Latest / Adventure Books Library / A Scandal in Bohemia - Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Transcript

A Scandal in Bohemia - Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle · Adventure Books Library

0:00
A scandal in Bohemia, Sections one through three. Section one, to Sherlock
0:08
Holmes, she is always the woman. I have seldom heard him mention her
0:14
under any other name. In her eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of
0:20
her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for
0:26
Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly were abhorrent to his cold,
0:35
precise, but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it,
0:40
the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen. But as
0:48
a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke
0:53
of the softer passions, save with the gibe and a sneer. They were
0:58
admirable things for the observer, excellent for drawing the veil from men's motives and
1:06
actions. But for the trained reasoner, to admit such intrusions into his own
1:11
delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a
1:19
doubt on all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument or a crack
1:26
in one of his own high power lenses would not be more disturbing than a
1:34
strong emotion in a nature such as his, And yet there was but one
1:40
woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious
1:45
and questionable memory. I have seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had
1:52
drifted us away from each other. My own complete happiness and the home centered
1:57
interests which up around the man who first finds himself master of his own establishment,
2:06
were sufficient to absorb all my attentions. While Holmes, who loosed every
2:13
form of society with his whole bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Baker
2:20
Street, buried among his old books, and altering from weak tweak between cocaine
2:28
and ambition, the drowsiness of the drug and the fierce energy of his own
2:34
keen nature. He was still, as ever, deeply attracted by the study
2:39
of crime, and occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in following
2:49
out these clues and clearing up those mysteries which had been abandoned as hopeless by
2:55
the official police. From time to time I heard some vague account of his
3:01
doings, of his summons to Odessa in the case of the trip Off murder,
3:07
of his clearing up of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Tricomalae,
3:15
and finally, of the mission which he had accomplished so delicately and successfully
3:23
for the reigning family of Holland. Beyond these signs of his activity, however,
3:30
which I merely shared with all the readers of the Daily Press, I
3:35
knew little of my former friend and companion. One night, it was on
3:42
the twentieth of March eighteen eighty eight, I was returning from a journey to
3:47
a patient, for I had now returned to civil practice. When my way
3:53
led me through Baker Street. As I passed the well remembered door, which
3:59
must all ways be associated in my mind with my woeing and with the dark
4:04
incidents of the Stoty Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see
4:11
Holmes again and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. His rooms
4:16
were brilliantly lit, and even as I looked up, I saw his tall,
4:23
spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the blind. He was
4:29
pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head sunk upon his chest and
4:38
his hands clasped behind him. To me, who knew his every mood,
4:42
and habit. His attitude and manner told their own story. He was at
4:47
work again, he had risen out of his drug created dreams, and was
4:53
hot upon the scent of some new problem. I rang the bell and was
4:58
shown up to the chamber which had formerly been in part my own. His
5:03
manner was not effusive, it seldom was, but he was glad I think
5:10
to see me, with hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly eye.
5:15
He waved me an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, and
5:20
indicated a spirit case and a guess a gene in the corner. Then he
5:26
stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular introspective fashion. Wedlock
5:34
suits you, He remarked, I think, Watson, that you have put
5:39
on seven and a half pounds since I saw you seven. I answered,
5:46
indeed, I should have thought a little more, just a trifle more.
5:49
I fancy Watson, And in practice again I observed. You did not tell
5:55
me that you intended to go into harness. Then how do you know I
6:00
see it? I deduce it. How do I know that you have been
6:03
getting yourself very wet lately and that you have a most clumsy and careless servant
6:10
girl. My dear Holmes, said I, this is too much. You
6:15
would certainly have been burned had you lived a few centuries ago. It is
6:20
true that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful
6:25
mess. But as I have changed my clothes, I can't imagine how you
6:30
deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incourrigible, and my wife
6:34
has given her notice. But there again I felt to see how you work
6:40
it out. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands together.
6:46
It is simplicity itself, said he. My eyes tell me that on
6:50
the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the
6:57
leather is scourged by six almost cuts. Obviously they have been caused by someone
7:04
who has very careless scraped around the edges of the souls in order to remove
7:11
crusted mud from it. Hence, you see my double deduction that you have
7:17
been out in vile weather, and that you have a particularly malignant boot slitting
7:25
specimen of the London slave. As to your practice, if a gentleman walks
7:30
into my room smelling of iodorn, with a black mark of nitrate of silver,
7:38
upon his right forefinger, and a budge on the right side of his
7:44
top hat to show where he has secreted his stethoscope. I must be dull.
