Order 539016: Final Paper

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The Lor t Simoni marriage, and its curious termination, have long since ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles in which the unfbrtunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to believe, however, that the full facl~ have never been revealed to the general public, and as my fricnd Sherlock Holmes had a considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no memoir of him would be complete without some little ~ketch of this remarkable episode.

It was a few weeks before my own malTiage,2 during the days when I was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs3 as a relic of my Afghan campaign, throbbed with dull persistency. With my body in one easy chair and my legs upon another, I had surrounded myself with a cloud ofnewspapers, until at last, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the envelope upon the table, and wondering lazily who my friend's .!:oble correspondent could be.

'Here is a very fashionable epistle,' I remarked as he entered. 'Your morning's letters, if I remember right, were from a fishmonger and a tide-waiter. '4

'Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety,' he answered, smiling, 'and the humbler are usually the more interesting.

T:

like one ofth eitlter to be the seal, ar

-c it may pI lO'" , ,

'at then?~,\\OCl, • ~: dj,1lncdyprofel : dfroIll anoble c

i:\11 fthe bighest, {jr,eo ~\!~ (\eat fellow, I c I'i~reyou) Watl littlt~amatter ones i· poSlible,howev!

. You ha

110t?' ; , . , 5' ?,It looks like It, ' 1~~er. ,\ have had n ~ 'It ~ fortunate, fOl t'lhing except the CI It;,'l'l instructive. 1: J:l\Imust have read , 'Oh, yes, with tht J 'That ~ well. Th ;! _.1 will read it t lmdletmehave wh

~\y dear Mr Sher lcrdBackwatef

: /!flllent and discn ID CIlIllult you in reI

(_elton with my' millematter, but he

.00 that he even tb o'clock in the after

time,l hope you w Yours faithfu\l1

ROSERT ST Sl~

ted

Is have eclj",,&l . • !:'''''"~ IpS awayITomlhi! however,lhat fbt )U?Jic, and<jS my e In clearing fbt complete with(I!Jr

!1g the daYnl'heu et, thath~;camt table wairingJor ler hadtaRCn a the jezailbullet

ic ofmy Afgh~ ody in OJl(IZ@asy dfwithacloud heday)I~r:d Indmonogr~ azily wholJly

ntered. 'Your nongeranda

e variety,~be : interesnug.

THE NOB I.E BACTiELOR

Thi~ looks like one of those unwelcome social summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie.'

He broke the seal, and glanced over the contents. 'Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest after alL' 'I'\ol social, then?' 'No, distinctly professional.' 'And from a noble client?' 'One of the highest in England.' 'My dear fellow, I congratulate you.' 'I assure you, ''''atson, without affectation, that the status of my

client is a matter ofless moment to me than the interest of his case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be wanting in this lIew investigation. You have been reading the pap<:rs diligently of late, have you nolf'

'It looks like it,' said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the comer. 'I have had nothing else to do.'

'It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I read nothing except the criminal neViS and the agony column. The latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent events so closely you must have read about Lord St Simon and his wedding?'

'011, yes, with the deepest interest.' 'That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord St

Simon. I will read itto you, and in retum you must tum over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. This is what he says:

My dear Mr Sherlock Holmes,

Lord Backwater' tells me that I may place implicit reliance upon your judgement and discretion. I have determined, therefore, to caU upon you, and to consult you ill reference to the very painful event which has occurred in connection with my wedding. Mr Lestrade, ofScotland Yard, is acting already

in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that it might be of some assistance. I will call at four

o'clock in the arternoon, ,md should you have any other engagement at that

time, I hope you will postpone it, as this is a matter ofparamount importance. Yours faithfidly,

ROBERT ST SIMON

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

'It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions,6 vvritten with a quill pen, and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink upon the outer side of his right little finger,' remarked Holmes, as he folded up the epistle.

'He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an hour.' 'Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the

subject. Turn over those papers, and arrange the extracts in uleir order of time, whilc I take a glance as to who our client is.' He picked a red-covered volume7 [rom a line of books of reference beside the mantelpiece. 'Here he is,' said he, sitting down and flattening it out upon his knee. '''Robert Walsingham de Vere St Simon, second SOil of the Duke of Balmoral" Hum! "Arms: Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable.a Born in r846." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Under-Secretary for the Colonies in a late Administration. The Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the distaff side. 9 Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in all this. I think I must turn to you, Watson, lor something more solid.'

