T o Sherlock Holmes she is always the woman . I rarely hear him use another name . In his eyes she stands above all women . But Holmes does not love Irene Adler . He hates soft feelings . His mind is cold and exact . He is a perfect thinking machine . Strong feelings break such a machine . And still , one woman stays in his mind .
I saw little of Holmes in those days . My marriage pulled us apart . Holmes stayed in our old rooms . Our rooms were in Baker Street . He sat among his books . He studied crime every day .
One night I walked through Baker Street . It was March , 1888. I looked up at his windows . The rooms were bright . His tall shadow crossed the blind twice . He walked fast across the room . I knew that shadow well . Holmes had a new problem . I rang the bell .
He pointed to an armchair . Then he stood by the fire . He looked me over in his old way .
“Marriage suits you ,” he said . “You have seven new pounds , Watson .”
“Seven !”
“A little more , I fancy . And you work as a doctor again .”
“Then how do you know ?”
“I see it . I deduce it . You walked in bad weather last week . And your servant girl is careless .”
“My dear Holmes , this is too much . I did walk in the country . But I changed my clothes .”
He laughed and rubbed his long hands .
“Look at your left shoe . The firelight strikes the leather . I see six long cuts there . Someone scraped the mud away . That person used a careless hand . So you walked in vile weather . And you have a bad servant girl .”
“Your reasons always sound simple . My eyes are as good as yours .”
“Quite so . You see . But you do not observe . You often climb the steps downstairs .”
“Very often .”
“Then how many steps are there ?”
“I don’t know .”
“You see . You do not observe . There are seventeen steps . Now , here is a problem .”
He threw me a sheet of pink paper . It had no date and no name .
“A gentleman will call tonight . He comes at a quarter to eight . The matter is very deep . Your visitor will wear a mask .”
“What does it mean ?” I asked .
“I have no data yet . A man must not build a theory first . He then twists the facts to fit it .”
We heard horses outside . Then someone pulled the bell hard .
A very tall man came in . His chest and arms looked enormous . He wore a black mask . His chin showed a stubborn man .
“You had my note ?” He spoke with a German accent .
“Please take a seat . This is Doctor Watson . And your name ?”
“Call me Count Von Kramm . I am a Bohemian nobleman . I prefer to speak with you alone .”
I rose to go . Holmes caught my wrist . He pushed me back into my chair .
“It is both , or none ,” said he .
“Then I must begin . Keep my secret for two years . The matter may shake Europe . A great scandal may grow from it . It touches the House of Ormstein . They are the old kings of Bohemia .”
“I know that .” Holmes closed his eyes .
Our visitor stared at him . Then Holmes opened his eyes again .
“Your Majesty may tell me the case .”
The man jumped from his chair . He tore the mask from his face . He threw it on the floor .
“You are right . I am the King . Why do I hide it ?”
“Why , indeed ? You are Wilhelm von Ormstein , King of Bohemia .”
The King sat down again .
“I do not do such business myself . But this matter is too delicate . So I came from Prague in secret . Five years ago I stayed in Warsaw . There I met Irene Adler .”
“I wrote her letters . And there is a photograph . We are both in it .”
“Oh dear . That is very bad . Buy it , then .”
“She will not sell .”
“Steal it .”
“We tried five times . Twice my men searched her house . Once we took her luggage . We found nothing .”
Holmes laughed . “It is a pretty little problem .”
“But a serious one for me . I marry soon . My bride comes from a strict family . One shadow of doubt ends everything . Irene Adler threatens to send them the photograph . And she will do it . She has a soul of steel .”
“When does she send it ?”
“On the day of my betrothal . That is next Monday .”
“Then we have three days . Your Majesty stays in London ?”
“Certainly . And you have a free hand with money .”
The King laid a heavy bag down .
“A thousand pounds for costs .”
“And the lady’s address ?”
“Briony Lodge , Serpentine Avenue .”
“Then good night , Your Majesty . Call here tomorrow at three , Watson .”
At three o’clock I sat in Baker Street . Near four the door opened . A drunken groom walked in . It was Holmes . In five minutes he came out in tweed . Then he laughed for a long time .
“What is it ?”
“You will never guess my morning . I went out as a groom . Horsey men help each other . I found Briony Lodge at once . I helped the men with their horses . They gave me beer and news . Miss Adler drives out at five every day . She has one man visitor only . His name is Godfrey Norton . He is a lawyer of the Inner Temple . That fact troubled me . Perhaps she gave him the photograph .
“Then a hansom cab drove up . A handsome dark man jumped out . He stayed half an hour . He talked fast and waved his arms . He came out in a great hurry . ‘Drive like the devil ,’ he cried . ‘First to Gross and Hankey . Then to the Church of St . Monica . Half a guinea for twenty minutes !’
“Then a landau came up the lane . She ran out and jumped in .
“ ‘The Church of St . Monica , John ,’ she cried .
“This was too good to lose , Watson . I jumped into another cab . The others arrived first . I hurried into the church . Three people stood at the altar . Godfrey Norton , the lady , and a clergyman . Then Godfrey Norton ran at me .
“ ‘Thank God ,’ he cried . ‘You’ll do . Come !’
“ ‘Come , man . Three minutes , or it is not legal .’
