Red Széll

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.

She had helped Mrs. Schlesinger in the nursing of the convalescent saint.

He spent his day, as the manager described it to me, upon a lounge chair on the veranda, with an attendant lady upon either side of him.

He was preparing a map of the Holy Land, with special reference to the kingdom of the Midianites, upon which he was writing a monograph.

Finally, having improved much in health, he and his wife had returned to London, and Lady Frances had started thither in their company.

This was just three weeks before, and the manager had heard nothing since.

As to the maid Marie,

She had gone off some days beforehand in floods of tears after informing the other maids that she was leaving service forever.

Dr Schlesinger had paid the bill of the whole party before his departure.

By the way, said the landlord in conclusion, you are not the only friend of Lady Frances Carfax who is inquiring after her just now.

Only a week or so ago we had a man here upon the same errand.

Did he give a name?