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came down just as you departed。
〃Well； I followed you to the door； and so made sure that I was
really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr。 Sherlock Holmes。
Then I； rather imprudently； wished you good night； and started for
the Temple to see my husband。
〃We both thought the best resource was flight when pursued by so
formidable an antagonist； so you will find the nest empty when you
call to…morrow。 As to the photograph； your client may rest in
peace。 I love and am loved by a better man than he。 The king may
do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly
wronged。 I keep it only to safeguard myself； and preserve a weapon
which will always secure me from any steps which he might take in
the future。 I leave a photograph which he might care to possess；
and I remain； dear Mr。 Sherlock Holmes； very truly yours；
〃IRENE NORTON； nee ADLER。〃
〃What a womanoh； what a woman！〃 cried the King of Bohemia； when
we had all three read this epistle。 〃Did I not tell you how quick
and resolute she was？ Would she not have made an admirable queen？
Is it not a pity that she was not on my level？〃
〃From what I have seen of the lady； she seems indeed to be on a
very different level to your majesty；〃 said Holmes coldly。 〃I am
sorry that I have not been able to bring your majesty's business to
a more successful conclusion。〃
〃On the contrary； my dear sir；〃 cried the king； 〃nothing could be
more successful。 I know that her word is inviolate。 The
photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire。〃
〃I am glad to hear your majesty say so。〃
〃I am immensely indebted to you。 Pray tell me in what way I can
reward you。 This ring〃 He slipped an emerald snake ring from
his finger； and held it out upon the palm of his hand。
〃Your majesty has something which I should value even more highly；〃
said Holmes。
〃You have but to name it。〃
〃This photograph！〃
The king stared at him in amazement。
〃Irene's photograph！〃 he cried。 〃Certainly； if you wish it。〃
〃I thank your majesty。 Then there is no more to be done in the
matter。 I have the honor to wish you a very good morning。〃 He
bowed； and turning away without observing the hand which the king
had stretched out to him； he set off in my company for his
chambers。
And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom
of Bohemia； and how the best plans of Mr。 Sherlock Holmes were
beaten by a woman's wit。 He used to make merry over the cleverness
of women； but I have not heard him do it of late。 And when he
speaks of Irene Adler； or when he refers to her photograph； it is
always under the honorable title of THE woman。
The Red…Headed League
I had called upon my friend； Mr。 Sherlock Holmes； one day in the
autumn of last year； and found him in deep conversation with a very
stout； florid…faced elderly gentleman； with fiery red hair。 With
an apology for my intrusion； I was about to withdraw； when Holmes
pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me。
〃You could not possibly have come at a better time； my dear
Watson；〃 he said； cordially。
〃I was afraid that you were engaged。〃
〃So I am。 Very much so。〃
〃Then I can wait in the next room。〃
〃Not at all。 This gentleman； Mr。 Wilson； has been my partner and
helper in many of my most successful cases； and I have no doubt
that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also。〃
The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of
greeting； with a quick little questioning glance from his small；
fat…encircled eyes。
〃Try the settee；〃 said Holmes； relapsing into his armchair； and
putting his finger tips together； as was his custom when in
judicial moods。 〃I know； my dear Watson； that you share my love of
all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine
of everyday life。 You have shown your relish for it by the
enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle； and； if you will
excuse my saying so； somewhat to embellish so many of my own little
adventures。〃
〃Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me；〃 I
observed。
〃You will remember that I remarked the other day； just before we
went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary
Sutherland； that for strange effects and extraordinary combinations
we must go to life itself； which is always far more daring than any
effort of the imagination。〃
〃A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting。〃
〃You did； doctor； but none the less you must come round to my view；
for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you； until
your reason breaks down under them and acknowledge me to be right。
Now； Mr。 Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon me
this morning； and to begin a narrative which promises to be one of
the most singular which I have listened to for some time。 You have
heard me remark that the strangest and most unique things are very
often connected not with the larger but with the smaller crimes；
and occasionally； indeed； where there is room for doubt whether any
positive crime has been committed。 As far as I have heard； it is
impossible for me to say whether the present case is an instance of
crime or not； but the course of events is certainly among the most
singular that I have ever listened to。 Perhaps； Mr。 Wilson； you
would have the great kindness to recommence your narrative。 I ask
you； not merely because my friend； Dr。 Watson； has not heard the
opening part； but also because the peculiar nature of the story
makes me anxious to have every possible detail from your lips。 As
a rule； when I have heard some slight indication of the course of
events I am able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar
cases which occur to my memory。 In the present instance I am
forced to admit that the facts are； to the best of my belief；
unique。〃
The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some
little pride； and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the
inside pocket of his greatcoat。 As he glanced down the
advertisement column； with his head thrust forward； and the paper
flattened out upon his knee； I took a good look at the man； and
endeavored； after the fashion of my companion； to read the
indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance。
I did not gain very much； however； by my inspection。 Our visitor
bore every mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman；
obese； pompous； and slow。 He wore rather baggy gray shepherd's
check trousers； a not over…clean black frock coat； unbuttoned in
the front； and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Albert chain；
and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as an ornament。 A
frayed top hat and a faded brown overcoat with a wrinkled velvet
collar lay upon a chair beside him。 Altogether； look as I would；
there was nothing remarkable about the man save his bl