"What do think killed your sister?"

"I think she died from fear but I cannot imagine what frightened her so much."

"When she died, were there any gypsies in the woods?"

"Yes, the gypsies are in the woods almost all the time."

"Why do you think she said the words "The speckled band?""

"I don't know. Sometimes I think that she was not thinking properly. At other times I think she was talking about a band, or a group of people. Maybe she was talking about those gypsies in the woods. Some of them have spotted handkerchiefs. They wear them on their heads. She may have seen the spotted handkerchiefs and that is why she said those words."

Holmes shook his head. He was not satisfied.

"This is a very strange case", he said. "Please go on with your story".