" try to reconstruct the situation," said he drove swiftly past the Houses of Parliament and over Westminster Bridge "These villains have coaxed this unhappy lady to London, after first alienating her from her faithful maid If she any letters they intercepted Through some confederate engaged furnished house Once inside it, they her prisoner, and become possessed valuable jewellery been their object first Already begun part of it, which seems safe enough , since no reason that anyone is interested lady's fate When released she will, , denounce them Therefore, not be released But keep her under lock and key forever So murder is their only solution "

"That seems very clear "

"Now take another line of reasoning follow two separate chains of thought, Watson, some point of intersection which should approximate truth start now, not lady but coffin and argue backward That incident proves, , beyond all doubt lady is dead It points also to an orthodox burial with proper accompaniment of medical certificate and official sanction Had the lady been obviously murdered, buried her in hole back garden But here all is open and regular What does that mean ? Surely her to death in some way deceived the doctor and simulated natural end- poisoning, perhaps And yet how strange should ever let doctor approach her unless he were confederate, hardly credible proposition "

"Could forged medical certificate ? "

"Dangerous, Watson, very dangerous No, I hardly see them doing that Pull up, cabby ! evidently the undertaker's, for just passed the pawnbroker's Would you go in, Watson ? Your appearance inspires confidence Ask what hour the Poultney Square funeral takes place to-morrow "

The woman shop answered me without hesitation at eight o'clock morning " , Watson, no mystery; everything aboveboard ! In some way the legal forms have undoubtedly been complied with, and that little to fear Well, there's nothing now but direct frontal attack armed ? "

"My stick ! "

"Well, well, strong enough 'Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just ' We simply can't afford to wait police or four corners law drive off, cabby Now, Watson, we'll just take our luck together, as occasionally done "

He had rung loudly door of great dark house centre of Poultney Square opened immediately, figure of tall woman was outlined against the dim-lit hall

"Well, what ? " she asked sharply, peering at us darkness

" to Dr Shlessinger," said Holmes

" no such person here," she answered, and tried to close the door, but Holmes had jammed it foot

"Well, the man who lives here, whatever call himself," said Holmes firmly

She hesitated Then she threw open the door "Well, come in ! " said she "My husband afraid any man " She closed the door behind us and showed us into sitting-room right side hall, turning up the gas as she left us " Mr Peters in an instant," she said

Her words were literally true, for we had hardly time to look around the dusty and moth-eaten apartment ourselves door opened and big, clean-shaven bald-headed man stepped lightly room He had large red face, with pendulous cheeks, and general air of superficial benevolence marred by cruel, vicious mouth

" surely some mistake here, gentlemen," in an unctuous, make-everything-easy voice "I fancy that misdirected Possibly tried farther down the street-"

" do; no time to waste," said my companion firmly " Henry Peters, of Adelaide, late the Rev Dr Shlessinger, of Baden and South America as sure my own name is Sherlock Holmes "

Peters, as now call him, started and stared hard at his formidable pursuer "I guess frighten me, Mr Holmes," said he coolly "When man's conscience is easy 't rattle him your business in my house ? "

" what you Lady Frances Carfax, whom you brought away from Baden "

"I'd be tell me where that lady ," Peters answered coolly "I've bill against her for nearly hundred pounds, and nothing to show but couple of trumpery pendants dealer would hardly look at She attached herself to Mrs Peters and me at Baden- fact that using another name - and she stuck on until we came to London I paid her bill and her ticket Once in London, she the slip, and, as , left these out-of-date jewels her bills You find her, Mr Holmes, and I'm your debtor "

"I mean her," said Sherlock Holmes "I'm going house till find her "

"Where is your warrant ? "

Holmes half drew revolver pocket " have till better one comes "

"Why, common burglar "

"So describe me," said Holmes cheerfully "My companion is also dangerous ruffian And together going through your house "

Our opponent opened the door

"Fetch policeman, Annie ! " said he whisk of feminine skirts down the passage, hall door was opened and shut

"Our time is limited, Watson," said Holmes " try to stop us, Peters, most certainly get hurt Where coffin brought into your house ? "

"What coffin ? in use body "

" see that body "

"Never with my consent "

"Then without it " With quick movement Holmes pushed the fellow to one side and passed hall door half opened stood immediately We entered It dining-room table, under half-lit chandelier, the coffin was lying Holmes turned up the gas and raised the lid Deep down recesses coffin lay an emaciated figure The glare lights above beat down upon an aged and withered face By no possible process of cruelty, starvation, or disease could this wornout wreck be the still beautiful Lady Frances Holmes's face showed his amazement and also his relief

"Thank God ! " he muttered "It's someone else "

"Ah, you've blundered badly for once, Mr Sherlock Holmes," said Peters, who had followed us room

"Who dead woman ? "

"Well, really must know, an old nurse wife's, Rose Spender by name, whom Brixton Workhouse Infirmary We brought her round here, called in Dr Horsom, of 13 Firbank Villas- mind you address, Mr Holmes- and had her carefully tended, as Christian folk should third day she died- certificate says senile decay- but that's only the doctor's opinion, and better We ordered her funeral carried out by Stimson and Co , Kennington Road, bury her at eight o'clock to-morrow morning pick any hole , Mr Holmes ? You've made silly blunder, and own up I'd give something for photograph of your gaping, staring face pulled aside that lid expecting the Lady Frances Carfax and only found poor old woman of ninety "

Holmes's expression was as impassive as ever under the jeers antagonist, but his clenched hands betrayed his acute annoyance

" going through your house," said he