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 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 someone 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 lit street。
〃Now； I wonder who the deuce that could have been。〃
3
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 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 can them；
and came down just as you departed。
Well； I followed you to your 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 to 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 woman… oh； 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 honour 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 honourable title of the woman。
…THE END…
。