a scandal in bohemia-第4章
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between them； and what the object of his repeated visits？ Was she
his client； his friend； or his mistress？ If the former； she had
probably transferred the photograph to his keeping。 If the latter；
it was less likely。 On the issue of this question depended whether I
should continue my work at Briony Lodge； or turn my attention to the
gentleman's chambers in the Temple。 It was a delicate point and it
widened the field of my inquiry。 I fear that I bore you with these
details； but I have to let you see my little difficulties； if you
are to understand the situation。〃
〃I am following you closely；〃 I answered。
〃I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab drove
up to Briony Lodge； and a gentleman sprang out。 He was a remarkably
handsome man； dark； aquiline； and moustached… evidently the man of
whom I had heard。 He appeared to be in a great hurry； shouted to the
cabman to wait； and brushed past the maid who opened the door with the
air of a man who was thoroughly at home。
〃He was in the house about half an hour； and I could catch
glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting…room； pacing up and
down； talking excitedly； and waving his arms。 Of her I could see
nothing。 Presently he emerged； looking even more flurried than before。
As he stepped up to the cab； he pulled a gold watch from his pocket
and looked at it earnestly； ‘Drive like the devil；' he shouted； ‘first
to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street； and then to the Church of St。
Monica in the Edgeware Road。 Half a guinea if you do it in twenty
minutes！'
〃Away they went； and I was just wondering whether I should not do
well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau； the
coachman with his coat only half…buttoned； and his tie under his
ear； while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of the
buckles。 It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall door
and into it。 I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment； but she was
a lovely woman； with a face that a man might die for。
〃‘The Church of St。 Monica； John；' she cried； ‘and half a
sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes。'
〃This was quite too good to lose； Watson。 I was just balancing
whether I should run for it； or whether I should perch behind her
landau when a cab came through the street。 The driver looked twice
at such a shabby fare； but I jumped in before he could object。 ‘The
Church of St。 Monica；' said I； ‘and half a sovereign if you reach it
in twenty minutes。' It was twenty…five minutes to twelve； and of
course it was clear enough what was in the wind。
〃My cabby drove fast。 I don't think I ever drove faster； but the
others were there before us。 The cab and the landau with their
steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived。 I paid the
man and hurried into the church。 There was not a soul there save the
two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman； who seemed to be
expostalating with them。 They were all three standing in a knot in
front of the altar。 I lounged up the side aisle like any other idler
who has dropped into a church。 Suddenly； to my surprise； the three
at the altar faced round to me； and Godfrey Norton came running as
hard as he could towards me。
〃‘Thank God；' he cried。 ‘You'll do。 Come！ Come！'
〃‘What then？' I asked。
〃‘Come； man； come； only three minutes； or it won't be legal。'
〃I was half…dragged up to the altar； and before I knew where I was I
found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear； and
vouching for things of which I knew nothing； and generally assisting
in the secure tying up of Irene Adler； spinster； to Godfrey Norton；
bachelor。 It was all done in an instant； and there was the gentleman
thanking me on the one side and the lady on the other； while the
clergyman beamed on me in front。 It was the most preposterous position
in which I ever found myself in my life； and it was the thought of
it that started me laughing just now。 It seems that there had been
some informality about their license； that the clergyman absolutely
refused to marry them without a witness of some sort； and that my
lucky appearance saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into
the streets in search of a best man。 The bride gave me a sovereign；
and I mean to wear it on my watch…chain in memory of the occasion。〃
〃This is a very unexpected turn of affairs；〃 said I； 〃and what
then？〃
〃Well； I found my plans very seriously menaced。 It looked as if
the pair might take an immediate departure； and so necessitate very
prompt and energetic measures on my part。 At the church door； however；
they separated； he driving back to the Temple； and she to her own
house。 ‘I shall drive out in the park at five as usual；' she said as
she left him。 I heard no more。 They drove away in different
directions； and I went off to make my own arrangements。〃
〃Which are？〃
〃Some cold beef and a glass of beer；〃 he answered； ringing the bell。
〃I have been too busy to think of food； and I am likely to be busier
still this evening。 By the way； Doctor； I shall want your
cooperation。〃
〃I shall be delighted。〃
〃You don't mind breaking the law？〃
〃Not in the least。〃
〃Nor running a chance of arrest？〃
〃Not in a good cause。〃
〃Oh； the cause is excellent！〃
〃Then I am your man。〃
〃I was sure that I might rely on you。〃
〃But what is it you wish？〃
〃When Mrs。 Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to
you。 Now；〃 he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that our
landlady had provided； 〃I must discuss it while I eat； for I have
not much time。 It is nearly five now。 In two hours we must be on the
scene of action。 Miss Irene； or Madame； rather； returns from her drive
at seven。 We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her。〃
〃And what then？〃
〃You must leave that to me。 I have already arranged what is to
occur。 There is only one point on which I must insist。 You must not
interfere； come what may。 You understand？〃
〃I am to be neutral？〃
〃To do nothing whatever。 There will probably be some small
unpleasantness。 Do not join in it。 It will end in my being conveyed
into the house。 Four or five minutes afterwards the sitting…room
window will open。 You are to station yourself close to that open
window。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃You are to watch me； for I will be visible to you。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And when I raise my hand… so… you will throw into the room what I
give you to throw； and will； at the same time； raise the cry of
fire。 You quite follow me？〃
〃Entirely。〃
〃It is nothing very formidable；〃 he said； taking a long cigar…shaped
roll from his pocket。 〃It is an ordinary plumber's smoke…rocket；
fitted with a cap at either end to make it self…lighting。 Your task is
confined to that。 When you raise your cry of fire； it will be taken up
by quite a number of people。 You may then walk to the end of the
street； and I will rejoin you in ten minutes。 I hope that I have
made myself clear？〃
〃I am to remain neutral； to get near the window； to watch you； and
at the signal to throw in this object； then to raise the cry of
fire； and to wait you at the corner of the street。〃
〃Precisely。〃
〃Then you may entirely rely on me。〃
〃That is excellent。 I think； perhaps； it is almost time that I
prepare for the new role I have to play。〃
He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in the
character of an amiable and simple…minded Nonconformist clergyman。 His
broad black hat； his baggy trousers； his white tie his sympathetic
smile； and general look of peering and benevolent curiosity were
such as Mr。 John Hare alone could have equalled。 It was not merely
that Holmes changed his costume。 His expression； his manner； his
very soul seemed to vary with every fresh part that he assumed。 The
stage lost a fine actor； even as science lost an acute reasoner；
when he became a specialist in crime。
It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street； and it still
wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Serpentine
Avenue。 It was already dusk； and the lamps were just being lighted
as we paced up a
