Lady Molly of Scotland Yard

I could say a lot, of course, but Òmy lips are sealed,Ó as the poets say. All through her successful career at the Yard she honoured me with her friendship and confidence, but when she took me in partnership, as it were, she made me promise that I would never breathe a word of her private life, and this I swore on my Bible oathÑÒwish I may die,Ó and all the rest of it.

Yes, we always called her Òmy lady,Ó from the moment that she was put at the head of our section; and the chief called her ÒLady MollyÓ in our presence. We of the Female Department are dreadfully snubbed by the men, though donÕt tell me that women have not ten times as much intuition as the blundering and sterner sex; my firm belief is that we shouldnÕt have half so many undetected crimes if some of the so-called mysteries were put to the test of feminine investigation.

Do you suppose for a moment, for instance, that the truth about that extraordinary case at Ninescore would ever have come to light if the men alone had had the handling of it? Would any man have taken so bold a risk as Lady Molly did whenÑÑ But I am anticipating.

Let me go back to that memorable morning when she came into my room in a wild state of agitation.

ÒThe chief says I may go down to Ninescore if I like, Mary,Ó she said in a voice all a-quiver with excitement.

ÒYou!Ó I ejaculated. ÒWhat for?Ó

ÒWhat forÑwhat for?Ó she repeated eagerly. ÒMary, donÕt you understand? It is the chance I have been waiting forÑthe chance of a lifetime? They are all desperate about the case up at the Yard; the public is furious, and columns of sarcastic letters appear in the daily press. None of our men know what to do; they are at their witsÕ end, and so this morning I went to the chiefÑÑÓ

ÒYes?Ó I queried eagerly, for she had suddenly ceased speaking.

ÒWell, never mind now how I did itÑI will tell you all about it on the way, for we have just got time to catch the 11 a.m. down to Canterbury. The chief says I may go, and that I may take whom I like with me. He suggested one of the men, but somehow I feel that this is womanÕs work, and IÕd rather have you, Mary, than anyone. We will go over the preliminaries of the case together in the train, as I donÕt suppose that you have got them at your fingersÕ ends yet, and you have only just got time to put a few things together and meet me at Charing Cross booking-office in time for that 11.0 sharp.Ó