Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the `
` floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white 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 nut 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 have been 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 that you will find it difficult." `
` `
` "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I `
` am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your `
` deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as `
` many minutes. This dress does implicate 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 of him. "Listen to this: 'You will `
` see me when all is ready. Come at once. 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. "Why," he `
` shrieked, "you're looking at 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 the fragment of a hotel `
` bill, which interests me deeply." `
` `
` "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. `
` "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. `
` 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." `
` `
` "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 `
` such 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 to 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 `
` woodcock, a pheasant, a p�t� de foie gras pie 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, 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 `
` 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 afternoon who came bustling in, `
` dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very `
` perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. `
` `
` "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. `
` `
` "Yes, and I 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 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 mother, 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 `
` unprecedented a position." `
` `
` "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have `
` been shamefully used." `
` `
` "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps `
` on the landing. If I 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 hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was `
` as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was `
` one which it was hard to resist. `
` `
` "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every `
` cause to be." `
` `
` "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. `
` `
` "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I `
` should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of `
` rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just `
` didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't `
` fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." `
` `
` "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave `
` the room while you explain this matter?" `
` `
` "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, `
` "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business `
` already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to `
` hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, `
` clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. `
` `
` "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here `
` and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa `
` was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; `
` but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, `
` while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to `
` nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa `
` wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took `
` me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so `
` he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything `
` about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just `
` fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and `
` make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had `
` as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of `
` time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. `
`
` floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white 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 nut 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 have been 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 that you will find it difficult." `
` `
` "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I `
` am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your `
` deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as `
` many minutes. This dress does implicate 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 of him. "Listen to this: 'You will `
` see me when all is ready. Come at once. 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. "Why," he `
` shrieked, "you're looking at 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 the fragment of a hotel `
` bill, which interests me deeply." `
` `
` "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. `
` "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. `
` 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." `
` `
` "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 `
` such 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 to 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 `
` woodcock, a pheasant, a p�t� de foie gras pie 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, 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 `
` 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 afternoon who came bustling in, `
` dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very `
` perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. `
` `
` "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. `
` `
` "Yes, and I 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 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 mother, 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 `
` unprecedented a position." `
` `
` "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have `
` been shamefully used." `
` `
` "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps `
` on the landing. If I 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 hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was `
` as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was `
` one which it was hard to resist. `
` `
` "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every `
` cause to be." `
` `
` "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. `
` `
` "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I `
` should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of `
` rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just `
` didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't `
` fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." `
` `
` "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave `
` the room while you explain this matter?" `
` `
` "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, `
` "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business `
` already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to `
` hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, `
` clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. `
` `
` "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here `
` and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa `
` was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; `
` but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, `
` while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to `
` nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa `
` wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took `
` me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so `
` he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything `
` about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just `
` fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and `
` make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had `
` as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of `
` time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. `
`