Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
cheerful 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.' 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 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, muttered 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 Park in `
` company with Flora 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 her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of `
` complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. `
` Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and `
` devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she `
` heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the `
` reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I `
` feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to `
` Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to `
` push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my `
` wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the `
` possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police `
` fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. `
` She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a `
` row." `
` `
` "Did your wife hear all this?" `
` `
` "No, thank goodness, she did not." `
` `
` "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" `
` `
` "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as `
` so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid `
` some terrible trap for her." `
` `
` "Well, it is a possible supposition." `
` `
` "You think so, too?" `
` `
` "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon `
` this as likely?" `
` `
` "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." `
` `
` "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray `
` what is your own theory as to what took place?" `
` `
` "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I `
` have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may `
` say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of `
` this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a `
` social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous `
` disturbance in my wife." `
` `
` "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" `
` `
` "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I `
` will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to `
` without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." `
` `
` "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said `
` Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have `
` nearly all my 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 the Park." `
` `
` "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you 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 I have solved it." `
` `
` "Where, then, is my wife?" `
` `
` "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." `
` `
` Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take `
` wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a `
` stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. `
` `
` "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting `
` it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I `
` think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all `
` this cross-questioning. I 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." `
` `
` "But I 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. It is one of these `
` cases--but, hullo, 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-jacket and cravat, `
` which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a `
` black 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." `
` `
` "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 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 in 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 it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the `
`
` 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.' 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 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, muttered 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 Park in `
` company with Flora 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 her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of `
` complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. `
` Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and `
` devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she `
` heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the `
` reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I `
` feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to `
` Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to `
` push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my `
` wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the `
` possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police `
` fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. `
` She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a `
` row." `
` `
` "Did your wife hear all this?" `
` `
` "No, thank goodness, she did not." `
` `
` "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" `
` `
` "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as `
` so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid `
` some terrible trap for her." `
` `
` "Well, it is a possible supposition." `
` `
` "You think so, too?" `
` `
` "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon `
` this as likely?" `
` `
` "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." `
` `
` "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray `
` what is your own theory as to what took place?" `
` `
` "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I `
` have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may `
` say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of `
` this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a `
` social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous `
` disturbance in my wife." `
` `
` "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" `
` `
` "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I `
` will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to `
` without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." `
` `
` "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said `
` Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have `
` nearly all my 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 the Park." `
` `
` "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you 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 I have solved it." `
` `
` "Where, then, is my wife?" `
` `
` "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." `
` `
` Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take `
` wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a `
` stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. `
` `
` "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting `
` it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I `
` think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all `
` this cross-questioning. I 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." `
` `
` "But I 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. It is one of these `
` cases--but, hullo, 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-jacket and cravat, `
` which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a `
` black 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." `
` `
` "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 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 in 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 it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the `
`