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quote Thoreau's example。〃
〃But I have heard all that you have heard。〃
〃Without； however； the knowledge of prexisting 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； hello； 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 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； Lastrade；〃 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 confectioners
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 pate 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 authority
〃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