The Adventure of the Speckled Band

           OnglancingovermynotesoftheseventyoddcasesinwhichIhaveduringthelasteightyearsstudiedthemethodsofmyfriendSherlockHolmes,Ifindmanytragic,somecomic,alargenumbermerelystrange,butnonecommonplace; for,workingashedidratherfortheloveofhisartthanfortheacquirementofwealth,herefusedtoassociatehimselfwithanyinvestigationwhichdidnottendtowardstheunusual,andeventhefantastic. Ofallthesevariedcases,however,Icannotrecallanywhichpresentedmoresingularfeaturesthanthatwhichwasassociatedwiththewell-knownSurreyfamilyoftheRoylottsofStokeMoran. TheeventsinquestionoccurredintheearlydaysofmyassociationwithHolmes,whenweweresharingroomsasbachelorsinBakerStreet. ItispossiblethatImighthaveplacedthemuponrecordbefore,butapromiseofsecrecywasmadeatthetime,fromwhichIhaveonlybeenfreedduringthelastmonthbytheuntimelydeathoftheladytowhomthepledgewasgiven. Itisperhapsaswellthatthefactsshouldnowcometolight,forIhavereasonstoknowthattherearewidespreadrumoursastothedeathofDr.GrimesbyRoylottwhichtendtomakethematterevenmoreterriblethanthetruth. 

           ItwasearlyinAprilintheyear’83thatIwokeonemorningtofindSherlockHolmesstanding,fullydressed,bythesideofmybed. Hewasalateriser,asarule,andastheclockonthemantelpieceshowedmethatitwasonlyaquarter-pastseven,Iblinkedupathiminsomesurprise,andperhapsjustalittleresentment,forIwasmyselfregularinmyhabits. 

           "Verysorrytoknockyouup,Watson,"saidhe,"butit’sthecommonlotthismorning. Mrs.Hudsonhasbeenknockedup,sheretorteduponme,andIonyou." 

           "Whatisit,then—afire?"