TheLordSt.Simonmarriage,anditscurioustermination,havelongceasedtobeasubjectofinterestinthoseexaltedcirclesinwhichtheunfortunatebridegroommoves.Freshscandalshaveeclipsedit,andtheirmorepiquantdetailshavedrawnthegossipsawayfromthisfour-year-olddrama.AsIhavereasontobelieve,however,thatthefullfactshaveneverbeenrevealedtothegeneralpublic,andasmyfriendSherlockHolmeshadaconsiderableshareinclearingthematterup,Ifeelthatnomemoirofhimwouldbecompletewithoutsomelittlesketchofthisremarkableepisode.
Itwasafewweeksbeforemyownmarriage,duringthedayswhenIwasstillsharingroomswithHolmesinBakerStreet,thathecamehomefromanafternoonstrolltofindaletteronthetablewaitingforhim.Ihadremainedindoorsallday,fortheweatherhadtakenasuddenturntorain,withhighautumnalwinds,andthejezailbulletwhichIhadbroughtbackinoneofmylimbsasarelicofmyAfghancampaignthrobbedwithdullpersistence.Withmybodyinoneeasy-chairandmylegsuponanother,Ihadsurroundedmyselfwithacloudofnewspapersuntilatlast,saturatedwiththenewsoftheday,Itossedthemallasideandlaylistless,watchingthehugecrestandmonogramupontheenvelopeuponthetableandwonderinglazilywhomyfriend’snoblecorrespondentcouldbe.
“Hereisaveryfashionableepistle,”Iremarkedasheentered.“Yourmorningletters,ifIrememberright,werefromafish-mongerandatide-waiter.”
“Yes,mycorrespondencehascertainlythecharmofvariety,”heanswered,smiling,“andthehumblerareusuallythemoreinteresting.Thislookslikeoneofthoseunwelcomesocialsummonseswhichcalluponamaneithertobeboredortolie.”
Hebrokethesealandglancedoverthecontents.
“Oh,come,itmayprovetobesomethingofinterest,afterall.”
“Notsocial,then?”
“No,distinctlyprofessional.”
“Andfromanobleclient?”
“OneofthehighestinEngland.”
“Mydearfellow,Icongratulateyou.”
“Iassureyou,Watson,withoutaffectation,thatthestatusofmyclientisamatteroflessmomenttomethantheinterestofhiscase.Itisjustpossible,however,thatthatalsomaynotbewantinginthisnewinvestigation.Youhavebeenreadingthepapersdiligentlyoflate,haveyounot?”
“Itlookslikeit,”saidIruefully,pointingtoahugebundleinthecorner.“Ihavehadnothingelsetodo.”
“Itisfortunate,foryouwillperhapsbeabletopostmeup.Ireadnothingexceptthecriminalnewsandtheagonycolumn.Thelatterisalwaysinstructive.ButifyouhavefollowedrecenteventssocloselyyoumusthavereadaboutLordSt.Simonandhiswedding?”
“Oh,yes,withthedeepestinterest.”
“Thatiswell.TheletterwhichIholdinmyhandisfromLordSt.Simon.Iwillreadittoyou,andinreturnyoumustturnoverthesepapersandletmehavewhateverbearsuponthematter.Thisiswhathesays:
“‘MYDEARMR.SHERLOCKHOLMES,—LordBackwatertellsmethatImayplaceimplicitrelianceuponyourjudgmentanddiscretion.Ihavedetermined,therefore,tocalluponyouandtoconsultyouinreferencetotheverypainfuleventwhichhasoccurredinconnectionwithmywedding.Mr.Lestrade,ofScotlandYard,isactingalreadyinthematter,butheassuresmethatheseesnoobjectiontoyourco-operation,andthatheeventhinksthatitmightbeofsomeassistance.Iwillcallatfouro’clockintheafternoon,and,shouldyouhaveanyotherengagementatthattime,Ihopethatyouwillpostponeit,asthismatterisofparamountimportance.Yoursfaithfully,
“‘ROBERTST.SIMON.’
“ItisdatedfromGrosvenorMansions,writtenwithaquillpen,andthenoblelordhashadthemisfortunetogetasmearofinkupontheoutersideofhisrightlittlefinger,”remarkedHolmesashefoldeduptheepistle.
“Hesaysfouro’clock.Itisthreenow.Hewillbehereinanhour.”
“ThenIhavejusttime,withyourassistance,togetclearuponthesubject.Turnoverthosepapersandarrangetheextractsintheirorderoftime,whileItakeaglanceastowhoourclientis.”Hepickedared-coveredvolumefromalineofbooksofreferencebesidethemantelpiece.“Hereheis,”saidhe,sittingdownandflatteningitoutuponhisknee.“‘LordRobertWalsinghamdeVereSt.Simon,secondsonoftheDukeofBalmoral.’Hu