remarked by the servants that the heavy trunk in the lady's
bedroom was always scrupulously locked. Marie Devine, the maid,
was as popular as her mistress. She was actually engaged to one
of the head waiters in the hotel, and there was no difficulty in
getting her address. It was 11 Rue de Trajan, Montpellier. All
this I jotted down and felt that Holmes himself could not have
been more adroit in collecting his facts.

Only one corner still remained in the shadow. No light which I
possessed could clear up the cause for the lady's sudden
departure. She was very happy at Lausanne. There was every
reason to believe that she intended to remain for the season in
her luxurious rooms overlooking the lake. And yet she had left
at a single day's notice, which involved her in the useless
payment of a week's rent. Only Jules Vibart, the lover of the
maid, had any suggestion to offer. He connected the sudden
departure with the visit to the hotel a day or two before of a
tall, dark, bearded man. "Un sauvage--un veritable sauvage!"
cried Jules Vibart. The man had rooms somewhere in the town. He
had been seen talking earnestly to Madame on the promenade by the
lake. Then he had called. She had refused to see him. He was
English, but of his name there was no record. Madame had left
the place immediately afterwards. Jules Vibart, and, what was of
more importance, Jules Vibart's sweetheart, thought that this
call and the departure were cause and effect. Only one thing
Jules would not discuss. That was the reason why Marie had left
her mistress. Of that he could or would say nothing. If I
wished to know, I must go to Montpellier and ask her.

So ended the first chapter of my inquiry. The second was devoted