the adventure of the noble bachelor-第2章

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believing　her　to　be　with　the　company。　On　ascertaining　that　his

daughter　had　disappeared；　Mr。　Aloysius　Doran；　in　conjunction　with

the　bridegroom；　instantly　put　themselves　in　communication　with　the

police；　and　very　energetic　inquiries　are　being　made；　which　will

probably　result　in　a　speedy　clearing　up　of　this　very　singular

business。　Up　to　a　late　hour　last　night；　however；　nothing　had

transpired　as　to　the　whereabouts　of　the　missing　lady。　There　are

rumours　of　foul　play　in　the　matter；　and　it　is　said　that　the　police

have　caused　the　arrest　of　the　woman　who　had　caused　the　original

disturbance；　in　the　belief　that；　from　jealousy　or　some　other　motive；

she　may　have　been　concerned　in　the　strange　disappearance　of　the

bride。〃



　　〃And　is　that　all？〃

　　〃Only　one　little　item　in　another　of　the　morning　papers；　but　it　is

a　suggestive　one。〃

　　〃And　it　is…〃

　　〃That　Miss　Flora　Millar；　the　lady　who　had　caused　the　disturbance；

has　actually　been　arrested。　It　appears　that　she　was　formerly　a

danseuse　at　the　Allegro；　and　that　she　has　known　the　bridegroom　for

some　years。　There　are　no　further　particulars；　and　the　whole　case　is　in

your　hands　now…so　far　as　it　has　been　set　forth　in　the　public　press。〃

　　〃And　an　exceedingly　interesting　case　it　appears　to　be。　I　would　not

have　missed　it　for　worlds。　But　there　is　a　ring　at　the　bell；　Watson；

and　as　the　clock　makes　it　a　few　minutes　after　four；　I　have　no　doubt

that　this　will　prove　to　be　our　noble　client。　Do　not　dream　of　going；

Watson；　for　I　very　much　prefer　having　a　witness；　if　only　as　a　check　to

my　own　memory。〃

　　〃Lord　Robert　St。　Simon；〃　announced　our　page…boy；　throwing　open　the

door。　A　gentleman　entered；　with　a　pleasant；　cultured　face；

high…nosed　and　pale；　with　something　perhaps　of　petulance　about　the

mouth；　and　with　the　steady；　well…opened　eye　of　a　man　whose　pleasant

lot　it　had　ever　been　to　command　and　to　be　obeyed。　His　manner　was

brisk；　and　yet　his　general　appearance　gave　an　undue　impression　of　age；

for　he　had　a　slight　forward　stoop　and　a　little　bend　of　the　knees　as　he

walked。　His　hair；　too；　as　he　swept　off　his　very　curly…brimmed　hat

was　grizzled　round　the　edges　and　thin　upon　the　top。　As　to　his　dress；

it　was　careful　to　the　verge　of　foppishness；　with　high　collar；　black

frock…coat；　white　waistcoat；　yellow　gloves；　patent　leather　shoes；

and　light…coloured　gaiters。　He　advanced　slowly　into　the　room；

turning　his　head　from　left　to　right；　and　swinging　in　his　right　hand

the　cord　which　held　his　golden　eyeglasses。

　　〃Good…day；　Lord　St。　Simon；〃　said　Holmes；　rising　and　bowing。　〃Pray

take　the　basket…chair。　This　is　my　friend　and　colleague；　Dr。　Watson。

Draw　up　a　little　to　the　fire；　and　we　will　talk　this　matter　over。〃

　　〃A　most　painful　matter　to　me；　as　you　can　most　readily　imagine；　Mr。

Holmes。　I　have　been　cut　to　the　quick。　I　understand　that　you　have

already　managed　several　delicate　cases　of　this　sort；　sir；　though　I

presume　that　they　were　hardly　from　the　same　class　of　society。〃

　　〃No；　I　am　descending。〃

　　〃I　beg　pardon。〃

　　〃My　last　client　of　the　sort　was　a　king。〃

　　〃Oh；　really！　I　had　no　idea。　And　which　king？〃

　　〃The　King　of　Scandinavia。〃

　　〃What！　Had　he　lost　his　wife？〃

　　〃You　can　understand；〃　said　Holmes　suavely；　〃that　I　extend　to　the

affairs　of　my　other　clients　the　same　secrecy　which　I　promise　to　you　in

yours。〃

　　〃Of　course！　Very　right！　very　right！　I'm　sure　I　beg　pardon。　As　to

my　own　case；　I　am　ready　to　give　you　any　information　which　may　assist

you　in　forming　an　opinion。〃

　　〃Thank　you。　I　have　already　learned　all　that　is　in　the　public　prints；

nothing　more。　I　presume　that　I　may　take　it　as　correct…this　article；

for　example；　as　to　the　disappearance　of　the　bride。〃

　　Lord　St。　Simon　glanced　over　it。　〃Yes；　it　is　correct；　as　far　as　it

goes。〃

　　〃But　it　needs　a　great　deal　of　supplementing　before　anyone　could

offer　an　opinion。　I　think　that　I　may　arrive　at　my　facts　most

directly　by　questioning　you。〃

　　〃Pray　do　so。〃

　　〃When　did　you　first　meet　Miss　Hatty　Doran？〃

　　〃In　San　Francisco；　a　year　ago。〃

