Sherlock Holmes the Speckled Band

Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes The Speckled Band

A cura di Francesca Veneziano Testi di Ilaria Groppi Correzione bozze: Annalisa Damonte, Manuela Gualandri Supervisione grafica: Alessandro Agostino Voce narrante: Steve Roti Illustrazioni e copertina di: classe II BG dell’Istruzione Superiore “Vittorio Emanuele II – Ruffini”, anno scolastico 2012-2013 Si ringrazia per la collaborazione l’Istituto di Istruzione Superiore “Vittorio Emanuele II – Ruffini” di Genova e in particolare la professoressa Barbara Aloi

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www.englishlive.tv Prima edizione: giugno 2013

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE - Miss Stoner p. 5

CHAPTER TWO - A Terrible Night p. 9

CHAPTER THREE - The House at Stoke Moran p. 14

CHAPTER FOUR - Someone is in danger P. 18

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

CHAPTER ONE Miss Stoner I was living with my friend Sherlock Holmes in Baker Street at that time, and we investigated the case of the ‘speckled band.’ It was one of my first investigations, and it was the most uncommon. I made a promise not to tell this story to a lady who is dead now. Now that she’s not here anymore, I can tell the truth, and it is important that people know the facts. It was an early morning of April 1883. When I woke up Sherlock Holmes was standing by my bed. I was surprised to see him there because he usually slept until late. He said that he was sorry to wake me up but we had a visitor. ‘What kind of visitor?’ I asked. ‘A young lady. She’s very nervous and she wants to see me. When young ladies walk around London early in the morning, it is because they want to talk about something important. If you want to help me with this case, come and listen to her story.’

I went there immediately. I was happy to help Holmes with his detective work. Holmes loved his job and he didn’t care about the money he could make. He didn’t want to be rich, he wanted to work on unusual cases. I got dressed and followed him in the living room. A woman was sitting by the window. She was wearing black clothes

and she had a long black veil. She stood up when we entered the www.englishlive.tv

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band room. ‘Good morning, madam. I am Sherlock Holmes, and this is my friend Dr. Watson. You can tell us everything and we will keep it a secret. I see you are shaking, please sit next to the fire and we’ll bring you a cup of hot coffee.’ ‘I’m not shaking because of the cold, Mr. Holmes. I’m shaking because I’m frightened!’ She raised her veil as she spoke, and we could see that she was very scared. Her face looked tired, her eyes were frightened and she had some white hair. Holmes took her arm in order to calm her down. Then he said ‘I see you came by train this morning, and you came in a cart, too.’ The lady was surprised ‘How do you know?’ She asked. ‘It’s not a mystery madam’ said Holmes, smiling. ‘You are holding your train ticket and your jacket is dirty. This often happens when you travel by cart.’ ‘You are right, sir! I left home early this morning and I caught the first train to London. I need help! You once helped a friend of mine, sir. Now will you help me? I don’t have much money, but in a month or two I’ll be married and I’ll have more.’ Sherlock Holmes was very calm. He said to the lady that there was no problem about the money. But he wanted to know what happened to her.

‘My name is Helen Stoner and I live with my stepfather, Dr. Roylott.

He comes from the famous Roylott family from Surrey. His family was very rich, but in the last hundred years they spent all the money and they had to sell the land. Now they only have a small piece of land and an old house. My stepfather is the eldest son. He is a

doctor and worked in India. www.englishlive.tv

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

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Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

