0:00

Can Sherlock Holmes discover a way to save

0:03

the honor of the masked stranger

0:05

in his chambers? Arthur

0:08

Conan Doyle, today on the

0:10

Classic Tales Podcast. Welcome

0:23

to this vintage episode of the Classic

0:25

Tales Podcast. Thank you for listening. A

0:29

vintage episode is released every Tuesday. If

0:31

you have found value in the show,

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please help us to help more people like

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supporter. New stories are

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coming your way on Friday. Keep

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an ear open for our Kickstarter for the

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Golden Triangle, the seventh novel in

0:50

the Arsenlupan series. Two boxed

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sets are now available. We'll let

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you know when we're ready to kick off. Sherlock

0:58

Holmes is a confirmed bachelor

1:00

with some touches of misogyny that creep up

1:02

every now and then. But when

1:05

he locks horns with Irene Adler, his

1:07

opinion of women goes through the roof with

1:09

respect. There's actually

1:11

a fun book series for kids

1:13

called Sherlock, Lupin, and Me, written

1:16

by an author who goes by the pseudonym of Irene

1:18

Adler. It traces the

1:20

adventures of three young detectives who haven't hit

1:22

the big time yet. It's a lot of

1:24

fun. Goldie liked it when she was younger.

1:28

And now, A Scandal in

1:30

Bohemia, by Arthur Conan Doyle. 1.

1:44

Sherlock Holmes is always

1:46

the woman. I

1:48

have seldom heard him mention her under

1:50

any other name. In

1:52

his eyes, she eclipses and

1:54

predominates the whole of her

1:57

sex. It was not that he felt any emotion.

1:59

It could be that he was a woman. to love for

2:01

Irene Adler, all emotions,

2:03

and that one particularly, were

2:05

abhorrent to his cold, precise,

2:08

but admirably balanced mind.

2:10

He was, I take it, the most

2:12

perfect reasoning and observing machine

2:15

that the world has seen, but as

2:17

a lover he would have placed

2:19

himself in a false position. He

2:22

never spoke of the softer

2:24

passions, save with a jibe

2:26

and a sneer. They were

2:28

admirable things for the observer, excellent

2:30

for drawing the veil from men's

2:32

motives and actions. But

2:35

for the trained reasoner to

2:37

admit such intrusions into his

2:39

own delicate and finely adjusted

2:41

temperament, was to introduce

2:44

a distracting factor, which

2:46

might throw a doubt upon all his

2:48

mental results. Grit in

2:50

a sensitive instrument, or a crack in

2:52

one of his own high-power lenses,

2:54

would not be more disturbing than

2:57

a strong emotion in a

2:59

nature such as his. And

3:01

yet there was but one woman to him,

3:04

and that woman was the late

3:06

Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable

3:08

memory. I

3:10

had seen little of Holmes lately. My

3:13

marriage had drifted us away from each other, my

3:16

own complete happiness, and

3:19

the Holmes-centered interests which rise up around

3:21

the man who first finds himself

3:23

master of his own establishment were

3:26

sufficient to absorb all my attention,

3:29

while Holmes, who loathed every

3:31

form of society with his

3:33

own bohemian soul, remained

3:35

in our lodgings in Baker Street,

3:38

buried among his old books and

3:40

alternating from week to week between

3:43

cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness

3:45

of the drug, and the

3:47

fierce energy of his own keen nature.

3:50

He was still, as ever, deeply

3:53

attracted by the study of crime

3:55

and occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary

3:57

powers of observations, and, as a result,

4:00

in following out those clues and clearing

4:02

up those mysteries which had been abandoned

4:04

as hopeless by the official police. From

4:07

time to time, I heard some vague

4:09

account of his doings, of his

4:12

summons to Odessa in the case of

4:14

the Trepov murder, of his

4:16

clearing up of the singular tragedy

4:18

of the Atkinson brothers at Trichomily,

4:21

and finally of the mission which

4:24

he had accomplished so delicately and

4:26

successfully for the reigning family

4:28

of Holland. Beyond

4:30

these signs of his activity, however, which

4:33

I merely shared with all the readers of the

4:35

daily press, I knew little of

4:37

my former friend and companion. One

4:40

night, it was on the 20th

4:42

of March 1888, I was

4:44

returning from a journey to a patient,

4:47

where I had now returned to civil practice

4:49

when my way led me through Baker

4:51

Street. As I

4:54

passed the well-remembered door, which must always

4:56

be associated in my mind with my

4:58

wooing, and with the dark

5:00

incidents of the study in Scarlet, I

5:03

was seized with a keen desire

5:05

to see Holmes again, and to

5:08

know how he was employing his

5:10

extraordinary powers. His rooms

5:12

were brilliantly lit, and

5:14

even as I looked up I saw

5:16

his tall spare figure pass twice

5:19

in a dark silhouette against the

5:21

blind. He was pacing

5:23

the room swiftly, eagerly, with his

5:25

head sunk upon his chest and

5:27

his hands clasped behind him. To

5:30

me, who knew his every mood and

5:33

habit, his attitude and manner

5:35

told their own story. He

5:37

was at work again. He had

5:39

risen out of his drug-created dreams and

5:41

was hot upon the scent of some new

5:44

problem. I rang the bell and

5:46

was shown up to the chamber which had formerly

5:48

been, in part, my own.

5:52

His manner was not effusive, its seldom was,

5:54

but he was glad, I think, to see

5:56

me, with hardly a

5:59

word spoken but with a kindly

6:01

eye, he waved me to an

6:03

armchair, threw across his case of

6:05

cigars, and indicated a spirit case

6:07

and a gasagene in the corner.

6:09

Then he stood before the fire,

6:11

and looked me over in his

6:14

singular introspective fashion. "'Wetlock

6:17

suits you,' he remarked. "'I think, Watson,

6:19

that you have put on seven and

6:21

a half pound since I saw you.'

6:24

"'Seven,' I answered, indeed.

6:26

"'I should have thought a little more,

6:29

just a trifle more,' I fancy Watson.

6:31

"'And in practice again I observe. You

6:33

did not tell me that you intended

6:36

to go into harness. Then

6:38

how do you know?' "'I see

6:40

it. I deduce it. How

6:43

do I know that you have been getting

6:45

yourself very wet lately, and that

6:47

you have a most clumsy and

6:49

careless servant-girl?' "'My dear Holmes,' said

6:52

I, "'this is too much. You

6:54

would certainly have been burned had you lived

6:57

a few centuries ago. It is

6:59

true that I had a country walk on

7:01

Thursday and came home in a dreadful mess.

7:04

But as I have changed my clothes I

7:06

can't imagine how you deduced it. As

7:09

to Mary Jane she is incorrigible,

7:11

and my wife has given her notice,

7:13

but there again I fail to see

7:15

how you worked it out.'

