? ? ? ? As we emerged from the sitting-room a woman, who had been waiting in the passage, took a step forward and laid her hand upon the inspector's sleeve. Her face was haggard and thin and eager, stamped with the print of a recent horror.
? ? ? ? "Have you got them? Have you found them?" she panted.
? ? ? ? "No, Mrs. Straker. But Mr. Holmes here has come from London to help us, and we shall do all that is possible."
? ? ? ? "Surely I met you in Plymouth at a garden-party some little time ago, Mrs. Straker?" said Holmes.
? ? ? ? "No, sir; you are mistaken."
? ? ? ? "Dear me! Why, I could have sworn to it. You wore a costume of dove-coloured silk with ostrich-feather trimming."
? ? ? ? "I never had such a dress, sir," answered the lady.
? ? ? ? "Ah, that quite settles it," said Holmes. And with an apology he followed the inspector outside. A short walk across the moor took us to the hollow in which the body had been found. At the brink of it was the furze-bush upon which the coat had been hung.
? ? ? ? "There was no wind that night, I understand," said Holmes.
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