might be。 I was already deeply interested in his inquiry； for；
though it was surrounded by none of the grim and strange features
which were associated with the two crimes which I have already
recorded； still； the nature of the case and the exalted station of his
client gave it a character of its own。 Indeed； apart from the nature
of the investigation which my friend had on hand； there was
something in his masterly grasp of a situation； and his keen； incisive
reasoning； which made it a pleasure to me to study his system of work；
and to follow the quick； subtle methods by which he disentangled the
most inextricable mysteries。 So accustomed was I to his invariable
success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to enter
into my head。
It was close upon four before the door opened； and a drunken…looking
groom； ill…kempt and side…whiskered； with an inflamed face and
disreputable clothes； walked into the room。 Accustomed as I was to
my friend's amazing powers in the use of disguises； I had to look
three times before I was certain that it was indeed he。 With a nod
he vanished into the bedroom； whence he emerged in five minutes
tweed…suited and respectable； as of old。 Putting his hands into his
pockets； he stretched out his legs in front of the fire and laughed
heartily for some minutes。
〃Well； really！〃 he cried； and then he choked and laughed again until
he was obliged to lie back； limp and helpless； in the chair。
〃What is it？〃
〃It's quite too funny。 I am sure you could never guess how I
employed my morning； or what I ended by doing。〃
〃I can't imagine。 I suppose that you have been watching the
habits； and perhaps the house； of Miss Irene Adler。〃
〃Quite so； but the sequel was rather unusual。 I will tell you；
however。 I left the house a little after eight o'clock this morning in
the character of a groom out of work。 There is a wonderful sympathy
and freemasonry among horsy men。 Be one of them； and you will know all
that there is to know。 I soon found Briony Lodge。 It is a bijou villa；
with a garden at the back； but built out in front right up to the
road； two stories。 Chubb lock to the door。 Large sitting…room on the
right side； well furnished； with long windows almost to the floor； and
those preposterous English window fasteners which a child could
open。 Behind there was nothing remarkable； save that the passage
window could be reached from the top of the coach…house。 I walked
round it and examined it closely from every point of view； but without
noting anything else of interest。
〃I then lounged down the street and found； as I expected； that there
was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the garden。 I lent
the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses； and received in
exchange twopence； a glass of half and half； two fills of shag
tobacco； and as much information as I could desire about Miss Adler；
to say nothing of half a dozen other people in the neighbourhood in
whom I was not in the least interested； but whose biographies I was
compelled to listen to。〃
〃And what of Irene Adler？〃 I asked。
〃Oh； she has turned all the men's heads down in that part。 She is
the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet。 So say the
Serpentine…mews； to a man。 She lives quietly； sings at concerts；
drives out at five every day； and returns at seven sharp for dinner。
Seldom goes out at other times； except when she sings。 Has only one
male visitor； but a good deal of him。 He is dark； handsome； and
dashing； never calls less than once a day； and often twice。 He is a
Mr。 Godfrey Norton； of the Inner Temple。 See the advantages of a
cabman as a confidant。 they had driven him home a dozen times from
Serpentine…mews； and knew all about him。 When I had listened to all
they had to tell； I began to walk up and down near Briony Lodge once
more； and to think over my plan of campaign。
〃This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the
matter。 He was a lawyer。 That sounded ominous。 What was the relation
between them； and what the object 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 was less likely。 On the issue of this question depended whether I
should continue my work at Briony Lodge； or turn my attention to the
gentleman's chambers in the Temple。 It was a delicate point and it
widened the field of my inquiry。 I fear that I bore you with these
details； but I have to let you see my 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 sprang out。 He was a remarkably
handsome man； dark； aquiline； and moustached… evidently 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 the 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
expostalating 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 towards 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