'It means that everything is over,' said Holmes. 'Bring your
gun and let's go into Dr Roylott's room."
Holmes lit the lamp. Then I followed him down the corridor to
Dr Roylott's room. We knocked twice on the door, but diere was
no reply. We pushed the door open and entered the room.
A terrible sight met our eyes. Dr Roylott was sitting beside his
safe. The door of the safe was open. The short stick with the noose
lay across Dr Roylott's knees.
Dr Roylott was dead. His eyes were staring upwards in terror.
There was something strange round his head. It was bright yellow,
with brown speckles.
'The band,' whispered Holmes. The speckled band!'
I stepped forward. Immediately the strange band began to
move.
'It's a snake,' I cried in horror.
Quickly Holmes grabbed the stick with the noose on the end.
He caught the snake's head in the noose. Then he threw the
snake into the iron safe and closed the door. The metal door
clanged shut.