7:50
Indeed, if I did not pronounce him to be an active member of
7:56
the medical profession, I could not help laughing at the e with which he
8:01
examined his process of deduction. When I hear you give your reasons, I
8:07
remarked, the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I
8:11
could easily do it myself. Though at each successive instance of your reasoning,
8:18
I am baffled until you explain your process. And yet I believe that my
8:24
eyes are as good as yours. Quite so, he answered, lighting a
8:28
cigarette and throwing himself down into an armchair. You see, but you do
8:33
not observe. The distinction is here. For example, you have frequently seen
8:39
the steps which lead up from the hall to this room. Frequently how often,
8:45
well, some hundreds of times. Then how many are there? How
8:50
many? I don't know. Quite so you have not observed, and yet
8:54
you have seen. That is just my point. Now I know that there
9:01
are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed by the way,
9:07
Since you are interested in these little problems, and since you have been good
9:13
enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you may be interested
9:18
in this. He threw over a sheet of thick, pink tinted notepaper which
9:24
had been lying upon the table. It came by the last post, said.
9:30
He read it aloud. The note was undated, and without either signature
9:35
or address. There will call upon you tonight at a quarter to eight o'clock,
9:41
it said, a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a matter of
9:48
the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of the royal houses of
9:54
Europe have shown that you are one who may safely be trusted with matters which
10:03
are of an importance which can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you will
10:09
have from all quarters received, But in it your chamber then at that hour,
10:16
and do not take it amiss if your visitor wears a mask. This
10:22
is indeed a mystery, I remarked, What do you imagine that it means?
10:26
I have no data? Yet? It is a capital mistake to theorize
10:31
before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories,
10:37
instead of theories to suit facts, But the note itself, What do you
10:43
deduce from it? I certainly examine the writing and the paper upon which it
10:48
was written. The man who wrote it was presumably well to do, I
10:52
remarked, endeavoring to imitate my companion's process. Such paper could not be bought
10:58
under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong and stiff. Peculiar,
11:07
that is the very word, said Holmes. It is not an English
11:11
paper at all. Hold it up to the light. I did sew and
11:15
saw a large E with a small G, a P and a large G
11:20
with the small T woven into the texture of the paper. What do you
11:26
make of that? Asked Holmes. The name of the maker, no doubt,
11:31
or his monogram, rather not at all. The G with the small
11:37
T stands for Gesselchaft, which is German for company. It is a customary
11:43
contraction like our co. P, of course stands for paper. Now for
11:50
the EG, let us glance at our continual gazetteer. He took down a
11:58
heavy brown volume from his shelves Eglos. Here we are Igoria. It is
12:07
in a German speaking country in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad, remarkably as
12:16
being the scene of the death of Waenstein, and for its numerous glass factories
12:22
and paper mills. Ha ha, my boy, what do you make of
12:26
that? His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue, triumphant
12:33
cloud from his cigarette. The paper was made in Bohemia, I said,
12:37
precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you
12:43
know the particular contraction of the sentence? This account of you we have from
12:48
all quarters received. A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that. It
12:54
is the German who is so uncounterrous to his verbs. It only remains,
13:01
therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper
13:09
and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes,
13:13
if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts. As he spoke,
13:18
there's the sharp sound of horses hoofs, and the grating wheels against the
13:22
curb, followed by a sharp pull at the bell. Holmes whistled a pair
13:26
by the sound, said he yes, He continued, glancing out of the
13:31
window. A nice little bragman and a pair of beauties, A hundred and
13:37
fifty guineas apiece. There's money in this case, Watson. If there is
13:43
nothing else, I think that I had better go, Holmes, not a
13:46
bit, doctor, stay where you are. I am lost without my boswell,
13:52
and that promises to be interesting. It would be a pity to miss
13:58
it. But your client never mind him. I may want your help,
14:03
and so may he. Here he comes, Sit down in that armchair,
14:07
doctor, and give us your best attention. A slow and heavy step which
14:13
had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage, paused immediately outside the
14:20
door. Then there was a loud and authoritative step come in, said Holmes.
14:28
A man entered, who could hardly have been less than six feet six
14:33
inches in height, with the chest and limbers of a Hercules. His dress
14:39
was rich with a richness which would in England be looked upon as akin to
14:48
bad taste. Heavy bands of astrachan were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of
14:56
his double breasted coat, while the deep blue coat which was thrown over his
15:03
shoulders was lined with flame colored silk and secured at the neck with a brooch
15:11
which consisted of a single flaming barrel. Boots which extended halfway up his calls,
15:20
and which were trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur, completed the
15:28
impression of barbaric opulence, which was suggested by the whole appearance. He carried
15:37
a broad brimmed hat in his hand while he wore across the upper part of
15:43
his face, extending down the past the cheekbones, a black vizard mask,
15:48
which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, for his hand was still raised
15:56
to it as he entered from the lower part of the face. He appeared
16:03
to be a man of strong character, with a thick, hanging lip and
16:08
a long, straight chin, suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy.
16:18
You had my note, he asked, with a deep, harsh voice
16:22
and a strongly marked German accent. I told you that I would call.
