WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:04.040 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in 2 00:00:04.120 --> 00:00:08.320 the public domain. From more information or to volunteer, please 3 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:16.519 visit LibriVox dot org. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by 4 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:21.920 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The adventure of the noble bachelor 5 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:28.640 the Lord Saint Simon marriage and its curious termination have 6 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:31.079 long ceased to be a subject of interest in those 7 00:00:31.160 --> 00:00:36.320 exalted circles in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals 8 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:39.880 have eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn 9 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:43.159 the gossips away from this four year old drama. As 10 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:46.320 I have reason to believe, however, that the full facts 11 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:49.560 have never been revealed to the general public, and as 12 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:53.000 my friend Sherlock Holmes had a considerable share in clearing 13 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:55.840 the matter up, I feel that no memoir of him 14 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:59.759 would be complete without some little sketch of this remarkable episode. 15 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:03.520 It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during 16 00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:05.920 the days when I was still sharing rooms with homes 17 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:08.879 in Baker Street, that he came home from an afternoon 18 00:01:08.920 --> 00:01:12.120 stroll to find a letter on the table waiting for him. 19 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:15.560 I had remained indoors all day for the weather had 20 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:19.359 taken a sudden turn to rain with high autumnal winds, 21 00:01:19.719 --> 00:01:21.920 and the Jazail bullet, which I had brought back in 22 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:25.040 one of my limbs as a relic of my Afghan campaign, 23 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:29.040 throbbed with dull persistence. With my body in one easy 24 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:32.439 chair and my legs upon another, I had surrounded myself 25 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:35.879 with a cloud of newspapers, until at last saturated with 26 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:38.480 the news of the day, I tossed them all aside 27 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:42.239 and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon 28 00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:46.519 the envelope upon the table, and wondering lazily whom my 29 00:01:46.599 --> 00:01:51.680 friend's noble correspondent could be. Here is a very fashionable epistle, 30 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:54.959 I remarked, as he entered. Your morning letters, if I 31 00:01:55.040 --> 00:01:59.280 remember right, were from a fishmonger and a tide waiter. Yes, 32 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:03.760 my car respondence has certainly the charm of variety, he answered, smiling, 33 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:07.519 and the humbler are usually more interesting. This looks like 34 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:11.080 one of those unwelcome social summonses which call upon a 35 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.800 man either to be bored or to lie. He broke 36 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:19.759 the seal and glanced over the contents. Oh, come, it 37 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:23.080 may prove to be something of interest after all. Not 38 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:28.319 social then no distinctly professional and from a noble client, 39 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:31.800 one of the highest in England. My dear fellow, I 40 00:02:31.919 --> 00:02:36.280 congratulate you. I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the 41 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:38.919 status of my client is a matter of less moment 42 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:42.159 to me than the interest of his case. It is 43 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:45.439 just possible, however, that that also may not be wanting 44 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:48.520 in this new investigation. You have been reading the papers 45 00:02:48.520 --> 00:02:52.199 diligently of late, have you not? It looks like it, 46 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:55.879 said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in the corner. 47 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:59.879 I have had nothing else to do. It is fortunate 48 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:02.199 for you will perhaps be able to post me up. 49 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:06.000 I read nothing except the criminal news and the Agony column. 50 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:09.319 The latter is always instructive. But if you have followed 51 00:03:09.319 --> 00:03:12.680 recent events so closely, you must have read about Lord 52 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:16.840 Saint Simon and his wedding. Oh yes, with the deepest interest. 53 00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:20.439 That is well. The letter which I hold in my 54 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:23.599 hand is from Lord Saint Simon. I will read it 55 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:25.840 to you, and in return you must turn over these 56 00:03:25.879 --> 00:03:29.000 papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. 57 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:33.800 This is what he says, my dear mister Sherlock Holmes, 58 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:37.560 Lord Backwater tells me that I may place implicit reliance 59 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:42.039 upon your judgment and discretion. I have determined therefore to 60 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:44.479 call upon you and to consult you in reference to 61 00:03:44.520 --> 00:03:47.639 the very painful event which has occurred in connection with 62 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:52.080 my wedding. Mister Lestrade of Scotland Yard is acting already 63 00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:54.479 in the matter, but he assures me that he sees 64 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:57.919 no objection to your co operation, and that he even 65 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:00.560 thinks that it might be of some assistance. I will 66 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:03.080 call at four o'clock in the afternoon, and should you 67 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:05.560 have any other engagement at that time, I hope that 68 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.439 you will postpone it, as this is a matter of 69 