting her forearm. it, drew out a small case-book which he in Baker-street. It is possible that I might the problems which were submitted to him. " We shall soon set matters right, I have consulted. have placed them upon record before, but I rapidly threw on my clothes, and was no doubt. You have come in by train this "Farintosh," said he. " Ah, yes, I recall a promise of secrecy was made at the time, ready in a few minutes to accompany my morning, I see." the case; it was concerned with an opal from which I have only been freed during friend down to the sitting-room. A lady " You know me, then? " tiara. I think it was before your time, the last month by the untimely death of dressed in black and heavily veiled, who " No, but I observe the second half of a Watson. I can only say, madam, that I the lady to whom the pledge was given. had been sitting in the window, rose as we return ticket in the palm of your left glove. shall be happy to devote the same care to It is perhaps as well that the facts should entered. You must have started early, and yet you your case a'3 I did to that of your friend. now come to light, for I have reasons to "Good morning, madam," said Holmes, had a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy As to reward, my profession is its own know that there are widespread rumours as cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. roads, before you reached the station." reward; but you are at liberty to defray to the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which This is my intimate friend and associate, The lady gave a violent start, and stared whatever expenses I may be put to, at the tend to make the matter even more terrible Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak in bewilderment at my companion. time which suits you best. And now I beg than the truth. as freely as before myself. Ha, I am glad " There is no mystery, my dear madam," that you will lay before us everything that It was early in April in the year '83 that to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good said he, smiling. "The left arm of your may help us in forming an opinion upon I woke one morning to find Sherlock sense to light the fire. Pray draw up to it, jacket is spattered with mud in no less than the matter." Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side and I shall order you a cup of hot coffee seven places. The marks are perfectly " Alas!" replied our visitor. "The very of my bed. He was a late riser as a rule, for I observe that you are shivering." , fresh. There is. no vehicle save a dog-cart horror of mv situation lies in the fact that and, as the clock on the mantelpiece showed "It is n0t cold which makes me shiver," which throws up mud in that way, and my fears are' so vague, and n.y suspicions me that it was only a quarter past seven, I said the ,"oman in a low voice, changing then only when you sit on the left hand depend so entirely upon small points, which blinked up at him in some surprise, and her seat as requested. side of the driver." might seem trivial to another, that even he perhaps just a little resentment, for I was "What then? " "Whatever your reasons may be, you to whom of all others I have a right to myself regular in my habits. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." are perfectly correct," said she. " I started look for help and advice looks upon all "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," She raised her veil as she spoke, and we from home before six, reached Leatherhead that I tell him about it as the fancies of a said he, "but it's the common lot this could see that she was indeed in a pitiable at twenty past, and came in by the first nelTOUS woman. He does not say so, but I morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked state of agitation, her face all drawn and train to Waterloo. Sir, I can stand this can read it from his soothing answers and up, she retorted upon me, and I on you." grey, with restless. frightened eyes, like strain no longer, I shall go mad if it con­ averted eyes. But I have heard, Mi. " What is it, then? A fire? " those of some hunted animal. Her features tinues. I have no one to turn to- none, Holmes, that you can see deeply into the "No, a client. It seems that a young and figure were those of a woman of thirty" save only one, who cares fm me, and he. manifold wickednes.s of the human heart. 108

again this afternoon." She dropped her tions are fatal, or if they may be explained " Ea ! You put me off, do you?" said our this beauty would have had a mere pittance, thick black veil over her face, and glided away. But what, in the name of the new visitor, taking a step forward, and while even one of them would cripple him from the room. devil! " shaking his hunting crop. "I know you, to a very serious extent. My morning's "And what do you think of it all, The ejaculation had been drawn from my you scoundrel! I have heard of you before. work has not been wasted, since it has Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, leaning companion by the fact that our door had You are Holmes the meddler." proved that he has the very strongest motives back in his chair. been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge My friend smiled. for standing in the way of anything of the " It seems to me to be a most dark and man had framed himself in the aperture. sort. And