7:19

He chuckled to himself and rubbed

7:21

his long, nervous hands together. "'It

7:25

is simplicity itself,' said he.

7:27

"'My eyes tell me that on

7:29

the inside of your left shoe

7:31

just where the firelight strikes it,

7:34

the leather is scored by six

7:36

almost parallel cuts. Obviously

7:38

they have been caused by someone who

7:40

has very carefully scraped round the edges

7:42

of the sole in order to remove

7:45

crusted mud from it. Hence,

7:47

you see, my double deduction, that you

7:49

had been out in vile weather, and

7:52

that you had a particularly malignant

7:54

boot-slitting specimen of the London slavery.

7:57

As to your practice if the gentleman

8:00

walks into my room smelling of iota

8:02

form, with a black mark of

8:04

nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger and

8:06

a bulge on the side of his top

8:08

hat to show where he has secreted his

8:11

stethoscope. I must be dull indeed

8:13

if I do not pronounce him to be an

8:15

active member of the medical profession." I

8:18

could not help laughing at the ease

8:20

with which he explained his process of

8:22

deduction. When I hear

8:24

you give your reasons, I remarked, the

8:26

thing always appears to me to be

8:28

so ridiculously simple that I could easily

8:31

do it myself. Now at

8:33

each successive instance of your reasoning I

8:35

am baffled, until you explain

8:37

your process, and yet I believe

8:40

that my eyes are as good as yours. Quite

8:42

so, he answered, lighting a

8:45

cigarette and throwing himself down into

8:47

an armchair. You

8:49

see, but you do not observe.

8:51

The distinction is clear. For example,

8:53

you have frequently seen the steps

8:55

which lead up from the hall

8:57

to this room, frequently. How

8:59

often? Well, some hundreds of

9:02

times. Then how many

9:04

are there? How many? I don't know. Quite

9:06

so. You have

9:09

not observed, and yet you have seen.

9:11

That is just my point. Now, I

9:14

know that there are seventeen steps because

9:16

I have both seen and observed. By

9:19

the way, since you are interested in

9:21

these little problems, and since you are

9:23

good enough to chronicle one or two

9:25

of my trifling experiences, you may be

9:27

interested in this. You threw over a

9:29

sheet of thick, pink-tinted note-paper

9:32

which had been lying open upon

9:34

the table. It came

9:36

by the last post, said he. Read

9:38

it aloud. The

9:41

note was undated and without

9:43

either signature or address. There

9:46

will call upon you tonight at a quarter

9:48

to eight o'clock, it said, a gentleman

9:50

who desires to consult you upon

9:53

a matter of the very deepest

9:55

moment, your recent services

9:57

to one of the royal houses

9:59

of Europe. have shown that you

10:01

are one who may safely be

10:03

trusted with matters which are of

10:05

an importance which can hardly be

10:07

exaggerated. This account of you

10:10

we have from all quarters received. Be

10:12

in your chamber then at that hour and

10:14

do not take it amiss if your visitor

10:17

wear a mask." This

10:20

is indeed a mystery, I remarked. What do

10:22

you imagine that it means? I

10:24

have no data yet. It is a

10:27

capital mistake to theorize before one has data.

10:30

Incensibly, one begins to twist facts

10:32

to suit theories instead of theories

10:34

to suit facts. For

10:36

the note itself, what do you deduce from it? I

10:40

carefully examined the writing and the paper upon

10:42

which it was written. The man

10:45

who wrote it was presumably well to do, I

10:48

remarked, endeavoring to imitate my

10:50

companion's processes. Such

10:53

paper could not be bought under half a

10:55

crown or packet. It is

10:57

peculiarly strong and stiff. Peculiar,

11:00

that is the very word,

11:02

said Holmes. It is not

11:04

an English paper at all. Hold it up to the

11:06

light. I did so and saw

11:08

a large E with a small

11:11

G, a P and

11:13

a large G with a small T

11:15

woven into the texture of the paper.

11:18

What do you make of that? asked Holmes.

11:21

The name of the maker, no doubt,

11:23

or his monogram, rather, not at all.

11:26

The G with a small

11:28

T stands for Gelleschaft, which

11:31

is the German for company. It

11:33

is a customary contraction like our

11:36

C-O. P, of course, stands

11:38

for papier. Now for the

11:40

E-G, that is glance at our

11:42

continental gazetteer. He took down

11:45

a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Eglau,

11:49

Eglonitz, here we are, Egria.

11:51

It is in a German-speaking country,

11:54

in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad.

11:57

Remarkable as being the scene of the

11:59

death of Vollon. and

12:01

for its numerous glass factories and

12:03

paper mills. Haha, my boy! What

12:06

do you make of that?" His eyes

12:08

sparkled, and he sent up a great

12:10

blue triumphant cloud from his cigarette. The

12:13

paper was made in Bohemia, I

12:16

said, precisely. The man who

12:18

wrote the note is a German. You

12:20

know the peculiar construction of the sentence,

12:23

This account of you we have from

12:26

all quarters received. A

12:28

Frenchman or Russian could not have written that.

12:31

It is the German who is so uncurtious

12:33

to his verbs. It only

12:35

remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted

12:37

by this German who writes upon Bohemian

12:40

paper and prefers wearing a mask to

12:42

showing his face. And

12:44

here he comes, if I am not

12:46

mistaken, to resolve all our doubts. As

12:50

he spoke there was the sharp sound

12:52

of horses' hooves and grating wheels against

12:55

the curb, followed by a sharp

12:57

pull at the bell. Holmes

12:59

whistled. A pair by

13:01

the sound, said he. Yes,

13:05

he continued, glancing out the window.

13:08

A nice little broam and a pair

13:10

of beauties. A hundred and

13:12

fifty guineas apiece! There's money in

13:14

this case, Watson, if there's nothing else. I

13:17

think that I had better go, Holmes. Not

13:19

a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I

13:21

am lost without my Boswell. And

13:24

this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity

13:26

to miss it. But your client,

13:28

never mind him. I may want your help,

13:30

and so may he. Here he

13:32

comes. Sit down in that armchair,

13:34

Doctor, and give us your best attention. A

13:38

slow and heavy step, which

13:40

had been heard upon the stairs and

13:42

in the passage, paused immediately outside the

13:44

door, then there was a loud and

13:46

authoritative tap. Come in,

13:49

said Holmes. A man

13:51

entered, who could hardly have been less

13:53

than six feet six inches in height,

13:56

with a chest and limbs of a Hercules,

13:59

is drawn to the ground. dress was rich,

14:01

with a richness which would in England be

14:03

looked upon as akin to bad taste.

