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the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in England；
the Roylotts of Stoke Moran； on the western border of Surrey。〃
Holmes nodded his head。 〃The name is familiar to me；〃 said he。
〃The family was at one time among the richest in England； and the
estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north； and
Hampshire in the west。 In the last century； however； four successive
heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition； and the family
ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the days of the Regency。
Nothing was left save a few acres of ground； and the
two…hundred…year…old house； which is itself crushed under a heavy
mortgage。 The last squire dragged out his existence there； living
the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper； but his only son； my
stepfather； seeing that he must adapt himself to the new conditions；
obtained an advance from a relative； which enabled him to take a
medical degree and went out to Calcutta； where； by his professional
skill and his force of character； he established a large practice。
In a fit of anger； however； caused by some robberies which had been
perpetrated in the house； he beat his native butler to death and
narrowly escaped a capital sentence。 As it was； he suffered a long
term of imprisonment and afterwards returned to England a morose and
disappointed man。
〃When Dr。 Roylott was in India he married my mother； Mrs。 Stoner；
the young widow of Major General Stoner； of the Bengal Artillery。 My
sister Julia and I were twins； and we were only two years old at the
time of my mother's re…marriage。 She had a considerable sum of
money…not less than L1000 a year…and this she bequeathed to Dr。
Roylott entirely while we resided with him； with a provision that a
certain annual sum should be allowed to each of us in the event of our
marriage。 Shortly after our return to England my mother died…she was
killed eight years ago in a railway accident near Crewe。 Dr。 Roylott
then abandoned his attempts to establish himself in practice in London
and took us to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke
Moran。 The money which my mother had left was enough for all our
wants； and there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness。
〃But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time。
Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our neighbours；
who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Stoke Moran back
in the old family seat； he shut himself up in his house and seldom
came out save to indulge in ferocious quarrels with whoever might
cross his path。 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。
A series of disgraceful brawls took place； two of which ended in the
police…court； until at last he became the terror of the village； and
the folks would fly at his approach； for he is a man of immense
strength； and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger。
〃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。 He
had no friends at all save the wandering gypsies； and he would give
these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few acres of
bramble…covered land which represent the family estate； and would
accept in return the hospitality of their tents； wandering away with
them sometimes for weeks on end。 He has a passion also for Indian
animals； which are sent over to him by a correspondent； and he has
at this moment a cheetah and a baboon； which wander freely over his
grounds and are feared by the villagers almost as much as their
master。
〃You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I had
no great pleasure in our lives。 No servant would stay with us； and for
a long time we did all the work of the house。 She was but thirty at
the time of her death； and yet her hair had already begun to whiten；
even as mine has。〃
〃Your sister is dead； then？〃
〃She died just two years ago； and it is of her death that I wish
to speak to you。 You can understand that； living the life which I have
described； we were little likely to see anyone of our own age and
position。 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。 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 gypsies 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？〃