Sherlock Holmes Complete Works 1

Chapter 72 Adventure History 32
It was five o'clock when Holmes left me, and before an hour had elapsed, a cake-box was delivered by the pastry-shop boy.I was amazed when a young man who had come with him opened the box of refreshments, and a sumptuous cold dinner was placed on our table.Two pairs of woodcocks, a pheasant, a foie gras pie and several bottles of old wine.After placing them, the two uninvited guests suddenly disappeared.They didn't say anything more than to tell me that the bill was paid for and that they were delivered here as ordered.

At exactly nine o'clock Holmes returned.He looked very serious, but his eyes sparkled.

"They've got supper set," he said.

"You seem to have invited guests, and they put out a total of five."

"Yes, I'm sure someone will drop by," he said, "but Lord St. Simon hasn't come yet. Ah, I hear him coming up the stairs."

Lord St. Simon hurried in, shaking his spectacles more vigorously, and looking embarrassed.

"So my messenger has been to you?"

"Yes, I am very shocked by the content of the letter. Is your statement well supported?"

"I have the best evidence."

Lord St. Simon sat down in his chair and put his hand to his forehead.

"What would the Duke say if he heard that someone in his family was so humiliated?" he muttered.

"I don't think it's an insult, it's just a misunderstanding."

"Huh? You look at this problem from another angle."

"I don't think anyone is to blame. I can't imagine any other better way for this young lady. Of course, she was a little sudden in dealing with this matter, which is regrettable. After all, the mother is not in front of me. At the moment, no one can find a way for her."

"It's a contempt, sir, a public contempt," said Lord San Simeon, banging his fingers on the table and shouting.

"But you must forgive her, for no one has ever been in such a position as hers."

"I can never forgive her, I was teased and I was really angry."

"The doorbell seems to have rung," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps on the stairs. If I cannot persuade you to deal with the matter leniently, Lord St. Maybe you can do it." He opened the door and let in a lady and a gentleman. "Let me introduce, these two are Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. I think you already know this lady. "

On seeing the newcomer, Lord San-Simon sprang up from his chair, and stood erect, with eyes cast down, and one hand thrust into the front of his coat.The lady stepped forward and held out her hand to him, but he was still unwilling to look up at her.

"You are angry, Robert," she said, "and I know you have reason to be angry."

"You don't have to apologize to me," he said enviously.

"I know I'm sorry for you. I should have told you before leaving, but I was a bit flustered. Since I met Frank again there, I don't know what I've said and done. I really I was a little surprised that I didn't faint in front of the altar at that time."

"Perhaps you wish, Mrs. Moulton, that my friend and I should withdraw while you explain the truth of the matter?"

"If I could give my opinion," said the strange man, "we've kept the matter too secret. For my part, I'd like all Europe and America to come and hear about it." the truth."

"Well, I'll tell you what happened now," continued the lady. "Frank and I met at McGuire's Camp near Los Angeles in [-]. My father owned a mine, and Frank and I Engaged. Later, my father dug a rich mine and made a fortune, while Frank's mines dwindled and finally disappeared. One of them became richer and the other poorer. So, my father firmly disagreed with our continuing The marriage contract was maintained, and he took me to San Francisco. However, Frank was unwilling to give up, so he followed there and dated me without telling my father. It would only make him angry if he found out, so we made a decision, Frank Said he was going to earn a fortune, and when he was as rich as my father, he would marry me. I promised to wait for him as long as I lived, and I swore that I would never marry another man as long as he lived.' So why don't we immediately Get married so I don't have to worry about it and don't have to ask your family to recognize me when I come back,' he said. So we talked it over, he hired a priest, arranged everything, and we got married right then and there. Then, he went out to start a business, and I went back to my father.

"I heard again from him that after he went to Montana, he was prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard that he went to New Mexico. After this, the newspaper reported that a miner's field was attacked by Indians. Frank's Names were also on the list of those who died. I passed out, and afterward, I lay ill in bed for months. My father thought I had tuberculosis and took me to about half the doctors in San Francisco. Over a year In time, Frank was never heard from, so I thought he had passed away. Later, Lord San Simeon came to San Francisco, we went to London, we got married, and my father was very happy. But I always feel that my heart has always belonged to Frank , No other man in the world can take his place.

"That being said, if I marry Lord San Simeon, I will also fulfill my obligations as a wife. Although I can't force my feelings, I can force my behavior. I wish to do my best Thoughts of his wonderful wife walked up to the altar with him. But you can imagine what I felt at the time: As I was stepping on the altar rail, I looked back and saw Frank standing in the first row of seats Looking at me. At first I thought it was his ghost, but when I looked over again, he was still standing there with a puzzled look in his eyes, as if asking if I was happy or sad to see him. I wondered why I didn't Passed out, the pastor's words echoed in my ears. I was at a loss. Am I going to interrupt the ceremony and make a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to understand what I was thinking, so he put his finger on the on his lips, gesturing for me to keep quiet. Then I saw him scribbled something on a piece of paper, a note for me. As I passed his row of seats on the way back, I deliberately The bouquet fell by his seat, and when he picked it up for me, he slipped the note into my hand. There was only one line on it saying that when he gave me the signal, I would follow him. I think My first duty is to do my duty to him, and I am determined to do what he says.

