exceedingly tawdry matters

"I trust that you are enjoying your visit to London, Miss Ise."

"Indeed I am, sir. The city is everything that I had heard it was. I only regret that we should need to take up your time with this exceedingly tawdry matter."

"Pray do not apologise. The matter presents certain features of interest. For a gentleman such as your commanding officer to go missing, and under such circumstances -- but forgive me, I fear that I am speaking of matters which are inappropriate to a lady."

"Mr Holmes, I assure you that my commanding officer would be the first to speak of such matters."

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