Pagina 395 de 657

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 dog-cart 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 Roylott, 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.