Free tantaliz by Isaac Asimov ed. Page A

are nearly always some there."
    "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band—a speckled band?"
    "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which she used."
    Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied.
    "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your narrative."
    "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage—Percy Armitage—the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was daylight I slipped down, got a dogcart at the Crown Inn, which is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on this morning, with the one object of seeing you and asking your advice."
    "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me all?"
    "Yes, all."
    "Miss Stoner, you have not. You are screening your stepfather."
    "Why, what do you mean?"
    For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed upon the white wrist.
    "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes.
    The lady coloured deeply, and covered over her injured wrist "He is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own strength."
    There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire.
    "This is very deep business," he said at last "There are a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather?"
    "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town today upon some most important business. It is probable that he will be away all day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily get her out of the way."
    "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?"
    "By no means."
    "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?"
    "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to be there in time for your coming."
    "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and breakfast?"
    "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her face, and glided from the room.
    "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, leaning back in his chair. It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business."
    "Dark enough and sinister enough."
    "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls are