its own reward. If you will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we

will begin another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief

feature.”


VIII.THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND

On glancing over my

notes of the seventy odd cases in which I have during the last eight years

studied the methods of my friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some

comic, a large number merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he

did rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of wealth, he

refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not tend towards

the unusual, and even the fantastic. Of all these varied cases, however, I

cannot recall any which presented more singular features than that which was

associated with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran.

The events in question occurred in the early days of my association with

Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors in Baker Street. It is possible

that I might have placed them upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was

made at the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by

the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It is perhaps as

well that the facts should now come to light, for I have reasons to know that

there are widespread rumours as to the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend

to make the matter even more terrible than the truth.


It was early in April in the year ’83 that I woke one morning to find

Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my bed. He was a late

riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the mantelpiece showed me that it was

only a quarter-past seven, I blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps

just a little resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits.


“Very sorry to knock you up, Watson,” said he, “but

it’s the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she

retorted upon me, and I on you.”