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.

"Has he escaped ?" "He cannot escape us, madam." "No, no, I did not mean my husband.

Sir Henry?
Is he safe ?" "Yes." "And the hound ?" "It is dead." She gave a long sigh of satisfaction.
"Thank God! Thank God! Oh, this villain! See how he has treated me!" She shot her arms out from her sleeves, and we saw with horror that they were all mottled with bruises.