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 Speckled Band (1931 film) names differ from the original short story; the story's Roylott becomes Rylott, Julia Stoner becomes Violent Stoner. Some characters appeared in the play and film that weren't in the original story such as Mrs. Staunton the housekeeper, Rodgers the butler, and the Indian servant Ali. The film also altered the famous address of 221B Baker Street to 107 Baker Street and makes it a state-of-the-art office complete with secretaries and stenographers. Vincent Starrett found Massey's performance lacking saying "Mr. Massey as Sherlock Holmes, in "The Speckled Band", most famous perhaps of all the Holmes adventures, was a considerable disappointment." Starrett