RubyGems - git-scribe - Versions diffs - 0.0.4 → 0.0.5 - Mend

git-scribe 0.0.4 → 0.0.5

Files changed (151) hide show

data/.gitignore +1 -0
data/Rakefile +31 -0
data/SPEC.asciidoc +126 -0
data/TODO.txt +29 -0
data/bin/git-scribe +2 -1
data/docbook-xsl/.CatalogManager.properties.example +61 -0
data/docbook-xsl/.urilist +1 -0
data/git-scribe.gemspec +32 -0
data/lib/git-scribe.rb +21 -315
data/lib/git-scribe/check.rb +60 -0
data/lib/git-scribe/cli.rb +84 -0
data/lib/git-scribe/generate.rb +222 -0
data/lib/git-scribe/init.rb +16 -0
data/lib/git-scribe/version.rb +3 -0
data/template/.gitignore +1 -0
data/template/.gitscribe +5 -0
data/test/check_test.rb +12 -0
data/test/gen_test.rb +78 -0
data/test/init_test.rb +36 -0
data/test/test_helper.rb +44 -0
metadata +49 -161
data/example/book/big.asc +0 -5604
data/example/book/holmes.asc +0 -12983
data/example/output/META-INF/container.xml +0 -6
data/example/output/OEBPS/ar01s02.html +0 -15
data/example/output/OEBPS/ar01s03.html +0 -3
data/example/output/OEBPS/content.opf +0 -21
data/example/output/OEBPS/index.html +0 -5
data/example/output/OEBPS/toc.ncx +0 -37
data/example/output/a_case_of_identity.html +0 -725
data/example/output/a_example_appendix.html +0 -63
data/example/output/a_migration_notes.html +0 -95
data/example/output/apa.html +0 -20
data/example/output/apb.html +0 -6
data/example/output/apc.html +0 -24
data/example/output/apd.html +0 -30
data/example/output/ape.html +0 -26
data/example/output/apf.html +0 -9
data/example/output/apg.html +0 -42
data/example/output/aph.html +0 -89
data/example/output/ar01s02.html +0 -12
data/example/output/ar01s03.html +0 -34
data/example/output/ar01s04.html +0 -77
data/example/output/ar01s05.html +0 -272
data/example/output/ar01s06.html +0 -35
data/example/output/ar01s07.html +0 -105
data/example/output/ar01s08.html +0 -33
data/example/output/ar01s09.html +0 -12
data/example/output/ar01s10.html +0 -14
data/example/output/ar01s11.html +0 -34
data/example/output/ar01s12.html +0 -63
data/example/output/ar01s13.html +0 -156
data/example/output/ar01s14.html +0 -330
data/example/output/ar01s15.html +0 -22
data/example/output/ar01s16.html +0 -27
data/example/output/ar01s17.html +0 -94
data/example/output/ar01s18.html +0 -359
data/example/output/ar01s19.html +0 -373
data/example/output/ar01s20.html +0 -27
data/example/output/ar01s21.html +0 -33
data/example/output/ar01s22.html +0 -351
data/example/output/ar01s23.html +0 -21
data/example/output/ar01s24.html +0 -69
data/example/output/ar01s25.html +0 -60
data/example/output/ar01s26.html +0 -217
data/example/output/ar01s27.html +0 -88
data/example/output/ar01s28.html +0 -237
data/example/output/ar01s29.html +0 -68
data/example/output/ar01s30.html +0 -154
data/example/output/ar01s31.html +0 -6
data/example/output/ar01s32.html +0 -22
data/example/output/ar01s33.html +0 -209
data/example/output/asciidoc_backends.html +0 -190
data/example/output/asciidoc_document_types.html +0 -131
data/example/output/attribute_entries.html +0 -185
data/example/output/attribute_lists.html +0 -157
data/example/output/attribute_references.html +0 -414
data/example/output/attributelist_element.html +0 -143
data/example/output/b_packager_notes.html +0 -68
data/example/output/bi01.html +0 -18
data/example/output/big.asc +0 -5604
data/example/output/block_element_definitions.html +0 -448
data/example/output/block_titles.html +0 -83
data/example/output/blockid_element.html +0 -80
data/example/output/book.asc +0 -5604
data/example/output/book.epub +0 -0
data/example/output/book.fo +0 -3788
data/example/output/book.html +0 -8793
data/example/output/book.xml +0 -8265
data/example/output/c_asciidoc_safe_mode.html +0 -105
data/example/output/callouts.html +0 -214
data/example/output/catalog +0 -10
data/example/output/colophon.html +0 -397
data/example/output/configuration_files.html +0 -672
data/example/output/converting_docbook_to_other_file_formats.html +0 -324
data/example/output/d_using_asciidoc_with_non-english_languages.html +0 -107
data/example/output/delimited_blocks.html +0 -455
data/example/output/document_attributes.html +0 -95
data/example/output/document_processing.html +0 -116
data/example/output/document_structure.html +0 -493
data/example/output/e_vim_syntax_highlighter.html +0 -111
data/example/output/example_bibliography.html +0 -82
data/example/output/example_colophon.html +0 -58
data/example/output/example_glossary.html +0 -73
data/example/output/example_index.html +0 -108
data/example/output/f_attribute_options.html +0 -129
data/example/output/filters.html +0 -179
data/example/output/footnotes.html +0 -103
