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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 door 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； 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。 She laid her little bundle of papers upon the table；
and went her way； with a promise to come again whenever she might
be summoned。
Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his finger tips
still pressed together； his legs stretched out in front of him； and
his gaze directed upward to the ceiling。 Then he took down from
the rack the old and oily clay pipe； which was to him as a
counselor； and； having lighted it； he leaned back in his chair；
with thick blue cloud wreaths spinning up from him； and a look of
infinite languor in his face。
〃Quite an interesting study； that maiden；〃 he observed。 〃I found
her more interesting than her little problem； which； by the way； is
rather a trite one。 You will find parallel cases； if you consult
my index； in Andover in '77； and there was something of the sort at
The Hague last year。 Old as is the idea； however； there were one
or two details which were new to me。 But the maiden herself was
most instructive。〃
〃You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite
invisible to me；〃 I remarked。
〃Not invisible； but unnoticed； Watson。 You did not know where to
look； and so you missed all that was important。 I can never bring
you to realize the importance of sleeves； the suggestiveness of
thumb nails； or the great issues that may hang from a boot lace。
Now； what did you gather from that woman's appearance？ Describe
it。〃
〃Well； she had a slate…colored； broad…brimmed straw hat； with a
feather of a brickish red。 Her jacket was black； with black beads
sewed upon it and a fringe of little black jet ornaments。 Her
dress was brown； rather darker than coffee color； with a little
purple plush at the neck and sleeves。 Her gloves were grayish； and
were worn through at the right forefinger。 Her boots I didn't
observe。 She had small round； hanging gold earrings； and a general
air of being fairly well…to…do； in a vulgar； comfortable； easygoing
way。〃
Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled。
〃'Pon my word； Watson； you are coming along wonderfully。 You have
really done very well indeed。 It is true that you have missed
everything of importance； but you have hit upon the method； and you
have a quick eye for color。 Never trust to general impressions； my
boy； but concentrate yourself upon details。 My first glance is
always at a woman's sleeve。 In a man it is perhaps better first to
take the knee of the trouser。 As you observe； this woman had plush
upon her sleeve； which is a most useful material for showing
traces。 The double line a little above the wrist； where the
typewritist presses against the table； was beautifully defined。
The sewing machine； of the hand type； leaves a similar mark； but
only on the left arm； and on the side of it farthest from the
thumb； instead of being right across the broadest part； as this
was。 I then glanced at her face； and observing the dint of a
pince…nez at either side of her nose； I ventured a remark upon
short sight and typewriting； which seemed to surprise her。〃
〃It surprised me。〃
〃But； surely； it was very obviou