One towel passed round the throat and was secured at the back of the pillar.

Another covered the lower part of the face, and over it two dark eyes--eyes full of grief and shame and a dreadful questioning--stared back at us.

In a minute we had torn off the gag, unswathed the bonds, and Mrs.
Stapleton sank upon the floor in front of us.

As her beautiful head fell upon her chest I saw the clear red weal of a whiplash across her neck.
"The brute!" cried Holmes.

"Here, Lestrade, your brandy-bottle! Put her in the chair! She has fainted from ill-usage and exhaustion." She opened her eyes again.
"Is he safe ?" she asked.