第13章

“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？“