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.
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 been
shamefully used.
I think that I heard a ring, said Holmes. Yes, there are steps on
the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view of the
matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here who may be more
successful. He opened the door and ushered in a lady and gentleman.
239