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This Godfrey Norton was evidently an importantfactor in the matter. He was a lawyer. Thatsounded ominous.
What was the relation between them, and what theobject of his repeated visits?
Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress?If the former, she had probably transferred the
photograph to his keeping. If the latter, it wasless likely. On the issue of this question
depended whether I should continue my work atBriony Lodge, or turn my attention to the
gentlemen's chambers in the temple. It was adelicate point, and it widened the field of my
inquiry. I fear that I bore you with thesedetails, but I have to let you see my littledifficulties,
if you are to understand the situation. I amfollowing you closely, I answered.
I was still balancing the matter in my mind when ahandsome cab drove up to Briony Lodge,
and a gentleman sprang out. He was a remarkablyhandsome man, dark, aquiline, and mustached,
evidently the man of whom I had heard. He appearedto be in a great hurry, shouted to the
cabman to wait, and brushed past the maid whoopened the door with the air of a man who was
thoroughly at home. He was in the house about halfan hour, and I could catch glimpses of him
in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up anddown, talking excitedly, and waving his arms.
Of her I could see nothing. Presently he emerged,looking even more flurried than before.
As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a goldwatch from his pocket and looked at it earnestly,
drive like the devil, he shouted, first to Grosseand Hankies in Regent Street,
and then to the Church of St. Monica in theEdgware Road. Half a guinea if you do it in
twenty minutes. Away they went, and I was justwondering whether I should not do well to follow
them when up the lane came a neat little Landau,the coachman with his coat only half-button,
and his tie under his ear, while all the tags ofhis harness were sticking out of the buckles.
It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of thehall door and into it. I only caught a glimpse
of her at the moment, but she was a lovely woman,with a face that a man might die for.
The Church of St. Monica, John, she cried, andhalf a sovereign if you reach it in twentyminutes.
This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I wasjust balancing whether I should run for it,
or whether I should perch behind her Landau when acab came through the street.
The driver looked twice at such a shabby fare, butI jumped in before he could object.
The Church of St. Monica, said I, and half asovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.
It was twenty-five minutes to twelve, and ofcourse it was clear enough what was in the wind.
My cabbie drove fast. I don't think I ever drovefaster, but the others were there before us.
The cab and the Landau with their steaming horseswere in front of the door when I arrived.
I paid the man and hurried into the church. Therewas not a soul there save the two whom
I had followed and a surplus clergyman, who seemedto be expostulating with them.
They were all three standing in a knot in front ofthe altar. I lounged up the side
a like any other idler who has dropped into achurch. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at
the altar faced round to me, and Godfrey Nortoncame running as hard as he could towards me.
Thank God, he cried. You'll do. Come. Come.
What then? I asked.
Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won'tbe legal.
I was half dragged up to the altar, and before Iknew where I was I found myself mumbling responses
which were whispered in my ear, and vouching forthings of which I knew nothing, and generally
assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler,spinster, to Godfrey Norton, patchelor.
It was all done in an instant, and there was thegentleman thanking me on the one side and
the lady on the other, while the clergyman beamedon me in front. It was the most preposterous
position in which I ever found myself in my life,and it was the thought of it that started
me laughing just now. It seems that there had beensome informality about their license,
that the clergyman absolutely refused to marrythem without a witness of some sort,
and at my lucky appearance saved the bridegroomfrom having to sally out into the streets in
search of a best man. The bride gave me asovereign, and I mean to wear it on my watch
chain in memory of the occasion. This is a veryunexpected turn of affairs, said I, and what then?
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Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. Itlooked as if the pair might take an immediate
departure, and so necessitate very prompt andenergetic measures on my part. At the church
door, however, they separated, he driving back tothe temple, and she to her own house.
I shall drive out in the park at five as usual,she said as she left him. I heard no more. They
drove away in different directions, and I went offto make my own arrangements.
Which are? Some cold beef and a glass of beer, heanswered, ringing the bell. I have been too busy
to think of food, and I am likely to be busierstill this evening. By the way, doctor, I shall
want your cooperation. I shall be delighted. Youdon't mind breaking the law? Not in the least.
Nor running a chance of arrest? Not in a goodcause. Oh, the cause is excellent. Then I am
your man. I was sure that I might rely on you. Butwhat is it you wish? When Mrs. Turner has
brought in the tray I will make it clear to you.Now, he said as he turned hungrily on the simple
fare that our landlady had provided, I mustdiscuss it while I eat, for I have not much time.
It is nearly five now. In two hours we must be onthe scene of action.
Miss Irene, or Madam, rather, returns from herdrive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to
meet her. And what then? You must leave that tome. I have already arranged what is to occur.
There is only one point on which I must insist.You must not interfere, come what may.
You understand? I am to be neutral? To do nothingwhatever. There will probably be some small
unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end inmy being conveyed into the house. Four or five
minutes afterwards the sitting-room window willopen. You are to station yourself close to that
open window. Yes. You are to watch me, for I willbe visible to you. Yes. And when I raise my hand,
so, you will throw into the room what I give youto throw, and will, at the same time,
raise the cry of fire. You quite follow me?Entirely. It is nothing very formidable, he said,
taking a long cigar-shaped roll from his pocket.It is an ordinary plumber's smoke rocket,
fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Your task is confined to that.
