“Then，good-night，yourmajesty，andItrustthatweshallsoonhavesomegoodnewsforyou。Andgood-night，Watson，“headded，asthewheelsoftheroyalbroughamrolleddownthestreet。“Ifyouwillbegoodenoughtocallto-morrowafternoon，atthreeo’clock，Ishouldliketochatthislittlematteroverwithyou。“
Atthreeo’clockpreciselyIwasatBakerStreet，butHolmeshadnotyetreturned。Thelandladyinformedmethathehadleftthehouseshortlyaftereighto’clockinthemorning。Isatdownbesidethefire，however，withtheintentionofawaitinghim，howeverlonghemightbe。Iwasalreadydeeplyinterestedinhisinquiry，for，thoughitwassurroundedbynoneofthegrimandstrangefeatureswhichwereassociatedwiththetwocrimeswhichI
havealreadyrecorded，still，thenatureofthecaseandtheexaltedstationofhisclientgaveitacharacterofitsown。
Indeed，apartfromthenatureoftheinvestigationwhichmyfriendhadonhand，therewassomethinginhismasterlygraspofasituation，andhiskeen，incisivereasoning，whichmadeitapleasuretometostudyhissystemofwork，andtofollowthequick，subtlemethodsbywhichhedisentangledthemostinextricablemysteries。SoaccustomedwasItohisinvariablesuccessthattheverypossibilityofhisfailinghadceasedtoenterintomyhead。
Itwascloseuponfourbeforethedooropened，andadrunken-
lookinggroom，ill-kemptandside-whiskered，withaninflamedfaceanddisreputableclothes，walkedintotheroom。AccustomedasI
wastomyfriend’samazingpowersintheuseofdisguises，IhadtolookthreetimesbeforeIwascertainthatitwasindeedhe。Withanodhevanishedintothebedroom，whenceheemergedinfiveminutestweed-suitedandrespectable，asofold。Puttinghishandsintohispockets，hestretchedouthislegsinfrontofthefire，andlaughedheartilyforsomeminutes。
“Well，really！“hecried，andthenhechoked，andlaughedagainuntilhewasobligedtolieback，limpandhelpless，inthechair。
“Whatisit？“
“It’squitetoofunny。IamsureyoucouldneverguesshowI
employedmymorning，orwhatIendedbydoing。“
“Ican’timagine。Isupposethatyouhavebeenwatchingthehabits，and，perhaps，thehouse，ofMissIreneAdler。“
“Quiteso，butthesequelwasratherunusual。Iwilltellyou，however。Ileftthehousealittleaftereighto’clockthismorninginthecharacterofagroomoutofwork。Thereisawonderfulsympathyandfreemasonryamonghorseymen。Beoneofthem，andyouwillknowallthatthereistoknow。IsoonfoundBrionyLodge。Itisabijouvilla，withagardenattheback，butbuiltoutinthefrontrightuptotheroad，twostories。Chubblocktothedoor。Largesittingroomontherightside，wellfurnished，withlongwindowsalmosttothefloor，andthosepreposterousEnglishwindowfastenerswhichachildcouldopen。
Behindtherewasnothingremarkable，savethatthepassagewindowcouldbereachedfromthetopofthecoach-house。Iwalkedrounditandexamineditcloselyfromeverypointofview，butwithoutnotinganythingelseofinterest。
“Ithenloungeddownthestreet，andfound，asIexpected，thattherewasamewsinalanewhichrunsdownbyonewallofthegarden。Ilentthehostlersahandinrubbingdowntheirhorses，andIreceivedinexchangetwo-pence，aglassofhalfandhalf，twofillsofshagtobacco，andasmuchinformationasIcoulddesireaboutMissAdler，tosaynothingofhalfadozenotherpeopleintheneighborhood，inwhomIwasnotintheleastinterested，butwhosebiographiesIwascompelledtolistento。“
“AndwhatofIreneAdler？“Iasked。
“Oh，shehasturnedallthemen’sheadsdowninthatpart。Sheisthedaintiestthingunderabonnetonthisplanet。SosaytheSerpentineMews，toaman。Shelivesquietly，singsatconcerts，drivesoutatfiveeveryday，andreturnsatsevensharpfordinner。Seldomgoesoutatothertimes，exceptwhenshesings。
Hasonlyonemalevisitor，butagooddealofhim。Heisdark，handsome，anddashing；nevercallslessthanonceaday，andoftentwice。HeisaMr。GodfreyNortonoftheInnerTemple。Seetheadvantagesofacabmanasaconfidant。TheyhaddrivenhimhomeadozentimesfromSerpentineMews，andknewallabouthim。WhenI
hadlistenedtoallthattheyhadtotell，IbegantowalkupanddownnearBrionyLodgeoncemore，andtothinkovermyplanofcampaign。
