From a manuscript believed to be the work of John H. Watson, MD The summer of 1897 brings visitors flocking to London for Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. With them comes a Russian nobleman, as well as an English lady from Canada. This lady calls on Holmes and Watson for their assistance in dealing with strangers who are following her. The mystery deepens when Holmes recognizes one of them as the head of Russian Intelligence in London. What dreadful deed occurred on the plains of Russia more than twenty years before? What has a charitable lady in Sussex, whose fianc? was murdered years ago, got to do with it all? Danger escalates as Holmes investigates, until he is forced to find an unusual refuge for his client.