16:26
He looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to
16:32
address. Pray, take a seat, said Holmes. This is my friend
16:37
and calling doctor Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my
16:42
tases, whom have I the honor to address. You may address me as
16:48
Count von Cram, a Bohemian nobleman. I understand that this gentleman, your
16:53
friend is a man of honor and discretion whom I may trust with a matter
16:59
of the most extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate
17:03
with you alone. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the
17:08
wrist and pushed me back into my chair. It is both or none,
17:12
said he. You may see before this, gentleman, anything which you may
17:18
say to me. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. Then I must begin,
17:25
said he, by finding you both through absolute secrecy for two years.
17:29
At the end of that time, the matter will be of no importance at
17:33
present. It is too much to say that it is of such weight it
17:37
may have an influence upon European history, I promise, said Holmes. And
17:42
I you may excuse this mask, counted our strange visitor. The august person
17:48
who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you. And I may
17:53
confess at once that the title by which I have just called myself is not
17:59
exactly my own. I was aware of it, said Holmes dryly. The
18:03
circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has to be taken to quench
18:10
what might grow to be an immense scandal. And seriously compromise one of the
18:15
ranging families of Europe to speak plainly, the matter implicates the Great House of
18:22
Armstein, hereditary Kings of Bohemia. I was also aware of that, murmured
18:27
Holmes, setting himself down in his armchair, closing his eyes. Our visitor
18:33
glanced with some apparent surprise at the leugid, longing figure of the man who
18:41
had been, no doubt depicted to him as the most insensitive reasoner, a
18:48
most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at
18:56
his gigantic client. If your Majesty would condescend to state your case, he
19:03
remarked, I should be better able to advise you. The man sprang from
19:07
his chair and paced up and down the room in uncontrollable agitation. Then,
19:14
with a gesture of desperation, he tore the mask from his face and hurled
19:21
it upon the ground. You are right, he cried, I am the
19:23
king. Why should I attempt to conceal it? Why? Indeed, murmured
19:27
Holmes, your Majesty had not spoken before I was aware that I was addressing
19:34
William Gotstrich Sigmund van Armstrong, Grand Duke of castel Flatsine and hereditary king of
19:47
Bohemia. But you can understand, said our strange visitor, sitting down once
19:52
more, and passing his hand over his high white forehead. You can understand
19:59
that I I am not accustomed to doing such business in my own person,
20:03
that I could not confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power.
20:10
I have come incognito from Pragou, from the purpose of consulting you.
20:18
Then pray consult said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. The facts are
20:22
briefly these. Some five years ago, during a lengthy visit to Warsaw,
20:27
I made the acquaintance of the well known adventuress, Irene Adler. The name
20:33
is no doubt familiar to you. Kindly look her up in my index,
20:37
doctor murmured Holmes, without opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted
20:45
a system of docking all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it was
20:51
difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not at once
20:56
furnish information. In this case, I found her biography sandwiched in between that
21:03
of Hebrew rabbi and that of staff commander, who had written a monograph upon
21:12
the deep sea fishes. Let me see, said Holmes hum born in New
21:18
Jersey in the year in eighteen fifty eight Contrito hum Let's Calm Prima Donna,
21:26
Imperial Opera of Warsaw Yes retired from the operatic stage. Ha living in London.
21:34
Quite so, your Majesty, as I understand, become entangled with this
21:41
young person, wrote her some comprising letters and is now desirous of getting these
21:48
letters back pcisely so. But how was there a secret marriage? None?
21:53
No legal papers or certificates. None. Then I failed to follow your majesty.
21:59
If this young person should produce her letters from blackmailing or other purposes,
22:06
how is she to prove their authenticity? There is writing po pooh forgery,
22:12
my private notepaper, stolen, my own seal, imitated my photograph, but
22:21
we were both in the photograph. Oh dear, that is very bad.
22:25
Your Majesty has indeed committed an indiscretion. I was mad, insane. You
22:33
have compromised yourself. Seriously. I was only Crown Prince then, I was
22:40
young. I am but thirty now it must be recovered. We have tried
22:47
and failed. Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought. She will
22:51
not sell stolen. Then five attempts have been made, twice burglars in my
22:57
pay, ransacked or house. Once we diverted her luggage when she traveled twice
23:03
she had been waylaid. There has been no result, no sign of it,
23:10
absolutely none. Holmes laughed. It is quite a pretty little problem,
23:15
said he, but a very serious one to me, returned the king reproachfully,
23:22
very indeed, what does she propose to do with the photograph to ruin
23:26
me? But how I am about to be married? So I have heard
23:32
to Claudia Loorman Vuln Saxe Monteguem, second daughter of the King of Scandinavia.
23:40
You may know that strict principles of her family, she is herself the very
23:45
soul of delicacy. A shadow of a doubt as to my conduct would bring
23:51
the matter to an end. And Irene Attler threatens to send him a photograph,
23:56
and she will do it. I know that she will do it.
24:00
You do not know her, but she has a sore of steel. She
24:04
has the face of the most beautiful of woman and the mind of the most
24:08
resolute of men. Rather than I should marry another woman, there are no
24:15
lengths to which she would not go none. You are sure that she has
24:19
not sent it yet. I am sure, and why because she has said
24:25
that she would send it on the day when the betrothal was publicly proclaimed.