14:06

Heavy bands of Astrakhan were slashed

14:09

across the sleeves and fronts of

14:11

his double-breasted coat, while the

14:13

deep blue cloak which was thrown over his

14:15

shoulders was lined with

14:17

flame-coloured silk and secured at

14:20

the neck with a brooch which consisted

14:22

of a single flaming barrel. Boots

14:25

which extended halfway up his calves and

14:28

which were trimmed at the tops

14:30

with a rich brown fur completed

14:32

the impression of barbaric opulence which

14:34

was suggested by his whole appearance. He

14:37

carried a broad-brimmed hat in his hand

14:39

while he wore across the upper

14:41

part of his face extending down

14:43

past the cheekbones a black visard

14:45

mask which he had apparently

14:47

adjusted that very moment, for

14:50

his hand was still raised to it as he

14:52

entered. From the lower part

14:54

of the face, he appeared to be

14:56

a man of strong character, with

14:58

a thick hanging lip and a

15:00

long straight chin suggestive of resolution

15:03

pushed to the length of obstinacy. You

15:06

had my naught? He

15:09

asked with a deep harsh voice and a

15:11

strongly marked German accent. I

15:14

told you that I would call. He

15:17

looked from one to the other of us as

15:19

if uncertain which to address. Pray

15:21

take a seat, said Holmes. This

15:24

is my good friend and colleague, Dr. Watson,

15:26

who is occasionally good enough to help me

15:28

in my cases. Whom have I

15:30

the honour to address? You

15:32

may address me as the Count

15:34

von Cram, a Bohemian nobleman. I understand

15:37

that this gentleman your friend is

15:39

a man of honour and discretion,

15:42

whom I may trust with a matter

15:44

of the most extreme importance. If

15:46

not, I should much prefer to communicate with

15:49

you alone. I rose

15:51

to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist

15:53

and pushed me back into my chair. It

15:56

is both or none, said he. You may see.

16:00

before this gentleman anything which you may say

16:02

to me." The

16:04

Count shrugged his broad shoulders. That

16:07

I must begin, said he,

16:10

by binding you both to absolute secrecy

16:12

for two years. At the end of

16:14

that time the matter will be of

16:16

no importance. At present it

16:18

is not too much to say that it

16:21

is of such weight that it may

16:23

have an influence upon European history. I

16:27

promise, said Holmes, and I. You

16:31

will excuse this mask, continued

16:33

our strange visitor. The

16:35

august person who employs me wishes his

16:37

agent to be unknown to you, and

16:40

I may confess at once that the title

16:42

by which I have just called myself is

16:45

not exactly my own. I

16:48

was aware of it, said Holmes dryly.

16:51

The circumstances are of great

16:53

delicacy, and every precaution has

16:55

to be taken to quench

16:58

what might grow to be an immense

17:00

scandal and seriously compromise one of the

17:02

reigning families of Europe. To

17:05

speak plainly, the matter

17:07

implies the great House of Ormstein,

17:09

hereditary kings of Bohemia.

17:13

I was also aware of that. Murmured

17:15

Holmes settling himself down in his

17:17

armchair and closing his eyes. Our

17:20

visitor glanced with some apparent surprise

17:23

at the languid lounging figure of the

17:26

man who had been no doubt depicted

17:28

to him as the most incisive reasoner

17:30

and most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes

17:34

slowly reopened his eyes and

17:36

looked impatiently at his gigantic

17:38

client. If

17:41

your Majesty would condescend to state

17:43

your case, he remarked, I

17:45

should be better able to advise you. The

17:48

man sprang from the chair and paced

17:50

up and down the room in uncontrollable

17:52

agitation. Then, with a

17:54

gesture of desperation, he tore the mask from his

17:56

face and hurled it upon the ground. You're

17:59

right. He cried, I am

18:01

the king. Why should I attempt to

18:03

conceal it? Why indeed!

18:06

murmured Holmes. Your Majesty

18:09

had not spoken before I was

18:11

aware that I was addressing Wilhelm

18:13

Gottsreich, Sigismund von Ormstein, Grand

18:15

Duke of Castlefelstein, and hereditary

18:18

King of Bohemia. But

18:21

you can understand! said

18:23

our strange visitor, sitting down once more

18:25

and passing his hand over his high,

18:28

white forehead. You can understand

18:30

that I am not accustomed to doing

18:32

such business in my own person, yet

18:35

the matter was so delicate that

18:37

I could not confide it to an agent without

18:39

putting myself in his power. I

18:41

have come incognito from Prague for

18:44

the purpose of consulting you. Then

18:47

pray consult! said Holmes,

18:49

shutting his eyes once more. The

18:52

facts are briefly these. Some

18:55

five years ago, during a lengthy

18:57

visit to Warsaw, I

18:59

made the acquaintance of the

19:01

well-known adventurous Irene Adler. The

19:04

name is no doubt familiar to you. Kindly

19:06

look her up in my index, Doctor, murmured

19:09

Holmes without opening his eyes. For

19:11

many years he had adopted a system

19:14

of docketing all paragraphs concerning men and

19:16

things, so that it was difficult

19:18

to name a subject or a person

19:20

on which he could not at once

19:23

furnish information. In this

19:25

case I found her biography sandwiched in

19:27

between that of a Hebrew rabbi and

19:29

that of a staff commander who had

19:31

written a monograph upon the deep sea

19:33

fishes. Let

19:35

me see, said Holmes. Born

19:39

in New Jersey in the year 1858, in Traltow. La

19:45

Scala. Prima

19:47

Donna, imperial opera of

19:49

Warsaw, yes, retired from

19:51

operatic stage, ha! Being

19:54

in London, quite so, Your Majesty,

19:56

as I understand, became entangled with

19:58

his young person. wrote her

20:00

some compromising letters, and is

20:03

now desirous of getting those letters back. Precisely

20:06

so, but how was there a

20:08

secret marriage? None. No

20:11

legal papers or certificates? None.

20:14

Then I fail to follow your majesty. If

20:17

this young person should produce her letters

20:19

for blackmailing or other purposes, how

20:21

is she to prove their authenticity? There

20:24

is the writing, forgery,

20:26

my private note paper, stolen,

20:29

my own seal, imitated,

20:31

my photograph, bought. We

20:34

were both in the photograph. Oh,

20:37

dear, that is very bad. Your

20:39

majesty has indeed committed an indiscretion.

20:41

I was mad, insane.

20:44

You have compromised yourself seriously. I was

20:46

only Crown Prince then. I was young.

20:48

I am but thirty now.

20:50

It must be recovered.

20:53

We have tried and failed. Your

20:56

majesty must pay. It must

20:58

be bought. She will not sell. Stolen

21:00

then. Five attempts have been

21:02

made. Twice burglars in my

21:05

pay ransacked her house. Once

21:07

we diverted her luggage when she traveled.