“They dragged me to the altar . I mumbled words in answer . I knew nothing about them . And so I helped them to marry . The bride gave me a sovereign . I will wear it on my watch chain .”
“And then ?”
“They parted at the church door . So my plans still hold . I need your help this evening , Doctor . We must be at Briony Lodge at seven . There is one rule only . You must not interfere . Some small trouble will start . Stay out of it . They will carry me into the house . Then the sitting-room window will open . Stand near that open window . Watch me . I will raise my hand — so . Then throw this into the room . And shout fire at the same moment .”
He came out as a country clergyman . Holmes changed more than his clothes . His face changed . His manner changed too .
We reached Serpentine Avenue before seven . The street held many people .
“This marriage helps us ,” said Holmes quietly . “Now , where is the photograph ? She does not carry it . It is too large for a dress . Her banker ? Her lawyer ? I think neither . Women hide their own things . And she needs it within a few days . It lies in her own house .”
“But men searched the house twice .”
“They did not know how to look . I will not look . I will make her show me .”
“She will refuse .”
“She cannot refuse . Here are her wheels .”
The landau rattled up to the door . One loafer ran forward to open it . Another loafer pushed him away . A fierce quarrel broke out . Someone struck a blow . The lady stepped down into the crowd . Angry men fought all around her . Holmes dashed in to protect her . Then he cried out and fell down . Blood ran down his face . Better people crowded round to help .
Irene Adler stood at the top .
“Is the poor gentleman much hurt ?”
“He is dead ,” cried several voices .
“No , no , he still breathes !” shouted another .
“He cannot lie in the street . May we bring him in ?”
“Surely . Bring him into the sitting-room .”
They carried him in slowly . I watched from my post at the window . Nobody drew the blinds . So I saw Holmes on the couch . Holmes sat up on the couch . He waved a hand for air . A maid ran across and opened the window . At that instant he raised his hand . I threw my rocket into the room . I shouted “Fire !” The whole crowd took up the cry . Thick smoke rolled through the room . Then I heard the voice of Holmes . It was a false alarm , he told them . I slipped away through the crowd . In ten minutes his arm found mine .
“You did it very nicely , Doctor .”
“You have the photograph ?”
“I know the place . She showed me .”
“I am still in the dark .”
“It was simple . Everyone in the street worked for me . I hired them all for the evening . I had red paint in my hand . I rushed forward and fell . It is an old trick . Then they carried me in . And into her sitting-room ! That was my room of choice . I asked for air . They opened the window . And you had your chance .”
“How did that help you ?”
“It was everything . A woman thinks her house burns . She runs to her dearest thing at once . Our lady had one dear thing only . She ran to it . The photograph lies in a recess . It sits behind a sliding panel . The panel is above the bell-pull . She was there in an instant . Then I called out my false alarm . She put it back . I rose and left the house . I call with the King tomorrow .”
We stopped at our own door . Then a passer-by spoke to us .
“Good night , Mister Sherlock Holmes .”
The greeting came from a slim youth . He hurried away .
“I know that voice ,” said Holmes . “Now , who could that be ?”
In the morning the King rushed in .
“You have it !”
“Not yet . But I have hopes . Irene Adler is a wife now .”
“Married ! And the husband ?”
“An English lawyer named Norton . Yesterday .”
“But she cannot love him .”
“I hope she does . Then she leaves Your Majesty in peace .”
We drove to Briony Lodge . The door stood open . An old woman waited on the steps .
“Mr . Sherlock Holmes , I believe ? My mistress told me of your visit . She left this morning with her husband . They took the 5:15 train . They go to the Continent .”
“What !” Holmes staggered back . He turned white . “She has left England ?”
“Never to return .”
“And the papers ?” cried the King . “All is lost !”
“We shall see .” Holmes ran into the drawing-room . The drawers gaped open . Holmes rushed at the bell-pull . He tore back the sliding panel . He pulled out a photograph and a letter . The photograph showed Irene Adler alone . We read the letter together .
“My dear Mr . Sherlock Holmes ,
“You did it very well . You took me in completely . Then the alarm of fire came . And I saw my own mistake . Friends warned me against you months ago . And still you made me show it .
“I trained as an actress . Male clothes are nothing new to me . I sent John , my coachman , to watch you . Then I put on my walking clothes . I followed you to your own door . Then I wished you good night .
“Flight is the best answer . So you will find an empty nest . Your client may rest . I love a better man than the King . And a better man loves me . The King wronged me cruelly . I keep the photograph for my safety . I leave another photograph for him .
“Very truly yours ,
“Irene Norton , born Adler .”
“What a woman — oh , what a woman !” cried the King . “What a queen she would make ! What a pity ! She is not on my level .”
“She stands on another level ,” said Holmes coldly . “I am sorry . I could not end this business better .”
“On the contrary ! Nothing ends better . Her word is iron . Name your reward . This ring —”
He held out an emerald ring .
“You have something of more value .”
“Name it !”
“This photograph !”
The King stared at him .
“Irene’s photograph ! Certainly , if you wish it .”
“I thank Your Majesty . Then there is no more to do .”
He bowed . He turned away from the royal hand . And he walked off with me .
So a scandal nearly struck Bohemia . And the best plans of Mr . Sherlock Holmes fell to a woman’s wit . He used to laugh at clever women . I do not hear him laugh now . And he uses one title for her only . He calls her the woman .
