Holmes pushed back the black lace which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five livid red spots, marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed on the white wrist.

"You have been cruelly used" said Holmes.

The lady coloured deeply and covered over the 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 hand and stared into the crackling fire. "This is a very deep business "he said at last." There are a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If we were to come to your premises today, would it be possible for us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your stepfather?"