21:10

Twice she has been waylaid. There

21:12

has been no result. No

21:14

sign of it? Absolutely none. Holmes

21:17

laughed. It is a

21:19

pretty little problem, said he. But a

21:23

very serious one to me. Return

21:25

the king reproachfully. Very

21:27

indeed. What does she propose

21:30

to do with the photograph? To

21:32

ruin me. But how? I am

21:35

about to be married. So I

21:37

have heard. To Clotilde Lothman,

21:39

von Saxe-Mengan, second

21:42

daughter of the King of Scandinavia. You

21:44

may know the strict principles of her

21:46

family. She is herself the

21:48

very soul of delicacy. A shadow

21:51

of a doubt as to my conduct would

21:53

bring the matter to an end. And Irene

21:56

Adler threatens to send

21:58

them the photograph. and she will do it. I

22:01

know that she will do it. You do

22:03

not know her, but she has a soul

22:05

of steel. She has the face

22:07

of the most beautiful of women and the

22:10

mind of the most resolute of men. Rather

22:13

than I should marry another woman, there are

22:15

no lengths to which she would not go.

22:17

None!" You are

22:19

sure that she has not sent it yet? I

22:21

am sure. And why? Because

22:24

she has said that she would send

22:26

it on the day when the betrothal

22:28

was publicly proclaimed. That will

22:30

be next Monday. Oh,

22:33

then we have three days yet? said

22:35

Holmes with a yawn. I was

22:37

very fortunate. As I have one

22:39

or two matters of importance to look into

22:42

just at present, your Majesty will, of

22:44

course, stay in London for the present?

22:46

Certainly. You will find me at Langham

22:48

under the name of the Count von

22:50

Krann. Then I shall

22:52

drop you a line and let you know how we

22:54

progress. They do so. I

22:57

shall be all anxiety. Then,

22:59

as to money, you have

23:01

carte blanche. Absolutely.

23:04

I tell you that I would give one of

23:06

my provinces of my kingdom to have that photograph.

23:10

And for present expenses. The

23:13

king took a heavy chamois leather bag

23:15

from under his cloak and laid it on

23:17

the table. There are three

23:19

hundred pounds in court and seven hundred in

23:22

knots. He said. Holmes

23:25

scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his

23:27

notebook and handed it to him. And

23:29

the Mademoiselle's address, he asked, is

23:33

Brione Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St.

23:35

John's Wood. Holmes

23:38

took a note of it. One other question,

23:40

said he. Was the

23:42

photograph a cabinet? It was.

23:45

Let good night, your Majesty, and I trust that we

23:48

shall soon have some good news for you.

23:50

And good night, Watson. He

23:52

added, as the wheels of the

23:54

royal broam roll down the street.

23:56

If you'll be good enough to call tomorrow afternoon at

23:59

three o'clock, I should to chat this little matter

24:01

over with you. 2. At

24:06

three o'clock precisely I was at Baker

24:09

Street, but Holmes had not

24:11

yet returned. The landlady informed me

24:13

that she had left the house shortly

24:15

after eight o'clock in the morning. I

24:18

sat down beside the fire, however, with

24:20

the intention of awaiting him however long he might

24:22

be. I was already

24:24

deeply interested in his inquiry, for though

24:27

it was surrounded by none of the

24:29

grim and strange features which were associated

24:31

with the two crimes which I

24:34

have elsewhere recorded, still

24:36

the nature of the case and the exalted

24:38

station of his client gave

24:40

it a character of its own. Indeed,

24:43

apart from the nature of the investigation

24:45

which my friend had on hand, there

24:47

was something in his masterly grasp

24:50

of the situation and his keen,

24:52

incisive reasoning which

24:54

made it a pleasure to me to study his

24:56

system of work and to follow the

24:58

quick, subtle methods by which

25:00

he disentangled the most inextricable

25:03

mysteries. So accustomed was

25:05

I to his invariable success that

25:07

the very possibility of his failing

25:09

had ceased to enter into my head.

25:11

It was close

25:14

upon four before the door opened, and

25:16

a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and

25:19

side-whiskered with an inflamed face

25:21

and disreputable clothes, walked into

25:23

the room. Accustomed as

25:25

I was to my friend's amazing powers and

25:27

the use of disguises, I had

25:29

to look three times before I was certain that

25:31

it was indeed he. With

25:34

a nod he vanished into the

25:36

bedroom whence he emerged in five

25:38

minutes tweed-suited and respectable as of

25:40

old. Putting his hands into

25:43

his pockets, he stretched out his legs

25:45

in front of the fire and laughed

25:47

heartily for some minutes. Well,

25:50

really, he cried, and

25:53

then he choked and laughed again until

25:55

he was obliged to lie back limp

25:57

and helpless in the chair. What

26:00

is it? It's quite too

26:02

funny. I

26:04

am sure you could never guess how

26:07

I employed my morning, or what I

26:09

ended by doing. I

26:11

can't imagine. I suppose that you

26:13

must have been watching The Habits, and

26:15

perhaps the house of Miss Irene Adler." Quite

26:19

so, but the sequel

26:21

was rather unusual. I

26:23

will tell you, however, I left

26:26

the house a little after eight o'clock this morning

26:28

in the character of a groom out of work.

26:31

There is a wonderful sympathy and

26:33

freemasonry among horsey men. Be

26:36

one of them, and you will know all there

26:38

is to know. I soon

26:40

found Brioni Lodge. It is

26:43

a bijou villa with a garden at the back,

26:45

but built out in front, right up to

26:47

the road, two stories. Chub

26:50

lock to the door, large sitting room on

26:52

the right side, well furnished, with

26:54

long windows almost to the

26:56

floor, and those preposterous English

26:58

window fasteners which a child

27:00

could open. Behind, there was nothing

27:03

remarkable, save that the passage window could

27:05

be reached from the top of the coach house.