24:29
That would be next Monday. Oh, then we have three days yet,
24:33
said Holmes with yawn. That is very fortunate, as I have one or
24:38
two matters of importance to look into just at present. Your majesty will of
24:44
course stay in London for the present. Certainly you will find me at the
24:51
long Ram under the name of the Count van Kram. Then I shall drop
24:56
you a line to let you know. Oh we progress, pray do so
25:03
I shall be all anxiety. Then, as too many you have carte blanche.
25:08
Absolutely, I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of
25:14
my kingdom to have that photograph, and for the present expenses. The King
25:19
took a heavy chambos leather bag from under his cloak and laid it on the
25:26
table. There are three hundred pounds in a gold and seven hundred in notes,
25:32
he said. Holmes gribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his notebook and
25:37
handed it to him and mademoiselle's address, He asked, is Browney lodge saw
25:44
pritimee Avenue, Saint John's Wood. Holmes took a note of it. What
25:48
other question said? He was the photograph a cabinet. It was then good
25:56
night, your majesty, and I trust that we shall soon have some good
26:00
news for you. And good night Watson, he added, as the wheels
26:07
of the Royal Brogham rolled down the street. If you will be good enough
26:11
to call tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, I should like to chat this little
26:18
matter over with you. End of Section one, Section two. At three
26:26
o'clock precisely, I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had not yet returned.
26:33
The landlady informed me that he had left the house shortly after eight o'clock
26:37
in the morning. I sat down beside the fire, however, with the
26:44
intention of awaiting him, however long he might be. I was already deeply
26:51
interested in his inquiry, for though it was surrounded by none of the grim
26:57
and strange feet which were associated with the two crimes which I have already recorded,
27:06
still the nature of the case and the exaltant station of his client gave
27:11
it a character of its own. Indeed, apart from the nature of the
27:17
investigation, which my friend had on hand. There was something in his masterly
27:23
grasp of a situation and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a
27:30
pleasure to me to study his system of work and to follow the quick,
27:37
subtle methods by which he distinguished the most inextractable mysteries. So accustomed was I
27:45
to his invariable success, that the very possibility of his felling had ceased to
27:53
enter into my head. It was close upon four before the door opened,
28:00
and a drunken looking groom, ill kept and sighed, whiskered, with an
28:07
inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Accustomed as I was
28:17
to my friend's amazing powers in the use of disguises, I had to look
28:22
three times before I was certain that it was indeed he. With a nod,
28:27
he vanished into the bedroom. Whence he emerged in five minutes, two
28:33
suited and respectable as of old. Putting his hands into his pockets, he
28:41
stretched out his legs in front of the fire, and laughing heartily for some
28:48
minutes. Well really, he cried, and then he choked and laughed again,
28:53
until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless in the chair.
28:57
What is it? It's why too funny? I am sure you could
29:02
never guess how I employed my morning or what I ended by doing. I
29:07
can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the habits, and perhaps
29:12
the house of Miss Irene Adler quite so, but the sequel was rather unusual.
29:19
I will tell you, however. I left the house a little after
29:23
eight o'clock this morning in the character of a groom out of walk. There
29:30
is a wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. But one of them and
29:40
you will know all that there is to know. I soon found brought me
29:45
launch. It is a Bazieu villa with a garden at the back, but
29:52
built on it front right up to the road, two stories chub lock to
29:57
the door, large city room on the right side, well furnished with long
30:04
windows almost to the floor, and those prosperous English window fasteners which a child
30:11
could open behind. There was nothing remarkable save the passage window could be reached
30:19
from the top of the cook hill. I walked round it and examined it
30:26
closely from every point of view, but without nothing anything else of interest.
30:33
I then lodged down the street and found as I expected that there was a
30:38
news in a lane which runs down by one wall of the garden. I
30:45
went the ostler's hand in rubbing down their houses, and received in exchange two
30:52
pence a glass of half and half, two fills of shagged tobacco, and
30:59
as much information as I could desire about miss Adler, to say nothing of
31:04
half a dozen other people in the neighborhood, in whom I was not in
31:11
the least interested by, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to. And
31:17
what of I rey Nadler, I asked, Oh, she has turned all
31:21
the man's heads down in that part. She is the daintiest thing under a
31:26
bonage on the planet, So say the suprenteine news to a man. She
31:33
lives quietly, sings at concerts, drives out at five every day, and
31:41
returns at seven shop for dinner. Seldom goes out at other times except when
31:48
she sings. Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him.
31:52
He is dark, handsome and dashing. Never calls less than once a
31:57
day, and often twice. He is mister Godfrey Norton of the Inner Temple.
32:07
See the advantages of a cabman as a confident. They have driven him
32:13
home a dozen of times from Serpentine News and knew all about him. When
32:20
I had listened to all they had to tell, I begun to walk up
32:23
and down near Bryany Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of
32:30
campaign. This goldfray nor In was evidently an important factor in the matter.