One day a thief came and stole most of his things: he got very angry and killed the thief. He was sent to prison and stayed there for a long time. When he was released he came back to England. He was an angry, unhappy man. When he was in India he married my mother. My mother was a rich widow and she had two little girls, my twin sister and me. When my mother died eight years ago she left all the money to Dr. Roylott but under one condition: ‘When my girls get married you must give them some money each year.’ She had a lot of money, and it was enough for both of us. We left London and we went to Stoke Moran. There my stepfather bought and old family house with a big garden. But he got worse. He had no friends because he argued with everybody. He also kept some animals from India and they scared everyone. He became the terror of the village. At the moment we have a tiger and a monkey and they are very frightening. It’s easy to understand why my poor sister and I didn’t have much fun during our lives. The servants left us. We didn’t have any friends because we were always doing the housework. Julia was only thirty years old, but she had white hair, just like me.’ ‘Was?’ asked Holmes ‘Is she dead?’ ‘Yes, unfortunately she died two years ago, this is the reason why I

am here now. Two years ago my sister and I were spending Christmas in London at our aunt’s house. My sister met a man and decided to marry him. Our stepfather looked happy about the marriage. But after two weeks something very bad happened. That

is why I am here today, sir.’ www.englishlive.tv

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

CHAPTER TWO A Terrible Night Sherlock Holmes was sitting in his chair. ‘Tell me everything about that day’ he said. ‘I remember that terrible day clearly. I want to explain what the house looks like. On the ground floor there are the bedrooms. My stepfather’s bedroom is the first, Julia’s bedroom is the second and mine is the third. They open onto the same corridor while the windows of all the bedrooms open out on the garden. That terrible night our stepfather went to his room early. Later my sister came into my room and said that she couldn’t sleep because he was smoking an Indian cigar and she could smell it in her room. We talked a bit and then at eleven she was going back to her room but she stopped in front of my room’s door for a moment. She asked me if I could hear someone whistling at night. I answered that I couldn’t hear anyone and she said that every night she could hear a whistle that woke her up. Then she went to bed and I could hear her lock the door.’

At that moment Holmes asked ‘Do you always lock the doors at night?’ ‘Yes we do’ the lady answered. ‘We lock it every night because the tiger and the monkey are going around the house. Anyway, that night I couldn’t sleep, I had a strange feeling and there was a big

storm outside. Suddenly I heard my sister screaming, so I jumped www.englishlive.tv

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band out of the bed and ran to the corridor. I could hear the sound of a whistle and a metallic sound. Then I saw my sister, her face was white and she was shaking. I ran towards her when she fell to the ground. She said to me in a voice that I will never forget ‘Oh, my God! Helen! It was the speckled band!’ She pointed her finger in the direction of the doctor’s room, then she died. My stepfather came out of his room to help but it was too late.’ Holmes interrupted her. ‘Are you sure that you heard the whistle and the metallic sound?’ ‘I think I heard it’ she said. ‘But there was a lot of noise that night because of the storm.’ ‘Was your sister dressed?’ Holmes asked. ‘She had her nightdress on and she had a match and a matchbox in her left hand.’ ‘This means she was looking for something that night. And what was the opinion of the policemen?’ ‘They couldn’t find the cause of her death, she was alone in the room and the door was locked. No poison was found in her body, and there was no sign of violence. I think that she died because she was frightened by something.’ ‘And do you have an idea of why she said ‘It was the speckled

band!’?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe she was talking about a band of people, maybe the gypsies. There is a group of gypsies near Stoke Moran and some of them wear scarves with spots on their heads.’

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Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

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Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

Holmes remained silent. He said that he wasn’t really sure about what she was saying. Then he asked her to continue. ‘I live a lonely life, sir. A month ago a friend of mine asked me to marry him. His name is Peter Armitage. My stepfather seemed happy about the marriage. Then two days ago he said that I had to sleep in my sister’s room because they had to do some works in my room. But last night in the middle of the night I heard a whistle, I got so scared! I couldn’t sleep anymore. So I took a train early this morning and I came here.’ Holmes was listening carefully. ‘You did the right thing, madam, but it doesn’t seem like you told me all the truth. Have you told me everything about your stepfather?’ ‘Yes, I have’ she answered. ‘You didn’t, and you are protecting him for some reason.’ Holmes took Helen’s hand. There were red marks of four fingers on her skin. ‘Your stepfather is not kind to you’ Holmes said. Helen’s face became red and she covered her hand. She remained silent. Then she said ‘My stepfather is a difficult man and he doesn’t know his own strength.’ Holmes remained silent. He was looking at the fire. Then he said ‘I don’t have enough information. I can’t do anything right now. Do you think we can visit Stoke Moran today to see the bedrooms? Or is your stepfather there?’ ‘He’s going to London, so he will be away all day. You can come