data/example/output/g_diagnostics.html +0 -148
data/example/output/generating_plain_text_files.html +0 -68
data/example/output/getting_started.html +0 -87
data/example/output/glossary.html +0 -95
data/example/output/go01.html +0 -24
data/example/output/h_backend_attributes.html +0 -308
data/example/output/help_commands.html +0 -96
data/example/output/holmes.asc +0 -12983
data/example/output/image/octocat_professor.png +0 -0
data/example/output/include/hello.c +0 -10
data/example/output/index.html +0 -656
data/example/output/indexes.html +0 -104
data/example/output/intrinsic_attributes.html +0 -165
data/example/output/ix01.html +0 -3
data/example/output/lists.html +0 -666
data/example/output/macros.html +0 -737
data/example/output/manpage_documents.html +0 -124
data/example/output/master.css +0 -281
data/example/output/mathematical_formulas.html +0 -125
data/example/output/page.html +0 -60
data/example/output/paragraphs.html +0 -192
data/example/output/pr01.html +0 -3
data/example/output/source_code_highlighting.html +0 -59
data/example/output/stylesheets/handbookish-quirks.css +0 -0
data/example/output/stylesheets/handbookish.css +0 -233
data/example/output/tables.html +0 -797
data/example/output/text_formatting.html +0 -273
data/example/output/the_adventure_of_the_beryl_coronet.html +0 -968
data/example/output/the_adventure_of_the_blue_carbuncle.html +0 -825
data/example/output/the_adventure_of_the_copper_beeches.html +0 -998
data/example/output/the_adventure_of_the_engineer_s_thumb.html +0 -851
data/example/output/the_adventure_of_the_noble_bachelor.html +0 -861
data/example/output/the_adventure_of_the_speckled_band.html +0 -1015
data/example/output/the_boscombe_valley_mystery.html +0 -974
data/example/output/the_first_chapter.html +0 -110
data/example/output/the_five_orange_pips.html +0 -776
data/example/output/the_man_with_the_twisted_lip.html +0 -946
data/example/output/the_red-headed_league.html +0 -950
data/example/output/the_second_chapter.html +0 -95
data/example/output/the_third_chapter.html +0 -58
data/example/output/tips_and_tricks.html +0 -452
data/example/output/title.html +0 -120
data/example/output/titles.html +0 -126

data/example/output/the_adventure_of_the_noble_bachelor.html DELETED Viewed

@@ -1,861 +0,0 @@
-<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
-<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
-  <head>
-    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />
-    <link rel="stylesheet" href="master.css" type="text/css" />
-    <title>The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor</title>
-  </head>
-  <body>
-    <div class="nav" id="navheader">
-    <table width="100%">
-      <tr><td width="33%" align="left">
-         <a href="the_adventure_of_the_engineer_s_thumb.html">Prev</a><br/>
-         The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
-      </td><td width="33%" align="center">
-         <a href="index.html">Home</a><br/>
-         <strong>The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</strong>
-      </td><td width="33%" align="right">
-          <a href="the_adventure_of_the_beryl_coronet.html">Next</a><br/>
-          The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
-      </td></tr>
-    </table>
-    </div>
-    <hr/>
-    <div class="content">
-      <div class="section" lang="en" xml:lang="en">
-<div class="titlepage"><div><div><h2 class="title" style="clear: both">
-<a id="_the_adventure_of_the_noble_bachelor"></a>The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor</h2></div></div></div>
-<p>The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have
-long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles
-in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have
-eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the
-gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to
-believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to
-the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a
-considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no
-memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of
-this remarkable episode.</p>
-<p>It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I
-was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came
-home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table
-waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather
-had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and
-the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as
-a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence.