32:38
He was a lawyer. That sounded omunous. What was the relation between them,
32:46
and what the object of his repeated visits. Was she his client friend
32:53
or his mistress. If the former, she had probably transferred the photograph to
33:00
his keeping. If the later, it was less likely. On the issue
33:06
of this question deepened whither I should continue my work at Briny Lodge or turn
33:14
my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Temple. It was a delicate point,
33:21
and it winded the field of my inquiry. I fear that I bore
33:25
you with these details, but I have to let you see my little difficulties
33:31
if you are to understand the situation. I am following you closely, I
33:37
answered. I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a handsome cab
33:43
drove up to Briny Lodge and a gentleman sprang out. He was a remarkably
33:50
handsome man, dark aquiline and mustached, evidently the man of whom I have
33:57
heard. He appeared to be in a great hurry, shouted to the cabman
34:04
to wait, and brushed past the maid, who opened the door with the
34:09
air of a man who was thoroughly at home. He was in the house
34:15
about half an hour, and I could catch glimpses of him in the windows
34:21
of the sitting room, pacing up and down, talking excitedly, and waving
34:27
his arms of her. I could see nothing. Presently he emerged, looking
34:32
even more flurried than before. As he stepped up into the cab, he
34:38
pulled a gold watch from his pocket and looked at it earnestly. Drive like
34:45
the devil, he shouted, first to Cross and Hungrees in Ragged Street,
34:50
and then to the Church of Saint Monica in Edgar Road. Half a guinea
34:54
if you do it in twenty minutes Away they went, and I was just
35:00
wondering whether I should not do well to follow them, when up the lane
35:05
came a neat little Landeau, the coachman, with his coat only half buttoned
35:13
and his tie under his ear, while all the tags of his harness were
35:19
sticking out of the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of
35:24
the hall door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at
35:30
the moment, but she was a lovely woman with a face that a man
35:34
might die for the Church of Saint Monica, John, she cried, and
35:39
half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes. This was quite too
35:45
good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing whether I should run for
35:49
it or whether I should perch behind her landeaux. When a cab came through
35:54
the street. The driver looked twice at such a shabby fare, but I
36:00
jumped in before he could object. The Church of Saint Monica, said I,
36:05
and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes. It was
36:08
twenty five minutes to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was
36:14
in the wind. My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove
36:19
faster. But the others were there before us, the cab and the landew
36:24
with their steaming horses, or in front of the door. When I arrived,
36:30
I paid the man and hurried into the church. There was not a
36:35
swire. There, save the two whom I had followed, and a surpliced
36:40
clergyman who seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three standing in
36:50
a nod in front of the altar. I longed up the side a stile,
36:54
like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Suddenly, to
37:00
my surprise, the three at the altar faced round me, and Gordfrey nor
37:07
In came running as hard as he could toward me. Heck, he cried,
37:13
you'll do Come? Come what? Then? I asked, come on,
37:17
come, only three minutes or it won't be legal. I was half
37:22
dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was, I
37:24
found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, and vouching for things
37:31
of which I knew nothing, and generally assisting in the secure tying up of
37:38
Irene Adler Spinster to Godfrey nor In Bachelor. It was all done in an
37:46
instant, and there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the
37:51
lady on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It
37:57
was the most preposterous possition in which I ever found in my life, and
38:02
it was the thought of it that startled me into laughing. Just now seems
38:08
that there had been some informality about the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused
38:16
to marry them without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance
38:22
saved the bridegroom from having to sell me out into the street in search of
38:29
the best man. The bride gave me a sovereign and I mean to weigh
38:34
on my watch chain in memory of the occasion. That is a very unexpected
38:39
turn of affairs, said I. And what then, well, I found
38:45
my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if the pair might take an
38:52
immediate departure, and so necessity very prompt and energetic mentures on my part.
39:00
At the church door, however, they separated, he driving back to the
39:06
temple, and she to her own house. I shall drive out into the
39:09
pocket five as usual, she said, as she left him. I heard
39:15
no more. They drove away in different directions, and I went off to
39:20
make my own arrangements, which are some cold beef and a glass of beer,
39:25
he answered, ringing the bell. I have been too busy to think
39:30
of food, and I am likely to be booster still this evening. By
39:37
the way, doctor, I shall want your co operation. I shall be
39:43
delighted you don't mind breaking the law, not in the least, nor running
39:47
a chance of arrest, not in a good cause. Oh, the case
39:52
is excellent. Then I am your man. I was sure that I might
39:57
rely on you. But what do you wish? When Miss Turner has brought
40:01
in the tray? I will make it clear to you now, he said,
40:07
as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that our landlady had provided.
40:13
I must discuss it while I eat, for I have not much time.
40:17
It is nearly five now. In two hours we must be on the scene
40:22
of action. Miss Irene or Madame rather returns from her drive at seven.
40:30
We must be at bryany Vange to meet her. And what then? You
40:36
leave that to me? I have already arranged what is to occur. There
40:39
is only one point on which I must insist. You must not interfere.
