The Adventure of the Speckled Band that of Dr Roylott. Holmes and Watson arrange to spend the night in Helen's room. In darkness they wait; suddenly, a slight metallic noise and a dim light through the ventilator prompt Holmes to action. Quickly lighting a candle, he discovers on the bell cord the "speckled band"—a venomous snake. He strikes the snake with a stick, driving it back through the ventilator. Agitated, it attacks Roylott, who had been waiting for it to return after killing Helen. Holmes identifies the snake as a "swamp adder" and reveals to Watson the motive: the late wife's will had provided an annual
The Landlady (short story) Awards. This was the second time Dahl was honoured, the first having been for his collection of short stories, "Someone Like You" (Best Short Story, 1954). The Landlady (short story) "The Landlady" is a short horror story by Roald Dahl. It initially appeared in "The New Yorker", as did other short stories that would later be reprinted in the 1960 anthology, "Kiss Kiss". 17-year-old Billy Weaver travels from London to Bath, by himself, on a work matter when he stops for the night at a quaint bed-and-breakfast. The landlady is a kind older woman who Billy comes to suspect is