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:13.719 paramount importance, yours faithfully, Saint Simon. It is dated from 70 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:17.279 Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, and the noble 71 00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:19.519 lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of 72 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:21.959 ink upon the outer side of his right little finger, 73 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:26.680 remarked Holmes as he folded up the epistle. He says, 74 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:29.240 four o'clock it is three now. He will be here 75 00:04:29.319 --> 00:04:32.879 in an hour. Then I have just time, with your assistance, 76 00:04:32.959 --> 00:04:36.079 to get clear upon the subject. Turn over those papers 77 00:04:36.360 --> 00:04:39.160 and arrange the extracts in their order of time, while 78 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:41.439 I take a glance as to who our client is. 79 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:44.439 He picked a red covered volume from a line of 80 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:48.360 books of reference beside the mantelpiece. Here he is, said 81 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:51.439 he sitting down and flattening it out upon his knee. 82 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:56.399 Lord Robert Bolsingham, the vere Saint Simon, second son of 83 00:04:56.399 --> 00:05:02.439 the Duke of Balmoral m arms Azure three cowtrops in 84 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:05.920 chief over a fest Sable. Born in eighteen forty six, 85 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:09.839 he's forty one years of age, which is mature for marriage. 86 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:13.279 Was under Secretary for the Colonies in a late administration 87 00:05:13.959 --> 00:05:17.040 the Duke. His father was at one time Secretary for 88 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:21.279 Foreign Affairs. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent and 89 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:25.279 tutor on the distaff side. Ha. Well, there is nothing 90 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:27.879 very instructive in all this. I think that I must 91 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:31.279 turn to you, Watson, for something more solid. I have 92 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:34.040 very little difficulty in finding what I want, said I. 93 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:36.959 For the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck 94 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:40.439 me as remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, 95 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:42.639 as I knew that you had an inquiry on hand, 96 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:46.800 and that you disliked the intrusion of other matters. Oh, 97 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:49.959 you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square, furniture van. 98 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:52.959 That is quite cleared up now, though indeed it was 99 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:56.199 obvious from the first Pray give me the results of 100 00:05:56.240 --> 00:06:00.199 your newspaper selections. Here is the first notice which I 101 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:02.680 can find. It is in the personal column of the 102 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:05.959 Morning Post and dates as you see some weeks back. 103 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:09.920 A marriage has been arranged, it says, and will, if 104 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:13.879 rumor is correct, very shortly take place between Lord Robert 105 00:06:13.879 --> 00:06:17.279 Saint Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmarle, and 106 00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:21.319 Miss Hattie Duran, the only daughter of Aloysius Duran, Esquire 107 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:25.279 of San Francisco, California. U s A. That is all 108 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:30.199 terse and to the point, remarked Holmes, stretching his long 109 00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:35.000 thin legs towards the fire. There was a paragraph amplifying 110 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:38.199 this in one of the society papers of the same week. Ah, 111 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:40.759 here it is. There will soon be a call for 112 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:44.079 protection in the marriage market, for the present free trade 113 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:47.879 principle appears to tell heavily against our home product. One 114 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:50.399 by one, the management of the noble houses of Great 115 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:53.439 Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins 116 00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:56.920 from across the Atlantic. An important addition has been made 117 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.199 during the last week to the list of the prizes 118 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:03.240 which have been borne away by these charming invaders. Lord 119 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:06.079 Saint Simon, who has shown himself for over twenty years 120 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:10.120 proof against the Little God's arrows, has now definitely announced 121 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:14.639 his approaching marriage with Miss Hattie Duran, the fascinating daughter 122 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:18.600 of a California millionaire, mister Rand, whose graceful figure and 123 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:22.759 striking face attracted much attention at the Westbury House festivities. 124 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:26.160 Is an only child and it is currently reported that 125 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:29.079 her dowry will run to considerably over the six figures, 126 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:32.959 with expectancies for the future. As it is an open 127 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:35.600 secret that the Duke of Balmoral has been compelled to 128 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:38.920 sell his pictures within the last few years, and as 129 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:42.480 Lord Saint Simon has no property of his own save 130 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:45.680 the small estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the 131 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:49.079 Californian heiress is not the only gainer by an alliance 132 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:51.480 which will enable her to make the easy and common 133 00:07:51.519 --> 00:07:57.160 transition from a Republican lady to a British peeress. Anything else, 134 00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:02.199 asked Holmes, yawning, Oh, yes, plenty. Then there is another 135 00:08:02.279 --> 00:08:04.560 note in the Morning Post to say that