a scandal in bohemia-第4节

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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　and　down　in　front　of　Briony　Lodge；　waiting　for　the

coming　of　its　occupant。　The　house　was　just　such　as　I　had　pictured　it

from　Sherlock　Holmes's　succinct　description；　but　the　locality　appeared

to　be　less　private　than　I　expected。　On　the　contrary；　for　a　small

street　in　a　quiet　neighbourhood；　it　was　remarkably　animated。　There　was

a　group　of　shabbily　dressed　men　smoking　and　laughing　in　a　corner；　a

scissors…grinder　with　his　wheel；　two　guardsmen　who　were　flirting

with　a　nurse…girl；　and　several　well　dressed　young　men　who　were

lounging　up　and　down　with　cigars　in　their　mouths。

　　〃You　see；〃　remarked　Holmes；　as　we　paced　to　and　fro　in　front　of　the

house；　〃this　marriage　rather　simplifies　matters。　The　photograph

becomes　a　double…edged　weapon　now。　The　chances　are　that　she　would　be

as　averse　to　its　being　seen　by　Mr。　Godfrey　Norton；　as　our　client　is　to

its　coming　to　the　eyes　of　his　princess。　Now　the　question　is；　Where　are

we　to　find　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　influence　might　be　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　loafing　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　fierce　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　flushed　and　struggling

men；　who　struck　savagely　at　each　other　with　their　fists　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　scuffle　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　figure　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　sitt