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little difficulties； if you are to understand the situation。〃
〃I am following you closely；〃 I answered。
〃I was still balancing the matter in my mind； when a hansom cab
drove up to Briony Lodge； and a gentleman sprung out。 He was a
remarkably handsome man； dark； aquiline； and mustachedevidently
the man of whom I had heard。 He appeared to be in a great hurry；
shouted to the cabman to wait； and brushed past the maid who opened
the door； with the air of a man who was thoroughly at home。
〃He was in the house about half an hour； and I could catch glimpses
of him in the windows of the sitting room； pacing up and down；
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 gold watch from his pocket
and looked at it earnestly。 'Drive like the devil！' he shouted；
'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street； and then to the Church
of St。 Monica in the Edgeware Road。 Half a guinea if you do it in
twenty minutes！'
〃Away they went； and I was just wondering 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 buttoned； and his tie under
his ear； while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the
buckles。 It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall 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； 'and half a sovereign
if you reach it in twenty minutes。'
〃This was quite too good to lose； Watson。 I was just balancing
whether I should run for it； or whether I should perch behind her
landau； when a cab came through the street。 The driver looked
twice at such a shabby fare； but I jumped in before he could
object。 'The Church of St。 Monica；' said I； 'and half a sovereign
if you reach it in twenty minutes。' It was twenty…five minutes to
twelve； and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind。
〃My cabby drove fast。 I don't think I ever drove faster； but the
others were there before us。 The cab and landau with their
steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived。 I paid
the man； and hurried into the church。 There was not a soul there
save the two whom I had followed； and a surpliced clergyman； who
seemed to be expostulating with them。 They were all three standing
in a knot in front of the altar。 I lounged up the side aisle like
any other idler who has dropped into a church。 Suddenly； to my
surprise； the three at the altar faced round to me； and Godfrey
Norton came running as hard as he could toward me。
〃'Thank God！' he cried。 'You'll do。 Come！ Come！'
〃'What then？' I asked。
〃'Come； man； come； only three minutes； or it won't be legal。'
〃I was half dragged up to the altar； and； before I knew where I
was； I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my
ear； and vouching for things of which I knew nothing； and generally
assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler； spinster； to
Godfrey Norton； bachelor。 It was all done in an instant； and there
was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady on the
other； while the clergyman beamed on 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 been some informality about their license；
that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them without a
witness of some sort； and that my lucky appearance saved the
bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in search of a
best man。 The bride gave me a sovereign； and I mean to wear it on
my watch chain in memory of the occasion。〃
〃This is a very unexpected turn of affairs；〃 said I； 〃and what
then？〃
〃Well； I found my plans very seriously menaced。 It looked as if
the pair might take an immediate departure； and so necessitate very
prompt and energetic measures on my part。 At the church door；
however； they separated； he driving back to the 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 off to make my own arrangements。〃
〃Which are？〃
〃Some cold beef and a glass of beer；〃 he answered； ringing the
bell。 〃I have been too busy to think of food； and I am likely to
be busier still this evening。 By the way； doctor； I shall want
your cooperation。〃
〃I shall be delighted。〃
〃You don't mind breaking the law？〃
〃Not in the least。〃
〃Nor running a chance of arrest？〃
〃Not in a good cause。〃
〃Oh； the cause is excellent！〃
〃Then I am your man。〃
〃I was sure that I might rely on you。〃
〃But what 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 must discuss it while I eat； for I
have not much time。 It is nearly five now。 In two hours we must
be on the scene of action。 Miss Irene； or Madame； rather； returns
from her drive at seven。 We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her。〃
〃And what then？〃
〃You must leave that to me。 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 nothing whatever。 There will probably be some small
unpleasantness。 Do not join in it。 It will end in my being
conveyed into the house。 Four or five minutes afterwards the
sitting…room window will open。 You are to station yourself close
to that open window。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You are to watch me； for I will be visible to you。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And when I raise my handsoyou will throw into the room what I
give you to 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 taken up by quite a number of people。 You may then walk to
the end of the street； and I will rejoin you in ten minutes。 I
hope that I have made myself clear？〃
〃I am to remain neutral； to get near the window； to watch you； and；
at the signal； to throw in this object； 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 almost time that I
prepared for the new role I have to play。〃
He disappeared into his bedroom； and returned in a few mi