avetakenplaceinconnectionwithhiswedding.Theceremony,asshortlyannouncedinthepapersofyesterday,occurredonthepreviousmorningbutitisonlynowthatithasbeenpossibletoconfirmthestrangerumourswhichhavebeensopersistentlyfloatingabout.Inspiteoftheattemptsofthefriendstohushthematterup,somuchpublicattentionhasnowbeendrawntoitthatnogoodpurposecanbeservedbyaffectingtodisregardwhatisacommonsubjectforconversation.
“‘Theceremony,whichwasperformedatSt.George’s,HanoverSquare,wasaveryquietone,noonebeingpresentsavethefatherofthebride,Mr.AloysiusDoran,theDuchessofBalmoral,LordBackwater,LordEustaceandLadyClaraSt.Simon(theyoungerbrotherandsisterofthebridegroom),andLadyAliciaWhittington.ThewholepartyproceededafterwardstothehouseofMr.AloysiusDoran,atLancasterGate,wherebreakfasthadbeenprepared.Itappearsthatsomelittletroublewascausedbyawoman,whosenamehasnotbeenascertained,whoendeavouredtoforceherwayintothehouseafterthebridalparty,allegingthatshehadsomeclaimuponLordSt.Simon.Itwasonlyafterapainfulandprolongedscenethatshewasejectedbythebutlerandthefootman.Thebride,whohadfortunatelyenteredthehousebeforethisunpleasantinterruption,hadsatdowntobreakfastwiththerest,whenshecomplainedofasuddenindispositionandretiredtoherroom.Herprolongedabsencehavingcausedsomecomment,herfatherfollowedher,butlearnedfromhermaidthatshehadonlycomeuptoherchamberforaninstant,caughtupanulsterandbonnet,andhurrieddowntothepassage.Oneofthefootmendeclaredthathehadseenaladyleavethehousethusapparelled,buthadrefusedtocreditthatitwashismistress,believinghertobewiththecompany.Onascertainingthathisdaughterhaddisappeared,Mr.AloysiusDoran,inconjunctionwiththebridegroom,instantlyputthemselvesincommunicationwiththepolice,andveryenergeticinquiriesarebeingmade,whichwillprobablyresultinaspeedyclearingupofthisverysingularbusiness.Uptoalatehourlastnight,however,nothinghadtranspiredastothewhereaboutsofthemissinglady.Therearerumoursoffoulplayinthematter,anditissaidthatthepolicehavecausedthearrestofthewomanwhohadcausedtheoriginaldisturbance,inthebeliefthat,fromjealousyorsomeothermotive,shemayhavebeenconcernedinthestrangedisappearanceofthebride.’”
“Andisthatall?”
“Onlyonelittleiteminanotherofthemorningpapers,butitisasuggestiveone.”
“Anditis—”
“ThatMissFloraMillar,theladywhohadcausedthedisturbance,hasactuallybeenarrested.ItappearsthatshewasformerlyadanseuseattheAllegro,andthatshehasknownthebridegroomforsomeyears.Therearenofurtherparticulars,andthewholecaseisinyourhandsnow—sofarasithasbeensetforthinthepublicpress.”
“Andanexceedinglyinterestingcaseitappearstobe.Iwouldnothavemisseditforworlds.Butthereisaringatthebell,Watson,andastheclockmakesitafewminutesafterfour,Ihavenodoubtthatthiswillprovetobeournobleclient.Donotdreamofgoing,Watson,forIverymuchpreferhavingawitness,ifonlyasachecktomyownmemory.”
“LordRobertSt.Simon,”announcedourpage-boy,throwingopenthedoor.Agentlemanentered,withapleasant,culturedface,high-nosedandpale,withsomethingperhapsofpetulanceaboutthemouth,andwiththesteady,well-openedeyeofamanwhosepleasantlotithadeverbeentocommandandtobeobeyed.Hismannerwasbrisk,andyethisgeneralappearancegaveanundueimpressionofage,forhehadaslightforwardstoopandalittlebendofthekneesashewalked.Hishair,too,ashesweptoffhisverycurly-brimmedhat,wasgrizzledroundtheedgesandthinuponthetop.Astohisdress,itwascarefultothevergeoffoppishness,withhighcollar,blackfrock-coat,whitewaistcoat,yellowgloves,patent-leathershoes,andlight-colouredgaiters.Headvancedslowlyintotheroom,turninghisheadfromlefttoright,andswinginginhisrighthandthecordwhichheldhisgoldeneyeglasses.
“Good-day,LordSt.Simon,”saidHolmes,risingandbowing.“Praytakethebasket-chair.Thisismyfriendandcolleague,Dr.Watson.Drawupalittl