now, Watson, this is too serious sinister business." " Holmes the busybody! " His costume was a peculiar mixture of the His smile broadened. for dawdling, especially as the old man is " Dark enough, and sinister enough." professional and of the agricultural, having "Holmes the Scotland-yard Jack-in­ aware that we are interesting ourselves in "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that a black top hat, a long frock coat, and a pair office! " his affairs, so if you are ready we shall call the flooring and walls are sound, and that of high gaiters, with a hunting crop swing­ Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your con­ a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be the door, window, and chimney are im­ ing in his hand. So tall was he that his versation is most entertaining," said he. very much obliged if you would slip your passable, then her sister must have been hat actually brushed the cross bar of the " \Vhen you go out close the door, for there revolver into your pocket. An Eley's No.2 undGubtedly alone when she met her doorway, and his breadth seemed to span it is a decided draughl." is an excellent argument with gentlemen mysterious end." across from side to side. A large face, "I will go when I have said my say. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That " \Vhat becomes, then, of these nocturnal seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned Don't you dare to meddle with my affairs. and a tooth-brush are, I think, all that we whistles, and yellow w~th the I know that Miss Stoner has been here-I need." what of the very sun, and marked traced her! I am a dangerous m~,n to fall At Waterloo we were fortunate in catch­ peculiar words with every evil ing a train for Leatherhead, where we hired of the dying foul of! See here." He stepped swiftly passion, was forward, seized the poker, ar..td bent it into a trap at the station inn, and drove for four woman? " turned from one a curve with his huge brown hands. or five miles through the lovely Surrey "I cannot to the other of lanes. It was a perfect day, with a bright think." " See that you keep yourself out of my us, while his grip," he snarled, and hurling the twisted sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens. "When you deep-set, b i I e­ The trees and wayside hedges were just combine the poker into the fireplace, he strode out of shot eyes, and the room. throwing out their first green shoots, and ideas of whistles his high thin the air was full of the pleasant smell of the at night, the " He seems a very amiable person," said fl es h I ess nose, Holmes, laughing. "I am not quite so moist earth. To me at least there was a presence of a gave him some­ strange contrast between the sweet promise band of gipsies bulky, but if he had remained I might have what the re­ of the spring and this sinister quest u~on who are on in­ shown him that my grip was not much semblance to a which we were engaged. My compamon timate terms more feeble than his own." As he spoke fierce old bird sat in the front of the trap, his arms folded, with this old he picked up the steel poker, and with a of prey. his hat pulled down over his eyes, and his DOc:tor, the fact sudden effort straightened it out again. "'Which of chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the that we have "Fancy his having the insolence to con­ you is Holmes? " found me with the official detective force! deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he every reason to asked this ap­ believe that the This incident gives zest to our investiga­ started, tapped me on the shoulder, and parition. tion, however, and I only trust that our pointed over the meadows. Doctor has an "My name, interest in pre­ little friend will not suffer from her impru­ " Look there!" said he. si 1', bu t you dence in allowing this brute to trace her. A heavily-timbered park stretched up ill ven ting his have the advan­ stepdaughter's And now, vVatson, we shall order break­ a gentle slope, thickening into a grove at tage of me," fast, and afterwards I shall walk down to the highest point. From amidst the marriage, the said my com­ dying allusion Doctors' Commoll'3, "ivhere I hope to get branches there jutted out the grey gables panion, quietly, some data which may help us in this and high roof-tree of a very old mansion. to a band, and "I am Dr. finally, the fact matter." " Stoke Moran?" said he. Grimesby Roy­ "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr, that Miss Helen "WHICH OF YOU IS HOI."ES?" lott, of Stoke Stoner heard a It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Grimesby Roylott," remarked the driver. Moran." Holmes returned from his excursion. He " There is some building going on there," metallic clang, which might have been " Indeed, Doc­ caused by one of those metal bars which held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, said Holmes; " that is where we are going." tor ," sa i d scrawled over with notes and figures. "There's the village," said the drivur, secured the shutters falling back into their Holmes, blandly. "Pray take a scat." place, I think that there is good ground to "I have seen the will of the deceased pointing to a cluster of roofs some distance " I will do nothing of the kind. My step­ wife," said he. "To determine its exact to the left ; "but if you want to get to the think that t.he mystery may be