49014 She glanced at them, and then looked up at us with the set, rigid face of a desperate woman.
49015 'Mr Holmes,' she said, 'this man had offered me marriage on condition that I could get a divorce from my husband.
49016 He has lied to me, the villain, in every conceivable way.
49017 Not one word of truth has he ever told me.
49018 And why - why?
49019 I imagined that all was for my own sake.
49020 But now I see that I was never anything but a tool in his hands.
49021 Why should I preserve faith with him who never kept any with me?
49022 Why should I try to shield him from the consequences of his own wicked acts?
49023 Ask me what you like, and there is nothing which I shall hold back.
49024 One thing I swear to you, and that is, that when I wrote the letter I never dreamed of any harm to the old gentleman, who had been my kindest friend.'
49025 'I entirely believe you, madam,' said Sherlock Holmes.
49026 'The recital of these events must be very painful to you, and perhaps it will make it easier if I tell you what occurred, and you can check me if I make any material mistake.
49027 The sending of this letter was suggested to you by Stapleton?'