27:07

I walked round it and examined it closely

27:10

from every point of view, but without noting

27:12

anything else of interest. I

27:14

then lounged down the street and found,

27:17

as I expected, that there was a

27:19

muse in the lane which runs

27:21

down by one wall of the garden. I

27:24

lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down

27:26

their horses, and I received in

27:28

exchange tuppence a glass of

27:30

half and half, two fills of shag tobacco,

27:32

and as much information as I could desire

27:35

about Miss Adler to say nothing of half

27:37

a dozen other people in the neighborhood, in

27:39

whom I was not in the least interested,

27:42

but whose biographies I was compelled to

27:44

listen to. And

27:46

what of Irene Adler? I

27:48

asked. Oh, she has turned

27:50

all the men's heads down in that

27:52

part. She is the daintiest thing under

27:54

a bonnet on this planet. So

27:57

say the serpentine muse to a man. She

27:59

lives quietly, sings at concerts,

28:02

drives out at five every day, and

28:05

returns at seven sharp for

28:07

dinner. Seldom goes out at

28:09

other times, except when she sings. She

28:12

has only one male visitor but a good deal of

28:14

him. He is dark, handsome,

28:16

and dashing, never calls less than

28:18

once a day and often twice. He

28:21

is Mr. Godfrey Norton of the Inner

28:23

Temple. See the

28:25

advantages of a cabman as a confidant. He

28:28

has driven him home a dozen times

28:31

from serpentine muse and knew all

28:33

about him. When I had listened

28:35

to all that they had to tell, I began to

28:37

walk up and down near Brioni Lodge once

28:39

more and to think over my plan

28:41

of campaign. This

28:43

Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor

28:46

in the matter. He was

28:48

a lawyer, that sounded ominous. What

28:50

was the relation between them and what

28:53

the object of his repeated visits? Was

28:55

she his client, his friend, or his mistress?

28:58

If the former, she had probably transferred

29:00

the photograph to his keeping. If

29:02

the latter, it was less likely. On

29:05

the issue of this question, depended whether

29:07

I should continue my work at Brioni

29:09

Lodge or turn my attention

29:11

to the gentleman's chambers in the temple. It

29:14

was a delicate point and it widened

29:16

the field of my inquiry. I

29:18

fear that I bore you with these details, but

29:21

I have to let you see my little

29:23

difficulties if you are to understand the situation.

29:26

I am following you closely," I answered.

29:30

I was still balancing the matter in my mind

29:32

when a handsome cab drove up

29:34

to Brioni Lodge and a gentleman sprang out.

29:37

He was a remarkably handsome man,

29:39

dark, aquiline, and mustached, evidently the man

29:41

of whom I had heard. He

29:44

appeared to be in a great hurry, shouted to

29:46

the cabin to wait, and brushed past the

29:48

maid who opened the door with the air of a

29:50

man who was thoroughly at home. He

29:53

was in the house about half an hour, and I

29:56

could catch glimpses of him in the windows

29:58

of the sitting-room, pacing up and down. talking

30:00

excitedly and waving his arms. Of

30:03

her I could see nothing. Presently

30:05

he emerged, looking even more flurried

30:08

than before. As he

30:10

stepped up to the cab, he pulled a

30:12

gold watch from his pocket and looked at

30:14

it earnestly. "'Drive like the

30:16

devil,' he shouted, first at

30:18

Grouse and Hanky's and Regent Street, and then

30:21

to the Church of St. Monica in

30:23

the Edgar Road. Half a guinea if you

30:25

can do it in twenty minutes." Away

30:27

they went. And I was just

30:29

wondering whether I should not do well to

30:31

follow them when up the lane came

30:34

a neat little Landau, the

30:36

coachman with his coat only half-buttoned and his

30:38

tie under his ear, while all

30:40

the tags of his harness were sticking out

30:43

of the buckles. It hadn't pulled

30:45

up before she shot out of the hall door and into

30:47

it. I only caught a glimpse of her

30:49

at the moment, but she was a lovely

30:51

woman with a face that a man might die

30:53

for. "'The Church of St.

30:55

Monica, John,' she cried, "'and

30:58

half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.'"

31:01

This was quite too good to lose, Watson.

31:04

I was just balancing whether I should run

31:06

for it or whether I should perch behind

31:08

her Landau when a cab came through the

31:10

street. The driver looked twice

31:13

at such a shabby fare, but

31:15

I jumped in before he could object. "'The

31:17

Church of St. Monica,' said I, "'and half a

31:19

sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.'" It

31:22

was twenty-five minutes to twelve, and of course

31:25

it was clear enough what was in the

31:27

wind. My cabbie drove

31:29

fast. I don't think I ever drove

31:31

faster, but the others were there before

31:33

us. The cab and the Landau with

31:35

their steaming horses were in front of the

31:37

door when I arrived. I paid

31:40

the man and hurried into the church. There

31:42

was not a soul there save the two

31:44

whom I had followed, and a

31:46

surpliced clergyman, who seemed to

31:48

be expostulating with them. They were

31:51

all three standing in a knot in front of

31:53

the altar. I lounged up the

31:55

side aisle like any other idler who

31:57

has dropped into a church. Suddenly,

32:00

to my surprise, the three at the

32:02

altar faced round to me, and Godfrey

32:04

Norton came running as hard as he

32:06

could toward me. Thank God!" he cried.

32:08

"'You'll do. Come, come!' What

32:11

then?" I asked. "'Come,

32:13

man, come. Only three minutes or it won't be

32:15

legal.'" I was half-dragged up

32:17

to the altar, and before I knew where I

32:19

was, I found myself mumbling responses which

32:21

were whispered in my ear and vouching

32:24

for things of which I knew

32:26

nothing and generally assisting

32:28

in the secure tying up of

32:30

Irene Adler Spinster to Godfrey

32:33

Norton Bachelor. It was

32:35

all done in an instant, and there was

32:37

the gentleman thanking me on the one side

32:39

and the lady on the other while the

32:41

clergyman beamed on me in front. It

32:44

was the most preposterous position in which

32:46

I ever found myself in my life,

32:49

and it was the thought of it that started me laughing

32:51

just now. It seemed that there

32:53

had been some informality about their license,

32:55

that the clergyman absolutely refused to

32:57

marry them without a witness of

32:59

some sort, and that my

33:02

lucky appearance saved the bridegroom from having to

33:04

sally out into the streets in search of

33:06

a best man. The bride

33:08

gave me a sovereign, and I mean

33:10

to wear it on my watch chain in

33:12

memory of the occasion. "'This

33:15

is a very unexpected turn of

33:17

affairs,' said I. "'And what then?'

33:20

"'Well, I found my

33:22

plans very seriously menaced. It

33:25

looked as if the pair might take

33:27

an immediate departure and so necessitate very

33:29

prompt and energetic measures on my part.

33:32

At the church door, however, they

33:34

separated, he driving back to the

33:36

temple, and she to her own house.

33:39

"'I shall drive out into the park at five

33:41

as usual,' she said as she left

33:43

him. I heard no more. They

33:46

drove away in different directions, and I went

33:48

off to make my own arrangements. "'Which

33:51

are?' "'Some cold beef and

33:53

a glass of beer,' he

33:55

answered, ringing the bell. "'I

33:57

have been too busy to think of food, and I am like a man.

34:00

likely to be busier still this evening. By

34:02

the way, Doctor, I shall want your cooperation.