the marriage 136 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:07.399 would be an absolutely quiet one, that it would be 137 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:10.800 at Saint George's Hanover Square, that only a half a 138 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:14.040 dozen intimate friends would be invited, and that the party 139 00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:17.120 would return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate, which 140 00:08:17.160 --> 00:08:20.839 has been taken by mister Aloysius Duran. Two days later, 141 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:24.240 that is, on Wednesday last, there is a curt announcement 142 00:08:24.319 --> 00:08:27.319 that the wedding had taken place and that the honeymoon 143 00:08:27.319 --> 00:08:31.399 would be passed at Lord Blackwater's place near Petersfield. Those 144 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:34.120 are all the notices which appeared before the disappearance of 145 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.799 the bride, before the What asked Holmes with a start, 146 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:41.240 the vanishing of the lady? When did she vanish? Then 147 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:46.039 at the wedding breakfast? Indeed, this is more interesting than 148 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:49.919 it promised to be, quite dramatic in fact, yes, it 149 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:52.120 struck me as being a little out of the common. 150 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:57.279 They often vanished before the ceremony and occasionally during the honeymoon. 151 00:08:57.639 --> 00:09:00.279 But I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt 152 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:04.200 as this pray. Let me have the details. I warn 153 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:07.559 you that they are very incomplete. Perhaps we may make 154 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:10.799 them less. So. Such as they are, they are set 155 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:13.879 forth in a single article of a Morning paper of yesterday, 156 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:17.600 which I will read to you. It is headed singular 157 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:22.120 occurrence at a fashionable wedding. The family of Lord Robert 158 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:25.519 Saint Simon has been thrown into the greatest consternation by 159 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:28.440 the strange and painful episodes which have taken place in 160 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:32.159 connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as shortly announced in 161 00:09:32.200 --> 00:09:36.159 the papers of yesterday, occurred on the previous morning. But 162 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:38.440 it is only now that it has been possible to 163 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:42.600 confirm the strange rumors which have been so persistently floating about. 164 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:45.399 In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush 165 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.200 the matter up. So much public attention has now been 166 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:50.879 drawn to it that no good purpose can be served 167 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:54.639 by affecting to disregard what is a common subject for conversation. 168 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:59.519 The ceremony, which was performed at Saint George's Hanover Square 169 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:02.679 was a very quiet one, no one being present save 170 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:06.120 the father of the bride, Mister Aloysius Duran, the Duchess 171 00:10:06.159 --> 00:10:10.679 of Balmoral, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara, Saint Simon, 172 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:14.720 the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom, and Lady 173 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:18.679 Alicia Whittington, the whole party proceeded afterwards to the house 174 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:22.679 of mister Aloysius Duran at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had 175 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.840 been prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused 176 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:30.200 by a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who 177 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:32.600 endeavored to force her way into the house after the 178 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:35.960 bridal party, alleging that she had some claim upon Lord 179 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:39.559 Saint Simon. It was only after a painful and prolonged 180 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:42.159 scene that she was ejected by the butler and the footman. 181 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:45.600 The bride, who had fortunately entered the house before this 182 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:49.159 unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast with the rest, 183 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:52.639 when she complained of a sudden indisposition and retired to 184 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:56.679 her room, her prolonged absence having caused some comment. Her 185 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:59.399 father followed her, but learned from her maid that she 186 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:01.679 had only come up to her chamber for an instant 187 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.600 caught up an ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to 188 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:07.559 the passage. One of the footmen declared that he had 189 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:10.759 seen a lady leave the house thus apparelled, but had 190 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:13.759 refused to credit that it was his mistress, believing her 191 00:11:13.799 --> 00:11:16.919 to be with the company. On ascertaining that his daughter 192 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:21.440 had disappeared. Mister Aloisius Duran, in conjunction with the bridegroom, 193 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:25.360 instantly put themselves in communication with the police, and very 194 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:29.080 energetic inquiries are being made which will probably result in 195 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:33.080 a speedy clearing up of this very singular business. Up 196 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:36.279 to a late hour last night, however, nothing had transpired 197 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:39.519 as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There are 198 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:42.039 rumors of foul play in the matter, and it is 199 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:44.120 said that the police have caused the arrest of the 200 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:47.480 woman who had caused