"Back at the residence, I told my maid that we were good friends. I told her not to talk, but to pack up. I knew I should explain it to Lord St. Simon, but in front of his mother and all the big people, I didn't dare to speak, so I decided to leave without saying goodbye, and I will explain later. I sat at the table for less than 10 minutes, and saw Frank standing on the other side of the road outside the window, waving to me, and then he walked into the park. I wore The good clothes slipped out and caught up with him. At this time, a woman came to me and told me some gossip about Lord San Simeon. From her words, I could hear that he seemed to have some secrets before marriage, but I still tried my best. Got rid of her. I got into a carriage with Frank and came to his place. After waiting for so many years, I finally consummated my marriage. It turns out that Frank was once held captive by the Indians in Arizona, but he escaped , made the long trek to San Francisco, and when he learned I thought he was dead and had gone to London, he chased him back to London and finally found me the morning of my second wedding.

"I read about it in a newspaper," added the American, "in which the name of the church was given, but no mention was made of the woman's apartment.

"Then we talked about what to do next. Frank wanted to make it all public, but I was so ashamed to face it all, I wanted to disappear and never see any of them again - maybe, I'd leave a letter for my father I just need a letter saying I'm still alive. The thought of those gentlemen and ladies sitting around the dinner table waiting for me to go back makes me uneasy. So, in order to prevent them from finding me, Frank bundled up my clothes and other belongings. We put it into a bag and threw it in a place where few people go. Originally, we planned to go to Paris tomorrow, if this enthusiastic Mr. Holmes hadn’t come to see us tonight. Although I don’t know how he found our place, And he patiently counseled us, telling us I was wrong, but Frank was right. Then he said he could offer an opportunity to speak to Lord San Simeon alone, so here we are. Well, You know everything now, Robert. I'm sorry if I've caused you pain, but I hope you don't think me mean."

Lord San-Simon did not relax his rigid posture, his brow was still furrowed and his lips were pursed.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I'm not used to having this kind of public discussion about my personal privacy."

"So you won't forgive me? Do you refuse to shake my hand before I leave?"

"No, of course not." He stretched out his hand and gently shook her outstretched hand.

"I thought," said Holmes, "that you could dine with us in a friendly atmosphere."

"I think your advice is over the top," he replied. "I can be compelled to let recent developments go, but you don't expect me to be happy. I think if you don't object, I wish you all a good night." He bowed to us. He bowed and walked out of the room.

"I trust, then, that at least you will do me some respect?" said Holmes. "I am very pleased to know an American. Mr. Moulton is believed by many, including myself, to have been a foolish man many years ago." The mistakes of princes and ministers do not hinder us—their grandchildren will one day be citizens of the same great country."

"This is a very memorable case," said Holmes after our guests had left, "because it clearly teaches us that when a seemingly insoluble problem arises, the ultimate solution is often very simple. There is nothing More natural than this lady's account. But to others, like Ray Mired of Scotland Yard, there is nothing so strange as the outcome of the case."

"Then I want to ask, did you make any mistakes in judgment from the beginning?"

"From the very beginning, two things were of particular importance to me. One was that the lady was very willing at first to have the wedding; but she regretted it within a few minutes of coming home. It was evident, then, that something must have happened in the morning that made her Changed her mind, what could it be? After she went out, she had no possibility of speaking to anyone, because the groom was by her side all the time. So is there any acquaintance? If so, it must be from the United States. Because she is new here , certainly no one will have such a deep influence on her that she will decide to commit herself to others at a glance. Think about it, after such a series of reasoning, there is only one conclusion: she met an American. Then this American is Who? Why had such an influence on her? A lover, perhaps a husband. I know that in her youth she grew up in a harsh and dissolute environment. That was all I knew before the lord's account. When he When telling me these things--Note: There is a man in the first row, the bride's attitude has changed, and she has obviously thrown away the bouquet in order to get the note, which is just a trick. The confidant maid mentioned the land occupation—meaning occupying other people’s original prospecting rights—this implied hint, and the whole case became clear. She left with the man, so the man in the seat was either a lover, Either the ex-husband, and the husband is more likely."

"How did you find them?"

"It was difficult to find, but Remired has very useful clues that he didn't know. The initials of those names are the most important clues. But the more important clue is that I know his The fact that I checked out at one of the most exclusive hotels in London a week ago."

"How did you infer this? How do you know it's the highest level?"

"Guess from the high price! Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence for wine. It is the most luxurious hotel. It is not much to charge such a high price in London. The second hotel I visited on the Nolin Park Avenue Here, in the register I found that Mr. Francis H. Moulton from the United States had just checked out yesterday. I checked the accounts in his name, which happened to be the accounts I had seen before. The American gentleman still left The next thing is to forward the letter to 226 Gordon Square. So I hurried there, and the lovers happened to be there. I took the liberty of appearing as an elder, and made some comments. I pointed out that it would be best for them to be open to the public, especially It was the lord's family who declared their situation. I invited them to come here to meet him, and they kept their appointment."

"But, you have to admit, it didn't turn out very well," I said. "He didn't behave nicely enough."

"Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "if it were you, after a courtship and marriage, only to find in a moment that your wife and fortune were gone, would you be generous? I think we should be more lenient with Lord St. Simon." .”

(End of this chapter)