The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor

           TheLordSt.Simonmarriage,anditscurioustermination,havelongceasedtobeasubjectofinterestinthoseexaltedcirclesinwhichtheunfortunatebridegroommoves. Freshscandalshaveeclipsedit,andtheirmorepiquantdetailshavedrawnthegossipsawayfromthisfour-year-olddrama. AsIhavereasontobelieve,however,thatthefullfactshaveneverbeenrevealedtothegeneralpublic,andasmyfriendSherlockHolmeshadaconsiderableshareinclearingthematterup,Ifeelthatnomemoirofhimwouldbecompletewithoutsomelittlesketchofthisremarkableepisode. 

           Itwasafewweeksbeforemyownmarriage,duringthedayswhenIwasstillsharingroomswithHolmesinBakerStreet,thathecamehomefromanafternoonstrolltofindaletteronthetablewaitingforhim. Ihadremainedindoorsallday,fortheweatherhadtakenasuddenturntorain,withhighautumnalwinds,andtheJezailbulletwhichIhadbroughtbackinoneofmylimbsasarelicofmyAfghancampaignthrobbedwithdullpersistence. Withmybodyinoneeasy-chairandmylegsuponanother,Ihadsurroundedmyselfwithacloudofnewspapersuntilatlast,saturatedwiththenewsoftheday,Itossedthemallasideandlaylistless,watchingthehugecrestandmonogramupontheenvelopeuponthetableandwonderinglazilywhomyfriend’snoblecorrespondentcouldbe. 

           "Hereisaveryfashionableepistle,"Iremarkedasheentered. "Yourmorningletters,ifIrememberright,werefromafish-mongerandatide-waiter." 

           "Yes,mycorrespondencehascertainlythecharmofvariety,"heanswered,smiling,"andthehumblerareusuallythemoreinteresting. Thislookslikeoneofthoseunwelcomesocialsummonseswhichcalluponamaneithertobeboredortolie." 

           Hebrokethesealandglancedoverthecontents.