40:45
Come, what may you understand? I am to be neutral, to do
40:50
nothing whatever. There will probably be some small unpleasantness. Do not join in
40:58
it. It will end in my being conveyed into the house. Four or
41:02
five minutes afterwards, the sitting room window will be open. You are to
41:08
station yourself close to that open window. Yes, you ought to watch me,
41:14
for I have been visible to you. Yes, I when I raise
41:19
my hand, so you will throw into the room what I give you to
41:23
throw, and will at the same time raise the cry of fire. You
41:30
quite follow me entirely. It is nothing more formidable, he said, taking
41:37
a long cigar shaped raw from his pocket. It is an ordinary plumber's smoke
41:45
rocket, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self lighting.
41:51
Your task is confined to that when you raise your cry of fire, and
41:59
it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then
42:04
walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten
42:08
minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear. I am to remain
42:13
neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, and at your
42:16
signal to throw this object, then to raise the cry of fire, and
42:22
to wait you at the corner of the street precisely. Then you may entirely
42:30
rely on me. That is excellent. I think perhaps it is almost time
42:37
that I prepare for the new role I have to play. He disappeared into
42:44
his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the character of an amiable and
42:51
simple minded non conformist and clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers,
42:59
his white tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and
43:06
benevolent curiosity were such as mister John Hare alone could have equalled. It is
43:13
not merely that Holmes changed his costume, his expression, his manner, his
43:20
very soul seemed to vary every fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost
43:27
a fine actor, even as science lost an acute reasoner when he became a
43:34
specialist in crime. It was a quarta past six when we left Baker Street,
43:39
and it still wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in
43:45
Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the laps were just being lightened
43:53
as we paced up and down in front of Briny Lodge, waiting the coming
44:00
of its occupant. The house was just such as I had pictured it from
44:07
Sherlock Holmes's securent description, but the locally appeared to be less private than I
44:15
expected. On the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighborhood,
44:21
it was remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men smoking and
44:29
laughing in a corner, a scissors grinder with his will, two guardsmen who
44:36
were flirting with a nurse girl, and several well dressed young men who were
44:43
laughing up and down with cigars in their mouths. You see, remarked Holmes,
44:50
as we passed to and fro in front of the house. This marriage
44:54
rather simplifies matters. The photograph becomes a double edged web. And now the
45:00
chances are that she would be as averse to its being seen by mister Godfrey
45:07
Norton as our client is to coming to the eyes of his princess. Now
45:15
the question is where are we to find the photograph where? Indeed, it
45:22
is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is cabinet sized,
45:27
too large for easy concealment about a woman's dress. She knows that the
45:31
king is capable of having her waylaid and searched. Two attempts of the sort
45:38
have already been made. We may take it, then, that she does
45:43
not carry it about with her. Where then her banker or her lawyer.
45:49
There is that double possibility. But I am inclined to think neither. Women
45:53
are naturally secretive, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should
46:00
she have it over to any one else. She could trust her own guardsmanship,
46:07
But she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be brought to
46:14
bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she had resolved to use
46:20
it within a few days. It must be where she can lay her hands
46:23
upon it. It must be in her own house. But it has twice
46:29
been burgled, sair. They did not know how to look. But how
46:35
will you look? I will not look what? Then? I will get
46:40
her to show me, But she will refuse. She will not be able
46:45
to. But I hear the rumble of wills. It is her carriage.
46:51
Now carry out my orders to the letter. As he spoke, the gleam
46:57
of the side lights of a carriage came round the curve of the avenue.
47:04
It was a smart little lambueu, which rattled up to the door of Brimy
47:10
Lodge. As it pulled up, one of the loafing's men at that corner
47:16
dashed forward to open the door in the hope of earning a copper, but
47:23
was elbowed away by another loafer who had rushed up with the same intention.
47:30
A fierce quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two godsmen, who
47:37
took sides with one of the longers, and by the scissors grinder, who
47:44
was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and in
47:50
an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was the center
47:54
of a little knot of flourished and struggling men whose drek savagely at each other
48:01
with their fists and sticks. Holmes dashed into the crowd to protect the lady,
48:08
but just as he reached her, he gave a cry and dropped to
48:13
the ground, with the blood running freely down his face. At his fall,
48:19
the guardsmen took their heels in one direction and the longers in the other,
48:25
while a number of better dressed people who had watched the suffice without taking
48:32
paw in it, crowded in to help the lady and to attend to the
48:37
injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, had hurried
48:43
up the steps, but she stood at the top with her superb figure outlined
48:51
against the lights of the hall, looking back into the street. Is the
48:58
poor gentleman much hurt? He asked? He is dead? Cried several voices.
49:02
No, no, there's life in him, shouted another. But he'll
49:06
be gone before you can get him to hospital. Here's a brave fellow,
49:10
said a woman. They would have got the lady's person watch if it hadn't
49:15
been for him. They were a gang, and a rough one too.
