Notes　Scene 15: The Speckled Band

By the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the air in the direction of the Doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was unconscious, and though he 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."

廊下のランプの明かりで、姉が戸口に現れるのが見えました。顔は恐怖で血の気を失い、両手は助けを求めて宙をさぐり、全身は酔っ払いのように前後にふらついていました。私は駆け寄って姉を抱きしめましたが、そのとき姉は膝が崩れたようになり、床に倒れ込みました。姉はひどい苦痛にもだえる人のように身をよじり、手足はひどく痙攣していました。最初は私だとわからないのかと思いましたが、かがみ込むと、姉は突然、一生忘れられない声で叫びました。『ああ、神さま！ヘレン！あれは紐だったのよ！まだらの紐！』姉にはまだ言いたいことがあったようで、博士の部屋のほうへ指を宙に突き出しましたが、新たな痙攣に襲われて、言葉をさえぎられてしまいました。私は飛び出して大声で義父を呼び、ガウン姿で自室から急いで出てきた義父に会いました。義父が姉のそばに着いたとき、姉はすでに意識がなく、義父は喉にブランデーを流し込み、村へ医者を呼びにやりましたが、すべて無駄で、姉は意識を取り戻さないまま、ゆっくりと衰えて息を引き取りました。愛する姉の恐ろしい最期は、こうだったのです」