a scandal in bohemia-第3部分

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might　be。　I　was　already　deeply　interested　in　his　inquiry；　for；

though　it　was　surrounded　by　none　of　the　grim　and　strange　features

which　were　associated　with　the　two　crimes　which　I　have　already

recorded；　still；　the　nature　of　the　case　and　the　exalted　station　of　his

client　gave　it　a　character　of　its　own。　Indeed；　apart　from　the　nature

of　the　investigation　which　my　friend　had　on　hand；　there　was

something　in　his　masterly　grasp　of　a　situation；　and　his　keen；　incisive

reasoning；　which　made　it　a　pleasure　to　me　to　study　his　system　of　work；

and　to　follow　the　quick；　subtle　methods　by　which　he　disentangled　the

most　inextricable　mysteries。　So　accustomed　was　I　to　his　invariable

success　that　the　very　possibility　of　his　failing　had　ceased　to　enter

into　my　head。

　　It　was　close　upon　four　before　the　door　opened；　and　a　drunken…looking

groom；　ill…kempt　and　side…whiskered；　with　an　inflamed　face　and

disreputable　clothes；　walked　into　the　room。　Accustomed　as　I　was　to

my　friend's　amazing　powers　in　the　use　of　disguises；　I　had　to　look

three　times　before　I　was　certain　that　it　was　indeed　he。　With　a　nod

he　vanished　into　the　bedroom；　whence　he　emerged　in　five　minutes

tweed…suited　and　respectable；　as　of　old。　Putting　his　hands　into　his

pockets；　he　stretched　out　his　legs　in　front　of　the　fire　and　laughed

heartily　for　some　minutes。

　　〃Well；　really！〃　he　cried；　and　then　he　choked　and　laughed　again　until

he　was　obliged　to　lie　back；　limp　and　helpless；　in　the　chair。

　　〃What　is　it？〃

　　〃It's　quite　too　funny。　I　am　sure　you　could　never　guess　how　I

employed　my　morning；　or　what　I　ended　by　doing。〃

　　〃I　can't　imagine。　I　suppose　that　you　have　been　watching　the

habits；　and　perhaps　the　house；　of　Miss　Irene　Adler。〃

　　〃Quite　so；　but　the　sequel　was　rather　unusual。　I　will　tell　you；

however。　I　left　the　house　a　little　after　eight　o'clock　this　morning　in

the　character　of　a　groom　out　of　work。　There　is　a　wonderful　sympathy

and　freemasonry　among　horsy　men。　Be　one　of　them；　and　you　will　know　all

that　there　is　to　know。　I　soon　found　Briony　Lodge。　It　is　a　bijou　villa；

with　a　garden　at　the　back；　but　built　out　in　front　right　up　to　the

road；　two　stories。　Chubb　lock　to　the　door。　Large　sitting…room　on　the

right　side；　well　furnished；　with　long　windows　almost　to　the　floor；　and

those　preposterous　English　window　fasteners　which　a　child　could

open。　Behind　there　was　nothing　remarkable；　save　that　the　passage

window　could　be　reached　from　the　top　of　the　coach…house。　I　walked

round　it　and　examined　it　closely　from　every　point　of　view；　but　without

noting　anything　else　of　interest。

　　〃I　then　lounged　down　the　street　and　found；　as　I　expected；　that　there

was　a　mews　in　a　lane　which　runs　down　by　one　wall　of　the　garden。　I　lent

the　ostlers　a　hand　in　rubbing　down　their　horses；　and　received　in

exchange　twopence；　a　glass　of　half　and　half；　two　fills　of　shag

tobacco；　and　as　much　information　as　I　could　desire　about　Miss　Adler；

to　say　nothing　of　half　a　dozen　other　people　in　the　neighbourhood　in

whom　I　was　not　in　the　least　interested；　but　whose　biographies　I　was

compelled　to　listen　to。〃

　　〃And　what　of　Irene　Adler？〃　I　asked。

　　〃Oh；　she　has　turned　all　the　men's　heads　down　in　that　part。　She　is

the　daintiest　thing　under　a　bonnet　on　this　planet。　So　say　the

Serpentine…mews；　to　a　man。　She　lives　quietly；　sings　at　concerts；

drives　out　at　five　every　day；　and　returns　at　seven　sharp　for　dinner。

Seldom　goes　out　at　other　times；　except　when　she　sings。　Has　only　one

male　visitor；　but　a　good　deal　of　him。　He　is　dark；　handsome；　and

dashing；　never　calls　less　than　once　a　day；　and　often　twice。　He　is　a

Mr。　Godfrey　Norton；　of　the　Inner　Temple。　See　the　advantages　of　a

cabman　as　a　confidant。　they　had　driven　him　home　a　dozen　times　from

Serpentine…mews；　and　knew　all　about　him。　When　I　had　listened　to　all

they　had　to　tell；　I　began　to　walk　up　and　down　near　Briony　Lodge　once

more；　and　to　think　over　my　plan　of　campaign。

　　〃This　Godfrey　Norton　was　evidently　an　important　factor　in　the

matter。　He　was　a　lawyer。　That　sounded　ominous。　What　was　the　relation

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