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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 recognized 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 doctors 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 sisters 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 gypsies 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 gypsies 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。
〃You have been cruelly used；〃 said Holmes。
The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist。 〃He
is a hard man；〃 she said； 〃and perhaps he hardly knows his own
strength。〃
There was a long silence； during which Holmes leaned his chin upon
his hands and stared into the crackling fire。
〃This is a very deep business；〃 he said at last。 〃There are a
thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide upon
our course of action。 Yet we have not a moment to lose。 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？〃
〃As it happens； he spoke of coming into town to…day upon some most
important business。 It is probable that he will be away all day； and
that there would be nothing to disturb you。 We have a h