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his leave, as he was only a few years older than me; but I didn’t want
to do anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the
company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on the
very morning of the wedding.
“It missed him, then?
“Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived.
“Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for the
Friday. Was it to be in church?
“Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour’s, near King’s
Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Pancras
Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were two of us he
put us both into it and stepped himself into a four-wheeler, which
happened to be the only other cab in the street. We got to the church
first, and when the four-wheeler drove up we waited for him to step
out, but he never did, and when the cabman got down from the box and
looked there was no one there! The cabman said that he could not
imagine what had become of him, for he had seen him get in with his own
eyes. That was last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard
anything since then to throw any light upon what became of him.
“It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated, said
Holmes.
“Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the
morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to be true;
and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to separate us, I
was always to remember that I was pledged to him, and that he would
claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed strange talk for a
wedding-morning, but what has happened since gives a meaning to it.
“Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some
unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?
“Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he would not
have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw happened.
“But you have no notion as to what it could have been?
“None.
“One more question. How did your mother take the matter?
“She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter
again.
“And your father? Did you tell him?
“Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had happened, and
that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, what interest could
anyone have in bringing me to the doors of the church, and then leaving
me? Now, if he had borrowed my money, or if he had married me and got
my money settled on him, there might be some reason, but Hosmer was
very independent about money and never would look at a shilling of
mine. And yet, what could have happened? And why could he not write?
Oh, it drives me half-mad to think of it, and I can’t sleep a wink at
night. She pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to
sob heavily into it.
“I shall glance into the case for you, said Holmes, rising, “and I
have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the weight
of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind dwell upon it
further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel vanish from your
memory, as he has done from your life.
“Then you don’t think I’ll see him again?
“I fear not.
“Then what has happened to him?
“You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an accurate
description of him and any letters of his which you can spare.
“I advertised for him in last Saturday’s Chronicle, said she. “Here
is the slip and here are four letters from him.
“Thank you. And your address?
“No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell.
“Mr. Angel’s address you never had, I understand. Where is your
father’s place of business?
“He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers of
Fenchurch Street.
“Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will leave
the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given you. Let
the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it to affect your
life.
“You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be true
to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back.
For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was something
noble in the simple faith of our visitor which compelled our respect.