'I have very little diffieulty in finding what I want,' said I, '[or the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew that you had an inquiry on hand, and that you disliked the intrusion of other matters.'

'Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square 10 furni­ ture van. That is quite cleared up now - though, indeed, it was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your newspaper selections.'

'Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal column of the Morning Post,!1 and dates, as you see, some weeks back. "A marriage has been arranged," it says, "and will, if rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert St Simon, second son of the Duke of Balm oral, and Miss Hatty Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran, Esq., of San Francisco, Cal., U.S.A .. " That is all.'

'Terse and to the point,' remarked Holmes, stretching his long thin legs towards the fire.

'There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society papers of thc same week. Ah, here it is. "There will soon be a call for

206

:Jflltection in t ~ars to te management h.nds of oul addition has 1

have been bl whO has sho ..orl'sarrows ,"" M' 1:"iili. ISS millionaire. attracted m only child, considerabl jt~ an ope seRhis pict property a tbatthe C. will enabl Republica

'Anyth 'Ohyt

s~ thatf be at St ( friends v fumishc{ Aloysius ~ a curt the han Peters!it disappe

'Bdi 'Thl 'Wl 'At 'Inl

dram!

= THE NOBLE BACHELOR

protection in the marriage market, for the present free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from aeross the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last week to the list of prizes whieh have been horne away by these eham1ing invaders. Lord St Simon, who has shown himself lor over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss I-latty Doran, the fascinating daughter of a Californian millionaire. Miss Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much attention at the Westbury House l2 festivities, is an only child, and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balm oral has been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, and as Lord St Simon has no property of his own, save the small estate of Birch moor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady Lo a British title." ,

'Anything else?' asked Holmes, yawning. 'Oh yes; plenty. Then tl1cre is another note in the Morning Post to

say that the mal'1'iagc would be an absolutely quiet one, that it would be at St Gt:orge's, Hanover Square,]3 that only half a dozen intimate friends would be invited, and that the parly would return to the furnished house at Lancaster GatcH which has been taken by Mr A10Yllius Doran. Two days later -- that is, on Wednesday last - there is a curt announcement that the wedding had taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord Backwater's place, near Pctersficld. 15 Those arc all the notices which appeared before the disappearance of the bride.'

'Before the what?' asked Holmes, with a start. 'The vanishing of the lady.' 'When did she vanish, then?' 'At the wedding breakfast.' 'Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite

dramatic, in fact.'

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES I 'Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common.' 'They often vanish before the ceremony, and occ<l;.sio!'!l:\llLduring

the honeymoon; but I eannot call to mind anything quite so P~;;Pt as this. Pray let me have the details.'

'1 warn you that they are very incomplete.' 'Perhaps we may make them less so.' 'Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a morning

newspaper of yesterday, whieh I will read to you. It is headed, "Singu­ lar Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding":

, "The family of Lord Robert St Simon has been thrown into the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what is a common subject for conversation.

, "The ceremony, which was performed at St George's, Hanover Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the father of the bride, Mr Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St Simon (the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Mr Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been prepared. It appears that some little trouble had been caused by a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to force her way into the house alter the bridal party, alleging that she had some claim upon Lord St Simon. It was only after a painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition, and retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some comment, her father followed her; but learned from her maid that she had only come up to her chamber for an

208

! in~tant, caul , passage. Or,

the house t1 ! mistress, be

his daughte ~ith the bI with the pc "111 probal business. lJ

as to the w play in the o[the wor that, from cemed in

'Andi! 'Only

suggesUVI 'Andi 'That

has actlll at the All There al now - sc

'And have mi as the c this will for I ve memor

'L01 the dOl nosed: and w hade' andy he h~

THE NOBLE BACHELOR

cornl1lon,,

1d~OCGa8ii:maJl . thin~

leen 'LO"~.' , uw ""I1iIi)~

eplsodeswhjch~

:erernony, '1lS8~ ~~ onthepmila llbleto c0nfinnli: r lioating aboll( h 1atter tip, SGmud good PUrpOlf I:liJ

mmon subject h '

) , ,eorge s, HanOl'er nt save the father f Ba1Jnoral)laoJ :o~ (the YOlJJJgtt lCla Whittinglon. e ofMrAloysius !en prepared. II 1 WOl1lan\wbOlt o force berwlv had sofue'da~ lrolonged:sl)elle rhe bride,fwho It interruption, mplained'ofa mged absence :j but ld&ned unberfotii'an

instant, caught up an ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus apparelled: but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his daughter had disappeared, Mr Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with the bridegroom, instantly put themselves into communication with the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There are rumours offoul play in the matter, and it is said that the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some other motive, she may have been con­ cerned in the strange disappearance of the bride.'"

