DarqueDante/test2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 74
house before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast
with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and
retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some
comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that she
had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an ulster
and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the footmen
declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus apparelled, but
had refused to credit that it was his mistress, 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."

house before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast

with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and

retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some

comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that she

had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an ulster

and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the footmen

declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus apparelled, but

had refused to credit that it was his mistress, 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."