“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.

“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.”


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.


“You’re angry, Robert,” said she. “Well, I guess you

have every cause to be.”