　　〃You　were　travelling　in　the　States？〃

　　〃Yes。〃

　　〃Did　you　become　engaged　then？〃

　　〃No。〃

　　〃But　you　were　on　a　friendly　footing？〃

　　〃I　was　amused　by　her　society；　and　she　could　see　that　I　was　amused。〃

　　〃Her　father　is　very　rich？〃

　　〃He　is　said　to　be　the　richest　man　on　the　Pacific　slope。〃

　　〃And　how　did　he　make　his　money？〃

　　〃In　mining。　He　had　nothing　a　few　years　ago。　Then　he　struck　gold；

invested　it；　and　came　up　by　leaps　and　bounds。〃

　　〃Now；　what　is　your　own　impression　as　to　the　young　lady's…your　wife's

character？〃

　　The　nobleman　swung　his　glasses　a　little　faster　and　stared　down

into　the　fire。　〃You　see；　Mr。　Holmes；〃　said　he；　〃my　wife　was　twenty

before　her　father　became　a　rich　man。　During　that　time　she　ran　free

in　a　mining　camp　and　wandered　through　woods　or　mountains；　so　that

her　education　has　come　from　Nature　rather　than　from　the

schoolmaster。　She　is　what　we　call　in　England　a　tomboy；　with　a　strong

nature；　wild　and　free；　unfettered　by　any　sort　of　traditions。　She　is

impetuous；　volcanic；　I　was　about　to　say。　She　is　swift　in　making　up　her

mind　and　fearless　in　carrying　out　her　resolutions。　On　the　other

hand；　I　would　not　have　given　her　the　name　which　I　have　the　honour　to

bear〃…he　gave　a　little　stately　cough…〃had　not　I　thought　her　to　be　at

bottom　a　noble　woman。　I　believe　that　she　is　capable　of　heroic

self…sacrifice　and　that　anything　dishonourable　would　be　repugnant　to

her。〃

　　〃Have　you　her　photograph？〃

　　〃I　brought　this　with　me。〃　He　opened　a　locket　and　showed　us　the

full　face　of　a　very　lovely　woman。　It　was　not　a　photograph　but　an　ivory

miniature；　and　the　artist　had　brought　out　the　full　effect　of　the

lustrous　black　hair；　the　large　dark　eyes；　and　the　exquisite　mouth。

Holmes　gazed　long　and　earnestly　at　it。　Then　he　closed　the　locket　and

handed　it　back　to　Lord　St。　Simon。

　　〃The　young　lady　came　to　London；　then；　and　you　renewed　your

acquaintance？〃

　　〃Yes；　her　father　brought　her　over　for　this　last　London　season。　I　met

her　several　times；　became　engaged　to　her；　and　have　now　married　her。〃

　　〃She　brought；　I　understand；　a　considerable　dowry？〃

　　〃A　fair　dowry。　Not　more　than　is　usual　in　my　family。〃

　　〃And　this；　of　course；　remains　to　you；　since　the　marriage　is　a　fait

accompli？〃

　　〃I　really　have　made　no　inquiries　on　the　subject。〃

　　〃Very　naturally　not。　Did　you　see　Miss　Doran　on　the　day　before　the

wedding？〃

　　〃Yes。〃

　　〃Was　she　in　good　spirits？〃

　　〃Never　better。　She　kept　talking　of　what　we　should　do　in　our　future

lives。〃

　　〃Indeed　That　is　very　interesting。　And　on　the　morning　of　the

wedding？〃

　　〃She　was　as　bright　as　possible…at　least　until　after　the　ceremony。〃

　　〃And　did　you　observe　any　change　in　her　then？〃

　　〃Well；　to　tell　the　truth；　I　saw　then　the　first　signs　that　I　had　ever

seen　that　her　temper　was　just　a　little　sharp。　The　incident；　however；

was　too　trivial　to　relate　and　can　have　no　possible　bearing　upon　the

case。〃

　　〃Pray　let　us　have　it；　for　all　that。〃

　　〃Oh；　it　is　childish。　She　dropped　her　bouquet　as　we　went　towards

the　vestry。　She　was　passing　the　front　pew　at　the　time；　and　it　fell

over　into　the　pew。　There　was　a　moment's　delay；　but　the　gentleman　in

the　pew　handed　it　up　to　her　again；　and　it　did　not　appear　to　be　the

worse　for　the　fall。　Yet　when　I　spoke　to　her　of　the　matter；　she

answered　me　abruptly；　and　in　the　carriage；　on　our　way　home；　she　seemed

absurdly　agitated　over　this　trifling　cause。〃

　　〃Indeed　You　say　that　there　was　a　gentleman　in　the　pew。　Some　of　the

general　public　were　present；　then？〃

　　〃Oh；　yes。　It　is　impossible　to　exclude　them　when　the　church　is　open。〃

　　〃This　gentleman　was　not　one　of　your　wife's　friends？〃

　　〃No；　no；　I　call　him　a　gentleman　by　courtesy；　but　he　was　quite　a

common　looking　person。　I　hardly　noticed　his　appearance。　But　really　I

think　that　we　are　wandering　rather　far　from　the　point。〃

　　〃Lady　St。　Simon；　then；　returned　from　the　wedding　in　a　less

cheerful　frame　of　mind　than　she　had　gone　to　it。　What　did　she　do　on

reentering　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　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　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　o