1911

"But why Turkish ? " asked Mr Sherlock Holmes, gazing fixedly at my boots reclining in cane-backed chair moment, and my protruded feet had attracted his ever-active attention

"English," I answered in some surprise "I got them at Latimer's, in Oxford Street "

Holmes smiled with an expression of weary patience

"The bath ! " ; "the bath ! Why the relaxing and expensive Turkish rather invigorating home-made article ? "

"Because feeling rheumatic and old Turkish bath is what we call an alterative in medicine- fresh starting-point, cleanser system

" , Holmes," I added, " the connection between my boots and Turkish bath is perfectly self-evident one to logical mind, and yet obliged indicate it "

"The train of reasoning very obscure, Watson," said Holmes with mischievous twinkle "It belongs same elementary class of deduction which illustrate if I were to who shared your cab in your drive "

"I don't admit that fresh illustration is an explanation," said I with some asperity

"Bravo, Watson ! very dignified and logical remonstrance Let me see, what were the points ? last one first- the cab You observe that some splashes left sleeve and shoulder of your coat Had you sat centre of hansom probably no splashes, and had certainly symmetrical Therefore clear that you sat side Therefore equally clear that you had companion "

" very evident "

"Absurdly commonplace, not ? "

"But the boots bath ? "

"Equally childish habit of doing up your boots in certain way them occasion fastened with an elaborate double bow, not your usual method of tying them , therefore, had them off Who has tied them ? bootmaker- or the boy bath unlikely the bootmaker, since your boots are nearly new Well, what remains ? The bath Absurd, not ? But, for all that, the Turkish bath has served purpose "

"What ? "

"You say that it because change Let me you take one How would Lausanne do, my dear Watson- first-class tickets and all expenses paid on princely scale ? "

"Splendid ! But why ? "

Holmes leaned back armchair and took his notebook pocket

" dangerous classes ," said he, " drifting and friendless woman the most harmless and often the most useful of mortals, but the inevitable inciter of crime in others helpless migratory She has sufficient means her from country to country and from hotel to hotel lost, as often as not, in maze of obscure pensions and boarding-houses stray chicken in world of foxes When gobbled up hardly missed I much fear that some evil Lady Frances Carfax "

relieved sudden descent general particular Holmes consulted his notes

"Lady Frances," he continued, " sole survivor direct family late Earl of Rufton The estates went, remember, male line She was left with limited means, but with some very remarkable old Spanish jewellery of silver and curiously cut diamonds she was fondly attached- too attached, for she refused to leave them with her banker and always carried them about with her rather pathetic figure, the Lady Frances, beautiful woman, still in fresh middle age, and yet, by strange chance, the last derelict of what only twenty was goodly fleet "

"What has happened to her, then ? "

"Ah, what has happened Lady Frances ? Is she alive or dead ? our problem lady of precise habits, and for four years her invariable custom to write every second week to Miss Dobney, her old governess, who has long retired and lives in Camberwell It Miss Dobney who has consulted me Nearly five weeks have passed without word The last letter was Hotel National at Lausanne Lady Frances seems left there and given no address The family are anxious, and exceedingly wealthy no sum spared clear the matter up "

"Is Miss Dobney the only source of information ? Surely she had other correspondents ? "

" one correspondent sure draw, Watson bank Single ladies must live, and their passbooks are compressed diaries She banks at Silvester's glanced over her account The last check but one paid her bill at Lausanne, but large one and probably left her with cash in hand check drawn since "

" , and where ? "

"To Miss Marie Devine nothing to show where the check was drawn cashed Credit Lyonnais at Montpellier three The sum was fifty Pounds "

"And Miss Marie Devine ? "

"That also to discover Miss Marie Devine maid of Lady Frances Carfax Why she paid her this check determined , however, that your researches will soon clear the matter up "

"My researches ! "

"Hence the health-giving expedition to Lausanne that possibly leave London while old Abrahams is mortal terror life Besides, on general principles best that I leave the country Scotland Yard feels lonely without me, and it causes an unhealthy excitement criminal classes Go, then, my dear Watson, and humble counsel can ever be valued at so extravagant rate as two pence word, it waits your disposal night and day end Continental wire "

Two days later found me Hotel National at Lausanne, where I received every courtesy hands of M Moser, the well-known manager Lady Frances, as he informed me, had stayed there for several weeks She much liked by all who met her Her age was not more than forty She was still handsome and bore every sign of having in her youth been very lovely woman M Moser knew nothing of any valuable jewellery, but it remarked servants heavy trunk lady's bedroom was always scrupulously locked Marie Devine, the maid, was as popular as her mistress She was actually engaged to head waiters hotel, and no difficulty in getting her address 11 Rue de Trajan, Montpellier All this I jotted down and felt that Holmes himself more adroit in collecting his facts

corner still remained shadow No light which I possessed could clear up the cause lady's sudden departure She was very happy at Lausanne every reason that she intended to remain season in her luxurious rooms overlooking the lake And yet she had left at single day's notice, which involved her useless payment of week's rent Only Jules Vibart, the lover maid, had any suggestion to offer He connected the sudden departure visit hotel before of tall, dark, bearded man 'Un savage- un veritable savage ! ' cried Jules Vibart The man had rooms somewhere town He seen talking earnestly to Madame promenade lake Then he had called She had refused him English, but name no record Madame had left the place immediately afterwards Jules Vibart, and, of more importance, Jules Vibart's sweetheart, thought call and this departure were cause and effect Only Jules discuss That reason why Marie had left her mistress or would say nothing If I wished , go to Montpellier and ask her

So ended the first chapter inquiry The second was devoted place which Lady Frances Carfax had sought when she left Lausanne Concerning this there some secrecy, which confirmed the idea that she had gone intention of throwing someone off her track Otherwise why her luggage openly labelled for Baden ? Both she and it reached the Rhenish spa by some circuitous route This much I gathered 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 telegram of half-humorous commendation