#grimesby roylott

[bwbaceattorney]

[magentasky234]

Sniff

[randomnessoffiction]

"Holmes the meddler! Holmes the busybody! Holmes the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!

[faithful-grigori]

“#no way this could go wrong, #remember the last time a stepfather had control of a woman’s money?”

😬😬😬

[sherlockianscholar]

the above is from granada's "the speckled band."

we all know that the sky's the limit when praising jeremy's acting, but i'll always be most in love with his eyes. he conveys so much power and depth through them. as this interaction with roylott plays out, holmes engages with him (for the most part) icily and concisely. but underneath it all, jeremy's eyes burn with an intensity and fire that's almost palpable through the screen. his revulsion towards roylott is visceral.

additional notes: watson's jump at the door opening. the iconic moment when holmes gulps at roylott bending the poker. all fantastic.

and now what more is there to say than i thank you, mrs. hudson, just another client.

[flammentanz]

"Das gefleckte Band"

Erich Schellow: Sherlock Holmes Paul Edwin Roth: Dr. Watson Fritz Tillmann: Dr. Grimesby Roylott Astrid Frank: Helen Stoner

Watson: "What does that mean?" Holmes: "It means it's all over. Come on!" Helen Stoner: "What was this?" Holmes: "Go back to your room, we will come to you later." Holmes: "This was the speckled band." Watson: "A swamp cobra, the most dangerous venomous snake in India."

[thestrandmag]

Sherlock Story of the Week: The Adventure of the Speckled Band

First published in The Strand Magazine in February 1892, The Adventure of the Speckled Band is one of those Sherlock Holmes stories that everyone seems to know—and for good reason. Even Doyle himself called it his best, and honestly, I can see why. It’s tense, chilling, and brilliantly constructed, with that perfect mix of intrigue and dread that makes a mystery unforgettable.

This story feels like Holmes at his most cinematic. From the moment Helen Stoner arrives at Baker Street, you’re gripped. Her account of her sister Julia’s death, punctuated by the eerie whistle in the night, sets the stage for one of Holmes’s most unsettling cases. Stoke Moran, the Stoner family estate, only deepens the unease—it’s a crumbling, isolated house filled with strange, almost surreal details that feel straight out of a Gothic novel.

The stakes in this story feel incredibly high, thanks to the locked-room nature of the mystery. Helen’s obvious terror makes you lean in closer, trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together: the bolted bed, the “ventilator,” the strange bell-pull, and the safe with its saucer of milk. Every clue adds a layer of physicality that makes the mystery feel almost like a puzzle you could solve yourself. As someone who’s an escape room fanatic, this one scratches a very specific itch. Every detail matters, and watching Holmes untangle it all is endlessly satisfying.

And of course, Dr. Grimesby Roylott looms large over everything—I think he might be one of Doyle’s most chilling villains, not because he’s especially complex, but because his menace is so straightforward. He’s a harsh, volatile presence throughout the story, and the more you learn about his actions, the worse it gets. When the truth finally comes out (that reveal!), it’s both horrifying and deeply satisfying.

Whether you’re revisiting The Speckled Band for the hundredth time or reading it for the first, it never loses its edge. It’s one of those stories where you can feel Doyle having fun with the craft of suspense, and it shows.

[pad-wubbo]

Because I felt like doing so, I've compiled a full list of character names is French for The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (Les Grandes Chroniques de Ace Attorney), which doesn't have an official French translation. Japanese names and Sherlock Holmes character names are unchanged, while most English pun names and faux-Japanese English-pun names are changed.

Here it is:

Ryunosuke Naruhodo (unchanged)

Susato Mikotoba (unchanged)

Kazuma Asogi (unchanged)

Yujin Mikotoba (unchanged)

Seishiro Jigoku (unchanged)

Taketsuchi Auchi (unchanged)

Satoru Hosonaga (unchanged)

John H. Wilson (unchanged, from Arsène Lupin)

Owimasu Nomasu (Iyesa Nosa)

Jinesipa Nomasu (Aido Nosa)

Korekushona Dekyuryosichi (Kyurio Korekuta)

Balta Jezaille (Jezaille Brett)

Herlock Sholmes (unchanged, from Arsène Lupin)