-With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had
-surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last,
-saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and
-lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the
-envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend’s
-noble correspondent could be.</p>
-<p>"Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered.
-"Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a
-fish-monger and a tide-waiter."</p>
-<p>"Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he
-answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more
-interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social
-summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie."</p>
-<p>He broke the seal and glanced over the contents.</p>
-<p>"Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all."</p>
-<p>"Not social, then?"</p>
-<p>"No, distinctly professional."</p>
-<p>"And from a noble client?"</p>
-<p>"One of the highest in England."</p>
-<p>"My dear fellow, I congratulate you."</p>
-<p>"I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my
-client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his
-case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be
-wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the
-papers diligently of late, have you not?"</p>
-<p>"It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in
-the corner. "I have had nothing else to do."</p>
-<p>"It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I
-read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The
-latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent
-events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his
-wedding?"</p>
-<p>"Oh, yes, with the deepest interest."</p>
-<p>"That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord
-St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn
-over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter.
-This is what he says:</p>
-<p>"<span class="emphasis"><em>MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I
-may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I
-have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you
-in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in
-connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is
-acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no
-objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that
-it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o’clock in
-the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that
-time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of
-paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.</em></span></p>
-<p>"It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen,
-and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink
-upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes
-as he folded up the epistle.</p>
-<p>"He says four o’clock. It is three now. He will be here in an
-hour."</p>
-<p>"Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon
-the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in
-their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client
-is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of
-reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting
-down and flattening it out upon his knee. "<span class="emphasis"><em>Lord Robert Walsingham
-de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.</em></span> Hum! <span class="emphasis"><em>Arms:
-Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.</em></span>
-He’s forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was
-Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The
-Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
-They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on
-the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in
-all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something
-more solid."</p>
-<p>"I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I,
-"for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as
-remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew
-that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the
-intrusion of other matters."</p>
-<p>"Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square
-furniture van. That is quite cleared up now—though, indeed, it
-was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your
-newspaper selections."</p>
-<p>"Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal
-column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks
-back: <span class="emphasis"><em>A marriage has been arranged,</em></span> it says, <span class="emphasis"><em>and will, if
-rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert
-St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty
-Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San
-Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.</em></span> That is all."</p>
-<p>"Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long,
-thin legs towards the fire.</p>
-<p>"There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society
-papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: <span class="emphasis"><em>There will soon be a
-call for protection in the marriage market, for the present
-free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home
-product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great
-Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across
-the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last
-week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by
-these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself
-for over twenty years proof against the little god’s arrows, has
-now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty
-Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss
-Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much
-attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child,
-and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to
-considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the
-future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has
-been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years,
-and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small
-estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress
-is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to
-make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a
-British peeress.</em></span>"</p>
-<p>"Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning.</p>
-<p>"Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post
-to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it
-would be at St. George’s, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen
-intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would
-return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been
-taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later—that is, on
-Wednesday last—there is a curt announcement that the wedding had
-taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord
-Backwater’s place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices
-which appeared before the disappearance of the bride."</p>
-<p>"Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start.</p>
-<p>"The vanishing of the lady."</p>
-<p>"When did she vanish, then?"</p>
-<p>"At the wedding breakfast."</p>
-<p>"Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite
-dramatic, in fact."</p>
-<p>"Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common."</p>
-<p>"They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during
-the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt
-as this. Pray let me have the details."</p>
-<p>"I warn you that they are very incomplete."</p>
-<p>"Perhaps we may make them less so."</p>
-<p>"Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a
-morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is
-headed, <span class="emphasis"><em>Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding</em></span>:</p>
-<p>"'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the
-greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which
-have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as
-shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the
-previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to
-confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently
-floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush
-the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it
-that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what
-is a common subject for conversation.</p>
-<p>"<span class="emphasis"><em>The ceremony, which was performed at St. George’s, Hanover
-Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the
-father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral,
-Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the
-younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia
-Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of
-Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been
-prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a
-woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to
-force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging
-that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a
-painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler
-and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house
-before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast
-with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and
-retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some
-comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that
-she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an
-ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the
-footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus
-apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress,
-believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his
-daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with
-the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with
-the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which
-will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very
-singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing
-had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There
-are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the
-police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the
-original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some
-other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange
-disappearance of the bride.</em></span>"</p>
-<p>"And is that all?"</p>
-<p>"Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is
-a suggestive one."</p>
-<p>"And it is--"</p>
-<p>"That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance,
-has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a
-danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom
-for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole
-case is in your hands now—so far as it has been set forth in the
-public press."</p>
-<p>"And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would
-not 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, I
-have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not
-dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness,
-if only as a check to my own memory."</p>
-<p>"Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open
-the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face,
-high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about
-the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose
-pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His
-manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue
-impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little
-bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off
-his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin
-upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of
-foppishness, 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 to
-right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his
-golden eyeglasses.</p>
-<p>"Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray
-take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr.
-Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this
-matter over."</p>
-<p>"A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine,
-Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you
-have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir,
-though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of
-society."</p>
-<p>"No, I am descending."</p>
-<p>"I beg pardon."</p>
-<p>"My last client of the sort was a king."</p>
-<p>"Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?"</p>
-<p>"The King of Scandinavia."</p>
-<p>"What! Had he lost his wife?"</p>
-<p>"You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the
-affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to
-you in yours."</p>
-<p>"Of course! Very right! very right! I’m sure I beg pardon. As to
-my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may
-assist you in forming an opinion."</p>
-<p>"Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public
-prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--
-this article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride."</p>
-<p>Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it
-goes."</p>
-<p>"But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could
-offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most
-directly by questioning you."</p>
-<p>"Pray do so."</p>
-<p>"When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?"</p>
-<p>"In San Francisco, a year ago."</p>
-<p>"You were travelling in the States?"</p>
-<p>"Yes."</p>
-<p>"Did you become engaged then?"</p>
-<p>"No."</p>
-<p>"But you were on a friendly footing?"</p>
-<p>"I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was
-amused."</p>
-<p>"Her father is very rich?"</p>
-<p>"He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope."</p>
-<p>"And how did he make his money?"</p>
-<p>"In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold,
-invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds."</p>
-<p>"Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady’s—your
-wife’s character?"</p>
-<p>The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down
-into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was
-twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she
-ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or
-mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than
-from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy,
-with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of
-traditions. She is impetuous—volcanic, I was about to say. She
-is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her
-resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the
-name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately
-cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I
-believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that
-anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her."</p>
-<p>"Have you her photograph?"</p>
-<p>"I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the
-full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an
-ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect
-of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the
-exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he
-closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon.</p>
-<p>"The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your
-acquaintance?"</p>
-<p>"Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I
-met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now
-married her."</p>
-<p>"She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?"</p>
-<p>"A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family."</p>
-<p>"And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a
-fait accompli?"</p>
-<p>"I really have made no inquiries on the subject."</p>
-<p>"Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the
-wedding?"</p>
-<p>"Yes."</p>
-<p>"Was she in good spirits?"</p>
-<p>"Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our
-future lives."</p>
-<p>"Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the
-wedding?"</p>
-<p>"She was as bright as possible—at least until after the
-ceremony."</p>
-<p>"And did you observe any change in her then?"</p>
-<p>"Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had
-ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident
-however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible
-bearing upon the case."</p>
