"Oh, yes impossible to exclude them church is open "

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

"No, no; I call him gentleman by courtesy, but quite common-looking person I hardly noticed his appearance But really that wandering rather far point "

"Lady St Simon, then, returned wedding in less cheerful frame of mind than she had gone What did she do on re-entering her father's house ? "

" her in conversation with her maid "

"And her maid ? "

"Alice is her name an American and came from California with her "

"A confidential servant ? "

"A little so It seemed that her mistress allowed her great liberties Still, , in America they look upon these things in different way "

"How long did she speak Alice ? "

"Oh, I had something else of "

" overhear what they said ? "

"Lady St Simon said something about 'jumping claim ' She was accustomed to use slang kind 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 breakfast-room "

" 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 long ulster, put on bonnet, and went out "

"Quite so And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in company with Flora Millar, woman now in custody, and who had already made disturbance at Mr Doran's house that morning "

"Ah, yes like few particulars young lady, and your relations to her "

Lord St Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows " on friendly footing -- say on very friendly footing She used Allegro treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of complaint against me, but what women are, Mr Holmes Flora was dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and devotedly attached She wrote me dreadful letters when she heard that about married, and, the truth, the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly I feared lest scandal church She came to Mr Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the possibility of something sort, and I had two police fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again She was quiet when she saw that no good in making row "

"Did your wife hear all this ? "

"No, thank goodness, she "

"And she was seen walking very woman afterwards ? "

"Yes what Mr Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as so serious thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid some terrible trap for her "

"Well, possible supposition "

" so, too ? "

" probable one But yourself look as likely ? "

" Flora would hurt fly "

"Still, jealousy is strange transformer of characters Pray your own theory what took place ? "

"Well, really, to seek theory, not to propound one you all the facts Since you ask me, however, say has occurred as possible excitement affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous disturbance in my wife "

"In short, that she had become suddenly deranged ? "

"Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back-- say upon me, but upon that many have aspired to without success-- hardly explain it in fashion "

"Well, certainly also conceivable hypothesis," said Holmes, smiling "And now, Lord St Simon, that nearly all my data May I ask whether you were seated breakfast-table window ? "

"We the other side road Park "

"Quite so Then that to detain you longer communicate "

"Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our client, rising

" solved it "

"Eh ? What ? "

" that solved it "

"Where, then, is my wife ? "

" detail which speedily supply "

Lord St Simon shook his head " afraid take wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in stately, old-fashioned manner he departed

" of Lord St Simon to honour my head by putting it on level own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing " that whisky and soda and cigar after all this cross-questioning I had formed my conclusions case before our client came room "

"My dear Holmes ! "

" notes of several similar cases, though none, as I remarked before, which were quite as prompt My whole examination served my conjecture into certainty Circumstantial evidence is occasionally very convincing, as find trout milk, to quote Thoreau's example "

"But heard all that heard "

"Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which serves me parallel instance in Aberdeen back, and something on the same lines at Munich the year Franco-Prussian War cases--but, hello, Lestrade ! Good-afternoon, Lestrade ! an extra tumbler sideboard, and cigars box "

The official detective was attired in pea-jacket and cravat, which gave him decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried black canvas bag hand With short greeting he seated himself and lit the cigar which offered to him

"What's up, then ? " asked Holmes with twinkle eye "You look dissatisfied "

"And dissatisfied It infernal St Simon marriage case make neither head nor tail business "

"Really ! You surprise me "

"Who ever heard mixed affair ? Every clew seems to slip through my fingers at work upon it all day "

"And very wet it seems to you," said Holmes laying his hand arm pea-jacket

"Yes, dragging the Serpentine "

"In heaven's name, what for ? "

"In search body of Lady St Simon "

Sherlock Holmes leaned back chair and laughed heartily

" dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain ? " he asked

"Why ? What ? "

"Because just as good chance of finding this lady one as other "

Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion "I suppose all ," he snarled

"Well, only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up "

"Oh, indeed ! Then Serpentine plays no part manner ? "

" it very unlikely "

"Then perhaps kindly explain how it this ? " He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the floor wedding-dress of watered silk, pair of white satin shoes and bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked in water "There," said he, putting new wedding-ring top pile " little nut to crack, Master Holmes "

"Oh, indeed ! " said my friend, blowing blue rings air "You dragged them Serpentine ? "

"No They were found floating near the margin by park-keeper They identified as her clothes, and it seemed that clothes were there the body far off "

" same brilliant reasoning, every man's body found neighbourhood wardrobe And pray what did you hope to arrive at ? "

"At some evidence implicating Flora Millar disappearance "

" afraid that it difficult "

" , indeed, now ? " cried Lestrade with some bitterness " afraid, Holmes, that very practical with your deductions and your inferences You two blunders in minutes This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar "

"And how ? "