"To Miss Marie Devine. There is nothing to show where the check
was drawn. It was cashed at the Credit Lyonnais at Montpellier
less than three weeks ago. The sum was fifty pounds."

"And who is Miss Marie Devine?"

"That also I have been able to discover. Miss Marie Devine was
the maid of Lady Frances Carfax. Why she should have paid her
this check we have not yet determined. I have no doubt, however,
that your researches will soon clear the matter up."

"MY researches!"

"Hence the health-giving expedition to Lausanne. You know that I
cannot possibly leave London while old Abrahams is in such mortal
terror of his life. Besides, on general principles it is best
that I should not leave the country. Scotland Yard feels lonely
without me, and it causes an unhealthy excitement among the
criminal classes. Go, then, my dear Watson, and if my humble
counsel can ever be valued at so extravagant a rate as two pence
a word, it waits your disposal night and day at the end of the
Continental wire."

Two days later found me at the Hotel National at Lausanne, where
I received every courtesy at the hands of M. Moser, the well-
known manager. Lady Frances, as he informed me, had stayed there
for several weeks. She had been 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 a very lovely woman. M.
Moser knew nothing of any valuable jewellery, but it had been