whenever you want’, she answered. www.englishlive.tv

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

‘Very good!’ he said ‘Watson, will you come with me?’ ‘Of course I will’ I answered. Then Holmes asked what Helen’s plans were. Helen said ‘I’m going back to Stoke Moran and I’ll meet you there. Thank you for seeing me, now I feel much better. I’m sure you can

help me.’

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Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

CHAPTER THREE The House at Stoke Moran Holmes asked me what I thought of the case. I answered that it seemed very mysterious ‘Gypsies, whistles in the middle of the night, the metallic sound… Maybe Dr. Roylott is worried that his stepdaughters marry because he will lose the money’ I said. Holmes replied ‘maybe you’re right. This is the reason why I want to go to Stoke Moran today.’ As he was talking the door suddenly opened and a big man was standing in front of it. He was tall and he looked very angry. ‘Who is Holmes?’ he asked. ‘That’s me’ answered Holmes. ‘Who are you?’ ‘I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran.’ Holmes asked the man to sit down. ‘I will not. My stepdaughter was here, what did she tell you?’ Holmes said ‘April’s a cold month...’

The man got angrier ‘What did she tell you?’ he shouted. ‘… But I heard that the flowers are growing’ continued Holmes. ‘I know you!’ said the man ‘you think you are a great detective, but you only make troubles wherever you go. Leave me alone.

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Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

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Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

I am a dangerous person, and I want you to stay away from me!’ he said, then he left the room. ‘What a friendly man!’ said Holmes, laughing. ‘I hope he will not hurt Helen. But now let’s go to the Records office1 to get some help with this case.’ When Holmes came back he had a piece of paper full of notes and numbers. ‘I found Helen’s mother will. If the sisters marry they will have most of the doctor’s money! He obviously has a good reason why he doesn’t want them to marry. Now we must go to Stoke Moran immediately.’ We caught a train and when we arrived at Stoke Moran, Helen was waiting for us. ‘I’m happy you are here’ she said. ‘My stepfather is in London now and he will come back this evening.’ ‘We have already met the doctor this morning’ said Holmes. Helen’s face became white. ‘Oh my God! He has followed me! I am scared of him!’ ‘Don’t worry, we didn’t say anything about your visit’ said Holmes. ‘But you have to lock yourself in your room tonight. Now show me the bedrooms.’ We went into Miss Stoner’s room. ‘It looks fine. It doesn’t seem that there is work to do’ said Holmes. Then he looked carefully at the windows.

Records Office: in this public office there are official documents www.englishlive.tv 16

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

‘But my stepfather said that I have to sleep in my sister’s bedroom’ Miss Stoner said. We went into Julia’s bedroom and Holmes sat down in a corner and examined the room. He pointed at a bell rope in the corner of the room and said ‘Who answers that bell?’ Miss Stoner said ‘that bell goes to the servant’s room. It is new, we put it there two years ago. My sister didn’t want it because there aren’t any servants in the house.’ Holmes pulled the rope. ‘What! This isn’t a real bell!’ he exclaimed. ‘It’s doesn’t ring, it is fixed to the wall just above the ventilator! This is very strange.’ We then entered Dr. Roylott’s room. There was a big metal chest against the wall, a table and a chair. Holmes looked carefully at the metal chest. He asked what was inside it. ‘There are my stepfather’s papers’ Helen answered. ‘There’s a small bowl of milk on the chest. Do you have any cats here?’ ‘No!’ Holmes became angry and worried. ‘Now let’s go to the garden’ he

said.

