to the eyes of his princess. Now
the question is, Where are we to nd 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 inuence might be
ADVENTURE I. A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA
15
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 loang 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 erce 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 ushed and struggling men, who struck savagely at each other with
their sts 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 scufe 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 gure 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 borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in the princi-
pal 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
ADVENTURE I. A SCANDAL IN BOHEMIA
16
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 in-
jured 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
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