34:05

I shall be delighted. You don't

34:07

mind breaking the law, not in the least. Nor

34:10

running a chance of arrest, not in a

34:12

good cause. Oh, the cause is

34:14

excellent. Then I am your man. I was sure

34:16

that I might rely on you. But what is

34:18

it you wish?" "'When

34:21

Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I

34:23

will make it clear to you. Now,' he

34:25

said, as he turned hungrily on

34:27

the simple fare that our landlady had provided.

34:29

I must discuss it while

34:31

I eat, for I have not much time.

34:33

It is nearly five now. In two hours

34:36

we must be on the scene of action.

34:38

Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns

34:40

from her drive at seven. We

34:42

must be at Briony Lodge to

34:45

meet her.' "'And what then?' "'You

34:47

must leave that to me. I have already arranged

34:50

what is to occur. There is only one point

34:52

on which I must insist. You

34:54

must not interfere, come what may, you understand?'

34:57

"'I am to be neutral, to do

34:59

nothing whatever.' "'There will probably be

35:01

some small unpleasantness. Do not join

35:03

in it. It will end

35:06

in my being conveyed into the house. Four

35:08

or five minutes afterwards the sitting-room

35:11

window will open. You

35:13

ought to station yourself close to that open

35:15

window. Yes? You ought

35:17

to watch for me, for I will be

35:19

visible to you. Yes? And

35:22

when I raise my hand, so you

35:24

will throw into the room what I

35:27

give you to throw, and will, at

35:29

the same time, raise the cry of

35:31

fire. You quite follow me entirely.'

35:33

"'It is nothing very formidable,'

35:36

he said, taking a long

35:38

cigar-shaped roll from his pocket. It

35:41

is an ordinary plumber's smoke rocket, filled

35:43

with a cap at either end to

35:45

make itself lighting. Your task is confined

35:47

to that. When you raise your

35:50

cry of fire, it will be taken up by

35:52

quite a number of people. You may

35:54

then walk to the end of the street, and

35:56

I will rejoin you in ten minutes. I

35:58

hope that I have made myself clear.'"

36:01

I am to remain neutral, to

36:03

get near the window, to watch you

36:05

and at the signal, to throw in

36:08

this object, then to raise the cry

36:10

of fire, and to await you at

36:12

the corner of the street. Precisely.

36:15

Then you may entirely rely upon me.

36:18

This is excellent. I think perhaps it

36:20

is almost time that I prepared for the new

36:22

role I have to play." He

36:25

disappeared into his bedroom and returned

36:27

in a few minutes in the

36:30

character of an amiable and simple-minded,

36:32

non-conformist clergyman. His broad

36:34

black hat, his baggy trousers,

36:36

his white tie, his sympathetic

36:38

smile and general look of

36:40

peering and benevolent curiosity, were

36:43

such as Mr. John Hare alone could

36:45

have equalled. It was not

36:47

merely that Holmes changed his costume,

36:50

his expression, his manner, his very

36:52

soul seemed to vary with every

36:54

fresh part that he assumed. The

36:57

stage lost a fine actor, even

36:59

as science lost an acute reasoner

37:01

when he became a specialist in

37:03

crime. It was

37:05

a quarter past six when we left Baker

37:08

Street, and it still wanted ten minutes to

37:10

the hour when we found ourselves in Serpentine

37:12

Avenue. It was already dusk,

37:15

and the lamps were just being lighted

37:17

as we paced up and down in

37:19

front of Brownie Lodge, waiting for the

37:21

coming of its occupant. The

37:23

house was just as I had

37:25

pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct

37:27

description, but the locality appeared

37:30

to be less private than I expected. On

37:33

the contrary, for a small street in

37:35

a quiet neighborhood it was remarkably animated.

37:38

There was a group of shabbily dressed men

37:40

smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors

37:43

grinder with his wheel, two guardsmen who

37:45

were flirting with a nurse girl and

37:47

several well-dressed young men who were lounging

37:50

up and down with cigars in their

37:52

mouths. You see, remarked

37:55

Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front

37:57

of the house, this marriage

37:59

rather simplified. The photograph

38:01

becomes a double-edged weapon now. The

38:04

chances are that she would be as averse to

38:06

its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Norton as our

38:09

client is to its coming to the eyes of

38:11

his princess. Now the question is,

38:14

where are we to find the

38:16

photograph? Where indeed? It

38:19

is most unlikely that she carries it about with her.

38:22

It is cabinet-sized, too large for easy

38:24

concealment about a woman's dress. She

38:26

knows that the king is capable of having her

38:29

way laid in search, two attempts of the sword

38:31

have already been made. We

38:33

may take it, then, that she does not carry it

38:35

about with her. Where then? Her

38:38

banker or her lawyer. There

38:40

is that double possibility, but I am

38:42

inclined to think neither. Women

38:45

are naturally secretive, and they

38:47

like to do their own secreting. Why

38:50

should she hand it over to anyone else? She

38:52

could trust her own guardianship, but

38:55

she could not tell what indirect or

38:57

political influence might be brought to bear

38:59

upon a businessman. Besides,

39:03

remember that she had resolved to use it within

39:05

a few days. It must be

39:07

where she can lay her hands upon it. It

39:09

must be in her own house. But

39:12

it has been twice burgled, for sure. They

39:15

did not know how to look. But

39:17

how will you look? I will not look. Who

39:19

ought then? I will get her

39:21

to show me. But she will

39:23

refuse. She will not be able to. But

39:26

I hear the rumble of wheels it is

39:28

her carriage. Now carry out my orders to

39:30

the letter." As

39:33

he spoke, the gleam of the sidelights

39:35

of a carriage came round the curve

39:37

of the avenue. It was

39:39

a small little landow which rattled up

39:41

to the door of Brownie Lodge. As

39:44

it pulled up, one of the loafing men

39:46

at the corner dashed forward to open the

39:48

door in the hope of earning a copper,

39:51

but was elbowed away by another loafer who

39:53

had rushed up with the same intention. A

39:55

fierce quarrel broke out, which was

39:58

increased by the two guardsmen who took sight.

40:00

with one of the loungers and by the

40:02

scissors grinder who was equally hot upon the

40:04

other side. A blow was

40:06

struck and in an instant the lady

40:08

who had stepped from her carriage was

40:10

the center of a little knot of

40:12

flushed and struggling men who struck savagely

40:14

at each other with their fists and

40:16

sticks. Holmes dashed into the crowd

40:18

to protect the lady but

40:20

just as he reached her he gave

40:22

a cry and dropped to the ground

40:25

with the blood running freely down his

40:27

face. At this fall

40:29

the guardsmen took to their heels in one

40:31

direction and the loungers on the other while

40:33

a number of better dressed people who had

40:35

watched the scuffle without taking part in it

40:38

crowded in to help the lady and to

40:40

attend to the injured man. Irene

40:42

Adler, as I will still call her,

40:45

had hurried up to the steps but

40:47

she stood at the top with her

40:49

superb figure outlined against the lights of

40:51

the hall looking back into the street.

