Our visitor's hand was on her knee. Holmes pushed up the lace of her sleeve. On her wrist were five little red spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb.

"He has been cruel" to you," said Holmes.

The lady blushed, and put her hand over her injured wrist. "He is a hard man ", she said, "and perhaps he doesn't know his own strength."

Holmes put his chin on his hand and stared into the fire. There was a long silence. Finally Holmes said 'This is a very deep business. There are a thousand details which I need to know before I decide what we should do. But we do not have very much time. If we come to your house today, can we look at your rooms without your stepfather knowing? "