'And is that all?' 'Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is a

suggestive one.' 'And it is?' 'That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance,

has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a danseuse at the Allegro, and that she had known the bridegroom for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole case is in your hands now -~ so far as it has been set forth in the public press.'

'And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not dream ofgoing, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, if only as a check to my own memory.'

'Lord Robert St Simon,' announced our page-boy, throwing open the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, high­ nosed and pale, with something perhaps ofpetulance about the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance g',ive an undue impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop, and a little bend of the knees as he

THE ADVENTCRES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

walked. His hair, too, as he swept off his curly brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges, and thin upon the top. As to his dress, it was carcfid to the verge of foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured

gaiters. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left

to right, and s\\inging in his right hand the cord which held his golden

eye-glasses. 'Good day, Lord St Simon,' said Holmes, rising and bowing. 'Pray

take the basket chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we shall talk this matter over.'

'A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, ~Ir Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand you have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of society.'

'No, I am descending.' 'I beg pardon?' 'My last client of the sort was a king.' 'Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?' 'The King of Scandinavia.' III

'What! Had he lost his wife?' 'You can understand,' said Holmes suavely, 'that I extend to the

alt1.irs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to you in yours.'

'Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may assist you in forming an opinion.'

'Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct - this article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride.'

Lord St Simon glanced over it. 'Yes, it is correct, as far as it goes.' 'But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could

offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most directly by questioning you.'

'Pray do so.'

'When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?' 'In San Francisco, a year ago.'

210

-YoU were ·Yes.' 'Oidyou t ·No.' 'But you \ 'I was atn 'Herfafu 'He is sm 'Andho, 'In mini!

inl'ested it,; 'Now,w

\\ife's chat! The nor

the fire. 'Y her father mining ca her educa roaster. 81 lI'ildand t volcanic, fearless ir not have gave a Iii nohlewa anything

'Havt '1 bre

full face miniatu blackh~

loogan to Lore

'Th acquai

lYe

Iy brinlllJed ha Ast h' IIIo IS dress '

Uar, bJac.kfi}4l fvtl1llit

~S, andlight.co~ ng his head &om~ 'hich heldh~~

gand bOwing, 'lIJi" eague, Dr Wal$t Clatter over;'

eadily imagine, ~ • j you Irave~ 1 19h I p.reSUllJe ~ •

t I extend to the romisetbyou fu

ardon, AlLt6my 'hich may,assis/

e publicprintl, this article; for

far asit'grres.' anyonefcolJ1d )st direc~iby

THE NOBLE BACHELOR

'You were travelling in the States?'

'Yes.' 'Did you become engaged then?' 'No.' 'But you were on a friendly footing?' 'I was amused by her society, and she could see that I wa~ amused.' 'Her father is very rich?' 'He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific Slope.' 'And how did he make his money?' 'In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he stmck gold,

invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds.' 'Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's - your

wife's character?' The nobleman S\Vl.mg his glasses a little faster and stared down into

the fire. 'You see, Mr Holmes,' said he, 'my wife was twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she ran free in a mining camp, and wandered through woods or mountains, so that her education has come from nature rather than from the school­ master. She is what we call in England a tomboy, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of traditions. She is impetuous -. volcanic, I was about to say. She is swift in making up her mind, and fearless in carrying out her resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the name which I have the honour to bear' (he gave a little stately cough) 'had I not thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I believe she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice, and that anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her.'

'Have you her photograph?' 'I brought this with me.' He opened a locket, and showed us the

full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph, but an ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St Simon.

'The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your acquaintance?'

'Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I met

Ill!

bel' several times, beeam(~ ellgng(~d 10 11l~1', and have now married her.'

