"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." "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.