The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger by Arthur Conan Doyle

An aging woman, once a celebrated circus performer, lives in seclusion with her face veiled after a violent incident years earlier. She confesses to Holmes a tale of betrayal, cruelty, and a failed murder plot involving her husband and a wild animal act. The plot is more revelation than investigation, centered on trauma and personal tragedy. Holmes offers quiet understanding rather than judgment. A somber, reflective story about justice and the scars of the past.