“ThisGodfreyNortonwasevidentlyanimportantfactorinthematter。Hewasalawyer。Thatsoundedominous。Whatwastherelationbetweenthem，andwhattheobjectofhisrepeatedvisits？
Wasshehisclient，hisfriend，orhismistress？Iftheformer，shehadprobablytransferredthephotographtohiskeeping。Ifthelatter，itwaslesslikely。OntheissueofthisquestiondependedwhetherIshouldcontinuemyworkatBrionyLodge，orturnmyattentiontothegentleman’schambersintheTemple。Itwasadelicatepoint，anditwidenedthefieldofmyinquiry。IfearthatIboreyouwiththesedetails，butIhavetoletyouseemylittledifficulties，ifyouaretounderstandthesituation。“
“Iamfollowingyouclosely，“Ianswered。
“Iwasstillbalancingthematterinmymind，whenahansomcabdroveuptoBrionyLodge，andagentlemansprungout。Hewasaremarkablyhandsomeman，dark，aquiline，andmustached——evidentlythemanofwhomIhadheard。Heappearedtobeinagreathurry，shoutedtothecabmantowait，andbrushedpastthemaidwhoopenedthedoor，withtheairofamanwhowasthoroughlyathome。
“Hewasinthehouseabouthalfanhour，andIcouldcatchglimpsesofhiminthewindowsofthesittingroom，pacingupanddown，talkingexcitedlyandwavinghisarms。OfherIcouldseenothing。
Presentlyheemerged，lookingevenmoreflurriedthanbefore。Ashesteppeduptothecab，hepulledagoldwatchfromhispocketandlookedatitearnestly。’Drivelikethedevil！’heshouted，’firsttoGross&Hankey’sinRegentStreet，andthentotheChurchofSt。MonicaintheEdgewareRoad。Halfaguineaifyoudoitintwentyminutes！’
“Awaytheywent，andIwasjustwonderingwhetherIshouldnotdowelltofollowthem，whenupthelanecameaneatlittlelandau，thecoachmanwithhiscoatonlyhalfbuttoned，andhistieunderhisear，whileallthetagsofhisharnesswerestickingoutofthebuckles。Ithadn’tpulledupbeforesheshotoutofthehalldoorandintoit。Ionlycaughtaglimpseofheratthemoment，butshewasalovelywoman，withafacethatamanmightdiefor。
“’TheChurchofSt。Monica，John，’shecried；’andhalfasovereignifyoureachitintwentyminutes。’
“Thiswasquitetoogoodtolose，Watson。IwasjustbalancingwhetherIshouldrunforit，orwhetherIshouldperchbehindherlandau，whenacabcamethroughthestreet。Thedriverlookedtwiceatsuchashabbyfare；butIjumpedinbeforehecouldobject。’TheChurchofSt。Monica，’saidI，’andhalfasovereignifyoureachitintwentyminutes。’Itwastwenty-fiveminutestotwelve，andofcourseitwasclearenoughwhatwasinthewind。
“Mycabbydrovefast。Idon’tthinkIeverdrovefaster，buttheothersweretherebeforeus。ThecabandlandauwiththeirsteaminghorseswereinfrontofthedoorwhenIarrived。Ipaidtheman，andhurriedintothechurch。TherewasnotasoultheresavethetwowhomIhadfollowed，andasurplicedclergyman，whoseemedtobeexpostulatingwiththem。Theywereallthreestandinginaknotinfrontofthealtar。Iloungedupthesideaislelikeanyotheridlerwhohasdroppedintoachurch。Suddenly，tomysurprise，thethreeatthealtarfacedroundtome，andGodfreyNortoncamerunningashardashecouldtowardme。
“’ThankGod！’hecried。’You’lldo。Come！Come！’
“’Whatthen？’Iasked。
“’Come，man，come；onlythreeminutes，oritwon’tbelegal。’
“Iwashalfdraggeduptothealtar，and，beforeIknewwhereI
was，Ifoundmyselfmumblingresponseswhichwerewhisperedinmyear，andvouchingforthingsofwhichIknewnothing，andgenerallyassistinginthesecuretyingupofIreneAdler，spinster，toGodfreyNorton，bachelor。Itwasalldoneinaninstant，andtherewasthegentlemanthankingmeontheonesideandtheladyontheother，whiletheclergymanbeamedonmeinfront。ItwasthemostpreposterouspositioninwhichIeverfoundmyselfinmylife，anditwasthethoughtofitthatstartedmelaughingjustnow。Itseemsthattherehadbeensomeinformalityabouttheirlicense；
thattheclergymanabsolutelyrefusedtomarrythemwithoutawitnessofsomesort，andthatmyluckyappearancesavedthebridegroomfromhavingtosallyoutintothestreetsinsearchofabestman。Thebridegavemeasovereign，andImeantowearitonmywatchchaininmemoryoftheoccasion。“
“Thisisaveryunexpectedturnofaffairs，“saidI；“andwhatthen？“