cleared daughter has been here. I have traced her. along those hnes." meaning I have been obliged to work out house, you'll find it shorter to get over this What has she been saying to you? " the present prices of the investments with stile, and so by the footpath over the " But what, then, did the gipsies do ? " " It is a little cold for the time. of the " I cannot imagine." which it is concerned. The total income, fields. There it is, where the lady is year," said Holtnes. which at the time of the wife's death was walking." "I see many objections to allY such "\Vhal has she been saying to you?" theory." little short of £1,100, is now through the " And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," screamed the old maIl furiously. fall in agricultural prices not more than observed Holmes, shading his eyes. "Yes, " And so do 1. It is precisely for that "But I have heard that the crocuses £7 ~o. Each daughter can claim ~n ir~come I think we had better do as you suggest." reason that we are going to Stoke Moran promise well," continued my companion this day. I want to see whether the objec­ of £;2 50, in case of marriage. It 15 eVIdent, We got off, paid our fare, and the trap imperturbably. therefore, that if both girls had married rattled back on its way to Leatherhead. ~ I

116 THE STRAND MAGAZINE. ADVENTDRES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES. 117

stone, with a high the shutter open, but without success. panelled. Finally he walked over to the central portion, There was no slit through which a knife bed and spent some time in staring at it, and and two curving could be passed to raise the bar. Then in running his eye up and down the wall. wings, like the with his lens he tested the hinges, but they Finally he took the bell-rope in his hand claws of a crab, were of solid iron, built firmly into the and gave it a brisk tug. thrown out on massive masonry. " Hum !" said he, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. each side. In scratching his chin in some perplexity, "Won't it ring?" one ofthesewings "my theory certainly presents some diffi­ " No, it is not even attached to a wire. the windows culties. No one could pass thcoe shutters This is very interesting. You can see now were broken, and if they were bolted. Well, we shall see if that it is fastened to a hook just above blocked with the inside throws any light upon the where the little opening for the ventilator wooden boards, matter." is." while the roof A small side door led into the white­ " How very absurd! I never noticed that was partly caved washed corridor from which the three bed­ before." in, a picture of rooms opened. Holmes refused to examine "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, ruin. The central the third chamber, so we passed at once to pulling at the rope. "There are one or portion was in the second, that in which Miss Stoner was two very singular points about this room. little better re­ now sleeping, and in which her sister had For example, what a fool a builder must be pair, but the met with her fate. It was a homely little to open a ventilator into another room, right-hand block room, with a low ceiling and a gaping fire­ when, with the same trouble, he might was compara­ place, after the fashion of old country have communicated with the outside air! " H WE GOT OFF, PAID OUR FARE," tively modern, houses. A brown chest of drawers stood "That is also quite modern," said the and the blinds in in one corner, a narrowwhite-counterpaned lady. "I thought it as well," said Holmes, as the windows, with the blue smoke curling bed in another, and a dressing-table on the " Done about the same time as the 'bell­ we climbed the stile, "that this fellow up from the chimneys, showed that this was left-hand side of the window. These rope? " remarked Holmes. should think we had come here as archi­ where the family resided. Some scaffolding articles, with two small wickerwork chairs, " Yes, there were several little changes tects, or on some definite business. It may had been erected against the end wall, and made up all the furniture in the room, save carried out about that time." stop his gossip. Good afternoon, Miss the stonework had been broken into, but for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. "They seem to have been of a most Stoner. You see that we have been as there were no signs of any workmen at the The boards round and the panelling of interesting character-dummy bell-ropes, good as our word." moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, and ventilators which do not ventilate. Our client of the morning had hurried up and down the ill-trimmed lawn, and so old and discoloured that it may have With your permission, Miss Stoner, we forward to meet us with a face which spoke examined with deep attention the outsides dated from the original building of the shall now carry our researches into the her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly of the windows. house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into inner apartment." for you," she cried, shaking hands with us " This, I take it, belongs to the room in a corner and sat silent, while his eyes Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was warmly. "All has turned out splendidly. which you used to sleep, the centre one to travelled round and round and up and larger than that of his step-daughter, but was Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is your sister's, and the one next to the main down, taking in every detail of the apart­ as plainly furnished. A camp bed, a small unlikely that he will be back before building to Dr. Roylott's chamber? " ment. