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A Scandal in Bohemia
Arthur Conan Doyle
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A Scandal in Bohemia

Table of contents
Chapter 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Chapter 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

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A Scandal in Bohemia

T
CHAPTER I.
o Sherlock Holmes she is always the 1888—I was returning from a journey to a patient
woman. I have seldom heard him men- (for I had now returned to civil practice), when my
tion her under any other name. In his way led me through Baker Street. As I passed the
eyes she eclipses and predominates the well-remembered door, which must always be as-
whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emo- sociated in my mind with my wooing, and with
tion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and the dark incidents of the Study in Scarlet, I was
that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again, and
precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I to know how he was employing his extraordinary
take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing powers. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as
machine that the world has seen, but as a lover I looked up, I saw his tall, spare figure pass twice
he would have placed himself in a false position. in a dark silhouette against the blind. He was pac-
He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a ing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head sunk
gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him.
the observer—excellent for drawing the veil from To me, who knew his every mood and habit, his at-
men’s motives and actions. But for the trained rea- titude and manner told their own story. He was at
soner to admit such intrusions into his own del- work again. He had risen out of his drug-created
icate and finely adjusted temperament was to in- dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new
troduce a distracting factor which might throw a problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the
doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensi- chamber which had formerly been in part my own.
tive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high- His manner was not effusive. It seldom was;
power lenses, would not be more disturbing than but he was glad, I think, to see me. With hardly
a strong emotion in a nature such as his. And yet a word spoken, but with a kindly eye, he waved
there was but one woman to him, and that woman me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars,
was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and question- and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the
able memory. corner. Then he stood before the fire and looked
I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage me over in his singular introspective fashion.
had drifted us away from each other. My own “Wedlock suits you,” he remarked. “I think,
complete happiness, and the home-centred inter- Watson, that you have put on seven and a half
ests which rise up around the man who first finds pounds since I saw you.”
himself master of his own establishment, were suf- “Seven!” I answered.
ficient to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, “Indeed, I should have thought a little more.
who loathed every form of society with his whole Just a trifle more, I fancy, Watson. And in prac-
Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Baker tice again, I observe. You did not tell me that you
Street, buried among his old books, and alternat- intended to go into harness.”
ing from week to week between cocaine and am-
bition, the drowsiness of the drug, and the fierce “Then, how do you know?”
energy of his own keen nature. He was still, as “I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you
ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and have been getting yourself very wet lately, and that
occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary you have a most clumsy and careless servant girl?”
powers of observation in following out those clues, “My dear Holmes,” said I, “this is too much.
and clearing up those mysteries which had been You would certainly have been burned, had you
abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From lived a few centuries ago. It is true that I had a
time to time I heard some vague account of his country walk on Thursday and came home in a
doings: of his summons to Odessa in the case of dreadful mess, but as I have changed my clothes I
the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up of the sin- can’t imagine how you deduce it. As to Mary Jane,
gular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trinco- she is incorrigible, and my wife has given her no-
malee, and finally of the mission which he had ac- tice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it
complished so delicately and successfully for the out.”
reigning family of Holland. Beyond these signs of He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long,
his activity, however, which I merely shared with nervous hands together.
all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of “It is simplicity itself,” said he; “my eyes tell
my former friend and companion. me that on the inside of your left shoe, just where
One night—it was on the twentieth of March, the firelight strikes it, the leather is scored by

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A Scandal in Bohemia

six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they have quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that
been caused by someone who has very carelessly hour, and do not take it amiss if your visitor wear
scraped round the edges of the sole in order to re- a mask.”
move crusted mud from it. Hence, you see, my “This is indeed a mystery,” I remarked. “What
double deduction that you had been out in vile do you imagine that it means?”
weather, and that you had a particularly malignant
boot-slitting specimen of the London slavey. As to “I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to
your practice, if a gentleman walks into my rooms theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins
smelling of iodoform, with a black mark of nitrate to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to
of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge on suit facts. But the note itself. What do you deduce
the right side of his top-hat to show where he has from it?”
secreted his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I carefully examined the writing, and the paper
I do not pronounce him to be an active member of upon which it was written.
the medical profession.” “The man who wrote it was presumably well
I could not help laughing at the ease with to do,” I remarked, endeavouring to imitate my
which he explained his process of deduction. companion’s processes. “Such paper could not be
“When I hear you give your reasons,” I remarked, bought under half a crown a packet. It is pecu-
“the thing always appears to me to be so ridicu- liarly strong and stiff.”
lously simple that I could easily do it myself, “Peculiar—that is the very word,” said Holmes.
though at each successive instance of your rea- “It is not an English paper at all. Hold it up to the
soning I am baffled until you explain your pro- light.”
cess. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as
yours.” I did so, and saw a large “E” with a small “g,”
a “P,” and a large “G” with a small “t” woven into
“Quite so,” he answered, lighting a cigarette, the texture of the paper.
and throwing himself down into an armchair.
“You see, but you do not observe. The distinction “What do you make of that?” asked Holmes.
is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the “The name of the maker, no doubt; or his
steps which lead up from the hall to this room.” monogram, rather.”
“Frequently.” “Not at all. The ‘G’ with the small ‘t’ stands
“How often?” for ‘Gesellschaft,’ which is the German for ‘Com-
“Well, some hundreds of times.” pany.’ It is a customary contraction like our ‘Co.’
‘P,’ of course, stands for ‘Papier.’ Now for the
“Then how many are there?” ‘Eg.’ Let us glance at our Continental Gazetteer.”
“How many? I don’t know.” He took down a heavy brown volume from his
“Quite so! You have not observed. And yet shelves. “Eglow, Eglonitz—here we are, Egria. It
you have seen. That is just my point. Now, I know is in a German-speaking country—in Bohemia, not
that there are seventeen steps, because I have both far from Carlsbad. ‘Remarkable as being the scene
seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are in- of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous
terested in these little problems, and since you are glass-factories and paper-mills.’ Ha, ha, my boy,
good enough to chronicle one or two of my tri- what do you make of that?” His eyes sparkled, and
fling experiences, you may be interested in this.” he sent up a great blue triumphant cloud from his
He threw over a sheet of thick, pink-tinted note- cigarette.
paper which had been lying open upon the table. “The paper was made in Bohemia,” I said.
“It came by the last post,” said he. “Read it aloud.”
“Precisely. And the man who wrote the note
The note was undated, and without either sig- is a German. Do you note the peculiar construc-
nature or address. tion of the sentence—‘This account of you we have
“There will call upon you to-night, at a quar- from all quarters received.’ A Frenchman or Rus-
ter to eight o’clock,” it said, “a gentleman who sian could not have written that. It is the German
desires to consult you upon a matter of the very who is so uncourteous to his verbs. It only re-
deepest moment. Your recent services to one of mains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by
the royal houses of Europe have shown that you this German who writes upon Bohemian paper
are one who may safely be trusted with matters and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face.
which are of an importance which can hardly be And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to re-
exaggerated. This account of you we have from all solve all our doubts.”

