VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND
Arthur Conan Doyle
Variegated ribbon
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 skill 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 tends to make the matter even more terrible than the truth.
Looking through my notes on the adventures of Sherlock Holmes - and I have more than seventy such notes that I have kept over the past eight years - I find in them many tragic cases, some funny ones, some bizarre ones, but not a single one. ordinary: working for the love of his art, and not for money, Holmes never took on the investigation of ordinary, everyday cases, he was always attracted only to cases in which there was something extraordinary, and sometimes even fantastic.
The case of the Roylott family from Stoke Moron, well known in Surrey, strikes me as particularly bizarre. Holmes and I, two bachelors, were then living together in Baker Street. I probably would have published my notes earlier, but I gave my word to keep this matter secret and I released my word only a month ago, after the untimely death of the woman to whom it was given. It will perhaps be of some use to present the matter in its true light, for rumor has attributed the death of Dr. Grimsby Roylott to even more terrible circumstances than those which actually existed.
It was early in April in the year ’83 that I woke up 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.
I woke up one April morning in 1883 to find Sherlock Holmes standing by my bed. He was not dressed at home. He usually got out of bed late, but now the clock on the mantelpiece showed only a quarter past seven. I looked at him in surprise and even somewhat reproachfully. I myself was true to my habits.
“Very sorry to knock you up, Watson,” he said, “but it’s the common lot this morning.” Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she retorted upon me, and I on you.”
“I’m very sorry to wake you, Watson,” he said. - But that’s the kind of day it is today. We woke up Mrs. Hudson, she woke me up, and I woke you up.
“What is it, then-a fire?”
What is it? Fire?
“No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a significant state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should call you and give you the chance.”
No, client. Some girl arrived, she is terribly excited and definitely wants to see me. She's waiting in the waiting room. And if a young lady decides to travel through the streets of the capital at such an early hour and get a stranger out of bed, I believe she wants to communicate something very important. The case may turn out to be interesting, and you, of course, would like to hear this story from the very first word. So I decided to give you this opportunity.
Sherlock Holmes, the hero of the English writer Arthur Conan Doyle, is my favorite literary character. I am fond of detective stories and have read a lot of works by Agatha Christie, Edgar Allan Poe, Georges Simenon and other writers. But for me, Sherlock Holmes remains the kindest, smartest, and most talented.
His fame spread to all corners of England, and then the brilliant detective became known throughout the world. Holmes goes to investigate the Vatican; even powerful monarchs need his help. Holmes uses the famous deductive method in his work. He can tell about a person and his character based on individual details, on some little things. Holmes has a friend - Doctor Watson. There is much he does not understand about Holmes' decisions and conclusions, and he constantly asks questions. Just like me: just like him, I am surprised by the words and conclusions of Sherlock Holmes. And Sherlock Holmes always patiently and clearly explains what we don’t understand.
I really like the detective story “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” which begins with Sherlock Holmes literally extracting a lot of information from a stick left in his house by a visitor. And when the owner of the stick appears, it turns out that everything Holmes said is true.
This time we are talking about the curse that hangs over the Baskerville family. From ancient times, a manuscript has been passed down from generation to generation, which says: “Beware of going out into the swamps at night, when the forces of evil reign supreme.” It would seem that this is a legend, a fairy tale, but goosebumps run through your skin when you hear the cries of night birds in a huge swamp, the breathing and growl of a huge dog, ready to tear to pieces a living person. Everyone experiences fear, and only Sherlock Holmes knows what to do. He remains calm and composed. He does not believe in any ancestral spells, and his logic and common sense ultimately win.
I think Sherlock Holmes will remain my favorite hero for the rest of my life. He has all the traits a person needs: he is interesting, fearless, persuasive, smart. Sherlock Holmes, the hero of the English writer sir Arthur Conan Doyle - my favorite literary character. I am fond of detectives and read a lot of Agatha Christie, PoE, Georges Simenon and other writers. But the most kind, smart, talented, I have a Sherlock Holmes.
Fame has penetrated into all corners of England, and then about the brilliant detective learned worldwide. Holmes leaves the investigation in the Vatican, help is needed even the mighty monarchs. Holmes uses the famous deductive method. He may, in individual parts, for some little things to talk about man and his character. At Holmes"s friend Dr. Watson. Many things he could not understand in the decisions and conclusions of Holmes, and he constantly asks questions. Absolutely, I like it, I"m surprised at the words and conclusions of Sherlock Holmes. And Sherlock Holmes is always patient, lucidly explains what is unclear to us.I like detective story "the hound of the Baskervilles", which begins with Sherlock Holmes literally extracts from a stick, forgotten in his house the visitor a wealth of information. And when the owner of the stick, it turns out that all Holmes said - the truth.