“Well，Ifoundmyplansveryseriouslymenaced。Itlookedasifthepairmighttakeanimmediatedeparture，andsonecessitateverypromptandenergeticmeasuresonmypart。Atthechurchdoor，however，theyseparated，hedrivingbacktotheTemple，andshetoherownhouse。’Ishalldriveoutintheparkatfiveasusual，’
shesaid，asshelefthim。Iheardnomore。Theydroveawayindifferentdirections，andIwentofftomakemyownarrangements。“
“Whichare？“
“Somecoldbeefandaglassofbeer，“heanswered，ringingthebell。“Ihavebeentoobusytothinkoffood，andIamlikelytobebusierstillthisevening。Bytheway，doctor，Ishallwantyourcooperation。“
“Ishallbedelighted。“
“Youdon’tmindbreakingthelaw？“
“Notintheleast。“
“Norrunningachanceofarrest？“
“Notinagoodcause。“
“Oh，thecauseisexcellent！“
“ThenIamyourman。“
“IwassurethatImightrelyonyou。“
“Butwhatisityouwish？“
“WhenMrs。TurnerhasbroughtinthetrayIwillmakeitcleartoyou。Now，“hesaid，asheturnedhungrilyonthesimplefarethatourlandladyhadprovided，“ImustdiscussitwhileIeat，forI
havenotmuchtime。Itisnearlyfivenow。Intwohourswemustbeonthesceneofaction。MissIrene，orMadame，rather，returnsfromherdriveatseven。WemustbeatBrionyLodgetomeether。“
“Andwhatthen？“
“Youmustleavethattome。Ihavealreadyarrangedwhatistooccur。ThereisonlyonepointonwhichImustinsist。Youmustnotinterfere，comewhatmay。Youunderstand？“
“Iamtobeneutral？“
“Todonothingwhatever。Therewillprobablybesomesmallunpleasantness。Donotjoininit。Itwillendinmybeingconveyedintothehouse。Fourorfiveminutesafterwardsthesitting-roomwindowwillopen。Youaretostationyourselfclosetothatopenwindow。“
“Yes。“
“Youaretowatchme，forIwillbevisibletoyou。“
“Yes。“
“AndwhenIraisemyhand——so——youwillthrowintotheroomwhatI
giveyoutothrow，andwill，atthesametime，raisethecryoffire。Youquitefollowme？“
“Entirely。“
“Itisnothingveryformidable，“hesaid，takingalong，cigar-
shapedrollfromhispocket。“Itisanordinaryplumber’ssmoke-
rocket，fittedwithacapateitherend，tomakeitself-lighting。
Yourtaskisconfinedtothat。Whenyouraiseyourcryoffire，itwillbetakenupbyquiteanumberofpeople。Youmaythenwalktotheendofthestreet，andIwillrejoinyouintenminutes。I
hopethatIhavemademyselfclear？“
“Iamtoremainneutral，togetnearthewindow，towatchyou，and，atthesignal，tothrowinthisobject，thentoraisethecryoffireandtowaityouatthecornerofthestreet。“
“Precisely。“
“Thenyoumayentirelyrelyonme。“
“Thatisexcellent。Ithink，perhaps，itisalmosttimethatI
preparedforthenewroleIhavetoplay。“
Hedisappearedintohisbedroom，andreturnedinafewminutesinthecharacterofanamiableandsimple-mindedNonconformistclergyman。Hisbroad，blackhat，hisbaggytrousers，hiswhitetie，hissympatheticsmile，andgenerallookofpeeringandbenevolentcuriosityweresuchasMr。JohnHarealonecouldhaveequaled。ItwasnotmerelythatHolmeschangedhiscostume。Hisexpression，hismanner，hisverysoulseemedtovarywitheveryfreshpartthatheassumed。Thestagelostafineactor，evenassciencelostanacutereasoner，whenhebecameaspecialistincrime。
ItwasaquarterpastsixwhenweleftBakerStreet，anditstillwantedtenminutestothehourwhenwefoundourselvesinSerpentineAvenue。Itwasalreadydusk，andthelampswerejustbeinglightedaswepacedupanddowninfrontofBrionyLodge，waitingforthecomingofitsoccupant。ThehousewasjustsuchasIhadpictureditfromSherlockHolmes’ssuccinctdescription，butthelocalityappearedtobelessprivatethanIexpected。Onthecontrary，forasmallstreetinaquietneighborhood，itwasremarkablyanimated。Therewasagroupofshabbilydressedmensmokingandlaughinginacorner，ascissorsgrinderwithhiswheel，twoguardsmenwhowereflirtingwithanursegirl，andseveralwell-dressedyoungmenwhowereloungingupanddownwithcigarsintheirmouths。
“Yousee，“remarkedHolmes，aswepacedtoandfroinfrontofthehouse，“thismarriagerathersimplifiesmatters。Thephotographbecomesadouble-edgedweaponnow。ThechancesarethatshewouldbeasaversetoitsbeingseenbyMr。GodfreyNortonasourclientistoitscomingtotheeyesofhisprincess。Nowthequestionis——
wherearewetofindthephotograph？“
“Where，indeed？“