"Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personalcolumn of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeksback: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, ifrumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord RobertSt. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss HattyDoran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of SanFrancisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all."
"Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long,thin legs towards the fire.
"There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the societypapers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be acall for protection in the marriage market, for the presentfree-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our homeproduct. One by one the management of the noble houses of GreatBritain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from acrossthe Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the lastweek to the list of the prizes which have been borne away bythese charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himselffor over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, hasnow definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss HattyDoran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. MissDoran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted muchattention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child,and it is currently reported that her dowry will run toconsiderably over the six figures, with expectancies for thefuture. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral hasbeen compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years,and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the smallestate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiressis not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her tomake the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to aBritish peeress.'"
"Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning.
"Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Postto say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that itwould be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozenintimate friends would be invited, and that the party wouldreturn to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has beentaken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, onWednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding hadtaken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at LordBackwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the noticeswhich appeared before the disappearance of the bride."
"Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start.
"The vanishing of the lady."
"When did she vanish, then?"
"At the wedding breakfast."
"Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quitedramatic, in fact."
"Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common."
"They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally duringthe honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so promptas this. Pray let me have the details."
"I warn you that they are very incomplete."
&nbs
p; "Perhaps we may make them less so."
"Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of amorning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It isheaded, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding':
"'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into thegreatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes whichhave taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, asshortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on theprevious morning; but it is only now that it has been possible toconfirm the strange rumours which have been so persistentlyfloating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hushthe matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to itthat no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard whatis a common subject for conversation.
"'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, HanoverSquare, was a very quiet one, no one being present save thefather of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral,Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (theyounger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady AliciaWhittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house ofMr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had beenprepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by awoman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured toforce her way into the house after the bridal party, allegingthat she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after apainful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butlerand the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the housebefore this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfastwith the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition andretired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused somecomment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid thatshe had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up anulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of thefootmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thusapparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress,believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that hisdaughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction withthe bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication withthe police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, whichwill probably result in a speedy clearing up of this verysingular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothinghad transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. Thereare rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that thepolice have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused theoriginal disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or someother motive, she may have been concerned in the strangedisappearance of the bride.'"
"And is that all?"
"Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it isa 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 adanseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroomfor some years. There are no further particulars, and the wholecase is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in thepublic press."
"And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I wouldnot 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, Ihave no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do notdream 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 openthe door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face,high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance aboutthe mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whosepleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. Hismanner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undueimpression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a littlebend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept offhis very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thinupon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge offoppishness, 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 toright, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held hisgolden eyeglasses.
"Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Praytake the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr.Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk thismatter 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 youhave already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir,though I presume that they were hardly from the same class ofsociety."
"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?"