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a evening." " Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in "Where does that bell communicate technical character, an armchair beside the " We have had the pleasure of making the middle one." with?" he asked at last, pointing to a bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, the Doctor's acquaintance," said Holmes, "Pending the alterations, as I under­ thick bell-rope which hung down beside a round table, and a large iron safe were and in a few words he sketched out what stand. By the way, there does not seem to the bed, the tassel actually lying upon the the principal things which met the eye. had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white be any very pressing need for repairs at pillow. Holmes walked slowly round and examined to the lips as she listened. that end wall." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." each and all of them with the keenest "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has " There were none. I believe that it was " It looks newer than the other things?" interest. followed me, then." an excuse to move me from my room." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of "What's in here?" he asked, tappinr "So it appears." " Ah ! that is suggestive. Now, on the years ago." the safe. " He is so cunning that I never know other side of this narrow wing runs the " Your sister asked for it, I suppose? " "My stepfather's business papers." when '1 am safe from him. What will he corridor from which these three rooms " No, I never heard of her using it. We " Oh ! you have seen inside, then? " say when he returns? " open. There are windows in it, of course? " used always to get what we wanted for " Only once, some years ago. I remem­ "He must guard himself,for he may find " Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow ourselves." ber that it was full of papers." that there is someone more cunning than for anyone to pass through." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put "There isn't a cat in it, for example? " himself upon his track. You must lock " As you both locked your doors at night so nice a bell-pull there. You will excuse "No. What a strange idea! ., yourself up from him to-night. If he is your rooms were unapproachable from that me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself " Well, look at this!" He took up a violent, we shall take yc u away to your side. Now, would you have the kindness as to this floor." He threw himself down small saucer of milk which stood 011 the top aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make to go into your room, and to bar your upon his face with his lens in his hand, and of it. the best use of our time, so kindly take us shutters," crawled swiftly backwards and forwards, " No; we don't keep a cat. But there at once to the rooms which we are to Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a examining minutely the cracks between is a cheetah and a baboon." examine." careful examination through the open the boards. Then he did the same with "Ah, yes, of course ! Well, a cheetah The building was of grey, lichen-blotched window, endeavoured in every way to force the woodwork with which the chamber was is just a big cat, and yet a saucer of milk 118 1'HE STRA1YD JfA GAZ/}I;rE. ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLJfES. 119 does not go very far in satis­ The trap drove on, and a few fying its wants, I daresay. minutes later we saw a sudden There is one point which J light spring up among the trees should wish to as the lamp was lit in one of the determine." He :iitting-rooms. squatted down "Do you know, 'VVatson," said in front of the Holmes, as we sat together in wooden chair, the gathering darkness, "I haye and examined really some scruples as to taking the seat of it you to-night. There is a distinct with the great­ element of danger." est attention. " Can I be of assistance? " " Thank you. " Your presence might be m- That is quite valuable." settled," said he, "Then I shall certainly come." rising and put­ " It is very kind of you." ting his lens in "You speak of danger. You his pac k e t. have evidently seen more in " Hullo! here these rooms than was visible to is something in­ me." teresting ! " "No, but I fancy that I may "WELL LOOK AT THIS." The a bj ect J have deduced a little more. I which had imagine that you sawall that I caught his eye was a small dog lash hung "Very good. Your windows would be did." on one corner of the bed. The lash, how­ visible from there? " "I saw nothing remarkable ever, was curled upon itself, and tied so " Certainly." save the bell rope, and what pur­ as to make a loop of whipcord. " You must confine yourself to your pose that could answer I confess " \Vhat do you make of that, Watson?" room, on pretence of a headache, when your is more than I can imagine." "It's a common enough lash. But I stepfather come~ back. Then when you " You saw the ventilator, too?" don't know why it should be tied." hear him retire for the night, you must " Yes, but I do not think that "That is not quite