"Ah! That is suggestive."
a. When did Holmes mean by 'suggestive'? What is he referring to?
Answers
Answer:
In the context of "The Adventure of the Speckled Band," the word "suggestive" means something that appears to point towards or indicate something else. Throughout the course of the story, Holmes comes across numerous pieces of evidence, all of which are suggestive of the killer's identity, thus helping him to solve this complex mystery.
For instance, it is highly suggestive that Roylott's estate is mortgaged to the hilt, giving him a clear motive for preventing his stepdaughters from getting their hands on the money to which they're entitled. Equally suggestive is the fact that Roylott has spent a lot of time in India, gaining an extensive knowledge of all kinds of exotic creatures, such as snakes, cheetahs, and baboons. And Roylott's violent temper is yet another crucially suggestive piece of evidence that Holmes manages to piece together with all the others to deduce what's really been going on at Stoke Moran.