At this time we are talking about the curse, which hang above a native of the Baskervilles. From ancient times, passed on from generation to generation the manuscript, which is written: "Beware of leaving the swamps at night, when the forces of evil ruled unchallenged." This would seem to legend, fairy tale, but shiver run through the skin, when you hear the cries of night birds on a huge bog, the breath and the roaring of a huge dog, ready to devour a living person. Fear is, and only Sherlock Holmes knows what to do. He remains quiet, mellow. In any ancestral curse, he does not believe, and its logic and common sense to eventually win.
I think Sherlock Holmes will remain my favorite hero for life. It has all the features necessary to man: it "s interesting, fearless, compelling, intelligent.
Sherlock Holmes and the Sport of Kings adapted audiobook in English. The first level is 400 basic words.
Detectives must see, hear and remember everything. They should be interested in the weather, people's shoes, flowers in a woman's hat, a box of matches in a man's pocket. They must understand people; they should know about dogs and sheep and horses. They should even know about horse racing, the sport of kings... When Silver Flame, a famous racehorse, disappears, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson visit his stables at Dartmore. Silver Flame is favorite for the big race in a week's time and his owner, Mr Ross, is hoping to win the race. But first, he must find his horse. There is also the case of the corpse - John Stacker, the trainer of the Silver Flame. His wife found his body in the mud near the stables. And Inspector Gregory must find the killer. But he and Mr. Ross get the wrong answers to their questions. So, says Sherlock Holmes, what really happened in the stables on Monday night? And, just as important, what didn't happen?
Watch/Listen online adapted audiobook in English in video format:
ACTIVITIES:
Before Rending
1 Read the back cover of the book, and the introduction on the first page. How much do you know now ahout the story? Yes or No:
YES/NO
1 Silver Blaze is a racehorse.
2 Sherlock Holmes is the owner of Silver Blaze.
3 Racehorses make money when they win races.
4 Silver Blaze's trainer is dead.
5 Mr Ross found John Straker's body.
6 John Straker's body was in the stables.
7 Inspector Gregory knows all the answers.
8 Sherlock Holmes goes, down to Dartmoor.
2 Some of these things are helpful for finding the answer to the mystery. Can you guess which? l ick nine of the sixteen boxes.
? a betting book? some hair
? somebody's dinner? a horseshoe
? somebody's breakfast? a chicken
? a box of matches? a dog
? a woman’s shoes? a cat
? a woman's hat? some sheep
? a man's hat? a knife
? a man's shoes? a letter
While Reading
Read Chapters 1 and 2. How much do we know now about the mystery? Which of these sentences are true, and which are possibly true, but we don’t really know yet?
1 Someone killed John Straker on Monday night.
2 Silver Blaze disappeared the same night.
3 Silver Blaze is dead.
4 Before Monday, Silver Blaze was the favorite to win the Wessex Cup.
5 Ned Hunter did not take Fitzroy Simpson’s money.
6 John Straker found Fitzroy Simpson in the stables in the middle of the night.
7 Fitzroy Simpson put opium in Ned Hunter's curry.
8 Edith Baxter put opium in Ned Hunter's curry.
9 Ned Hunter slept all night because of the opium.
10 Fitzroy Simpson killed John Straker.
Before you read Chapter 3, can you guess what Holmes does
next? Choose one answer for each question.
1 Which of these people does Holmes talk to?
a) Ned Hunter b) Mrs Straker c) Fitzroy Simpson
2 What does Holmes find in the mud on the moor?
a) an envelope b) a horseshoe c) a broken match
Read Chapters 3 and 4. We can answer some of these questions now, but not all of them. Answer the questions when you can, and write ‘Don’t know yet’ for the others.
1 Why did Simpson have a ten-pound note in an envelope?
2 Why did John Straker take a doctor’s eye knife with him that night?
3 What was the dress-maker’s bill for?
4 Why did Mr Darbyshire’s letters come to Straker’s house?
5 How did Holmes know that the tracks on the moor were Silver Blaze’s?
6 What did Silas Brown do to Silver Blaze?
7 Why did Holmes want to go back to London that night?
8 Why wasn’t Mr Ross happy with Holmes’s promise?
9 Why did Holmes want a photograph of John Straker?
10 What was important about the lame sheep?
11 What did the dog at the stables do in the night-time?
12 Why was that strange?
Before you read Chapter 5 (A day at the races), can you guess
what happens? Choose one answer for each question.
1 What happens in the Wessex Cup race? Silver Blaze. ..
a) wins the race. c) comes last. b) comes second. d) falls and breaks a leg.
2 Who docsn’r go to the races?
a) Sherlock Holmes. c) Inspector Gregory. b) Dr Watson. d) Mr Ross.
