No. 1 Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle
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. 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 asliding 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 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_be 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 ." [ edit]

III .

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 aquestioning 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 up stairs, got into my walking- clothes, as I call 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 honor 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 honorable title of_the woman .

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