49:20
Ah, he's breathing now. He can't lie here in the streets. May
49:23
we bring him in, marm surely bring him into the sitting room. There's
49:29
a comfortable sofa. This way, please, slowly and solemnly. He was
49:35
born into the primary lodge and laid into the principal room while I still observed
49:42
the proceedings from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit,
49:49
but the blinds had been drawn so that I could see Holmes as he lay
49:54
upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with compunction at
50:00
that moment for the part he was playing. But I know that I never
50:06
felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life than when I saw the beautiful
50:12
creature against whom I was conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she
50:20
waited upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery to
50:25
Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had entrusted to me.
50:31
I hardened my heart and took the smoke rocket from under my ulster. After
50:38
all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are but preventing
50:43
her from injuring another. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I
50:49
saw him mention like a man who is in need of air. A maid
50:52
rushed across the thrave opened the window. At the same instant I saw him
50:59
raise his hand, and at the signal, I tossed my rocket into the
51:02
room with a cry of fire. The word was no sooner out of my
51:09
mouth than the whole crowd of spectators, well dressed and ill, gentlemen,
51:15
oysters and servant maids, joined in the general shriek of fire. Thick clouds
51:23
of smoke curled through the room and out those open windows. I caught a
51:30
glimpse of rushing fingers, and a moment later the voice of Holmes from within,
51:35
assuring them that it was a false alarm. Slipping through the shouting crowd,
51:39
I made my way to the corner of the street, and in ten
51:44
minutes was rejoiced to find my friend's arm in mine. And to get away
51:49
from the scene of uproar. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few
51:55
minutes, until we had turned down on one of the quiet streets which led
52:02
towards the Edguar road. You did it very nicely, doctor, he remarked,
52:09
Nothing could have been better. It is all right. You have the
52:14
photograph. I know where it is. And how did you find out?
52:19
She showed me as I told you she would. I am still in the
52:22
dark. I do wish to make a mystery, said he, laughing.
52:29
The matter was perfectly simple. You are, of course, saw that everyone
52:34
in the street was not accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening.
52:40
I guessed as much. Then when the row broke out, I had a
52:45
little moist red paint in the palm of my hand. I rushed forward,
52:51
fell down, clapped my hand to my face, and became a piteous spectacle.
52:55
It is an old trick that also I could fathom. Then they carried
53:01
me in. She was bound to have me in what else could she do,
53:07
and into her sitting room, which was the very room which I suspected.
53:13
It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was determined to see
53:19
which they laid me on a couch. I motioned for air. They were
53:23
compelled to open the window, and you had your chance. How did that
53:30
help you? It was all important. When a woman thinks that her house
53:34
is on fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which
53:38
she values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have more
53:45
than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Darlington substitution scandal
53:52
it was of use to me, and also in the Arnsworth Castle business.
54:00
A married woman grabs at her baby, an unmarried one reaches for her jewelry
54:05
box. Now it was clear to me that our lady of today had nothing
54:10
in the house more precious to her than what we are in quest of.
54:15
She would rush to secure it. The alarm of the fire was admiringly done.
54:21
The smoke and shouting were enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded
54:27
beautifully. The photograph is in a recuse behind a slighting panel just above the
54:34
right bell pole. She was there in an instant, and I caught a
54:38
glimpse of it as she half drew it out. When I cried out that
54:43
it was a false alarm, she replaced it glancing at the rocket, rushed
54:47
from the room, and I have not seen her since I rose, and,
54:52
making my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated to attempt to
55:00
secure the photograph at once, but the coachman had come in, and as
55:06
he was watching me narrowly, it seemed safer to wait a little over.
55:12
Precipitates may ruin all. And now I asked, our quest is practically finished.
55:20
I shall call with the King tomorrow, and with you, if you
55:25
care to come with us. We will be showed into the sitting room to
55:30
wait for the lady. But it is probable that when she comes she may
55:36
find neither us nor the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty
55:42
to regain it with his own hands. And when will you call? At
55:46
eight in the morning, She will both be up, so that we shall
55:51
have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage
55:57
may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to
56:02
the King without delay. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the
56:07
door. He was searching his pockets for the key, when someone passing said
56:15
good night, mister Sherlock Holmes. There were several people on the pavement at
56:21
the time, but the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an
56:27
ulster who had hurried by. I've heard that voice before, said Holmes,
56:31
starting down the dimly street. No, I wonder who the deuce that could
56:37
have been? And of section two section three. I slept at Baker Street
56:45
that night and we were engaged upon our toast and coffee in the morning when
56:50
the King of Bohemia rushed into the room. You have really got it,
56:53
he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by either shoulder or looking eagerly into his face.
57:00
Not yet, but you have hopes. I have hopes. Then come,
57:04
I am all impatience to be gone. We must have a cab.
