Your sister is dead, then?
She died two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I have described, we saw very few people. We had, however, an aunt, who we were allowed to visit. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there a young officer, to whom she became engaged. My stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and did not say anything against the marriage; but two weeks before the wedding, the terrible event occurred and I lost my only companion.
Sherlock Holmes had been sitting in his chair with his eyes closed, but now he glanced at his visitor.
Please give us all the details, said he.
It is easy for me to do so, for I remember every event of that time. The house is, as I have already said, very old, and only the bedrooms are on the ground
floor. Of these bedrooms the first is Dr. Roylotts, the second is my sisters, and the third is my own. There are no doors between them, but they all open out into the same corridor.
The windows of the three rooms open out upon the park. That fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we knew that he had not gone to bed, for my sister was troubled by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which he smoked. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where she sat for some time, talking about her approaching wedding. At eleven oclock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and looked back.
Tell me, Helen, said she, have you ever heard anyone whistle at night?
Never. But why? said I.
Because during the last few nights I have always, about three in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I cannot tell where it came from perhaps from the next room, perhaps from the park. I thought that I would ask you whether you had heard it.
No, I have not. It must be those gypsies in the park[10].
Very likely. And if it were in the park, it is strange that you did not hear it also.
Ah, but I do not hear anything when I am asleep.
She smiled back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her key turn in the lock.
Did you always lock yourselves in at night? asked Holmes.
Always.
And why?
I think that I said that the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon. We had no feeling of security if our doors were not locked.
I see. But forgive me for interrupting you. Please continue your story.
Exercises
1. Answer the questions:1. What did you learn about the Roylotts of Stoke Moran?
2. Why did Dr. Roylott return to England from India a gloomy and disappointed man?
3. How did it happen that Dr. Roylott lived in Stoke Moran with his two stepdaughters?
4. Who else lived in the house?
5. What were the relations between Dr. Roylott and other people in the village?
6. Why werent Julia and Helen happy?
7. How did it happen that Julia became engaged to be married?
8. What did you learn about the house where Julias tragic death occurred?
9. What did the sisters speak about before Julias death?
10. Why did the sisters lock their bedrooms?
Think and say
1. Was Dr. Roylott a good doctor? Would you like him to be your family doctor? Why do you think so?
2. Was it easy for the sisters to marry? Why do you think so?
2. Find the following phrases in the text and reproduce situations from the text with them. Give Russian equivalents.
1. to be left
2. to leave smth to smb
3. to make friends with smb
4. to be / become engaged to smb
engagement (to smb)
5. to open out on / upon / into
3. Paraphrase the underlined parts of the sentences so as to use the phrases above.
1. Tony is a very sociable boy, he can become the friend of anybody.
2. How long before the wedding did they agree to get married?
3. It was only after his aunts death that Robert learned he would get her house after her death.
4. After he paid all his debts, no more money remained.
5. Their room faces the park, so they have a very nice view.
6. Have you heard that John has broken off his agreement to marry June? I didnt even know that they agreed to marry.
7. After Miss Stoners sister died, she remained alone with her stepfather.
4. Complete the sentences with phrases above in the correct form.
1. Susan doesnt want her bedroom the sea. She says the noise of the sea wont let her sleep.
2. There were a lot of shops in the street a few years ago. But only
two The others have been closed.
3. I didnt know that Alex and Anne to be married.
4. When Bob came to a new school, he wanted his new classmates.
5. Peters father him his gold watch, and Peter always wears it.
6. Walter gave Alice an ring. They are to be married next month.
7. After her children married, Mrs Sykes alone in her big house.
III
she died without having recovered her consciousnessOne moment, said Holmes, are you sure about this whistle and metallic sound?
That was what the police asked me. I believe I heard it, but I may have made a mistake.[12]
Was your sister dressed?
No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand wе found a burnt match, and in her left a match-box.