"Madam," said Sherlock Holmes "my profession is its own reward; but you can pay whatever expenses I may have, at the time which suits you best. But now I ask that you lay before us everything that will help us to form an opinion upon the matter".

"Alas!" replied our visitor, "the horror of my situation lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, my suspicion depends so entirely on small points, which might seem trivial to someone else, and even that person who, of all others, I have a right to look to for help and advice thinks that everything I tell him are the worries of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can read it from his manner. Mr Holmes you must tell me how to walk among the dangers which surround me."

"I will do everything I can," said Holmes.

The young lady seemed to have recovered from her distress somewhat, and now, after taking a deep breath, she launched into an explanation of what had brought her to us that morning.