“ ‘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.