Bov Strogenof (Bif Strogenov)

Grimesby Roylott (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Nikolina Pavlova (unchanged)

Pirozhko (unchanged)

Novara (Darka)

Kurt Maelstrom (Mael Stronghart)

Brock Sephenie (Barok van Zieks)

Magnus O'Dore (Magnus McGilded)

Mason "Tiré-Trois-Fois" ("Thrice-Fired" Mason)

Mason Milverton (unchanged)

Beppo (unchanged)

Bruce Fairplay (unchanged)

Fender Bord (Lay D. Furst)

Iris Wilson (unchanged)

Tobias Gregson (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Soseki Natsume (unchanged)

Wagahai (unchanged)

Vera Jade (Olive Green)

John Garrideb (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Joan Garrideb (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Patricia Batterman (Patricia Beate)

Ruiz Batterman (Roly Beate)

Alain Windibank (Pop Windibank)

Hoff Benedict (Eggert Benedict)

Greece Saunders (Ashley Graydon)

Greece Milverton (Ashley Milverton)

Nash Schroeder (Nash Skulkin)

Ringo Schroeder (Ringo Skulkin)

Myrtle Rhea (Asa Shinn)

Ryutaro Naruhodo (unchanged)

Subi Anutema (Rei Membami)

Sukuriba Akumemo (Raiten Menimemo)

Bill Bardguy (William Shamspeare)

Abel deRhone (Adron B. Metermann)

Brenda Altamont (Quinby Altamont)

Duncan Ross (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Selden (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Nikolai de Beale (Albert Harebrayne)

Testa Blomme (Odie Asman)

Toby (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Mahonia Sire (Esmeralda Tusspells)

John Clay (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Ottermole (unchanged)

Jane the Ripper (unchanged)

Gustav Sephenie (Klint van Zieks)

Sara Valerie (Evie Vigil)

Balthazar Lonzi (Balthazar Lune)

Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond Ormstein (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Enoch Drebber (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Corona Stephens (Courtney Stevens)

Corona Sissel (Courtney Sithe)

Mia Cabre (Maria Gorey)

Genshin Asogi (unchanged)

Quentin Valerie (Daley Vigil)

Hugh Boone (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Barry Hare (Barry Caidin)

Venus (unchanged)

Rags (Gossip)

Sandwich (unchanged)

Fabien de Rousseau (unchanged)

Peppino de Rossi (unchanged)

Paulov Strogenof (Tchikin Strogenov)

Lady Baskerville (unchanged)

Queen Victoria (unchanged)

Tadashi Sodenoshita (unchanged)

Chalan Musgrave (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

Polan Musgrave (unchanged, from Sherlock Holmes)

See if you can decipher all the puns in the changed names.

[resident-dumb-fuck]

my dealer: got some straight gas🔥😛 this strain is called “the adventure of the speckled band” 😳 you'll be zonked out of your gourd💯

me: yeah whatever. i don't feel shit

5 min later: dude i swear i didn’t kill kazuma i was in the wardrobe the whole time

my buddy mr sholmes presenting his logic and reasoning spectacular: grimesby roylott is lying to us

[allallestodo]

DR. GRIMESBY ROYLOTT: Which one of you is Holmes?

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES 1.06 The Speckled Band

[forestal-ramblings]

Reading the original Sherlock Holmes stories not only for the crazy shenanigans and shipping content ( Sherlock's aludes to Watson's hunkiness so much it's definitely suspect) , but also for the absolutely perfect victorian names :

Reginald Musgrave

Jephro Rucastle

Grimesby Roylott

And my personal favorite;

Thorneycroft Huxtable

What a name people!

[kierrasreads]

The Adventure of the Speckled Band (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes #8) by Arthur Conan Doyle Review

Plot

Can Sherlock Holmes solve the mystery of the death of Helen Stoner's sister in time to save Helen's own life? Or will Helen suffer the same fate as her sister?

Discussion

This one kept me guessing! Of course, there was no question that Dr. Grimesby Roylott was the mastermind behind this sinister plot. Even his name was an indication of his well...sinister nature. He wanted control over his stepdaughters' money, and he would stop at nothing to get it.