'She brought, I undel'~tatld, a cOllsiderahle dowry.' 'A fair dowry. Not lllon~ than is usual in Illy liUllily.' 'And this, or course, remaills to YOll, sillce tlB' marriage is afait

accompli?' 'I really have macle IlO inquiries on tile slll~jn~t.' 'Very naturally HOt. Did YOlllwe Miss Doran 0I111u," day belare the

wedding?' 'Yes.' 'Was she in good spiritsi!' 'Never belter. She kept talkillf!; ofwlml we ~h()llJd do in our future

lives.' 'Incleed. That is VCIY illteresting. And 011 the mOl'llillg of the

wedding?' 'She was as bright tU\ possihle .. at least, lIlllil aile!' the ceremony.' 'And did YOll observe ally dumg(: itl her tlwui" 'Well, to tell the truth, I saw then tlw first signs Ihal I had ever seen

that her temper was just a littl<: sharp. 'rIw illeid(~llt, how(~ver, was too tl'ivial to relate, and can have lIO posHiblc lwariul-{ UPOIl the case.'

'Pray let llS have it, f()r all that.' 'Oh, it is childish. Sht: dropped her bO\lC}lWt as WI: went towards

the vestry. She was pasl;ing the thmt pew at the time, alld it lell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the gelltlt~lmm in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not appear to hI: the worse [or the lalL Yet, when I spoke to her or tlH' malter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on (lUI' way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trilling caust:.'

'Indeed. You say that tlWl'C waH a gentlenulIl ill the pew, Some of the general public were present, then:)'

'Oh, yes. Itis impossible to exclude them when tlw church is open.' 'This gentleman was not ont: of your wile's IHendsi)' 'No, no; I call him a gentleman by COUl'lcsy, but he was quite u

common-looking person. I hardly notked hi~ appearallce. But really I think that we arc wandering rathel' lhr Ii'om the point.'

'Lady St Simon, 17 then, returned from thewec1dillg in a less cheerful

2t2

Illd have now • ~

dowry.' 'family.'

the marriage ~ l * .'

:ct.'

on the daYbefore~

::>uJd do in our t. rUw;;

the morning of IiJt

~er the ce!'ell1ony.' .

that I had ever~ t, however, lI'a!lIIl ~pon the case,'

1we Went tOl'll'lil ne, and it fell over , gentleman in the lr to be the worse she answered me seemed absurrlJy

he pew. Some of

ch \lrchisopen.' ?'

he was quite a mee. Butreally t.'

t a less cheerful

THE NOBLE BACHELOR

frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do on re-entering her father's house?'

'I saw her in conversation with her maid.' 'And who is her maid?'

'Alice is her name. She is an American, and came from California with her.'

'A confidential servant?'

'A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they look upon these things in a different way.'

'How long did she speak to this Alice?' 'Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of.' 'You did not overhear what they said?' 'Lady St Simon said something about 'jumping a claim".18 She

was accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she meant.'

'American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your wife do when she had finished speaking to her maid?'

'She walked into the breakfast-room.' 'On your arm?' 'No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that.

Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose hurriedly, uttered some words of apology, and left the room. She never came back.'

'But this maid Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a bonnet, and went out.'

'Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park19

in company with Bora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who had already made a disturbance at Mr Doran's house that morning.'

'Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, and your relations to her.'

Lord St Simon shrugged his shoulders, and raised his eyebrows. 'We have been on a friendly footing for some years I may say on a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have not treated

213

her ungenerously, and she has no just calise or complaillt uRainst me, but you know what women cm~, MI' Ho!nwH. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed, anel devotedly attached to me, She wrote me dreadlul \etters wlwn she Iward that r wall to he married, and to tell the truth the reason why I bacl til(' marriage cdcbrated so quietly was that I feared lest there mig-ht be a scandal ill the church, She came to Mr Doran's door just after we rt~turned, and she endeav­ oured to push her way in, uttcTing very abusive expn~ssiollS towards my wife, and even threatening' her, but I had nJl'(:lie{~ll the possihility of something or the sort, and I had given instructions to the servants, who soon pushed her out again. She waH quiet when she saw thal there was no good in making- a row.'

'Didyoul" wire hear all thisil ' 'No, thank goodness, she did not. ' 'And she was seen walking with this wry womal1 aflerwards?' 'Yes, That is what Mr Lestradc~, or 1-kollund Yanl, looks UPOll as

so serious. It is thought that Flora decoy(~d my will.: out, and laid some terrible trap for her.'

'Well, it is a possiblc supposition.' 'You thillkso, too?' 'I did not say a probable one. But you do not your::;drJook upon

this as likely?' 'I donot think F10ra would hllrt": lly.' 'Stifldealousy . a strang~;tr~l';·~i~;;·mel' of'dmmcters. Pray what is

your own theory as to what took place':" 'Well, really, I came to seck a them,)" not to propoulld o1le. I have

givcn you all the facts. Since you ask me, 1l()\V('vel', I may say that it has occurred to me a.~ possible that tll(' t'xciwment or this aflhir, the consciousness that she had made so itml1en::;e a social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous disturbal1(:e ill my wili:.'

'In short, that she had become suddenly d(~rang('diP 'Well, really, when I consider that Hht haii tlll'rwc1 her back I will

not say upon me, but upon so mueh thatlllany have aspirerlto without success - I can hardly explain it in nlly other lhshioll.'

'Well, certainly that is also n conceivable hYP<lthesis,' said Holmes, smiling. 'And now, Lord St Simon, I think that I have nearly all my

I afierwards?' rd, looks upon & ,ut, andlaid_

urselfloohpon

rs. Pray wh'alil

lUd one.lh'a\~ may say that it .tills affair, the stride, had the wife.'

r hack ",Iwill 'ed to MtlJOUl

laid l!Iobnes, learlya:lJ,clny

THE NOBLE BACHELOR

data. May I ask whether you were seated at the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?'

'We could see the other side of the road, and thc Park.' 'Quite so. Then I do not think that I need detain you any longer. I

shall communicate with you.' 'Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem,' said our

client, rising. 'I have solved it.' 'Eh? What was that?' 'I say that 1 have solved it.' 'Where, then, is my wife?' 'That is a detail which I shall speedily supply.' Lord 8t Simon shook his head. '1 am afraid that it will take WL<;er

heads than yours or mine,' he remarked, and bowing in a stately, old-fashioned manner, he departed.

'It is very good ofLordSt Simon!o)lo.Il()!:!E!!lY head by putting it on .aJ~.\,el :With his OW?} said Shefi~~k Holmes, la~ghi;:;g:'rthinKlhat I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all this cross­ questioning. 1 had formed my conclusions as to the case before our client came into the room.'

'My dear Holmes!' 'I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I remarked

before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example.'20

'But 1 have heard all that you have heard.' 'Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which

serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich the year after the Franco-Prussian War.21 It is one of these cascs- but hulla, here is Lestrade! Good afternoon, Lestrade! You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are cigars in the box.'

The official detective was attired in a pea:iacket22 and cravat, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he earried a black

215

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated himself, and lit the cigar which had been offered to him.

'What's up, then?' asked Holmes, with a twinkle in his eye. 'You look dissatisfied.'

'And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St Simon marriage case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business.'

'Really! You surprise me.' 'Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip

through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day.' 'And very wet it seems to have made you,' said Holmes, laying his

hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. 'Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine. '23 'In heaven's name, what for?' 'In search of the body of Lady St Simon.' Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. 'Have you dragged the basin of the Trafalgar Square fountain?' he

asked. 'Why? What do you mean?' 'Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the

one as ill the other.' Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. 'I suppose you

know all about it,' he snarled. 'Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made

up.' 'Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in

the matter?' 'I think it very unlikely.' 'Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found this

in ie' He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled on to the floor a wedding dress of watered silk, a pair ofwhite satin shoes, and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked in water. 'There,' said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the top of the pile. 'There is a little nul for you to crack, Master Holmes.'

'Oh, indeed,' said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. 'You dragged them from the Serpentine?'

'No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper.

They weI clothes vi

'Byth in the ne lO arrive

'At sO 'lam 'Are ~

afraid, I and yOU fb~ari

'And 'Ind

is anot! in front atonce wllsdel doubt, initials atthe(

'Ve line in his at' satisfa

'H 'R: Le

shriel 'e '1

here 'J

whit

"

:eatedhimse~ ,lIl,

I . e In his eye, ~~

11m ' arnage Cate,1 ;

clue seems to ,I;, lay.', "t

olmes, laying IIiI

'hed heartily.

re fOUl,-taM' be

this lady in the

r suppose you

.ys no part in

re found tim , the floor a ncla bride's re, ' said he, re is a Jittle

e air. 'You

:k.keeper,

THE NOBLE BAOHELOR

They were identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off'

'By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope to arrive at through this?'

'At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance.' 'I am afraid you will find it difficult.' 'Are you indeed, now?' cried Lestrade, with some bitterness. 'I am

afraid, Holmes, that you are nO,tye!}' p!<t~~it:,<Il~!h. your deductions and your inferences~y~u have made two blunders in as ;;;ny mfn.'utes. ThIS dressd~e'simplicate Miss Flora Millar.'

'And how?' 'In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the card-case

is a note. And here is the very note.' He slapped it down upon the table in front ofhim. 'Listen to this. "You will see me when all is ready. Come atonce,F.H.M." Now my theory all along has been that Lady St Simon was decoyed away by Flora Millar, and that she, with confederates no doubt, was responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped into her hand at the door, and which lured her within their reach.'

'Very good, Lestrade,' said Holmes, laughing. 'You really are very fine indeed. Let me see it.' He took up the paper in a listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he gave a little cry of satisfaction. 'This is indeed important,' said he.

'Ha, you find it so?' 'Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly.' Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. '''V'hy,' he

shrieked, 'you're looking on the 'wrong side.' 'On the contrary, this is the right side.' 'The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil over

here.' 'And over here is what appears to be a fragment of a hotel bill,

which interests me deeply.' 'There's nothing in it. I looked at it before,' said Lestrade. '''Oct.

4.th, rooms 8s., breakfast 25. 6d., cocktail IS., lunch 25. 6d., glass sherry ad." I see nothing in that.'

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

'Very likely not. It is most important all the same. As to the note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I congratulate you again.'

'I've wasted time enough,' said Lestrade, rising. 'I believe in hard work, and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Good day, Mr Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom of the matter first.' He gathered up the garments, thrust them into the bag, and made for the door.

Just one hint to you, Lestrade,' drawled Holmes, before his rival vanished; 'I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady St Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any sllch person.'

Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and hurried away.

He had hardly shut the door behind him, when Holmes rose and put on his overcoat. There is something in what the fellow says about outdoor work,' he remarked, 'so I think, Watson, that I must leave you to your papers for a little. '

It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold wood-cock, a pheasant, a pate de foie gras pie,24 with a group of ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian Nights,25 with no explanation save that the things had been paid for, and were ordered to this address.

Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his conclusions.

'They have laid the supper, then,' he said, rubbing his hands. 'You seem to expect company. They have laid for five.' 'Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in,' said he. 'I

218

am sUI thatll

In dangli pertur

'M 'Yf

meast 'Ti 1..0

foreh 'VI

ofth! 'Ii

hum: 'f 'I

coul' nnru advi

'J ling

ced

sha

Ian La sm 'u Fr

se il1 12

THE NOBLE BACHELOR

Ie. As to th e/ltlfe

Congratulate fill .

'I believe in ham :ories. Good dJy i omofthelll~ lto tbebau '

0' l!i:i

, before JUs rnw . ·.LadYStS~ Ysuch person.' e turned to me, lly, andhurrkd

olmes rase and Uow saysaboll! . It I must leave

me, but I had ' confectioner's I the help ofa my verygreal to be laid out

·e a couple of pie,2· witb a OUt all these .the Arabian ~en paidfof,

;k1y into the It in his eye [lted mills

lands.

said he. 'I

am surprised that Lord St Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs.'

It was indeed our visitor of the morning who came bustling in, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features.

'My message reached you, then?' asked Holmes. 'Yes, and I must confess that the contents startled me beyond

measure. Have you good authority for what you say?' 'The best possible.' Lord St Simon sank into a chair, and passed his hand over his

forehead. 'What will the Duke say,' he murmured, 'when he hears that one

of the family has been subjected to such a humiliation?' 'It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any

humiliation.' 'Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint.' 'I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the lady

could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no other, she had no one to advise her at such a crisis.'

'It was a slight, sir, a public slight,' said Lord St Simon, tapping his fingers upon the table.

'You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so unpre­ cedented a position.'

'I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have been shamefully used.)

'I think I heard a ring,' said Holmes. 'Yes, there are steps on the landing. If! cannot persuade you to take a lenient view of the matter, Lord St Simon, I have brought an advocate here who may be more successful.' He opened the door and ushered in a lady and gentleman. 'Lord St Simon,' said he, 'allow me to introduce you to Mr and Mrs Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I think, you have already met.'