When you raise your cry of fire, it will be takenup by quite a number of people.
You may then walk to the end of the street, and Iwill rejoin you in ten minutes.
I hope that I have made myself clear? I am toremain neutral, to get near the window,
to watch you, and at the signal to throw in thisobject, then to raise the cry of fire,
and to wait you at the corner of the street.Precisely. Then you may entirely rely on me.
That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almosttime that I prepare for the new role I have to
play. He disappeared into his bedroom and returnedin a few minutes in the character of an amiable
and simple-minded nonconformist clergyman. Hisbroad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white
tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look ofpeering and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr.
John Hare alone could have equalled. It was notmerely that Holmes changed his costume.
His expression, his manner, his very soul seemedto vary with every fresh part that he assumed.
The stage lost a fine actor, even as science lostan acute reasoner, when he became a specialist
in crime. It was a quarter past six when we leftBaker Street, and it still wanted ten minutes to
the hour when we found ourselves in SerpentineAvenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were
just being lighted as we paced up and down infront of Bryony Lodge, waiting for the coming
of its occupant. The house was just such as I hadpictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct
description, but the locality appeared to be lessprivate than I expected. On the contrary,
for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, itwas remarkably animated. There was a group of
shabbily-dressed men smoking and laughing in acorner, a scissors-grinder with his wheel,
two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl,and several well-dressed young men who were
lounging up and down with cigars in their mouths.You see, remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro
in front of the house, this marriage rathersimplifies matters. The photograph becomes
a double-edged weapon now. The chances are thatshe would be as averse to its being seen by Mr.
Godfrey Norton, as our client is to its coming tothe eyes of his princess. Now the question is,
where are we to find the photograph? Where,indeed? It is most unlikely that she carries
it about with her. It is cabinet-size. Too largefor easy concealment about a woman's dress.
She knows that the king is capable of having herwaylaid and searched. Two attempts of the
sort have already been made. We may take it, then,that she does not carry it about with her.
Where, then? Her banker or her lawyer. There isthat double possibility. But I am inclined to
think neither. Women are naturally secretive, andthey like to do their own secreting. Why should
she hand it over to anyone else? She could trusther own guardianship, but she could not tell what
indirect or political influence might be broughtto bear upon a businessman. Decides, remember that
she had resolved to use it within a few days. Itmust be where she can lay her hands upon it.
It must be in her own house. But it has twice beenburgled.
Shaw! They did not know how to look. But how willyou look? I will not look. What then?
I will get her to show me. But she will refuse.She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble
of wheels. It is her carriage. Now carry out myorders to the letter."
アドラー帰宅時の騒動
As he spoke the gleam of the sidelights of acarriage came round the curve of the avenue.
It was a smart little Landau which rattled up tothe door of Bryony Lodge. As it pulled up,
one of the loafing men at the corner dashedforward to open the door in the hope of earning a
copper, but was elbowed away by another loafer,who had rushed up with the same intention.
A fierce quarrel broke out, which was increased bythe two guardsmen, who took sides with one of
the loungers, and by the scissors grinder, who wasequally hot upon the other side.
A blow was struck, and in an instant the lady, whohad stepped from her carriage,
was the centre of a little knot of flushed andstruggling men, who struck savagely at each other
with their fists and sticks. Holmes dashed intothe crowd to protect the lady, but, just as he
reached her, he gave a cry and dropped to theground, with the blood running freely down his
face. At his fall the guardsmen took to theirheels in one direction and the loungers in the
other, while a number of better-dressed people,who had watched the scuffle without taking part
in it, crowded in to help the lady and to attendto the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still
call her, had hurried up the steps, but she stoodat the top with her superb figure outlined against
the lights of the hall, looking back into thestreet.
"'Is the poor gentleman much hurt?' she asked.
"'He is dead,' cried several voices.
"'No, no, there's life in him,' shouted another.
"'But he'll be gone before you can get him tohospital.
"'He's a brave fellow,' said a woman. They wouldhave had the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't
been for him. They were a gang, and a rough one,too. Ah, he's breathing now. He can't lie in the
street. May we bring him in, Marm?'
"'Surely. Bring him in to the sitting-room. Thereis a comfortable sofa. This way, please.'
Slowly and solemnly he was borne in to BryonyLodge and laid out in the principal room,
while I still observed the proceedings from mypost by the window. The lamps had been lit,
but the blinds had not been drawn, so that I couldsee Holmes as he lay upon the couch.
I do not know whether he was seized withcompunction at that moment for the part he was
playing, but I know that I never felt moreheartily ashamed of myself and my life than
when I saw the beautiful creature against whom Iwas conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with
which she waited upon the injured man. And yet itwould be the blackest treachery to Holmes to
draw back now from the part which he had entrustedto me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke
rocket from under my ulster. After all, I thought,we are not injuring her. We are but preventing
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