(ALICE gives a subdued breath of relief)
But it fell in with my plans notwithstanding. Now that you see me in my true light, Miss Faulkner, we have nothing left to say but good night — and good-bye — which you ought to be very glad to do. Believe me, I meant no harm to you — it was purely business — with me. For that you see I would sacrifice everything. Even my supposed — friendship for you — was a pretense — a sham — everything that you —
(She has slowly turned away to the front during his speech. She turns and looks him in the face.)
ALICE (quietly but distinctly): I don’t believe it.
(They look at one another.)
HOLMES (after a while): Why not?
ALICE: From the way you speak — from the way you — look — from all sorts of things! — (With a very slight smile.) You’re not the only one — who can tell things — from small details.
HOLMES (coming a step closer to her): Your faculty — of observation is — is somewhat remarkable, Miss Faulkner — and your deduction is quite correct! I suppose — indeed I know — that I love you. I love you. But I know as well what I am — and what you are —
(ALICE begins to draw nearer to him gradually, but with her face turned front.)
I know that no such person as I should ever dream of being a part of your sweet life! It would be a crime for me to think of such a thing! There is every reason why I should say good-bye and farewell! There is every reason —
(ALICE gently places her right hand on HOLMES’ breast, which stops him from continuing speech. He suddenly stops. After an instant he begins slowly to look down into her face. His left arm gradually steals about her. He presses her head close to him and the lights fade away with ALICE resting in HOLMES’ arms, her head on his breast.)
(Music swells gradually.)
CURTAIN
THE SPECKLED BAND
Conan Doyle published this theatrical adaptation of his well-known Sherlock Holmes short story in 1910.
CONTENTS
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
ACT I
ACT II
SCENE I
SCENE II
ACT III
SCENE 1
SCENE 2
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES The great Detective.
DR. WATSON His Friend.
BELLY Page to Sherlock Holmes.
DR. RYLOTT A retired Anglo-Indian Surgeon, Owner of Stoke Moran Manor.
ENID STONOR His Step-daughter.
ALI An Indian, valet to Dr. Rylott
RODGERS Butler to Dr. Rylott.
MRS. STAUNTON Housekeeper to Dr. Rylott.
MR. SCOTT WILSON Engaged to Enid’s sister.
MR. LONGBRACE Coroner.
MR. BREWER Foreman of the Jury.
MR. ARMITAGE A Juror.
MR. HOLT LOAMINO
MR. MILVERTON
MR. JAMES B. MONTAGU
Clients of Mr. Sherlock Holmes
MRS. SOAMES
CORONER’S OFFICER
INSPECTOR DOWNING
PETERS
ACT I
The Hall of Stoke Place, Stoke Moran
Two years elapse between Acts I and II
SCENE. — Stoke Place at Stoke Moran. A large, oak-lined, gloomy hall, with everything in disrepair. At the back, centre, is a big double door which leads into the morning-room. To its right, but also facing the audience, is another door which leads to the outside entrance hall. A little down, right, is the door to DR. RYLOTT’S study. Farther down, right, a large opening gives access to the passageway of the bedroom wing. A fifth entrance, up left, leads to the servants’ hall. There is a long table in the middle of the room, with chairs round.
ENID STONOR sits on a couch at one side, her face buried in the cushion, sobbing. RODGERS also discovered, the butler, a broken old man. He looks timidly about him and then approaches ENID.
RODGERS: Don’t cry, my dear young lady. You’re so good and kind to others that it just goes to my heart to see such trouble to you. Things will all change for the better now.
ENID: Thank you, Rodgers, you are very kind.
RODGERS: Life can’t be all trouble, Miss Enid. There must surely be some sunshine somewhere, though I’ve waited a weary time for it.
ENID: Poor old Rodgers!
RODGERS: Yes, it used to be poor young Rodgers, and now it’s poor old Rodgers; and there’s the story of my life.
(Enter ALI, an Indian servant, from the servants’ hall.)
ALl: Mrs. Staunton says you are to have beer and sandwiches for the jury, and tiffin for the coroner.
RODGERS: Very good.
ALl: Go at once.
RODGERS: You mind your own business. You think you are the master.
ALl: I carry the housekeeper’s order.
RODGERS: Well, I’ve got my orders.
ALI: And I see they are done.
RODGERS: You’re only the valet, a servant — same as me; as Mrs. Staunton for that matter.
ALl: Shall I tell master? Shall I say you will not take the order?
RODGERS: There, there, I’ll do it.
(Enter DR. GRIMESBY RYLOTT from his study.)
RYLOTT: Well, what’s the matter? What are you doing Rodgers?
RODGERS: Nothing, sir, nothing.
ALl: I tell him to set out tiffin.
RYLOTT: Go this instant! What do you mean?
(RODGERS exits into servants’ hall.)
