“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？“