" , Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing "You really are very fine indeed Let me see it " up the paper in listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and little cry of satisfaction " indeed important," said he

"Ha ! you find it so ? "

"Extremely so I congratulate you warmly "

Lestrade rose triumph and bent his head to look "Why," he shrieked, "you're looking wrong side ! "

" contrary, right side "

"The right side ? You're mad ! note written in pencil over here "

"And over what appears the fragment of hotel bill, which interests me deeply "

"There's nothing I looked at it before," said Lestrade "'Oct 4th, rooms 8s , breakfast 2s 6d , cocktail 1s , lunch 2s 6d , glass sherry, 8d ' nothing "

"Very likely not most important, all the same note, important also, or 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 fire spinning fine theories Good-day, Mr Holmes, and see which gets bottom matter first " He gathered up the garments, thrust them bag, and made door

"Just one hint , Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival vanished; " tell you the true solution matter Lady St Simon is myth not, and there never , any such person "

Lestrade looked sadly at my companion Then he turned , tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and hurried away

He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose overcoat " something in what the fellow says about outdoor work," he remarked, "so , Watson, that leave you to your papers for little "

after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had no time lonely, for within an hour there arrived confectioner's man with very large flat box This he unpacked help of youth whom he had brought , and presently, to my very great astonishment, quite epicurean little cold supper began laid out upon our humble lodging-house mahogany There were couple of brace of cold woodcock, pheasant, pate de foie gras pie with group of ancient and cobwebby bottles Having laid out all these luxuries, my two visitors vanished away, like the genie Arabian Nights, with no explanation save things paid for and were ordered address

Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly room His features were gravely set, but light eye which made me think that he disappointed conclusions

" laid the supper, then," , rubbing his hands

"You seem to expect company laid for five "

"Yes, I fancy some company dropping in," said he " surprised that Lord St Simon already arrived Ha ! I fancy that I hear his step now stairs "

indeed our visitor afternoon who came bustling in, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with very perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features

"My messenger reached you, then ? " asked Holmes

"Yes, and I confess contents startled me beyond measure good authority for what you say ? "

"The best possible "

Lord St Simon sank into chair and passed his hand over his forehead

" the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that family subjected to such humiliation ? "

" purest accident allow any humiliation "

"Ah, you look things from another standpoint "

"I fail that anyone is to blame hardly see how the lady acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of doing undoubtedly regretted Having no mother, she had no one to advise her at such crisis "

" slight, sir, public slight," said Lord St Simon, tapping his fingers table

" make allowance poor girl, placed in so unprecedented position "

" make no allowance very angry indeed, and shamefully used "

" that I heard ring," said Holmes "Yes, steps landing If persuade you lenient view matter, Lord St Simon, brought an advocate here more successful " He opened the door and ushered in lady and gentleman "Lord St Simon," said he "allow me to introduce you to Mr and Mrs Francis Hay Moulton The lady, , already met "

sight newcomers our client had sprung seat and stood very erect, eyes cast down hand thrust breast frock-coat, picture of offended dignity The lady had taken quick step forward and had held out her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was one which hard to resist

"You're angry, Robert," said she "Well, I guess every cause "

"Pray make no apology ," said Lord St Simon bitterly

"Oh, yes, that treated you real bad spoken before I went; but kind of rattled, and time when Frank here again I just didn't know what doing or saying I only wonder I didn't fall down and do faint right there altar "

"Perhaps, Mrs Moulton, like my friend and me to leave the room while you explain ? "

"If give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "we've had just little secrecy over this business already part, like all Europe and America to hear the rights of it " small, wiry, sunburnt man, clean-shaven, with sharp face and alert manner

"Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady "Frank here and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa was working claim We were engaged to , Frank and I; but then one day father struck rich pocket and made pile, while poor Frank here had claim that petered out and came to nothing The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa wouldn't hear engagement lasting any longer, and me away to 'Frisco Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so he followed me there, and me without pa knowing anything It would only him mad , so we just fixed it all up for ourselves Frank said that go and make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had as pa So then I promised to wait for him end and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and then feel sure of you; and I won't claim your husband until I come back ? ' Well, we talked it over, and he had fixed it all up so nicely, with clergyman all ready in waiting, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek his fortune, and I went back to pa

"The next I heard of Frank in Montana, and then he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New Mexico came long newspaper story about how miners' camp attacked by Apache Indians, and my Frank's name killed I fainted dead away, and very sick for months after Pa thought I had decline and took me to half the doctors in 'Frisco Not word of news came for year and more, I never doubted that Frank was really dead Then Lord St Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, and marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but all the time that no man earth would ever place in my heart that given to my poor Frank