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tightly round his head。 As we entered he made neither sound nor
motion。
〃The band！ The speckled band！〃 whispered Holmes。
I took a step forward。 In an instant his strange headgear began to
move； and there reared itself from among his hair the squat
diamond…shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent。
〃It is a swamp adder！〃 cried Holmes； 〃the deadliest snake in
India。 He has died within ten seconds of being bitten。 Violence
does； in truth； recoil upon the violent and the schemer falls into the
pit which he digs for another。 Let us thrust this creature back into
its den； and we can then remove Miss Stoner to some place of shelter
and let the county police know what has happened。〃
As he spoke he drew the dog…whip swiftly from the dead man's lap；
and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from its
horrid perch and； carrying it at arm's length； threw it into the
iron safe； which he closed upon it。
Such are the true facts of the death of Dr。 Grimesby Roylott； of
Stoke Moran。 It is not necessary that I should prolong a narrative
which has already run to too great a length by telling how we broke
the sad news to the terrified girl； how we conveyed her by the morning
train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow； of how the slow
process of official inquiry came to the conclusion that the doctor met
his fate while indiscreetly playing with a dangerous pet。 The little
which I had yet to learn of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as
we travelled back next day。
〃I had；〃 said he； 〃come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which
shows； my dear Watson； how dangerous it always is to reason from
insufficient data。 The presence of the gypsies； and the use of the
word 'band；' which was used by the poor girl； no doubt to explain
the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of by the
light of her match； were sufficient to put me upon an entirely wrong
scent。 I can only claim the merit that I instantly reconsidered my
position when； however； it became clear to me that whatever danger
threatened an occupant of the room could not come either from the
window or the door。 My attention was speedily drawn； as I have already
remarked to you； to this ventilator； and to the bell…rope which hung
down to the bed。 The discovery that this was a dummy； and that the bed
was clamped to the floor； instantly gave rise to the suspicion that
the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the
hole and coming to the bed。 The idea of a snake instantly occurred
to me； and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was
furnished with a supply of creatures from India； I felt that I was
probably on the right track。 The idea of using a form of poison
which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test was just
such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had
an Eastern training。 The rapidity with which such a poison would
take effect would also； from his point of view； be an advantage。 It
would be a sharp…eyed coroner； indeed； who could distinguish the two
little dark punctures which would show where the poison fangs had done
their work。 Then I thought of the whistle。 Of course he must recall
the snake before the morning light revealed it to the victim。 He had
trained it； probably by the use of the milk which we saw； to return to
him when summoned。 He would put it through this ventilator at the hour
that he thought best； with the certainty that it would crawl down
the rope and land on the bed。 It might or might not bite the occupant；
perhaps she might escape every night for a week； but sooner or later
she must fall a victim。
〃I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his room。
An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in the habit
of standing on it； which of course would be necessary in order that he
should reach the ventilator。 The sight of the safe； the saucer of
milk； and the loop of whipcord were enough to finally dispel any
doubts which may have remained。 The metallic clang heard by Miss
Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather hastily closing the door
of his safe upon its terrible occupant。 Having once made up my mind；
you know the steps which I took in order to put the matter to the
proof。 I heard the creature hiss as I have no doubt that you did also；
and I instantly lit the light and attacked it。〃
〃With the result of driving it through the ventilator。〃
〃And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master at
the other side。 Some of the blows of my cane came home and roused
its snakish temper； so that it flew upon the first person it saw。 In
this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr。 Grimesby
Roylott's death； and I cannot say that it is likely to weigh very
heavily upon my conscience。〃
…THE END…
。