Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.V-VIII
were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's `
` house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there `
` a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My `
` stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and `
` offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of `
` the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event `
` occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes `
` closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his `
` lids now and glanced across at his visitor. `
` `
` "Pray be precise as to details," said he. `
` `
` "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful `
` time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have `
` already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The `
` bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms `
` being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms `
` the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third `
` my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open `
` out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" `
` `
` "Perfectly so." `
` `
` "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That `
` fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we `
` knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled `
` by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom `
` to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where `
` she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At `
` eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door `
` and looked back. `
` `
` "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle `
` in the dead of the night?' `
` `
` "'Never,' said I. `
` `
` "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in `
` your sleep?' `
` `
` "'Certainly not. But why?' `
` `
` "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three `
` in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, `
` and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps `
` from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would `
` just ask you whether you had heard it.' `
` `
` "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the `
` plantation.' `
` `
` "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you `
` did not hear it also.' `
` `
` "'Ah, but I 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 a cheetah `
` 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 splashing `
` 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 a clanging 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 `
` recognised 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." `
` `
` "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle 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 conclusions 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 gipsies 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 gipsies 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. `
` `
`
` house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there `
` a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My `
` stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and `
` offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of `
` the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event `
` occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." `
` `
` Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes `
` closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his `
` lids now and glanced across at his visitor. `
` `
` "Pray be precise as to details," said he. `
` `
` "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful `
` time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have `
` already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The `
` bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms `
` being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms `
` the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third `
` my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open `
` out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" `
` `
` "Perfectly so." `
` `
` "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That `
` fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we `
` knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled `
` by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom `
` to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where `
` she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At `
` eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door `
` and looked back. `
` `
` "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle `
` in the dead of the night?' `
` `
` "'Never,' said I. `
` `
` "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in `
` your sleep?' `
` `
` "'Certainly not. But why?' `
` `
` "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three `
` in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, `
` and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps `
` from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would `
` just ask you whether you had heard it.' `
` `
` "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the `
` plantation.' `
` `
` "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you `
` did not hear it also.' `
` `
` "'Ah, but I 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 a cheetah `
` 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 splashing `
` 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 a clanging 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 `
` recognised 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." `
` `
` "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle 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 conclusions 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 gipsies 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 gipsies 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. `
` `
`