40:54

Is the poor gentleman much hurt? she

40:56

asked. He is dead!

41:00

cried several voices. No,

41:02

no, there's life in him! shouted

41:04

another. But he'll be gone before you can

41:06

get him to hospital. He's

41:09

a brave fellow, said a woman. They

41:11

would have had the lady's purse and watch if it

41:13

hadn't been for him. They were a

41:15

gang and a rough one too. Ah,

41:17

he's breathing now. He

41:20

can't lie in the street. May we bring

41:22

him in, mom? Surely

41:24

bring him into the sitting room. There is

41:26

a comfortable sofa. This way, please. Slowly

41:29

and solemnly he was born into

41:32

Briony Lodge and laid out in

41:34

the principal room while I still

41:36

observed the proceedings from my post

41:38

by the window. The lamps

41:41

had been lit but the blinds had not

41:43

been drawn so that I could see Holmes

41:45

as he lay upon the couch. I

41:48

did not know whether he was seized with

41:50

compunction at that moment for the part he

41:53

was playing, but I know

41:55

that I never felt more heartily ashamed

41:57

of myself in my life than when

41:59

I saw the beautiful creature against whom

42:01

I was conspiring, or the

42:03

grace and kindliness with which she

42:05

waited upon the injured man. And

42:07

yet it would be the blackest treachery to

42:09

Holmes to draw back now from the part

42:11

which he had entrusted me. I

42:14

hardened my heart and took the smoke

42:16

rocket from under my ulster. After

42:18

all, I thought we are not injuring her,

42:20

we are but preventing her from

42:23

injuring another. Holmes had

42:25

sat up upon the couch, and

42:27

I saw him motion like a man who was in

42:29

want of air. A maid rushed

42:31

across and threw open the window.

42:34

At the same instant I saw

42:36

him raise his hand, and at the signal

42:38

I tossed my rocket into the room with

42:40

a cry of fire. The word

42:43

was no sooner out of my

42:45

mouth than the whole crowd of

42:47

spectators, well-dressed and ill, gentlemen, ostlers,

42:49

and servant-maids, joined in a

42:52

general shriek of fire. Thick

42:54

clouds of smoke curled into the room

42:56

and out of the open window. I

42:58

caught a glimpse of rushing figures,

43:01

and a moment later the voice of Holmes

43:03

from within, assuring them that it

43:05

was a false alarm. Slipping

43:07

through the shouting crowd, I made

43:09

my way to the corner of the street,

43:12

and in ten minutes was rejoined to find

43:14

my friend's arm and mine and to get

43:16

away from the scene of the uproar. He

43:19

walked swiftly in silence for some few

43:21

minutes until we had turned down one

43:23

of the quiet streets which lead

43:25

towards the Edgewood Road. You

43:28

did it very nicely, Doctor, he remarked.

43:31

Nothing could have been better, it is all

43:33

right. You have the photograph? I

43:36

know where it is. And how did you

43:38

find out? She showed me as

43:40

I told you she would. I am

43:43

still in the dark. I do not wish

43:45

to make a mystery, said

43:47

he, laughing. The matter was perfectly

43:49

simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in

43:52

the street was an accomplice. They were

43:54

all engaged for the evening, I

43:56

guessed as much. Then, when

43:58

the row broke out, I

44:00

had a little moist red paint at the palm of

44:02

my hand. I rushed forward, fell

44:04

down, clapped my hand to my

44:06

face, and became a piteous spectacle.

44:09

It is an old trick. That also

44:11

I could fathom. Then they

44:13

carried me in. She was bound to

44:15

have me in what else could she do, and

44:18

into her sitting room which was the very

44:20

room which I suspected. It lay

44:22

between that and her bedroom, and I

44:24

was determined to see which. They

44:27

laid me on a couch. I motioned for

44:29

air. They were compelled to open the window,

44:31

and you had your chance. How

44:34

did that help you? It was

44:36

all important. When a woman

44:38

thinks that her house is on fire,

44:40

her instinct is at once to rush

44:42

to the thing which she values most.

44:45

It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I

44:47

have more than once taken advantage of it.

44:50

In the case of the Darlington Substitution scandal,

44:52

it was of use to me, and

44:55

also in the Aunsworth Castle business,

44:57

a married woman grabs at her baby.

45:00

An unmarried one reaches for her jewel

45:02

box. Now, it was dear

45:04

to me that our lady of today

45:06

had nothing in the house more

45:08

precious to her than what we are

45:10

in quest of. She would rush to

45:13

secure it. The alarm of fire

45:15

was admirably done. The smoke and shouting

45:17

was enough to shake nerves of steel.

45:20

She responded beautifully. The

45:22

photograph is in a recess behind

45:24

a sliding panel just above the

45:26

right bell pull. She was

45:29

there in an instant, and I caught a glimpse of

45:31

it as she half drew it out. When

45:33

I cried out that it was a false

45:35

alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket,

45:38

rushed from the room, and I have not

45:40

seen her since. I rose,

45:42

and, making my excuses, escaped from

45:44

the house. I hesitated whether

45:46

to attempt to secure the photograph at once,

45:49

for the coachman had come in, and as he

45:51

was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to

45:53

wait. A little over-precipitence

45:55

may ruin all. And

45:58

now, I asked. Our

46:00

quest is practically finished. I

46:02

shall call with the King tomorrow and with you,

46:05

if you care to come with us. We

46:08

will be shown into the sitting-room to wait

46:10

for the lady, but it is probable that

46:12

when she comes she may find neither us

46:14

nor the photograph. It might

46:16

be a satisfaction to His Majesty to regain it

46:18

with his own hands. And

46:20

when will you call? At eight

46:22

in the morning. She will not be up, so

46:24

that we shall have a clear field. Besides,

46:27

we must be prompt, for this marriage may

46:29

mean a complete change in her life and

46:31

habits. I must wire to the King without

46:33

delay." We had reached

46:36

Baker Street and had stopped at the door.

46:38

He was searching in his pockets for the

46:41

key when someone passing said, "'Good

46:43

night, Mr. Sherlock Holmes.'" There

46:46

were several people on the pavement at the time,

46:48

but the greeting appeared to come from

46:51

a slim youth in an ulster who

46:53

had hurried by. "'I've heard that voice

46:55

before,' said Holmes, staring

46:57

down the dimly-lit street. Now

47:00

I wonder who the deuce that could have been."

47:05

Three. "'I

47:07

slept at Baker Street that night, and

47:10

we were engaged upon our toast and

47:12

coffee when the King of Bohemia rushed

47:14

into the room.' "'You have really got

47:16

it!' he cried, grasping Sherlock

47:18

Holmes by either shoulder and looking eagerly

47:20

into his face. "'Not yet.'

