“ ‘You can do no good by this obstinacy. Who are you?’
“ ‘I care not. I am a stranger in London.’
“ ‘Your fate will be upon your own head. How long have you been here?’
“ ‘Let it be so. Three weeks.’
“ ‘The property can never be yours. What ails you?’
“ ‘It shall not go to villains. They are starving me.’
“ ‘You shall go free if you sign. What house is this?’
“ ‘I will never sign. I do not know.’
“ ‘You are not doing her any service. What is your name?’
“ ‘Let me hear her say so. Kratides.’
“ ‘You shall see her if you sign. Where are you from?’
“ ‘Then I shall never see her. Athens.’
“Another five minutes, Mr. Holmes, and I should have wormed out the whole story under their very noses. My very next question might have cleared the matter up, but at that instant the door opened and a woman stepped into the room. I could not see her clearly enough to know more than that she was tall and graceful, with black hair, and clad in some sort of loose white gown.
“ ‘Harold,’ said she, speaking English with a broken accent. ‘I could not stay away longer. It is so lonely up there with only—Oh, my God, it is Paul!’
“These last words were in Greek, and at the same instant the man with a convulsive effort tore the plaster from his lips, and screaming out ‘Sophy!