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"You seem to expect company. They have laid for five."

"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."

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."