'What does it mean?' I asked. My voice was shaking.'It's finished,' answered Holmes. 'Let's go and see.'We went into Dr Roylott's room. The metal box wasopen. Roylott was sitting on a chair, and his eyes werefixed on the air-vent. Round his head was a strange,yellow speckled band. He was dead.'The band! The speckled band!' said Holmes veryquietly. The band moved and began to turn its head.'Be careful, Watson! It's a snake, an Indian snake -and its poison can kill very quickly,' Holmes cried.'Roylott died immediately. We must put the snakeback in its box.' Very, very carefully, Holmes took thesnake and threw it into the metal box. man now.' We could hear the horses in the street.'Shall I leave, Holmes?' I asked.'No, no, I need your help. This will be interesting,'my friend answered. There was a knock at the door.'Come in!' called Holmes.A tall, strong man came into the room. He waswearing expensive clothes, and a mask over his face.'You can call me Count von Kramm. I come fromBohemia,' he said. 'My business is most important.Before I tell you about it, do you agree to keep it asecret?''I do,' we said together.'A very important person, who belongs to a royalfamily, has sent me to ask for your help,' he went on. 'Iwear a mask because nobody must know who thatperson is. I must explain how important this businessis. If you cannot help, there will be difficulty andtrouble for one of the most important families inEurope — and perhaps a very big scandal. I am talkingabout the famous House of Ormstein, Kings ofBohemia.''I know, Your Majesty,' said Holmes. He quietlysmoked his cigarette.The man jumped up from his chair, 'What!' he cried.'How do you know who I am?' Then he pulled themask off his face and threw it on the ground. 'You areright. Why do I hide it? I am the King. I am Wilhelmvon Ormstein, King of Bohemia. I came to see you