3 Where is John Straker’s killer on that day?
a) In the Dartmoor stables b) In a police station. c) At the races. d) In London.
Read Chapter 5. Choose the best question-word for these questions, and then answer them.
What/Why
1 … was Mr Ross very pleased with Sherlock Holmes?
2... was the name of John Straker’s killer?
3. . . did Holmes want to talk about it later?
How does the story end? Before you read Chapter 6, look at these sentences. Can you guess how many are true? Choose as many as you like.
1 The dog did not bark because it did not hear the midnight visitor.
2 The midnight visitor to the stables was John Straker.
3 John Straker wanted to kill Silver Blaze.
4 John Straker wanted Silver Blaze to win the Wessex Cup.
5 John Straker wanted to win a lot of money on the Wessex Cup race.
6 Straker used the eye knife to cut Silver Blaze’s leg.
7 In London Holmes visited a dress-maker.
8 Mr William Darbyshire was a good friend of Straker’s.
9 Sherlock Holmes tells Mr Ross all about Silas Brown.
After Reading
1 Match the names with the sentences. Then use the sentences to write about the people. Use a pronoun (he) and linking words ( and, but, so, because) where possible.
Mr Ross / Silas Brown / John Straker / Fitzroy Simpson
Example: Mr Ross wanted Sherlock Holmes to find his horse, but he did not understand detective work and .. .
1 ____ changed the color of Silver Blaze’s coat.
2 ____ made his money taking bets at the races.
3 ____ needed money for the expensive Mrs Darbyshire.
4 Mr Ross wanted Sherlock Holmes to find his horse.
5 ____ went down to King's Pyland stables.
6 ____ tried to make Silver Blaze a little lame.
7 ____ was afraid of the police.
8 Mr Ross did not understand detective work.
9 ____wanted to ask the stable boys some questions.
10 ____ went to the stables in the middle of the night.
11 ____ told Sherlock Holmes everything.
12 ____ took Silver Blaze out onto the moor.
13 ____ wanted answers to the mystery at once.
14____ took Silver Blaze to Winchester races.
15 ____ never came home again.
2 Here is a new illustration. Answer the questions, and then find
a good place in the story to put the picture.
1 What is happening in this picture?
2 What is not happening in this picture?
3 What does the answer to the second question tell us?
A good place for the picture is on page ____.
Now write a caption for the illustration.
3 What did Sherlock Holmes say to Silas Brown? Put them conversation in the right order, and write in the speakers’ names. Sherlock Holmes speaks first (number 3).
1 ____ ‘A different colour? The police are going to find that very interesting, Mr Brown.’
2 ____ ‘And how do you know that?’
3 ____ ‘Now, Mr Silas Brown, I want to see Silver Blaze.’
4 ____’Yes, I have. He's round the back. He's. .. er .. . well, he’s a different color now.’
5 ____ ‘Yes. And he must win it! With your help, Mr Brown. Now, listen carefully,..,’
6 ____ ‘The tracks… Oh. Oh dear.’
7 ____ ‘My name is Sherlock Holmes, and I know that the horse is here.’
8 ____ ‘Don’t tell the police, sir. Please! I can change the color back very quickly.’
9 ____ ‘Yes, Mr Brown, oh dear! Now, have you got the horse here?’
10 ____ ‘Yes, very well. He's a wonderful horse, sir. He can still win the Wessex Cup, you know.’
11 ____ ‘Because I found the tracks of your shoes on the moor, next to the tracks of Silver Blaze, and the tracks came here.’
12 ____ ‘He’s not in my stables! And who are you)’
13 ____ ‘Then you must do it today. Is the horse well?’
4 Here is a newspaper report about Silver Blaze. Use these words (one for each gap) to complete the passage.
before, bets, cut, disappeared, found, good, horse, horseshoes, kicked, killed, killer, knows, leg, mystery, owner, races, where, won
At Winchester ____ today Silver Blaze ____ the Wessex Cup - ____ news for the ____ Mr Ross and all the people with ____ on the horse. The detective Sherlock Holmes ____ Mr Ross’s horse, and he ____ the name of John Straker’s ____ too. So who ____ John Straker? The_did! Straker tried to make a ____ in a tendon in Silver Blaze’s ____, and the horse _____ out. The ____ hit Straker on the head and killed him. The horse then ____ until today. And ____ was Silver Blaze in the week ____ the Wessex Cup race? That is still a ____.
5 Find the fourteen words (three letters or more) in this word search. Words go from left to right, and from top to bottom. Which four words make a headline for the newspaper report?
