Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Adventure Of The Speckled Band

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the intriguing novella, “The Adventure of the Speckled Band,” in which he wrote about the intense and observant detective Sherlock Holmes on his quest to solve Helen Stoner’s mysterious case. It was early April, 1883, at Stoke Moran, the home of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, the abusive stepfather of Helen and Julia Stoner. Helen Stoner appeared at Mr. Holmes’ and Dr. Watson’s residence in distraught state. Stoner had been referred to the brilliant detective by a previous client of Holmes. At the request of Sherlock Holmes, Helen Stoner explained her concerns with intricate detail. She shared information about her anti-social and violent stepfather. Two years prior to this visit, Helen’s twin sister Julia was happily looking forward to her wedding, but had mentioned that her sleep was being disrupted by whistling in the
night. That same night, Helen heard her sister scream, causing Helen to run to her aid. Upon entering the room, Helen heard a metallic clanging and a low whistle. Shortly thereafter, Julia died in her bedroom under mysterious conditions. Helen explained to Sherlock Holmes that she had recently become engaged, fearing for her own life, as she was now sleeping in her deceased sister’s bedroom, hearing a whistling sound. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were prepared to accept the mystery, necessitating a trip to Stoke Moran; though they knew it was going to be challenging. Shortly after Helen Stoner left Holmes’ residence, an older gentlemen barged through the door, demanding that Holmes and Watson investigate no further on Helen’s case. This created a slight conflict among Holmes and Roylott. Even with their recent threat, Holmes and Watson continued on their way to Stoke Moran. Helen anxiously awaited her newly hired detectives as she did not enjoy going to town for the shame her stepfather had given the family. Once, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson arrived, they inspected the windows as Helen stated that she heard a metallic clash the night of her sister’s death. Holmes inspected the outside as well, as he was a thorough detective. Since there were no issues with the exterior of the manor, they made their way into the residence of Dr. Roylott and Helen Stoner. Disappointed with no obvious discovery, Holmes and Watson knew the mystery was more challenging than previously thought. Sherlock Holmes and Dr.
John Watson diligently investigated the interior of Stoke Moran. While in Julia/Helen’s bedroom, Sherlock made a few critical observations which furthered their investigation. Helen’s room had bell rope and a new ventilator installed shortly before the death of Julia Stoner. Weirdly, the ventilator went to Dr. Roylott’s chamber next door rather than to the outside. Furthermore, Helen’s bed was clasped to the floor directly under the ventilator and bell rope. Sherlock Holmes knew that this was peculiar; thus, the three of them went to look around Dr. Grimesby Roylott’s room. Holmes and Watson were perplexed as there were few items furnishing the room. Oddly there was a bowl of milk, a large iron safe, a worn out chair, and a small dog lash. Sherlock Holmes is closer to solving the mystery; though, Helen becomes a tad petrified, as she believes they are nowhere closer the solving it. Holmes becomes a little more suspicious of Dr. Roylott and his hobbies. After these crucial clues were found, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson decide to continue their investigation; though, this time it will be later at
night. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson sneakily enter the premises of Stoke Moran late that night after Dr. Grimesby Roylott goes to his bedroom. They cautiously made their way towards Helen’s room, as they knew Dr. Roylott owned a baboon and a cheetah due to his passion for Indian animals. Once in the room, Holmes and Watson sat at attention in Helen’s chamber waiting for any clues to assist in the mystery. After hours of anxiously waiting, a low whistle pierced the silence of night. Shortly thereafter, Holmes sprang into action yelling and screaming, jabbing and hitting the emptiness of darkness from Dr. Watson’s point of view. They left Helen’s room, quickly at the sound of an awful cry. Upon entering the room they saw nothing except the lifeless body of Dr. Grimesby Roylott and a speckled band which was a swamp adder slithering away. Finally everything became crystal clear. The death of Julia, the snake, the sounds, and the items in Dr. Roylott’s made sense. Helen was furious at Dr. Roylott as he was responsible for the unfortunate death of Julia Stoner. Everybody was surprised and enraged by Dr. Roylott’s actions and his dark secret, to which nobody knew. Sherlock Holmes wistfully explained the events that had occurred; moreover, how he solved the once challenging mystery. Holmes deducted that the series of events that had occurred were all a part of Dr. Roylott’s elaborate scheme to take his stepdaughter’s capital. Dr. Roylott brought back his snake from India; furthermore, he trained it using the milk. He put the snake in the ventilator where it would travel to his stepdaughter’s room, down the bell rope, falling on the secured bed, and hopefully killing the room’s occupant with its venomous fangs. When Dr. Roylott would blow the whistle, the swamp adder would retreat back into his room. When Holmes heard the hiss of the snake, and saw it in the ventilator, he angered it by hitting it with his cane. The angry snake attacked Dr. Roylott when it arrived back into the other room; thus, Sherlock Holmes was partly to blame for the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott. Helen Stoner cheerfully carried on with her life; while Holmes and Watson went back to their normal routine, satisfied with the case’s outcome. A variety of true clues and red herrings were utilized in this composition. Thus, it was considered a foul-play mystery. Helen Stoner probably lived with her aunt at Harrow until she married her fiancé, living happily ever after. Though the mystery had been resolved, Sherlock Holmes felt as though he was in a small way responsible for the death of Dr. Roylott. Despite this knowledge, it is clear that Sherlock Holmes feels that violence doled out to others is usually repaid in kind.