the original disturbance, in the belief 201 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:50.639 that from jealousy or some other motive, she may have 202 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:54.120 been concerned in the strange disappearance of the bride. And 203 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:57.480 is that all only one little item in another of 204 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:00.679 the morning papers, But it is a suggestive one, and 205 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:04.440 it is that Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had 206 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:08.799 caused the disturbance, has actually been arrested. It appears that 207 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:12.240 she was formerly a danseuse at the Allegro, and that 208 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:15.440 she has known the bridegroom for some years. There are 209 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:17.919 no further particulars, and the whole case is in your 210 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:20.480 hands now so far as it has been set forth 211 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:23.919 in the public press. And an exceedingly interesting case. It 212 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:27.000 appears to be. I would not have missed it for worlds. 213 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.240 But there is a ring at the bell, Watson, and 214 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:31.480 as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, 215 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:33.559 I have no doubt that this will prove to be 216 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:36.759 our noble client. Do not dream of going, Watson, for 217 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:39.639 I very much prefer having a witness, if only as 218 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:43.120 a check to my own memory. Lord Robert Saint Simon 219 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:47.879 announced our page boy, throwing open the door. A gentleman entered, 220 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:51.240 with a pleasant cultured face, high nosed and pale, with 221 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:54.840 something perhaps of petulance about the mouth, and with the steady, 222 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:57.480 well opened eye of a man whose pleasant lot it 223 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.279 had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His 224 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:03.159 manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an 225 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:06.440 undue impression of age, for he had a slight forward 226 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:09.039 stoop and a little bend of the knees as he walked. 227 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:12.240 His hair, too, as he swept off his very curly 228 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:15.480 brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin upon 229 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:18.759 the top. As to his dress, it was careful to 230 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:22.360 the verge of foppishness, with high collar, black frock coat, 231 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:27.039 white waistcoat, yellow gloves, patent leather shoes, and light colored gaiters. 232 00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:31.000 He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from 233 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:33.559 left to right, and swinging in his right hand the 234 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:37.200 cord which held his golden eye glasses. Good day, Lord 235 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:41.159 Saint Simon, said Holmes, rising and bowing. Pray, take the 236 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:44.639 basket chair. This is my friend and colleague, doctor Watson. 237 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.960 Draw up a little to the fire, and we will 238 00:13:46.960 --> 00:13:50.360 talk this matter over. A most painful matter to me, 239 00:13:50.559 --> 00:13:53.720 as you can most readily imagine, mister Holmes, I have 240 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:56.559 been cut to the quick. I understand that you have 241 00:13:56.600 --> 00:14:00.200 already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, though 242 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:02.720 I presume that they were hardly from the same class 243 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:07.799 of society. No, I am descending. I beg pardon. My 244 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:11.240 last client of the sort was a king. Oh really, 245 00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:14.600 I had no idea, and which king? But the King 246 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:19.679 of Scandinavia. What had he lost his wife? You can understand, 247 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:23.039 said Holmes suavely, that I extend to the affairs of 248 00:14:23.080 --> 00:14:26.120 my other clients the same secrecy which I promised you 249 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:30.639 in yours. Of course, very right, very right, I am sure. 250 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:33.360 I beg pardon as to my own case, I am 251 00:14:33.399 --> 00:14:35.720 ready to give you any information which may assist you 252 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:39.759 in forming an opinion. Thank you. I have already learned 253 00:14:39.799 --> 00:14:42.519 all that is in the public, Prince, nothing more. I 254 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:45.279 presume that I may take it as correct. This article, 255 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:49.240 for example, as to the disappearance of the bride. Lord 256 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:52.559 Saint Simon glanced over it. Yes, it is correct as 257 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:55.360 far as it goes, but it needs a great deal 258 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:58.600 of supplementing before any one could offer an opinion. I 259 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:01.480 think that I may arrive at my facts most directly 260 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:05.840 by questioning you. Pray do so? When did you first 261 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:10.120 meet miss Hattie Durant in San Francisco a year ago? 262 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:14.399 You were traveling in the States. Yes, did you become 263 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:18.360 engaged then? No? But you were on a friendly footing. 264 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:21.960 I was amused by her society, and she could see 265 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:26.200 that I was amused. Her father is very rich. He 266 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:28.799 is said to be the richest man on the Pacific Slope. 