“We have an inspector who makes a specialty of Saffron Hill and the Italian Quarter (we have an inspector who deals with the /area/ Saffron Hill and the Italian quarter; specialty = specialty - occupation, profession, specialty, field of activity; specialization). Well, this dead man had some Catholic emblem round his neck (so, on the neck: “around the neck” of the murdered man there was a Catholic symbol), and that, along with his color (and this, along with the color of his /skin/; along with - together, along with), made me think he was from the South (makes me think = makes me think he was from the south). Inspector Hill knew him the moment he caught sight of him (Inspector Hill recognized him at that moment /as soon as/ he saw him; to catch sight of - notice, see / someone, something /). His name is Pietro Venucci, from Naples (his name is: “his name” is Pietro Venucci, /originally/ from Naples), and he is one of the greatest cut-throats in London (one of the most brutal killers in London; great - big; great, significant; experienced; cut-throat - thug, killer: to cut - cut; throat - throat, throat). He is connected with the Mafia (he is connected to the mafia), which, as you know, is a secret political society (which, as you know, is a secret political society), enforcing its decrees by murder (enforcing their decisions with the help of murders; to enforce - to put pressure, coerce; implement, enforce /law, sanctions/; force to fulfill the demands of /gangster/ gang; decree - decree, decree, decree). Now, you see how the affair begins to clear up (now you see that things are beginning to become clearer; to clear up - to brighten, to become clearer). The other fellow is probably an Italian also (the other person is probably Italian too), and a member of the Mafia (and mafia member). He has broken the rules in some fashion (he violated their charter in some way; to break-broke-broken; rule - rule, norm, principle; rules - charter, list of rules, set of regulations / of a society, order, etc. /). Pietro is set upon his track (Pietro follows his trail). Probably the photograph we found in his pocket is the man himself (possibly /in/ the photo /which/ we found in his pocket /is /that person), so that he may not knife the wrong person (so that he doesn’t stab someone else; wrong - wrong, unfaithful; erroneous). He dogs the fellow (he is tracking that person; dog - dog, dog; to dog - to track, to follow someone; to pursue), he sees him enter a house (sees him entering the house), he waits outside for him (waiting for him outside), and in the scuffle he receives his own death-wound (and in a fight he himself receives a mortal wound; scuffle - fight, skirmish, brawl; death - death). How is that, Mr. Sherlock Holmes (how do you like this /version/, Mr. Sherlock Holmes)?”
The proposed collection includes selected stories about the world famous detective Sherlock Holmes: “The Speckled Ribbon”, “The Union of Red-Headed People”, “The Blue Carbuncle”, “The Dancing Men”. The texts of the works are abbreviated and simplified, and are also accompanied by comments, exercises and dictionaries for each of the works. The publication is intended for those continuing to study English at the lower level (level 2 - Pre-Intermediate).
Variegated ribbon. The Adventure of Speckled Band.
On glancing over my notes of the cases in which I have studied the methods of my friend Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number strange, but no commonplace cases. He worked rather for the love of his art than for money and he refused to associate himself with any investigation which did not have anything unusual and even fantastic in it. Of all these cases, however, I cannot recall any which was more unusual than that which was associated with the well-known family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. The events occurred in the early days of my association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms in Baker Street.
It was early in April in the year 1883 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 showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I looked up at him in some surprise.
Download the e-book for free in a convenient format, watch and read:
Download the book The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle - fileskachat.com, fast and free download.
- Textbook of the English language, Gundriser V., Landa A.S., 1963 - This textbook is intended for teaching English to beginners in technical universities and is designed for 140 hours of classroom work. ... Books on English
- Cheat sheet for an excellent student, English language, Thematic dictionary and grammar, 2014 - This book is an excellent assistant for any student; it contains vocabulary for creating topics, describes the main grammatical rules and categories of English... Books on English
- English language, Voskovskaya A.S., Karpova T.A., 2011 - The textbook is prepared according to the target and thematic principle, includes a repetition course that allows you to repeat, generalize and systematize the rules in an extremely short time... Books on English
- Think, Student's book starter, Herbert Puchta, Jeff Stranks, Peter Lewis-Jones - This product is informed by the English Vocabulary Profile, built as part of the English Profile, a collaborative program designed to … Books on English
The following textbooks and books:
- Practical course in English lexicology, Zykova I.V., 2008 - The textbook covers the entire program of the course in lexicology of the English language. It discusses the most important problems lexicology in the light of the leading principles of modern... Books on English
- Educational and methodological manual on the phonetics of the English language, Akimova T.V., 2010 - This manual is a collection of exercises and texts on the phonetics of the English language. Compiled in accordance with the English language teaching program... Books on English
- The best English jokes, Matveev S.A., 2014 - The book is intended for Russian language teachers, high school students and students teacher training colleges. The manual contains a detailed analysis various types … Books on English