Ali, stand at the door and show people in. (To ENID.) Oh! for God’s sake stop your snivelling! Have I not enough to worry me without that? (Shakes her.) Stop it, I say! I’ll have no more. They’ll all be in here in a moment.
ENID: Oh? Don’t be so harsh with me.
RYLOTT: Hark! I think I hear them. (Crossing toward bedroom passage.) What can they be loitering for? They won’t learn much by looking at the body. I suppose that consequential ass of a coroner is giving them a lecture. If Professor Van Donop Doctor WATSON are satisfied, surely that is good enough for him. Ali!
ALl: Yes, Sahib.
RYLOTT: How many witnesses have come?
ALI: Seven, Sahib.
RYLOTT: All in the morning room?
ALl: Yes, Sahib.
RYLOTT: Then put any others in there also.
(ALl salaams.)
Woman will you dry your eyes and try for once to think of other people besides yourself? Learn to stamp down your private emotions. Look at me. I was as fond of your sister Violet as if she had really been my daughter, and yet I face the situation now like a man. Get up and do your duty.
ENID (drying her eyes): What can I do?
RYLOTT (sitting on the settee beside her): There’s a brave girl. I did not mean to be harsh. Thirty years of India sends a man home with a cayenne pepper temper. Did I ever tell you the funny story of the Indian judge and the cabman?
ENID: Oh, how Can you?
RYLOTT: Well, well, I’ll tell it some other time. Don’t look so shocked. I meant well, I was trying to cheer you up. Now look here, Enid! be a sensible girl and pull yourself together — and I say! be careful what you tell them. We may have had our little disagreements — every family has — but don’t wash our linen in public. It is a time to forgive and forget. I always loved Violet in my heart.
ENID: Oh! if I could only think so!
RYLOTT: Since your mother died you have both been to me as my own daughters; in every way the same; mind you say so. D’you hear?
ENID: Yes, I hear.
RYLOTT: Don’t forget it. (Rising, turns her face.) Don’t forget it. Curse them! are they never coming, the carrion crows! I’ll see what they are after.
(Exits into bedroom passage.)
(SCOTT WILSON enters at the hall door and is shown byALl into the morning-room. While he is showing him in, DR. WATSON enters, and, seeing ENID with her face in the cushions, he comes across to her.)
WATSON: Let me say how sorry I am, Miss Stonor. (Shakinghands.)
ENID (rises to meet him): I
am so glad to see you, Dr. Watson. (Sinks on stool and sobs.) I fear I am a weak, cowardly creature, unfit to meet the shocks of life. It is all like some horrible nightmare.
WATSON: I think you have been splendidly brave. What woman could fail to feel such a shock?
ENID: Your kindness has been the one gleam of light in these dark days. There is such bad feeling between my stepfather and the country doctor that I am sure he would not have come to us. But I remembered the kind letter you wrote when we came home, and I telegraphed on the chance. I could hardly dare hope that you would come from London so promptly.
WATSON: Why, I knew your mother well in India, and I remember you and your poor sister when you were schoolgirls. I was only too glad to be of any use — if indeed I was of any use. Where is your stepfather?
ENID: He has gone in to speak with the coroner.
WATSON: I trust that he does not visit you with any of that violence of which I hear so much in the village. Excuse me if I take a liberty; it is only that I am interested. You are very lonely and defenceless.
ENID: Thank you. I am sure you mean well, but indeed I would rather not discuss this matter.
ALl (advancing): This way, sir.
WATSON: In a minute.
ALl: Master’s orders, sir. (Coming down.)
WATSON: In a minute, I say.
ALI: Very sorry, sir. Must go now.
WATSON (pushing him away): Stand back, you rascal. I will go in my own time. Don’t you dare to interfere with me.
(ALl shrugs shoulders and withdraws)
Just one last word. It is a true friend who speaks, and you will not resent it. If you should be in any trouble, if anything should come which made you uneasy — which worried you —
ENID: What should come? You frighten me.
WATSON: You have no one in this lonely place to whom you can go. If by chance you should want a friend you will turn to me, will you not?
ENID: How good you are! But you mean more than you say. What is it that you fear?
WATSON: It is a gloomy atmosphere for a young girl. Your stepfather is a strange man. You would come to me, would you not?
ENID: I promise you I will. (Rising.)
WATSON: I can do little enough. But I have a singular friend — a man with strange powers and a very masterful personality. We used to live together, and I came to know him well. Holmes is his name — Mr. Sherlock Holmes. It is to him I should turn if things looked black for you. If any man in England could help it is he.
ENID: But I shall need no help. And yet it is good to think that I am not all alone. Hush! they are coming. Don’t delay! Oh! I beg to go.
WATSON: I take your promise with me. (He goes into the morning-room.)