47:23

"'But you have hopes!' "'I have

47:25

hopes.' "'Then come! I am all in patience

47:27

to be gone.' "'We must

47:29

have a cab.' "'No, my brom is waiting.'

47:32

"'Then that will simplify matters.' We

47:35

descended and started off once more for

47:37

Briony Lodge. "'Arin

47:40

Adler is married,' remarked

47:43

Holmes. "'Married when?' "'Yesterday.'

47:45

"'But to whom?' "'To

47:47

an English lawyer named

47:49

Norton.' "'But she could

47:51

not love him.' "'I am

47:53

in hopes that she does.' "'And why

47:55

in hopes?' "'Because it would spare your

47:58

majesty all fear of future annoyance.' If

48:01

the lady loves your husband, she does

48:03

not love your majesty. If

48:05

she does not love your majesty, there is

48:08

no reason why she should interfere with your

48:10

majesty's plan." It is

48:12

true, and yet, well,

48:14

I wish she would have been of my

48:17

own station, but the queen she would have

48:19

made. He relapsed

48:21

into a moody silence, which was not

48:23

broken until we drew up in Serpentine

48:25

Avenue. The door of

48:28

Brownie Lodge was open, and an elderly

48:30

woman stood upon the steps. She

48:32

washed us with a sardonic eye as we

48:34

stepped from the broam. "'Mr.

48:37

Sherlock Holmes, I believe,' she

48:39

said. "'I am Mr.

48:41

Holmes,' answered my companion, looking

48:44

at her with a questioning and rather

48:46

startled gaze. "'Indeed! My

48:49

mistress has told me that you are likely

48:51

to call. She left this

48:53

morning with her husband by the 515 train

48:56

from Charing Cross for the continent.' "'What?'

49:00

"'Shall our Combs staggered back, white with

49:02

chagrin and surprised. "'Do

49:04

you mean she has left England?'

49:06

"'Never to return.' "'And

49:09

the papers?' asked the

49:11

king hoarsely. "'All is lost,' we

49:13

shall see.' He

49:15

pushed past the servant and rushed into

49:17

the drawing-room, followed by the king and

49:19

myself. The furniture was

49:21

scattered about in every direction, with

49:23

dismantled shelves and open drawers as

49:25

if the lady had hurriedly ransacked

49:27

them before her flight. Holmes

49:30

rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a

49:33

small sliding shutter, and plunging in his

49:35

hand pulled out a photograph and a

49:37

letter. The photograph

49:39

was of Irene Adler herself in

49:41

evening dress. The letter

49:43

was superscribed to Sherlock Holmes'

49:45

Esquire, to be left till

49:47

called for. My

49:50

friend tore it open, and we all three read

49:52

it together. It was dated at

49:54

midnight of the preceding night and ran

49:56

in this way. Dear

49:59

Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Holmes. You

50:01

really did it well. You took

50:03

me in completely. Until

50:05

the alarm of fire, I had not a

50:07

suspicion. But then, when

50:10

I found how I had betrayed myself, I

50:13

began to think. I

50:15

had been warned against you months ago. I

50:17

had been told that if the king employed

50:19

an agent, it would certainly be you, and

50:22

your address had been given me. Yet

50:24

with all this, it made

50:26

me reveal what you wanted to know. Even

50:30

after I became suspicious, I found it

50:32

hard to think evil of such a

50:34

dear, kind old clergyman. But

50:37

you know, I have been trained as

50:39

an actress myself. Male costume is

50:41

nothing new to me. I often

50:43

take advantage of the freedom which it gives. I

50:46

sent John the coachman to watch you,

50:48

ran upstairs, got into my walking

50:50

clothes, as I call them, and

50:52

came down just as you departed. Well,

50:56

I followed you to your door, and

50:58

so made sure that I really was

51:00

an object of interest to the celebrated

51:02

Sherlock Holmes. Then I

51:04

rather imprudently wished you good night and

51:07

started for the temple to see my

51:09

husband. We both thought

51:11

the best resource was flight when pursued

51:13

by so formidable an antagonist, so

51:16

you will find the nest empty when you call

51:18

tomorrow. As to the photograph,

51:20

your client may rest in peace. I

51:22

love and am loved by a better man than he.

51:25

The king may

51:27

do what he will without hindrance from

51:29

one whom he has cruelly wronged. I

51:32

keep it only to safeguard myself and to preserve

51:34

a weapon which will always secure me from any

51:37

steps which he might take in the future. I

51:40

leave a photograph which he might care

51:42

to possess, and I remain,

51:44

dear Sherlock Holmes, very

51:46

truly yours Irene

51:49

Norton, nay Adler. tell

52:00

you how quick and resolute she was!

52:02

Would she not have made an admirable

52:05

queen? Is it not a pity

52:07

she was not on my level?" From

52:10

what I have seen of the lady she

52:12

seems indeed to be on a very different

52:14

level to your Majesty. Said

52:16

Holmes coldly, I

52:18

am sorry that I have not been able

52:20

to bring your Majesty's business to a more

52:22

successful conclusion. On the contrary,

52:25

my dear sir, cried the King,

52:28

nothing could be more successful. I

52:30

know that her word is inviolate.

52:33

The photograph is now as safe as if it

52:35

were in the fire. I

52:37

am glad to hear your Majesty say so. I

52:40

am immensely indebted to you. Pray, tell

52:42

me in what way I can reward

52:44

you. This ring! He

52:47

slipped an emerald snake ring from his finger

52:49

and held it out upon the palm of

52:51

his hand. Your

52:53

Majesty has something which I should

52:55

value even more highly, said Holmes.

52:58

You have but to name it. This

53:00

photograph. The

53:03

King stared at him in amazement. Irene's

53:06

photograph? He cried. Certainly

53:09

if you wish it. I

53:11

thank your Majesty. Then there is

53:13

no more to be done in the matter. I have

53:16

the honour to wish you a very good morning.

53:19

He bowed, and turning away without observing

53:21

the hand which the King had stretched

53:23

out to him, he set off in

53:25

my company for his chambers. And

53:29

that was how a great scandal threatened

53:31

to affect the King of Bohemia and

53:33

how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock

53:35

Holmes were beaten by a woman's wit.

53:38

He used to make merry over the cleverness of women,

53:40

but I have not heard him do it of late.

53:43

And when he speaks of Irene Adler,

53:46

or when he refers to her photograph,

53:48

it is always under the honourable title

53:50

of The Woman.

54:05

This is BJ Harrison. I

54:07

hope you've enjoyed this vintage episode

54:09

of A Scandal in Bohemia by

54:12

Arthur Conan Doyle. If

54:14

you've enjoyed this book, please become

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