-<p>"Pray let us have it, for all that."</p>
-<p>"Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards
-the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it
-fell over into the pew. There was a moment’s delay, but the
-gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not
-appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of
-the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our
-way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause."</p>
-<p>"Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of
-the general public were present, then?"</p>
-<p>"Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is
-open."</p>
-<p>"This gentleman was not one of your wife’s friends?"</p>
-<p>"No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a
-common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But
-really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point."</p>
-<p>"Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less
-cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do
-on re-entering her father’s house?"</p>
-<p>"I saw her in conversation with her maid."</p>
-<p>"And who is her maid?"</p>
-<p>"Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California
-with her."</p>
-<p>"A confidential servant?"</p>
-<p>"A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed
-her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they
-look upon these things in a different way."</p>
-<p>"How long did she speak to this Alice?"</p>
-<p>"Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of."</p>
-<p>"You did not overhear what they said?"</p>
-<p>"Lady St. Simon said something about <span class="emphasis"><em>jumping a claim.</em></span> She was
-accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she
-meant."</p>
-<p>"American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your
-wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?"</p>
-<p>"She walked into the breakfast-room."</p>
-<p>"On your arm?"</p>
-<p>"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."</p>
-<p>"But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to
-her room, covered her bride’s dress with a long ulster, put on a
-bonnet, and went out."</p>
-<p>"Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in
-company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who
-had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran’s house that
-morning."</p>
-<p>"Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady,
-and your relations to her."</p>
-<p>Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows.
-"We have been on a friendly footing for some years—I may say on
-a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have
-not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of
-complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes.
-Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and
-devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she
-heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the
-reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I
-feared lest there might be a scandal in the 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 of the sort, and I had two police
-fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again.
-She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a
-row."</p>
-<p>"Did your wife hear all this?"</p>
-<p>"No, thank goodness, she did not."</p>
-<p>"And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?"</p>
-<p>"Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as
-so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid
-some terrible trap for her."</p>
-<p>"Well, it is a possible supposition."</p>
-<p>"You think so, too?"</p>
-<p>"I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon
-this as likely?"</p>
-<p>"I do not think Flora would hurt a fly."</p>
-<p>"Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray
-what is your own theory as to what took place?"</p>
-<p>"Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I
-have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may
-say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of
-this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a
-social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous
-disturbance in my wife."</p>
-<p>"In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?"</p>
-<p>"Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back—I
-will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to
-without success—I can hardly explain it in any other fashion."</p>
-<p>"Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said
-Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have
-nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the
-breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?"</p>
-<p>"We could see the other side of the road and the Park."</p>
-<p>"Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer.
-I shall communicate with you."</p>
-<p>"Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our
-client, rising.</p>
-<p>"I have solved it."</p>
-<p>"Eh? What was that?"</p>
-<p>"I say that I have solved it."</p>
-<p>"Where, then, is my wife?"</p>
-<p>"That is a detail which I shall speedily supply."</p>
-<p>Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take
-wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a
-stately, old-fashioned manner he departed.</p>
-<p>"It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting
-it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I
-think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all
-this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the
-case before our client came into the room."</p>
-<p>"My dear Holmes!"</p>
-<p>"I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I
-remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination
-served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial
-evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a
-trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau’s example."</p>
-<p>"But I have heard all that you have heard."</p>
-<p>"Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which
-serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some
-years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich
-the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these
-cases—but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade!
-You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are
-cigars in the box."</p>
-<p>The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat,
-which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a
-black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated
-himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him.</p>
-<p>"What’s up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You
-look dissatisfied."</p>
-<p>"And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage
-case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business."</p>
-<p>"Really! You surprise me."</p>
-<p>"Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip
-through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day."</p>
-<p>"And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his
-hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket.</p>
-<p>"Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine."</p>
-<p>"In heaven’s name, what for?"</p>
-<p>"In search of the body of Lady St. Simon."</p>
-<p>Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily.</p>
-<p>"Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he
-asked.</p>
-<p>"Why? What do you mean?"</p>
-<p>"Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in
-the one as in the other."</p>
-<p>Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you
-know all about it," he snarled.</p>
-<p>"Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up."</p>
-<p>"Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in
-the matter?"</p>
-<p>"I think it very unlikely."</p>
-<p>"Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found
-this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the
-floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin
-shoes and a bride’s wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked
-in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the
-top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master
-Holmes."</p>
-<p>"Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air.
