Red Széll

Why she should have paid her this check we have not yet determined.

I have no doubt, however, that your researches will soon clear the matter up.

My researches.

Hence the health-giving expedition to Lausanne.

you know that I cannot possibly leave London while old Abrahams is in such mortal terror of his life.

Besides, on general principles it is best that I should not leave the country.

Scotland Yard feels lonely without me, and it causes an unhealthy excitement among the criminal classes.

Go then, my dear Watson, and if my humble counsel can ever be valued at so extravagant a rate as two pence a word, it waits your disposal night and day at the end of the Continental Wire.

Two days later found me at the Hotel National at Lausanne, where I received every courtesy at the hands of Monsieur Moser, the well-known manager.

Lady Frances, as he informed me, had stayed there for several weeks.

She had been much liked by all who met her.

Her age was not more than 40.

She was still handsome and bore every sign of having in her youth been a very lovely woman.

Monsieur Moser knew nothing of any valuable jewellery, but it had been remarked by the servants that the heavy trunk in the ladies' bedroom was always scrupulously locked.

Marie Devine, the maid, was as popular as her mistress.

She was actually engaged to one of the head waiters in the hotel, and there was no difficulty in getting her address.

It was 11 Rue de Trajan, Montpellier.

All this I jotted down and felt that Holmes himself could not have been more adroit in collecting his facts.

Only one corner still remained in the shadow.

No light which I possessed could clear up the cause for the lady's sudden departure.