forever. Dr. Shlessinger had paid the bill of the whole party
before his departure.

"By the way," said the landlord in conclusion, "you are not the
only friend of Lady Frances Carfax who is inquiring after her
just now. Only a week or so ago we had a man here upon the same
errand."

"Did he give a name?" I asked.

"None; but he was an Englishman, though of an unusual type."

"A savage?" said I, linking my facts after the fashion of my
illustrious friend.

"Exactly. That describes him very well. He is a bulky, bearded,
sunburned fellow, who looks as if he would be more at home in a
farmers' inn than in a fashionable hotel. A hard, fierce man, I
should think, and one whom I should be sorry to offend."

Already the mystery began to define itself, as figures grow
clearer with the lifting of a fog. Here was this good and pious
lady pursued from place to place by a sinister and unrelenting
figure. She feared him, or she would not have fled from
Lausanne. He had still followed. Sooner or later he would
overtake her. Had he already overtaken her? Was THAT the secret
of her continued silence? Could the good people who were her
companions not screen her from his violence or his blackmail?
What horrible purpose, what deep design, lay behind this long
pursuit? There was the problem which I had to solve.