-"You dragged them from the Serpentine?"</p>
-<p>"No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper.
-They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me
-that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off."</p>
-<p>"By the same brilliant reasoning, every man’s body is to be found
-in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope
-to arrive at through this?"</p>
-<p>"At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance."</p>
-<p>"I am afraid that you will find it difficult."</p>
-<p>"Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I
-am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your
-deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as
-many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar."</p>
-<p>"And how?"</p>
-<p>"In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the
-card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it
-down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: <span class="emphasis"><em>You will
-see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.</em></span> Now my theory all
-along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora
-Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was
-responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her
-initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped
-into her hand at the door and which lured her within their
-reach."</p>
-<p>"Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are
-very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a
-listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he
-gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important,"
-said he.</p>
-<p>"Ha! you find it so?"</p>
-<p>"Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly."</p>
-<p>Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he
-shrieked, "you’re looking at the wrong side!"</p>
-<p>"On the contrary, this is the right side."</p>
-<p>"The right side? You’re mad! Here is the note written in pencil
-over here."</p>
-<p>"And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel
-bill, which interests me deeply."</p>
-<p>"There’s nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade.
-"<span class="emphasis"><em>Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s.
-6d., glass sherry, 8d.</em></span> I see nothing in that."</p>
-<p>"Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the
-note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I
-congratulate you again."</p>
-<p>"I’ve wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in
-hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories.
-Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom
-of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them
-into the bag, and made for the door.</p>
-<p>"Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival
-vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady
-St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any
-such person."</p>
-<p>Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me,
-tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and
-hurried away.</p>
-<p>He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on
-his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about
-outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must
-leave you to your papers for a little."</p>
-<p>It was after five o’clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had
-no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a
-confectioner’s man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked
-with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and
-presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean
-little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble
-lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold
-woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of
-ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries,
-my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian
-Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid
-for and were ordered to this address.</p>
-<p>Just before nine o’clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the
-room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his
-eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his
-conclusions.</p>
-<p>"They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands.</p>
-<p>"You seem to expect company. They have laid for five."</p>
-<p>"Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I
-am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I
-fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs."</p>
-<p>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.</p>
-<p>"My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes.</p>
-<p>"Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure.
-Have you good authority for what you say?"</p>
-<p>"The best possible."</p>
-<p>Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his
-forehead.</p>
-<p>"What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of
-the family has been subjected to such humiliation?"</p>
-<p>"It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any
-humiliation."</p>
-<p>"Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint."</p>
-<p>"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."</p>
-<p>"It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon,
-tapping his fingers upon the table.</p>
-<p>"You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so
-unprecedented a position."</p>
-<p>"I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have
-been shamefully used."</p>
-<p>"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. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to
-introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I
-think, you have already met."</p>
-<p>At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his
-seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand
-thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended
-dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out
-her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was
-as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was
-one which it was hard to resist.</p>
-<p>"You’re angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every
-cause to be."</p>
-<p>"Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly.</p>
-<p>"Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I
-should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of
-rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just
-didn’t know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn’t
-fall down and do a faint right there before the altar."</p>
-<p>"Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave
-the room while you explain this matter?"</p>
-<p>"If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman,
-"we’ve had just a little too much secrecy over this business
-already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to
-hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man,
-clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner.</p>
-<p>"Then I’ll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here
-and I met in <span class="emphasis"><em>84, in McQuire’s camp, near the Rockies, where pa
-was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I;
-but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile,
-while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to
-nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa
-wouldn’t hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took
-me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn’t throw up his hand, though; so
-he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything
-about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just
-fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and
-make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had
-as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of
-time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived.
