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been better。 It is all right。〃
〃You have the photograph？〃
〃I know where it is。〃
〃And how did you find out？〃
〃She showed me； as I told you that she would。〃
〃I am still in the dark。〃
〃I do not wish to make a mystery；〃 said he； laughing。 〃The matter
was perfectly simple。 You； of course； saw that everyone in the
street was an accomplice。 They were all engaged for the evening。〃
〃I guessed as much。〃
〃Then； when the row broke out； I had a little moist red paint in
the palm of my hand。 I rushed forward； fell down； clapped my hand
to my face； and became a piteous spectacle。 It is an old trick。〃
〃That also I could fathom。〃
〃Then they carried me in。 She was bound to have me in。 What else
could she do？ And into her sitting room； which was the very room
which I suspected。 It lay between that and her bedroom； and I was
determined to see which。 They laid me on a couch； I motioned for
air； they were compelled to open the window； and you had your
chance。〃
〃How did that help you？〃
〃It was all…important。 When a woman thinks that her house is on
fire； her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she values
most。 It is a perfectly overpowering impulse； and I have more than
once taken advantage of it。 In the case of the Darlington
Substitution Scandal it was of use to me； and also in the Arnsworth
Castle business。 A married woman grabs at her babyan unmarried
one reaches for her jewel box。 Now it was clear to me that our
lady of to…day had nothing in the house more precious to her than
what we are in quest of。 She would rush to secure it。 The alarm
of fire was admirably done。 The smoke and shouting were enough to
shake nerves of steel。 She responded beautifully。 The photograph
is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the right bell…
pull。 She was there in an instant； and I caught a glimpse of it as
she drew it out。 When I cried out that it was a false alarm； she
replaced it； glanced at the rocket； rushed from the room； and I
have not seen her since。 I rose； and； making my excuses； escaped
from the house。 I hesitated whether to attempt to secure the
photograph at once； but the coachman had come in； and as he was
watching me narrowly； it seemed safer to wait。 A little over…
precipitance may ruin all。〃
〃And now？〃 I asked。
〃Our quest is practically finished。 I shall call with the king to…
morrow； and with you； if you care to come with us。 We will be
shown into the sitting room to wait for the lady； but it is
probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the
photograph。 It might be a satisfaction to his majesty to regain it
with his own hands。〃
〃And when will you call？〃
〃At eight in the morning。 She will not be up； so that we shall
have a clear field。 Besides； we must be prompt； for this marriage
may mean a complete change in her life and habits。 I must wire to
the king without delay。〃
We had reached Baker Street； and had stopped at the door。 He was
searching his pockets for the key； when some one passing said：
〃Good night； Mister Sherlock Holmes。〃
There were several people on the pavement at the time； but the
greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had
hurried by。
〃I've heard that voice before；〃 said Holmes； staring down the dimly
lighted street。 〃Now； I wonder who the deuce that could have
been？〃
III
I slept at Baker Street that night； and we were engaged upon our
toast and coffee in the morning； when the King of Bohemia rushed
into the room。
〃You have really got it？〃 he cried； grasping Sherlock Holmes by
either shoulder； and looking eagerly into his face。
〃Not yet。〃
〃But you have hopes？〃
〃I have hopes。〃
〃Then come。 I am all impatience to be gone。〃
〃We must have a cab。〃
〃No； my brougham is waiting。〃
〃Then that will simplify matters。〃 We descended； and started off
once more for Briony Lodge。
〃Irene Adler is married；〃 remarked Holmes。
〃Married！ When？〃
〃Yesterday。〃
〃But to whom？〃
〃To an English lawyer named Norton。〃
〃But she could not love him。〃
〃I am in hopes that she does。〃
〃And why in hopes？〃
〃Because it would spare your majesty all fear of future annoyance。
If the lady loves her husband； she does not love your majesty。 If
she does not love your majesty； there is no reason why she should
interfere with your majesty's plan。〃
〃It is true。 And yet Well； I wish she had been of my own
station。 What a queen she would have made！〃 He relapsed into a
moody silence； which was not broken until we drew up in Serpentine
Avenue。
The door of Briony Lodge was open； and an elderly woman stood upon
the steps。 She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped from
the brougham。
〃Mr。 Sherlock Holmes； I believe？〃 said she。
〃I am Mr。 Holmes；〃 answered my companion； looking at her with a
questioning and rather startled gaze。
〃Indeed！ My mistress told me that you were likely to call。 She
left this morning； with her husband； by the 5：15 train from Charing
Cross； for the Continent。〃
〃What！〃 Sherlock Holmes staggered back； white with chagrin and
surprise。
〃Do you mean that she has left England？〃
〃Never to return。〃
〃And the papers？〃 asked the king hoarsely。 〃All is lost！〃
〃We shall see。〃 He pushed past the servant； and rushed into the
drawing…room； followed by the king and myself。 The furniture was
scattered about in every direction； with dismantled shelves； and
open drawers； as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before
her flight。 Holmes rushed at the bell…pull； tore back a small
sliding shutter； and plunging in his hand； pulled out a photograph
and a letter。 The photograph was of Irene Adler herself in evening
dress； the letter was superscribed to 〃Sherlock Holmes； Esq。 To be
left till called for。〃 My friend tore it open； and we all three
read it together。 It was dated at midnight of the preceding night；
and ran in this way：
〃MY DEAR MR。 SHERLOCK HOLMES；You really did it very well。 You
took me in completely。 Until after the alarm of the fire； I had
not a suspicion。 But then； when I found how I had betrayed myself；
I began to think。 I had been warned against you months ago。 I had
been told that if the king employed an agent； it would certainly be
you。 And your address had been given me。 Yet； with all this； you
made me reveal what you wanted to know。 Even after I became
suspicious； I found it hard to think evil of such a dear； kind old
clergyman。 But； you know； I have been trained as an actress
myself。 Male costume is nothing new to me。 I often take advantage
of the freedom which it gives。 I sent John； the coachman； to watch
you； ran upstairs； got into my walking clothes； as I call them； and
came down just as you departed。
〃Well； I followed you to the door； and so made sur