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" '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 balanc-

ing 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 clergy-

man, who seemed to be expostulating 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 appear-

ance 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 l; "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 comer 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 min-

utes in the character of an amiable and simple-minded Noncon-

formist 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 cos-

tume. 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 flirt-

ing 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 pho-

tograph 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 secre-

tive, and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she

hand it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardian-

ship, but she could not tell what indirect or political influence

might be brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remem-

ber 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

hcr 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 sitting room. There is a comfort-

able sofa. This way, please!"

Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid

out in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings

from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the

blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay

upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with

compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I

know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life

than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was

conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited

upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery

to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had

intrusted to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket

from under my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring

her. We are but preventing her from injuring another.

Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like

a man who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw

open the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand

and at the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of

"Fire!" The word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole

crowd of spectators, well dressed and ill -- gentlemen, ostlers,

and servant-maids -- joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick

clouds of smoke curled through the room and out at the open

window. I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment

later the voice of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a

false alarm. Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way

to the corner of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find

my friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of

uproar. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes

until we had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead

towards the Edgeware Road.

"You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing

could have been better. It is all right."

"You have the photograph?"

"I know where it is."

"And how did you find out?"

"She showed me, as I told you she would."

"I am still in the dark."

"I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The

matter was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone

in the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the

evening."

"I guessed as much."

"Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint

in the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down. clapped my

hand to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old

trick."

"That also I could fathom."

"Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in.

What else could she do? And into her sitting-room. which was

the very room which I suspected. It lay between that and her

bedroom, and I was determined to see which. They laid me on a

couch, I motioned for air, they were compelled to open the

window. and you had your chance."

"How did that help you?"

"It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is