267 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:32.879 And how did he make his money in mining? He 268 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:35.519 had nothing a few years ago that he struck gold, 269 00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:39.720 invested it and came up by leaps and bounds. Now, 270 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:42.759 what is your own impression as to the young ladies 271 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:47.320 your wife's character? The nobleman swung his glasses a little 272 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:51.240 faster and stared down into the fire. You see, mister 273 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:54.840 Holmes said he. My wife was twenty before her father 274 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:58.039 became a rich man. During that time she ran free 275 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:01.320 in a mining camp and wandered through woods or mountains, 276 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:04.559 so that her education has come from nature rather than 277 00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:07.879 from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England 278 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:12.360 a tomboy with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered 279 00:16:12.440 --> 00:16:16.399 by any sort of traditions. She is impetuous, volcanic. I 280 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:19.159 was about to say, she is swift in making up 281 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:23.039 her mind and fearless in carrying out her resolutions. On 282 00:16:23.080 --> 00:16:25.000 the other hand, I would not have given her the 283 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:27.679 name which I have the honor to bear. He gave 284 00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:31.240 a little stately cough, had I not thought her to 285 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:34.240 be at bottom a noble woman. I believe that she 286 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:38.720 is capable of heroic self sacrifice, and that anything dishonorable 287 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:43.200 would be repugnant to her. Have you her photograph? I 288 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:46.519 brought this with me. He opened a locket and showed 289 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:49.360 us the full face of a very lovely woman. It 290 00:16:49.399 --> 00:16:52.519 was not a photograph but an ivory miniature, and the 291 00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:55.000 artist had brought out the full effect of the lustrous 292 00:16:55.039 --> 00:16:59.000 black hair, the large dark eyes, and the exquisite mouth. 293 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:02.799 Holmes long and earnestly at it. Then he closed the 294 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:06.039 locket and handed it back to Lord Saint Simon. The 295 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:10.200 young lady came to London then, and you renewed your acquaintance. Yes, 296 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:13.400 her father brought her over for this last London season. 297 00:17:13.880 --> 00:17:16.880 I met her several times, became engaged to her, and 298 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:22.160 have now married her. She brought I understand, a considerable dowry, 299 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:26.319 a fair dowry, not more than as usual in my family. 300 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:30.240 And this, of course remains to you, since the marriage 301 00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:33.839 is a fee accompli. I really have made no inquiries 302 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:38.519 on the subject, very naturally. Not. Did you see mister 303 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:42.200 rand on the day before the wedding? Yes, was she 304 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.759 in good spirits, never better. She kept talking of what 305 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:49.240 we should do in our future lives. Indeed, that is 306 00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:52.680 very interesting. And on the morning of the wedding she 307 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:56.039 was as bright as possible, at least until after the ceremony. 308 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:00.079 And did you observe any change in her then? Well, 309 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:02.559 to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs 310 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:05.160 that I had ever seen that her temper was just 311 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:08.720 a little sharp. The incident however, was too trivial to relate, 312 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:12.319 and can have no possible bearing upon the case. Pray, 313 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:15.880 let us have it for all that, Oh, it is childish. 314 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:18.759 She dropped her bouquet as we went towards the vestry. 315 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:21.400 She was passing the front pew at the time, and 316 00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:24.599 it fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, 317 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:26.839 but the gentleman in the pew handed it up to 318 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:29.000 her again, and it did not appear to be the 319 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:31.640 worse for the fall. Yet, when I spoke to her 320 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:34.759 of the matter, she answered me abruptly, and in the 321 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:38.000 carriage on our way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over 322 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:42.680 this trifling cause. Indeed, you say that there was a 323 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:47.839 gentleman in the pew, some of the general public were present, then, oh, yes, 324 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.759 it is impossible to exclude them when the church is open. 325 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:55.160 This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends. No, no, 326 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:58.079 I call him a gentleman by courtesy. But he was 327 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:01.720 quite a common looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. 