Thank goodness for Sherlock and Watson's quick thinking; Helen is free to marry her fiance and start her own life. If I were Helen, I would sell that house, that house has seriously bad juju.

The snake sounded interesting! I do love snakes, to a degree. Little snakes? Sure, no problem! I'll hold them (like I did in high school. My teacher had several king snakes in his classroom and would let us handle them, supervised of course). But snakes that are large enough to eat me? No way! Anyway, I suspect that this snake was inspired by numerous species of snakes, such as the puff adder. Regardless, this snake tipped the scales (get it?) towards its rating of 5/5. It's a welcome change from the recent stories that I read!

I read somewhere that Doyle considers this story as his best, and I have to agree!

Rating

5/5

[magentasky234]

Shopping!

[bakerstreetbabble]

Granada TV Series Review: "The Speckled Band" (S01, E06)

"The Adventure of the Speckled Band" seems to be a favorite with many readers, despite its many obvious plot holes (snakes don't drink milk or climb ropes, for example). Holmes's cool head in the face of the belligerent Grimesby Roylott's threats and the middle-of-the-night stakeout waiting for "the speckled band" to arrive are fairly dramatic and entertaining scenes, and the gothic horror of Mr. Roylott's messy end is rather gripping.

The Granada adaptation is quite well done, and it adheres very closely to the outline of its source material. There are a few changes that the viewer will notice in comparison to the original story. A few examples:

The sisters are no longer twins. Julia is 5 years older than Helen.

The cheetah on the grounds of Grimesby Roylott's estate has been replaced by a leopard.

Holmes wears the "traditional" deerstalker cap, rather than the bowler shown in Mr. Paget's illustrations. (To be fair, there is no indication in the text as to Holmes's choice of headwear.)

Other than those (very minor) changes, the episode proceeds in much the same way as the Doyle narrative.

As I mentioned above, the nasty confrontation with Mr. Roylott at the Baker Street flat is one of the more enjoyable scenes in the original story, and the adaptation in the TV episode does not disappoint! The little twitchy half-grins that Jeremy Brett flashes, as the angry Grimesby delivers his monologue, are absolutely priceless. Brett's gleeful laugh in the face of the verbal onslaught is the cherry on top of the sundae. And, of course, the lovely moment when Holmes bends the poker back into shape is delightful as well.

“Ha! You put me off, do you?” said our new visitor, taking a step forward and shaking his hunting-crop. “I know you, you scoundrel! I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler.” My friend smiled. “Holmes, the busybody!” His smile broadened. “Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!” Holmes chuckled heartily. “Your conversation is most entertaining,” said he. “When you go out close the door, for there is a decided draught.”

Just a bit later in the episode, when Holmes and Watson meet up with Helen Stoner again, the writers add a funny little moment in which Watson, clearly still very impressed with his friend's handling of Mr. Roylott's bullying manners, tells Miss Stoner that "Holmes sent him off with a flea in his ear!" I'm not 100% sure what that phrase actually means, but it made me chuckle. David Burke's excellent portrayal of the faithful sidekick never ceases to impress me.

​Before Holmes and Watson encounter the deadly snake face-to-face, there is an intense monologue from Jeremy Brett that is very effective in setting up the scene to come, as he meditates aloud on the dangerous nature of the evil Grimesby Roylott, a doctor gone wrong. The monologue is very nearly word-for-word from Doyle's orginal:

When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. This man strikes even deeper...

My only real quibble with this particular adaptation is the scene that comes after Mr. Roylott meets his demise. After the horror of the snake, Holmes's brief explanation of how he put together the last few details seems just a bit anti-climactic. His somewhat emotionless statement that the death of Grimesby Roylott does not weigh heavily on his conscience, followed by the whistle of the train, is a bit too abrupt an ending for the episode.  Overall, though, I found the episode a very engaging one, and quite a bit more interesting than the previous episode, "The Naval Treaty." A faithful adaptation and well worth my time.

[tenth-sentence]

Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran.

"The Illustrated Sherlock Holmes Treasury" - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

[whats-in-a-sentence]

"(...) In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I can't say that it is likely to weigh very heavily upon my conscience."

"The Illustrated Sherlock Holmes Treasury" - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle