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1"Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It
2is headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into
3the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which have taken place in connection with his wedding.
4The ceremony, as shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the previous morning; but it is only now that
5it has been possible to confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently floating about. In spite of the
6attempts of the friends to hush the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it that no good purpose
7can be served by affecting to disregard what is a common subject for conversation. "'The ceremony, which was performed
8at St. George's, Hanover Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius
9Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the younger brother and sister of
10the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of Mr. Aloysius Doran,
11at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a woman, whose
12name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging that she
13had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler
14and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to
15breakfast with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and retired to her room. Her prolonged absence
16having caused some comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that she had only come up to her chamber
17for an instant, caught up an ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the footmen declared that he had
18seen a lady leave the house thus apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, believing her to be
19with the company. On ascertaining that his daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with the
20bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made,
21which will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very singular business. Up to a late hour last night,
22however, nothing had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There are rumours of foul play in the matter,
23and it is said that the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the original disturbance, in the
24belief that, from jealousy or some other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange disappearance of the
25bride.'" "And is that all?" "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is a suggestive one." "And it
26is--" "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, has actually been arrested. It appears that she
27was formerly a danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom for some years. There are no further
28particulars, and the whole case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the public press." "And an
29exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell,
30Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client.
31Do not dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, if only as a check to my own memory." "Lord
32Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face,
33high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man
34whose pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance
35gave an undue impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little bend of the knees as he walked. His
36hair, too, as he swept off his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin upon the top. As to his
37dress, it was careful to the verge of foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, yellow gloves,
38patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to right,
39and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his golden eyeglasses. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes,
40rising and bowing. "Pray take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson. Draw up a little to the
41fire, and we will talk this matter over." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, Mr. Holmes. I
42have been cut to the quick. I understand that you have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, though
43I presume that they were hardly from the same class of society." "No, I am descending." "I beg pardon." "My last client
44of the sort was a king." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "The King of Scandinavia." "What! Had he lost his
45wife?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy
46which 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
47ready to give you any information which may assist you in forming an opinion." "Thank you. I have already learned all
48that is in the public prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this article, for example, as to
49the disappearance of the bride." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it goes." "But it needs
50a great deal of supplementing before anyone could offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most directly
51by questioning you." "Pray do so." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." "You were
52travelling in the States?" "Yes." "Did you become engaged then?" "No." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "I was
53amused by her society, and she could see that I was amused." "Her father is very rich?" "He is said to be the richest
54man on the Pacific slope." "And how did he make his money?" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck
55gold, invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your
56wife's character?" The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes,"
57said he, "my wife was twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she ran free in a mining camp and
58wandered through woods or mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than from the schoolmaster. She
59is what we call in England a tomboy, with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of traditions. She is
60impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her
61resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little
62stately cough--"had I not thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I believe that she is capable of heroic
63self-sacrifice and that anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Have you her photograph?" "I brought this
64with me." He opened a locket and showed us the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an ivory
65miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the
66exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon.
67"The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your acquaintance?" "Yes, her father brought her over for this
68last London season. I met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now married her." "She brought, I
69understand, a considerable dowry?" "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "And this, of course, remains to
70you, since the marriage is a fait accompli?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "Very naturally not. Did
71you see Miss Doran on the day before the wedding?" "Yes."
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