(DR. RYLOTT enters from the bedroom wing, conversing with the CORONER. The JURY, in a confused crowd, come behind. There are a CORONER’S OFFICER and a policeINSPECTOR.)
CORONER: Very proper sentiments, sir; very proper sentiments. I can entirely understand your feelings.
RYLOTT: At my age it is a great thing to have a soothing female influence around one. I shall miss it at every turn. She had the sweet temperament of her dear mother. Enid, my dear, have you been introduced to Mr. Longbrace, the Coroner?
CORONER: How do you do, Miss Stonor? You have my sympathy, I am sure. Well, well, we must get to business. Mr. Brewer, I understand that you have been elected as foreman. Is that so, gentlemen?
ALL: Yes, yes.
CORONER: Then perhaps you would sit here. (Looks at watch.) Dear me! it is later than I thought. Now, Dr. Rylott — (sits at table) — both you and your stepdaughter are witnesses in this inquiry, so your presence here is irregular.
RYLOTT: I thought, sir, that under my own roof —
CORONER: Not at all, sir, not at all. The procedure is entirely unaffected by such a consideration.
RYLOTT: I am quite in your hands.
CORONER: Then you will kindly withdraw.
RYLOTT: Come, ENID.
CORONER: Possibly the young lady would wish to be free, so we Could take her evidence first.
RYLOTT: That would be most considerate. You can understand, sir, that I would wish her spared in this ordeal. I leave you, dear girl. (Aside.) Remember!
(RYLOTT is about to go into his study but is directed by the INSPECTOR into the morning-room.)
CORONER: Put a chair, there, officer.
(OFFICER places chair)
That will do. Now, Miss Stonor! Thank you. The officer will swear you —
(ENID is sworn by the OFFICER)
OFFICER: — The truth and nothing but the truth. Thank you.
(ENID kisses the Book.)
CORONER: Now, gentlemen, before I take the evidence, I will remind you of the general circumstances connected with the sudden decease of this unhappy young lady. She was Miss Violet Stonor, the elder of the stepdaughters of Dr. Grimesby Rylott, a retired Anglo-Indian doctor, who has lived for several years at this ancient house of Stoke Place, in Stoke Moran. She was born and educated in India, and her health was never robust. There was, however, no actual physical lesion, nor has any been discovered by the doctors. You have seen the room on the ground floor at the end of this passage, and you realise that the young lady was well guarded, having her sister’s bedroom on one side of her and her stepfather’s on the other. We will now take the evidence of the sister of the deceased as to what actually occurred. Miss Stonor, do you identify the body of the deceased as that of your sister, Violet Stonor?
ENID: Yes.
CORONER: Might I ask you to tell us what happened upon the night of April 14? I understand that your sister was in her ordinary health when you said good-night to her?
ENID: Yes, she seemed as usual. She was never strong.
CORONER: Had she some mental trouble?
ENID (hesitating): She was not very happy in her mind.
CORONER: I beg that you will have no reserves. I am sure you appreciate the solemnity of this occasion. Why was your sister unhappy in her mind?
ENID: There were obstacles to her engagement.
CORONER: Yes, yes, I understand that this will be dealt with by another witness. Your sister was unhappy in her mind because she was engaged to be married and there were obstacles. Proceed.
ENID: I was awakened shortly after midnight by a scream. I ran into the passage. As I reached her door I heard a sound like low music, then the key turn in the lock, and she rushed out in her nightdress. Her face was convulsed with terror. She screamed out a few words and fell into my arms, and then slipped down upon the floor. When I tried to raise her I found that she was dead. Then — then I fainted myself, and I knew no more.
CORONER: When you came to yourself — ?
ENID: When I came to myself I had been carried by my stepfather and RODGERS, the butler, back to my bed.
CORONER: You mentioned music. What sort of music?
ENID: It was a low, sweet sound.
CORONER: Where did this music come from?
ENID: I could not tell. I may say that once or twice I thought that I heard music at night.
CORONER: You say that your sister screamed out some words. What were the words?
ENID: It was incoherent raving. She was wild with terror.
CORONER: But could you distinguish nothing?
ENID: I heard the word “band” — I also heard the word “speckled.” I cannot say more. I was myself almost as terrified as she.
CORONER: Dear me. Band — speckled — it sounds like delirium. She mentioned no name?
ENID: None.
CORONER: What light was in the passage?
ENID: A lamp against the wall.
CORONER: You could distinctly see your sister?
ENID: Oh, yes.
CORONER: And there was at that time no trace of violence upon her?
ENID: No, no!
CORONER: You are quite clear that she unlocked her door before she appeared?
ENID: Yes, I can swear it.
CORONER: And her window? Di
d she ever sleep with her window open?
ENID: No, it was always fastened at night.
CORONER: Did you examine it after her death?
ENID: I saw it next morning; it was fastened then.
Delphi Complete Works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) Page 942