Red Széll

She had refused to see him.

He was English, but of his name there was no record.

Madame had left the place immediately afterwards.

Jules Vibard and what was of more importance Jules Vibard's sweetheart thought that this call and the departure were cause and effect.

Only one thing Jules would not discuss.

That was the reason why Marie had left her mistress.

Of that he could or would say nothing.

If I wish to know I must go to Montpellier and ask her.

So ended the first chapter of my inquiry.

The second was devoted to the place which Lady Frances Carfax had sought when she left Lausanne.

Concerning this, there had been some secrecy which confirmed the idea that she had gone with the intention of throwing someone off her track.

Otherwise, why should not her luggage have been openly labelled for Barden?

Both she and it reached the Rhenish Spa by some circuitous route.

This much I gathered from the manager of Cook's local office.

So to Baden I went, after dispatching to Holmes an account of all my proceedings and receiving in reply a telegram of half-humorous commendation.

At Baden the track was not difficult to follow.

Lady Frances had stayed at the Englischer Hof for a fortnight.

While there, she had made the acquaintance of a Dr Schlesinger and his wife, a missionary from South America.

Like most lonely ladies, Lady Frances found her comfort and occupation in religion.

Dr. Schlesinger's remarkable personality, his wholehearted devotion, and the fact that he was recovering from a disease contracted in the exercise of his apostolic duties affected her deeply.