57:08
No, my Brogham is waiting. Then that will simplify matters. We descended
57:14
and started off at once more for Brombay Lodge. Ireen Adler is married,
57:20
remarked Holmes, married when yesterday, but to whom to an English lawyer named
57:27
Norton. But she could not love him. I am in hopes that she
57:31
does. And why in hopes because it would spare your majesty all fear of
57:37
future annoyance if the lady loves her husband, she does not love your majesty.
57:44
If she does not love your Majesty, then there is no reason why
57:47
she should interfere with your Majesty's plan. It is true, and yet well,
57:52
I wish she had been of my own station. What a queen she
57:57
would have made. He relapsed into a mood silence, which was not broken
58:04
until we drew up in Serpentine Avenue. The door of primary Lodge was opened,
58:10
and an elderly woman stood up the steps. She watched us with a
58:15
chardonic eye as we stepped from the brogham. Mister Schackholmes, I believe,
58:22
said she I am. Mister Holmes, answered my companion, looking at her
58:29
with a questioning and rather startled gaze. Indeed, my mistress told me that
58:36
you were likely to call. She left this morning with her husband by the
58:39
five point fifteen train from Charington Cross from the for the Continent. What Shockholms
58:47
staggered back with the charge in a swerprise. Do you mean that she has
58:52
left England? Never to return? And the papers asked the king hoarsely,
59:00
all is lost? We shall see. He pushed past the servant and rushed
59:05
into the drawing room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was
59:10
scattered about in every direction, with the dismantled shelves and open drawers, as
59:19
if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her flight. Holmes rushed at the
59:24
bellpool, tore back a small sliding shutter, and plunging in his hand,
59:30
pulled out a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler herself
59:37
in evening dress. The letter was superseded to Sherlock Holmes e s Q.
59:44
To be left till called for my friend tore it open and we all three
59:50
read together. It was dated midnight of the preceding night, and ran in
59:55
this way. Mighty mister Sheila Holmbs, you really did it well. You
1:00:02
took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not
1:00:07
a suspicion. But then when I found how I had betrayed myself, I
1:00:13
began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I'd been
1:00:16
told that if the King employed an ancient, it would certainly be you,
1:00:22
and your adread had been given me. Yet with all this, you made
1:00:27
me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became suspicious. I
1:00:32
found it to think evil of such a dear, kind old clergyman. But
1:00:37
you know I have been trained as an actress myself. Now costoon is nothing
1:00:44
new to me. I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives.
1:00:50
I sent John, the coachman, to watch you, ran upstairs, got
1:00:54
into my walking clothes, as I called them, and came down just as
1:01:00
you departed. Well, I followed you to your door, and so made
1:01:06
sure that I was really an object of interest to the celebrated mister Schrlocolm's.
1:01:12
Then I rather imprudently wished you good night and started for the temple to see
1:01:20
my husband. We thought the best resource was flight when we pursued by so
1:01:25
formidable an antagonists. So you will find the nest empty when you call tomorrow.
1:01:34
As to the photograph, your client may rest in peace. I love
1:01:38
and am loved by a better man than he. The King may do what
1:01:44
he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly wronged. I keep it
1:01:50
only to safeguard myself and to preserve a weapon which will always secure me from
1:01:57
any steps which he might in the future. I leave a photograph which he
1:02:02
might care to possess, and I remain dear mister Sherlock Holmes, very truly
1:02:09
yours Irene Norton nee Adler. What a woman, Oh, what a woman,
1:02:16
cried the King of Bohemia, when we had all three read this epistle?
1:02:22
Did I not tell you how quick and resolute she was? Would she
1:02:27
not have made an admirable queen? Is it not a pity that she was
1:02:30
not on my level? From what I have seen of the lady, she
1:02:35
seems indeed to be on a very different level to you, Majesty, said
1:02:38
Holmes coldly. I am sorry that I have not been able to bring your
1:02:44
Majesty's business to a more successful conclusion. On the contrary, my dear sir,
1:02:50
cried the King, nothing could be more successful. I know that her
1:02:54
word is inviolate. The photograph is now as safe as if it were in
1:02:59
the fire. I am glad to hear your Majesty say so. I am
1:03:04
immensely inbetted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can reward you
1:03:09
this ring? He slipped an emerald snake ringed from his finger and held it
1:03:16
out upon the palm of his hand. Your Majesty has something which I should
1:03:22
value even more highly, said Holmes, you have but to name it the
1:03:27
photograph. The King stared at him in amazement. Irene's photograph. He cried,
1:03:34
certainly, if you wish it, I thank your majesty, then there
1:03:38
is no more to be done in the matter. I have the honor to
1:03:43
wish you very good morning. He bowed and turned away, without observing the
1:03:49
hand which the King had stretched out to him. He set off in my
1:03:53
company for his chambers. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect
1:04:00
the Kingdom of Bohemia, and how the best plans of mister Sherlock Holmes were
1:04:05
beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make Mary over the cleverness of
1:04:11
women, but I have not heard him do it of late, And when
1:04:15
he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her photograph, it
1:04:20
is always under the honorable title of the woman.