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 nightdress. In her right hand was found the charred stump of a match, and in her left a matchbox.’

‘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 which frightened her I cannot imagine.’

‘Were there gipsies 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 gipsies 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