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The adventure of the speckled band.
"What do you think that you're sister died of then?"
"I think she died from pure fear and shock of though I cannot imagine what it is that frightened her."
"Were there gypsies in the woods at the time that she died?"
"Yes, there are nearly always some there."
"Why do you think she mentioned a band, a speckled band?"
"Sometimes I think she was just talking in delerium. Sometimes I think she was talking about a band of people, maybe those gypsies in the woods. May be the spotted handkerchiefs which many of them wear on their heads might have given her that idea."
Holmes shook his head. He was not very satisfied.
"These are very deep waters" he said, "please go on with your story"
Shock: A sudden impact
Gypsies: A tribe of people who move from place to place without permanent homes.
Delerium: When your mind is affected by fever or drugs and you talk or dream nonsense.
Band: This word can also mean a group, as in "a rock band".
Hardkerchief: A piece of cloth usually carried in the pocket. sometimes for blowing the nose.
Spotted: With lots of small round marks on it.
Shake: To move your head from side to side. Also a way of saying "no".
Deep waters: Something which is more complicated than it seems.