'Well, we were stationed at Gibraltar when the Major was married. I was
his orderly at the time, and he took me with him to a town called
Toledo, where the marriage took place. I saw the lady--a French lady she
was--only once before she was Mrs Stuart; she and the Major were on
horseback, and a fine-looking pair they were; and I saw her twice after
they came back to Toledo from their honeymoon. She was then wearing the
locket I saw last night. It was one of the marriage presents he gave
her, and I remember seeing it on his dressing-room table in the hotel,
and thinking he was lucky to be able to buy such a nice gift. I was
courting at that time--not Sally; another girl who died--and I--well, I
would have given a whole year's pay to be able to buy my girl one like
it. That's how I remember it so well. The Major stayed in Toledo for
about a week after his honeymoon trip, and then he went to
headquarters, taking me with him of course; but Mrs Stuart remained at
Toledo. She never came down to Gib. that I know of, but the Major went
back once or twice. Then about a year after their marriage she died. The
Major got the sad news at mess, and left that night, and I followed next
day with his luggage. We returned the day after the funeral, and--and
that's all I know, I think.' Then he picked up his emery-cloth and
resumed his polishing, as if the story he had told was of ordinary
import.
'Joe,' I said after a pause, 'what you have told me is most valuable
information, and I thank you very much indeed. Were you present at the
marriage ceremony?'
'Yes, sir, as a spectator, of course. I had nothing particular to do,
and was in a strange town, and I was anxious to see what a foreign
marriage was like.'
'Naturally! Then the marriage was in a church in Toledo?'
'Yes, sir; but I don't remember the name of the church.'
'Ah, Joe, that's a pity, now. Could you describe it to me? I know
Toledo, and might be able to refresh your memory.'
'Well, sir, it was a very old-looking place, built of brick, and one
part was newer-looking than the other. There's a big bridge at the
entrance to the town----'
'Yes, Joe, the Bridge of Alcantara.'
'That's the name, sir. Well, I think I could go from the bridge right up
to the church even yet. If I had a piece of paper and a pencil I could
show you.'
I readily supplied him with pencil and paper, and after a little
cogitation and a good deal of muttering, 'Forward, right turn, left
wheel, steady now, forward,' he handed me the diagram of what he judged
was the route. As it wasn't drawn to a scale, and no streets were noted,
it was quite unintelligible to me; but it proved Joe had it in his
mind's eye, and so far this was quite satisfactory. 'Thank you, Joe,' I
said. 'May I keep this?'
He nodded, and I put it in my pocket. 'Now, just two questions more. Was
Mrs Stuart buried in Toledo?'
'No, sir. She lies in a cemetery a few miles out of Toledo.'
'You don't remember the name of the place?'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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