〃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 hand… so… you 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
prepare for the new role I have to play。〃
He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the
character of an amiable and simple…minded Nonconformist clergyman。 His
broad black hat； his baggy trousers； his white tie his sympathetic
smile； and general look of peering and benevolent curiosity were
such as Mr。 John Hare alone could have equalled。 It was not merely
that Holmes changed his costume。 His expression； his manner； his
very soul seemed to vary with every fresh part that he assumed。 The
stage lost a fine actor； even as science lost an acute reasoner；
when he became a specialist in crime。
It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street； and it still
wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Serpentine
Avenue。 It was already dusk； and the lamps were just being lighted
as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge； waiting for the
coming of its occupant。 The house was just such as I had pictured it
from Sherlock Holmes's succinct description； but the locality appeared
to be less private than I expected。 On the contrary； for a small
street in a quiet neighbourhood； it was remarkably animated。 There was
a group of shabbily dressed men smoking and laughing in a corner； a
scissors…grinder with his wheel； two guardsmen who were flirting
with a nurse…girl； and several well dressed young men who were
lounging up and down with cigars in their mouths。
〃You see；〃 remarked Holmes； as we paced to and fro in front of the
house； 〃this marriage rather simplifies matters。 The photograph
becomes a double…edged weapon now。 The chances are that she would be
as averse to its being seen by Mr。 Godfrey Norton； as our client is to
its coming to the eyes of his princess。 Now the question is； Where are
we to find the photograph？〃
〃Where； indeed？〃
〃It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her。 It is
cabinet size。 Too large for easy concealment about a woman's dress。
She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and searched。
Two attempts of the sort have already been made。 We may take it； then；
that she does not carry it about with her。〃
〃Where； then？'
〃Her banker or her lawyer。 There is that double possibility。 But I
am inclined to think neither。 Women are naturally secretive； and
they like to do their own secreting。 Why should she hand it over to
anyone else？ She could trust her own guardianship； but she could not
tell what indirect or political influence might be brought to bear
upon a business man。 Besides； remember that she had resolved to use it
within a few days。 It must be where she can lay her hands upon it。
It must be in her own house。〃
〃But it has twice been burgled。〃
〃Pshaw！ They did not know how to look。〃
〃But how will you look？〃
〃I will not look。〃
〃What then？〃
〃I will get her to show me。〃
〃But she will refuse。〃
〃She will not be able to。 But I hear the rumble of wheels。 It is her
carriage。 Now carry out my orders to the letter。〃
As he spoke the gleam of the side…lights of a carriage came round
the curve of the avenue。 It was a smart little landau which rattled up
to the door of Briony Lodge。 As it pulled up； one of the loafing men
at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the hope of earning a
copper； but was elbowed away by another loafer； who had rushed up with
the same intention。 A fierce quarrel broke out； which was increased by
the two guardsmen； who took sides with one of the loungers； and by the
scissors…grinder； who was equally hot upon the other side。 A blow
was struck； and in an instant the lady； who had stepped from her
carriage； was the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling
men； who struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks。
Holmes dashed into the crowd to protect the lady； but just as he
reached her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground； with the blood
running freely down his face。 At his fall the guardsmen took to
their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other； while a
number of better dressed people； who had watched the scuffle without
taking part in it； crowded in to help the lady and to attend to the
injured man。 Irene Adler； as I will still call her； had hurried up the
steps； but she stood at the top with her superb figure outlined
against the lights of the hall； looking back into the street。
〃Is the poor gentleman much hurt？〃 she asked。
〃He is dead；〃 cried several voices。
〃No； no； there's life in him！〃 shouted another。 〃But he'll be gone
before you can get him to hospital。〃
〃He's a brave fellow；〃 said a woman。 〃They would have had the lady's
purse and watch if it hadn't been for him。 They were a gang； and a
rough one； too。 Ah； he's breathing now。〃
〃He can't lie in the street。 May we bring him in； marm？〃
〃Surely。 Bring him into the sitting…room。 There is a comfortable
sofa。 This way； please！〃
Slowly and solemnly he was home into Briony Lodge and laid out in
the principal room； while I still observed the proceedings from my
post by the window。 The lamps had been lit； but the blinds had not
been drawn； so that I could see Holmes as he lay upon the couch。 I
do not know whether he was seized with compunction at that moment
for the part he was playing； but I know that I never felt more
heartily ashamed of myself in my life than when I saw the beautiful
creature against whom I was conspiring； or the grace and kindliness
with which she waited upon the injured man。 And yet it would be the
blackest treachery to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he
had intrusted to me。 I hardened my heart； and took the smoke…rocket
from under my ulster。 After all； I thought we are not injuring her。 We
are but preventing her from injuring another。
Holmes had sat up upon the couch； and I saw him motion like a man
who is in need of air。 A maid rushed across and threw open the window。
At the same instant I saw him raise his hand； and at the signal I
tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of ‘Fire！' The word was no
sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of spectators； well
dressed and ill… gentlemen； ostlers； and servant…maids… joined in a
general shriek of ‘Fire！' Thick clouds of smoke curled through the
room and out at the open window。 I caught a glimpse of rushing
figures； and a moment later the voice of Holmes from within assuring
them that it was a false alarm。 Slipping through the shouting crowd
I made my way to the corner of the street； and in ten minutes was
rejoiced to find my friend's arm in mine； and to get away from the
scene of uproar。 He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes
until we had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards
the Edgeware Road。
〃You did it very nicely； Doctor；〃 he remarked。 〃Nothing could have
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 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 baby； an 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 half…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 m