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Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

CHAPTER FOUR Someone is in danger Sherlock Holmes spoke very seriously to Miss Stoner. He gave instructions about what to do to be safe. ‘Watson and I must stay in your sister’s room tonight.’ Miss Stoner and I were very surprised. ‘Watson and I will be at the hotel in the village. We can see your window from there, can’t we?’ ‘Yes, you can.’ ‘Good. This evening you must go to your sister’s room and not meet your stepfather. When you hear that he’s going to bed, open the window and put a lamp there. We’ll come when we see the light. When we arrive you have to leave your sister’s room and go to your room. We will stay in your sister’s room to see what happens. Maybe I know how your sister died.’ ‘Did she die of terror?’ asked Helen. ‘I don’t think so. But now we must go, don’t be frightened and in a few hours everything will end. Just do as I told you.’ Holmes and I went to the hotel. We discussed the case. Holmes thought that it was a strange coincidence: a ventilator, a bell rope and a lady who died in her bed.

‘I don’t see the connection’ I said. www.englishlive.tv

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

‘The bed was fixed to the floor. The lady couldn’t move the bed. It had to stay there, close to the ventilator and to the bell rope.’ ‘Holmes!’ I said. ‘Now I begin to understand! We must stop another murder! Tonight it will be a terrible night!’ That night we were at the hotel. At eleven o’ clock we saw the lamp on the window and we went quickly to the house. We entered the bedroom through the window. We remained quiet in the dark room. These were Holmes’ orders. Then he told me very quietly ‘Don’t sleep and keep your gun ready. I’ll sit on the bed and you’ll sit on the chair.’ I put my gun on the corner of the table, while Holmes had a thin stick and a box of matches in his hand. We sat and waited for hours. Suddenly we saw a light through the ventilator. We heard a sound and Holmes lit the match and hit the bell rope with the stick. ‘Do you see it, Watson?’ he said, but I could see nothing. Then I heard a whistle and I saw that Holmes was very scared. When Holmes stopped hitting the bell rope we heard a loud, horrible cry. When it stopped I asked what it was. ‘It is all over’ said Holmes. ‘Now take your gun and let’s go to Dr Roylott’s room.’ We entered the doctor’s room and we saw a lamp on the table and the metal chest. It was open. The Doctor was sitting on his chair with wide open eyes. He wasn’t moving, and on his head he had a yellow band with brown spots. ‘That is the speckled band!’ said

Holmes. www.englishlive.tv

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

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Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band

We soon realized that the speckled band was a snake. ‘This snake is the most dangerous snake in India!’ Holmes said ‘The doctor died ten seconds after the snake bit him.’ Then Holmes took the snake with the stick and put it back in the chest and closed it. Miss Stoner entered the doctor’s room. She was terrified. Holmes calmed her down and explained what happened. ‘I knew that there was some danger in the ventilator and in the bell rope. Nothing could enter through the door or through the window, because they were locked.’ ‘And how did you know about the snake?’ said Helen. ‘I knew that the doctor had animals from India. That snake has a particular kind of poison. The police can’t discover it. Your stepfather must have learned this in India. It was perfect to kill someone. The snake could easily pass through the ventilator and climb down the bell rope. When your sister moved, the snake bit her. When the snake heard the whistle it returned to the doctor. The doctor gave the snake a bowl of milk and put it back to the chest. He then locked the chest. That was the metallic sound you heard.’ Miss Stoner was shocked.

‘I heard the snake coming through the ventilator because I heard a hissing sound. So I hit it with my stick and it went back through the ventilator. At that point it was angry and when snakes are angry they bite people. So it bit the doctor.’

‘I can’t believe it! It was my stepfather who killed my poor sister and www.englishlive.tv

Sherlock Holmes – The Speckled Band he wanted to kill me too! Mr Holmes, you saved my life!’ Miss Stoner was safe and she went to live with her aunt in London. After the investigation the police agreed with what Holmes said.

These are the facts of the case of the ‘speckled band.’