At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his seat, and stood very erect, 'with his eyes cast down and his hand thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out her hancj to

219

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK nULMI<:S

him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was a~ well fen' lib resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was one which it was hard to resist.

'You're angry, Robert,' said she. 'Well, I guess YOli have every cause to be.'

'Pray make no apology to me,' said Lord St Shnnll bitterly. 'Oh, yes, I know that I treated you real bad, lmd that 1 :;hould have

spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of rallied, und {i'om the time when I saw Frank here again, Ijust didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder that I didn't filII down and do .t l~dnt right there before the altar.'

'Perhaps, Mrs Moulton, you would like my /i'iend and me ttl leave the room while you explain this matteri"

'If! may give an opinion,' remarked the strange geutlemun, 'we've had just a little too much secrecy over this buslm:ss already. For my part,'r should like all Europe and America to hear the rights 0[' it.' He was a small, wiry, sunbumed man, with a sharp l~wc and alert manner.

'Then I'll tell our story right away,' saiel the lady. 'Frank here and I met in '81, in McQuire'S camp/6 near the Rockies, where Pa was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frallk and Ij but then one day father struck a rich pocket, and made a pile, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and Game to nothing. The richer Fa grew, the poorer was Frank; so at last Pa wouldn't hear of our engagelnent lasting any longer, and he took rUl~ away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; gO he {()llowed me there, and he saw me without Pa kxlmvjng anything about it. 1l would only have made him mad to know, so we just Jixcd it all lip Ihr oUI·selves. Frank said that he would go and make his pile, too, and lJeV(!1' come back to claim me until he had as much as Pa. So tllcn 1 promised to wait for him to the end of time, and pledged mysdf not to llHtl1'y anyone else while he lived. "Why shouldn't we be mUfI'ied right away, tllen," said he, "and then I will feel sure of you; and r won't claim to be your husband until I come back." Well, we talked it over, and he had fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all rcady in waiting, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seck his fortune and I went back to Pa.

'The next that I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and

220

.~----

on bitterly.

that I ahouJd hal' !ed, and from ~ whan,was domg (

j do afaint ~fu

I and meto~ave

:ntleman/we!ve already. For IJil' ! rights ofi!,! H; lcl aJertmanner. Frank here and , wherePa;l\'l! 'auk andJ;bul Jile, while poor ) nothing: The )u1dn't.hear of ,yay to 'Frisco. wed me there, It would only for ourselves. d neveraorne [ promised [0 oot to many d right away, on't claimto )ver) anclhe ¥ailing,that .bill fortune

ntana, and

THE NOBLE BACHELOR

then he went prospecting into Arizona, and then I heard of him from New Ivlexico. Mter that came a long newspaper story about how a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there wa~ my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline, and took me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a year or more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really dead. Then Lord St Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, and a marriage was arranged, and Pa was very pleased, but I felt all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank.

'Still, ifl had married Lord St Simon, of course I'd have done my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our actions. I went to the altar \vith him \vith the intention that I would make him jU.'lt as good a \vife as it was in me to be, But you may imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I glanced and saw Frank standing looking at me out of the first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but, when I looked again, there he was still, \vith a kind of question in his eyes as if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, and I knew he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct.

'When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, and had always been Iris friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to have spoken to Lord St Simon, but it was dreadful hard before his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to run away, and

221

THE ADVENTURr:S OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

explain aftenvards. I hadn't been at the table ten minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of the road. He beckoned to me, and then began walking into the Park. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman came talking something or other about Lord St Simon to me seemed to me from the little I heard as ifhe had a little secret of his own before marriage also -- but I managed to get away from her, and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square,27 and that was my true wedding after all those years ol'waiting. Frank had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to England, followed me there, 'and had come upon me at last on the velY morning of my second wedding.'

'I saw it in a paper,' explained the American. 'It gave the name and the church, but not where the lady lived.'

'Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all for openness, but I was so ashamed ofit all that I felt as ifI would like to vanish away and never see any of them again, just sending a line to Pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It was awful of me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting round that breakfast-table, and waiting for me to corne back. So Frank took my wedding clothes and things, and made a bundle of them so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away somewhere where no one should find them. It is likely that we should have gone on to Paris tomorrow, only that this good gentleman, Mr Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and that we should put ourselves in the wrong if we were so secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord St Simon alone, and so we came right away and I am very sorry if I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very meanly of me.'