so common, is it? open the shutters of your window, undo it is such a very unusual thing Ah, me! it's a wicked world, and when a the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to to have a small opening between clever man turns his brains to crime it is us, and then withdraw quietly with every­ two rooms. It was so small that the worst of all. I think that I have seen thing which you are likely to want into a rat could hardly pass through." enough now, Miss Stoner, and, with your per­ the room which you used to occupy. I " I knew that we should find a mission, we shall walk out upon the lawn." have no doubt that, in spite of the repairs, ventilator before ever we came to I had never seen my friend's face so grim, you could manage there for one night." Stoke Moran." or his brow so dark, as it was when we "Oh, yes, easily." "My dear Holmes! " turned from the scene of this investigation. "The rest you will leave in our hands." H GOOD-BYE, AND BE BRAVE," " Oh, yes, I did. You remem­ We had walked several times up and down " But what will you do ? " ber in her statement she said that the lawn, neither Miss Stoner nor myself " We shall spend the night in your room, saw us, our journey would be in vain. her sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. liking to break in upon his thoughts, before and we shall investigate the cause of this Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do N ow, of course that suggested at once that he roused himself from his reverie. noise which has disturbed you." what I have told you, you may rest assured there must be a communication between "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said " I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have that we shall soon drive away the dangers the two rooms. It could only be a small he, " that you should absolutely follow my already made up your mind," said Miss that threaten you." one, or it would have been remarked upon advice in every respect." Stoner, laying her hand upon my com­ Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty at the Coroner's inquiry. I deduced a "I shall most certainly do so." panion's sleeve. in engaging a bedroom and sitting-room at ventilator." "The matter is too serious for any hesi­ " Perhaps I have." the "Crown" Inn. They were on the " But what harm can there be in that? ,. tation. Your life may depend upon your "Then for pity's sake tell me what was upper floor, and from our window we could " Well, there is at least a curious coinci­ compliance. " the cause of my sister's death." command a view of the avenue gate, and dence of dates. A ventilator. is made, a "I assure that I am in your hands." " I should prefer to have clearer proofs of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the " In the first place, both my friend and I before I speak." Manor House. At dusk we saw Dr. bed dies. 'Does not that strike you? " must spend the night in your room." " You can at least tell me whether my Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge " I cannot as yet see any connection." Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in own thought is correct, and if she died from form looming up beside the little figure of " Did you observe anything very peculiar astonishment. some sudden fright." the' lad who drove him. The boy had about that bed? " "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I "No, I do not think so. I think that some slight difficulty in undoing the heavy "No." believe that that is the village inn over there was probably some more tangible iron gates, and we heard the hoarse roar of " It was clamped to the floor. Did you there? " cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must the doctor's voice, and saw the fury with ever see a bed fastened like that before? ,. " Yes, that is the' Crown.' " leave you, for if Dr. Roylott returned and which he shook his clenched fists at him. " I cannot say that I have. ,. . 120 THE STRAND MAGAZINE. ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, 121 l " The lady could not move her bed. It I had forgotten the strange pets which must always be in the same relative posi­ the Doctor affected. There was a cheetah, tion to the ventilator and to the rope-for too; perhaps we might find it upon our so we may call it, since it was clearly never shoulders at any moment. I confess that I meant for a bell-pul1." felt easier in my mind when, after following " Holmes," I cried, " I seem to see dimly Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, what you are hinting at. vVe are only just I found myself inside the bedroom. My in time to prevent some subtle and horrible companion noiselessly closed the shutters, crime." moved the lamp on to the table, and cast "Subtle enough, and horrible enough. his eyes round the room. All was as we When a doctor does go wrong, he is the had seen it in the day-time. Then creep­ first of criminals. He has nerve and he ing up to me and making a trumpet of his has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard hand, he whispered into my ear again so were among the heads of their profession. gently that it was all that I could do to dis­ This man strikes even deeper, but I think, tinguish the words. Watson, that we shall be able to strike " The least sound would be fatal to our deeper still. But we shall have horrors plans." enough before the night is over; for good­ I nodded to show that I had heard. ness' sake let us have a quiet pipe, and turn " We must sit without light. He would our minds for a few hours to something see it through the ventilator. more cheerful." I nodded again. " Do not go asleep; your very life may About nine o'clock the light among the depend upon it. Have your pistol ready in trees was extinguished, and all was dark in case we should need it. I will sit on the the direction of the Manor House. Two side of the bed, and you in that chair." hours passed slowly away,and then, sud­ I took out my revolver and laid it on the denly, just at the stroke of eleven, a single corner of the table. bright light shone out right in front of ~s. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, "HOLMES LASHE~·" FURIOUSLY. ~ "That is our signal," said Holmes, and this he placed upon the bed beside springing to his feet; "it comes from the him. By it he laid the box of matches and smell grew stronger. For half an hour I he at me, until the last echoes of it had middle window." the stump of a candle. Then he turned sat with straining ears. Then suddenly died away into the silence from which it As we passed out he exchanged a few down the lamp, and we were left in dark­ another sound became audible-a very rose. words with the landlord, explaining that we ness. gentle, soothing sound, like that of a small "What can it mean? " I gasped. were going on a late visit to an acquaint­ How shall I ever forget that dreadful jet of steam escaping continually from a "It means that it is all over," Holmes ance, and that it was possible that we vigil? I could not hear a sound, not even kettle. The instant that we heard it, answered. "And perhaps, after all, it is might spend the night there. A moment the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew Holmes sprang from the bed, struck a for the best. Take your pistol, and we later we were out on the dark road, a chill that my companion sat open-eyed, within a match, and lashed furiously with his cane shall enter Dr. Roylott's room." wind blowing in our faces, and one yellow few feet of me, in the $ame state of nervous at the bell-pull. vVith a grave f<:l.ce he lit the lamp, and light twinkling in front of us through the tension in which I was myself. The shut­ "You see it, 'IVatson?" he yelled. led the way down tt,e corridor. Twice he gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. ters cut off the least ray of light, and we "You see it?" struck at the chamber door without any There was little difficulty in entering the waited in absolute darkness. From outside But I saw nothing. At the moment reply from within. Then he turned the grounds, for unrepaired br-eaches gaped in came the occasional cry of a night bird, and when Holmes struck the light I heard a low, handle and entered, I at his heels, with the the old park wall. Making our way among once at our very window a long drawn, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing cocked pistol in my hand. the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, cat-like whine, which told us that the into my weary eyes made it impossible for It was a singular sight which met our and were about to enter through the win­ cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away me to tell what it was at which my friend eyes. On the table stood a dark lantern dow, when out from a clump of laurel we could hear the deep tones of the parish lashed so savagely. I could, howe\'er, see with the shutter half open, throwiJ;lg a bushes there darted what seemed to be a clock, which boomed out every quarter of that his face was deadly pale, and filled brilliant beam of light UPGJl1 the iron safe, hideous and distorted child, who threw an hour. Ho,Y long they seemed, those with horror and loathing. the door of which was ajar. Beside this itself upon the grass with writhing limbs, quarters! Twelve struck, and one, and He had ceased to strike, and was gazing table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. and then ran swiftly across the lawn into two, and three, and still we sat waiting up at the ventilator, when suddenly there Grimesby Roylott, clad in a long grey the darkness. silently for whatever might befall. broke from the silence of the night the dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "My God!" I whispered; "did you see Suddenly there was the momentary most horrible cry to which I have ever beneath, and his feet thrust into red heel­ it ?" . gleam of a light up in the direction of the listened. It swelled up louder and louder, less Turkish slippers. Across his lap lay Holmes was for the moment as startled ventilator, which vanished immediately, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all the short stock with the long lash which as 1. His hand closed like a vice upon my but was succeeded by a strong smell of mingled in the one dreadful shriek. They we had noticed during the day. His chin wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into burning oil and heated metal. Someone say that away down in the village, and even was cocked upwards, and his eyes were a low laugh, and put his lips to my ear. in the next room had lit a dark lantern. I in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the fixed in a dreadful rigid stare at the corner "It is a nice household," he murmured. heard a gentle sound of movement, and sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to of the ceiling. Rounrl his brow he had a' " That is the baboon." then all was silent once more, though the our hearts. and I stood gazing at Holmes, and peculiar yellow baorl, wi th brownish 122 THE STRAND 111AGAZ[NE. ADVE'NTURES OF SHERLOCK HULMBs. 123

speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran. It door. My attention was speedily drawn, the rope, and land on the bed. It might or round his head. As we entered he made is not necessary that I should prolong a as I have already remarked to you, to this might not bite the occupant, perhaps she neither sound nor motion. narrative which has already run to too great ventilator, and to the bell rope which hung might escape every night for a week, but " The band! the speckled band!" whis­ a length, by telling how we broke the sad down to the bed. The discovery that this sooner or later she must fall a victim. pered Holmes. news to the terrified girl, how we con­ was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped " I had come to these conclusions before I took a step forward. In an instant his veyed her by the morning train to the to the floor, instantly gave rise to the ever I had entered his room. An inspection strange headgear began to move, and there care of her good aunt at Harrow, of how suspicion that the rope was there as a of his chair showed me that he had been in reared itself from among his hair the squat the slow process of official inquiry came to bridge for something passing through the the habit of standing on it, which, of diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a the conclusion that the Doctor met his fate hole, and coming to the bed. The idea of course, would be necessary in order that he loathsome serpent. while indiscreetly playing with a dangerous a snake instantly occurred to me, and when should reach the ventilator. The sight of 1 coupled it with my knowledge that the the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop Doctor was furnished with a supply of of whipcord were enough to finally dispel creatures from India, I felt that I was pro­ any doubts which may have remained. The bably on the right track. The idea of metallic clang heard by Miss Stoner was using a form of poison which could not obviously caused by her father hastily possibly be discovered by any chemical test closing the door of his safe upon its terrible was just such a one as would occur to a occupant. Having once made up my mind, clever and ruthless man who had had an you know the steps which I took in order Eastern training. The rapidity with which to put the matter to the proof. I heard the such a poison would take effect would also, creature hiss, as I have no doubt that you from his point of view, be an advantage. It did also, and I instantly lit the light and would be a sharp-eyed Coroner indeed attacked it." who could distinguish the two little dark " With the result of driving it through punctures which would show where the the ventilator." poison fangs had done their work. Then "And also with the result of causing it I thought of the whistle. Ofcourse, he to turn upon its master at the other side. must recall the snake before the morning Some of the blows of my cane came home, light revealed it to the victim. He had and roused its snakish temper, so that it trained it, probably by the use of the milk flew upon the first person it saw. In this which we saw, to return to him when sum­ way I am no doubt indirectly responsible moned. He would put it through this ven­ for Dr. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I tilator at the hour that he thought best, cannot say that it is likely to weigh very with the certainty that it would crawl down heavily upon my conscience."

"HE MADE l\'EITHER SQUKD NOR :\IOTIOX."

" It is a swamp adder! "cried Holmes­ pet. The little which I had yet to learn of "the deadliest snake in India. He has the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as di~d within ten. seconds of being bitten. we travelled back next day. ~IOlence does, 111 truth, recoil upon the "I had," said he, " come to an entirely VIOlent, and the schemer falls into the pit erroneous conclusion, which shows, my which he digs for another. Let us thrust dear Watson, h.ow dan.gerous it always is this creature back into its den and we can to reason from 1I1sufficlent data. The pre­ then remove Miss Stoner to s~me place of senc" of the gipsies, and the li3e of the shelter, and let the county police know w:ord 'band,' which was used by the poor what has happened." girl.. no doubt, to explain the appearance As he spoke he drew the dog whip swiftly which s~e had caught a hurried glimpse of from the dead man's lap, and throwing the by the ltght of her match, were sufficient noose round the reptile's neck he drew it to put me upon an entirely wrong scent. from its horrid perch, and, ca~ryi:1g it at I can only claim the merit that I instantly arm's length threw it into the iron safe reconsidered my position when, however, it which he closed upon it. ' became clear to me that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could Such are the true facts of the death of not come either from the window or the MIT OpenCourseWare http://ocw.mit.edu

21L.430 / CMS.920 Popular Culture and Narrative: Serial Storytelling Spring 2013

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