328 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.400 But really, I think that we are wandering rather far 329 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:07.720 from the point. Lady Saint Simon then returned from the 330 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:09.920 wedding in a less cheerful frame of mind than she 331 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.319 had gone to it. What did she do on re 332 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:16.279 entering her father's house. I saw her in conversation with 333 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:20.599 her maid. And who is her maid? Alice is her name. 334 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:23.559 She is an American and came from California with her 335 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:28.160 a confidential servant. A little too much, so it seemed 336 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:31.400 to me that her mistress allowed her to take great liberties. Still, 337 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:34.240 of course, in America they look upon these things in 338 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:39.000 a different way. How long did she speak to this Alice? Oh, 339 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:41.359 a few minutes. I had something else to think of. 340 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:45.880 You did not overhear what they said. Lady Saint Simon 341 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:50.200 said something about jumping a claim. She was accustomed to 342 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:53.160 use slang of that kind. I have no idea what 343 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:58.000 she meant. American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what 344 00:19:58.119 --> 00:20:00.680 did your wife do when she finished speaking to her maid. 345 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:06.039 She walked into the breakfast room on your arm. No alone. 346 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:09.319 She was very independent in little matters like that. Then, 347 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:11.599 after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, 348 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:15.319 she rose, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left 349 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:19.160 the room. She never came back. But this made Alice, 350 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:22.119 as I understand the poses that she went to her 351 00:20:22.200 --> 00:20:25.759 room covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put 352 00:20:25.799 --> 00:20:29.079 on a bonnet, and went out quite so. And she 353 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:32.160 was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in company with 354 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:35.440 Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and 355 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:38.240 who had already made a disturbance at mister Durand's house 356 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:42.160 that morning. Ah, yes, I should like a few particulars 357 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:44.720 as to this young lady and your relations to her. 358 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:49.319 Lord Saint Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. 359 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:52.920 We have been on her friendly footing for some years, 360 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:56.640 I may say, on a very friendly footing. She used 361 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:59.960 to be at the Allegro. I have not treated her ungenerously, 362 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:02.599 and she had no just cause of complaint against me, 363 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:06.039 But you know what women are, mister Holmes. Flora was 364 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:09.400 a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot headed and devotedly 365 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:12.359 attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she 366 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:15.039 heard that I was about to be married, and to 367 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:17.440 tell the truth, the reason why I had the marriage 368 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:20.599 celebrated so quietly was that I feared lest there might 369 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:23.240 be a scandal in the church. She came to mister 370 00:21:23.319 --> 00:21:26.559 Durand's door just after we returned, and she endeavored to 371 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:30.559 push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my wife, 372 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:34.039 and even threatening her. But I had foreseen the possibility 373 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:36.440 of something of the sort, and I had two police 374 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:39.559 fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. 375 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:42.839 She was quiet when she saw that there was no 376 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:47.200 good in making a row. Did your wife hear all this? No, 377 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:50.880 thank goodness, she did not, and she was seen walking 378 00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:54.240 with this very woman afterwards. Yes, that is what mister 379 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:58.079 Lestrade of Scotland Yard looks upon as so serious. It 380 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:00.759 is taught that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid 381 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:04.640 some terrible trap for her. Well, it is a possible supposition. 382 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:08.799 You think so too, I did not say a probable one, 383 00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:11.920 But you do not yourself look upon this as likely. 384 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:16.039 I do not think Flora would her to fly. Still, 385 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:20.319 jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray, what is 386 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:23.720 your own theory as to what took place? Well? Really, 387 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:26.200 I came to seek a theory, not a propound one. 388 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:29.960 I have given you all the facts since you ask me. However, 389 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:32.359 I may say that it has occurred to me as 390 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:35.920 possible that the excitement of this affair the consciousness that 391 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:38.680 she had made so immense a social stride, had the 392 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:42.799 effect of causing some little nervous disturbance in my wife, 393 00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:46.960 In short, that she had become suddenly deranged. Well, really, 394 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:49.599 when I consider that she has turned her back, I 395 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:53.039 will not say upon me, but upon so much that 396 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:56.559 many have aspired you without success, I can hardly explain 397 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:59.680 it in any other fashion. Well, certainly that is also 398 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:04.960 a conceivable hypothesis, said Holmes, smiling. And now, Lord Saint Simon, 399 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:08.039 I think that I have nearly all my data. May 400 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:10.279 I ask whether you were seated at the breakfast table 401 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:13.279