Lord St Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this long narrative.

'Excuse me,' he said, 'but it is not my custom to discuss my most intimate personal affairs in this public manner.'

'Thl 'Oh

hand a 'lh

In a fri 'Id

'Ima~

hard!) penni all in

'T said t }.id mon: noq worI Uni(

The visit e;:p inC) mo'

not Le!

lac o~

he to C(

ir sl 8'

Illinutesoefurel f rQad. Rebeol~ : )P~d out, put ODl.'I ilking SOllleth' . n :Ii Illg~,

e rom the little 1i 11 " . atrlage also -hi! : ,J~k Frank.WCgti { gIngs he had t.L • I' ""III lllg alter.all ~~ : the Apaches had . J him uPfarde!il ad come upon me

ft gave the name

Frankwas·all for . ifI wouJdJike 10 lending aline 10 llofme to think Mast-table, and veddingclotha d not be traced auld find thc~ rrow, onlylhat s this evening, I he showed us ank Was right, vere so SC(JTct :Simon alone, i ve given .you le;'

tude, buthad to this long

1SS mymoo

THE NOBLE BACHELOR

'Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?' 'Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure.' He put out his

hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. 'I had hoped,' suggested Holmes, 'that you would have joined us

in a friendly supper.' 'I think that there you ask a little too much,' responded his lordship.

'I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over them. I think that, with your permission, I will now \.\'.ish you all a very good night.' He induded us all in a sweeping bow, and stalked out of the room.

'Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your company,' said Sherlock Holmes. 'It is always ajoy to me to meet an American, Mr Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the. folly of a monarch and tJ1e bl~ndering~f~ minis-t~;i;;tar-g~~~'y~~~28~~1l not prevent our c1;ild~~;fr~rri'bemg-somc C!aycitiz~ns of the same world-wide country29 under a flag which shall be a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes.'

The case has been an interesting one,' remarked Holmes, when our visitors had left, 'because it serves to show very clearly how simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr Lestrade of Scotland Yard.'

'You were not yourself at fault, then?' 'From the fil'St, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that the

lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. vVhat could that something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was out, for she had been' in the company of the bridegroom. Had she seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America, because she had spent so short a time in this country that she could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence over her that the mere sight of him

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOOK HOLMES

would induce her to change her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an American. Then who could this American be, and why should he possess so much influence over her? It might be a loverj it might be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in rough scenes, and under strange conditions. So far had I got before I ever heard Lord St Simon's narrative. When he told us of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of 50 transparent a device of obtaining a note as the dropping of a bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very significant allusion to claim­ jumping, which in miners' parlance means taking possession of that which another person has prior claim to, the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a previous husband, the chances being in favour of the latter.'

'And how in the world did you find them?' 'It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held information

in his hands the value of which he did not himself know. The initials were of course of the highest importance, but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels.'

'How did you deduce the select?' 'By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence for a

glass of sherry, pointed to one of the most expensive hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue,30 I learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded to 226 Gordon Square,S! so thither I travelled, and being fortunate enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them some paternal advice, and to point out to them that it would be better in every way that they should make their position a little dearer, both to the general public and to Lord St Simon in particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I made him keep the appointment.'

'But l certainly

'Abl· very gra yoU fou think th our star Drawy which v evenin!

THE NOBLE BACHELOR

v· YOu8eewe~ :I~a that she ~ ncan be and L.• ) w~ nght be a lover.: 1m ,I

ew, beenSj):lt r had I got ber~ 'ldusofall1an~ osparent adeviQ .her resort to her lusion to claim. ossession ofthat ituation became ! man Was either in favour of the

~ld information )w. The initials luable still was llle of the most

shtpeuce for a ds, There arc mdonewlrich inspection of man,hadJefi gainst him, I cate bill. His 80 thither I

Ig couple at to point out 10uld make nd to Lord tnd, as you

'But with no very good results,' I remarked. 'His conduct was certainly not very gracious.'

'Ah! Watson,' said Holmes, smiling, 'perhaps you would not be very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St Simon very mercifully, and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in the same position. Draw your chair up, and hand me my violin, for the only problem which we have still to solve is how to while away these bleak autumnal evenings.'