-'Why shouldn’t we be married right away, then,</em></span> said he, <span class="emphasis"><em>and
-then I will feel sure of you; and I won’t claim to be your
-husband until I come back?</em></span> Well, we talked it over, and he had
-fixed it all up so nicely, with a 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.</p>
-<p>"The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then
-he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New
-Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a
-miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was
-my Frank’s name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was
-very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took
-me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a
-year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really
-dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London,
-and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt
-all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place
-in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank.</p>
-<p>"Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I’d have done
-my duty by him. We can’t command our love, but we can our
-actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make
-him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may
-imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I
-glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the
-first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked
-again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as
-if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I
-didn’t drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the
-words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my
-ear. I didn’t know what to do. Should I stop the service and make
-a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to
-know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to
-tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper,
-and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on
-the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the
-note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a
-line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so.
-Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now
-to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct.</p>
-<p>"When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California,
-and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but
-to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to
-have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before
-his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to
-run away and explain afterwards. I hadn’t been at the table ten
-minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of
-the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park.
-I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman
-came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to
-me—seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little
-secret of his own before marriage also—but I managed to get away
-from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and
-away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and
-that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank
-had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to
-'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to
-England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the
-very morning of my second wedding."</p>
-<p>"I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name
-and the church but not where the lady lived."</p>
-<p>"Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all
-for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I
-should like to vanish away and never see any of them again—just
-sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It
-was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting
-round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So
-Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of
-them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away
-somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we
-should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good
-gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how
-he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very
-clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and
-that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so
-secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord
-St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at
-once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if
-I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very
-meanly of me."</p>
-<p>Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but
-had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this
-long narrative.</p>
-<p>"Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most
-intimate personal affairs in this public manner."</p>
-<p>"Then you won’t forgive me? You won’t shake hands before I go?"</p>
-<p>"Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out
-his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him.</p>
-<p>"I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us
-in a friendly supper."</p>
-<p>"I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his
-Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent
-developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over
-them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a
-very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and
-stalked out of the room.</p>
-<p>"Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your
-company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an
-American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the
-folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone
-years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens
-of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a
-quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes."</p>
-<p>"The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our
-visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how
-simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight
-seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural
-than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing
-stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr.
-Lestrade of Scotland Yard."</p>
-<p>"You were not yourself at fault at all, then?"</p>
-<p>"From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that
-the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony,
-the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of
-returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the
-morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that
-something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was
-out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she
-seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America
-because she had spent so short a time in this country that she
-could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence
-over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change
-her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a
-process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an
-American. Then who could this American be, and why should he
-possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might
-be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in
-rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got
-before I ever heard Lord St. Simon’s narrative. When he told us
-of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride’s manner, of so
-transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a
-bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very
-significant allusion to claim-jumping—which in miners' parlance
-means taking possession of that which another person has a prior
-claim to—the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had
-gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a
-previous husband—the chances being in favour of the latter."</p>
-<p>"And how in the world did you find them?"</p>
-<p>"It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held
-information in his hands the value of which he did not himself
-know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance,
-but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had
-settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels."</p>
-<p>"How did you deduce the select?"</p>
-<p>"By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence
-for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive
-hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate.
-In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I
-learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an
-American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking
-over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I
-had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded
-to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate
-enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them
-some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be
-better in every way that they should make their position a little
-clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in
-particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I
-made him keep the appointment."</p>
-<p>"But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was
-certainly not very gracious."</p>
-<p>"Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be
-very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and
-wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of
-fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully
-and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in
-the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for
-the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away
-these bleak autumnal evenings."</p>
-</div>
-    </div>
-    <hr/>
-    <div class="nav" id="navfooter">
-    <table width="100%">
-      <tr><td width="33%" align="left">
-         <a href="the_adventure_of_the_engineer_s_thumb.html">Prev</a><br/>
-         The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb
-      </td><td width="33%" align="center">
-         <a href="index.html">Home</a><br/>
-         The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
-      </td><td width="33%" align="right">
-          <a href="the_adventure_of_the_beryl_coronet.html">Next</a><br/>
-          The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
-      </td></tr>
-    </table>
-    </div>
-  </body>
-</html>