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As he spoke there was the sharp sound of “Pray take a seat,” said Holmes. “This is my
horses’ hoofs and grating wheels against the curb, friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasion-
followed by a sharp pull at the bell. Holmes whis- ally good enough to help me in my cases. Whom
tled. have I the honour to address?”
“A pair, by the sound,” said he. “Yes,” he con- “You may address me as the Count Von
tinued, glancing out of the window. “A nice little Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I understand that
brougham and a pair of beauties. A hundred and this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour
fifty guineas apiece. There’s money in this case, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter
Watson, if there is nothing else.” of the most extreme importance. If not, I should
much prefer to communicate with you alone.”
“I think that I had better go, Holmes.” I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist
“Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am and pushed me back into my chair. “It is both, or
lost without my Boswell. And this promises to be none,” said he. “You may say before this gentle-
interesting. It would be a pity to miss it.” man anything which you may say to me.”
The Count shrugged his broad shoulders.
“But your client—”
“Then I must begin,” said he, “by binding you
“Never mind him. I may want your help, and both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the end of
so may he. Here he comes. Sit down in that arm- that time the matter will be of no importance. At
chair, Doctor, and give us your best attention.” present it is not too much to say that it is of such
weight it may have an influence upon European
A slow and heavy step, which had been heard history.”
upon the stairs and in the passage, paused imme-
“I promise,” said Holmes.
diately outside the door. Then there was a loud
and authoritative tap. “And I.”
“You will excuse this mask,” continued our
“Come in!” said Holmes.
strange visitor. “The august person who employs
A man entered who could hardly have been me wishes his agent to be unknown to you, and I
less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest may confess at once that the title by which I have
and limbs of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a just called myself is not exactly my own.”
richness which would, in England, be looked upon “I was aware of it,” said Holmes dryly.
as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan
“The circumstances are of great delicacy, and
were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his
every precaution has to be taken to quench what
double-breasted coat, while the deep blue cloak
might grow to be an immense scandal and seri-
which was thrown over his shoulders was lined
ously compromise one of the reigning families of
with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck
Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the
with a brooch which consisted of a single flam-
great House of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bo-
ing beryl. Boots which extended halfway up his
hemia.”
calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with
rich brown fur, completed the impression of bar- “I was also aware of that,” murmured Holmes,
baric opulence which was suggested by his whole settling himself down in his armchair and closing
appearance. He carried a broad-brimmed hat in his eyes.
his hand, while he wore across the upper part of Our visitor glanced with some apparent sur-
his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a prise at the languid, lounging figure of the man
black vizard mask, which he had apparently ad- who had been no doubt depicted to him as the
justed that very moment, for his hand was still most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent
raised to it as he entered. From the lower part of in Europe. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and
the face he appeared to be a man of strong charac- looked impatiently at his gigantic client.
ter, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight “If your Majesty would condescend to state
chin suggestive of resolution pushed to the length your case,” he remarked, “I should be better able
of obstinacy. to advise you.”
“You had my note?” he asked with a deep The man sprang from his chair and paced up
harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. and down the room in uncontrollable agitation.
“I told you that I would call.” He looked from one Then, with a gesture of desperation, he tore the
to the other of us, as if uncertain which to address. mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground.

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“You are right,” he cried; “I am the King. Why “Stolen.”

should I attempt to conceal it?” “My own seal.”
“Why, indeed?” murmured Holmes. “Your “Imitated.”
Majesty had not spoken before I was aware that “My photograph.”
I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond
“Bought.”
von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and
hereditary King of Bohemia.” “We were both in the photograph.”
“Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has
“But you can understand,” said our strange vis-
indeed committed an indiscretion.”
itor, sitting down once more and passing his hand
over his high white forehead, “you can understand “I was mad—insane.”
that I am not accustomed to doing such business in “You have compromised yourself seriously.”
my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that “I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I
I could not confide it to an agent without putting am but thirty now.”
myself in his power. I have come incognito from “It must be recovered.”
Prague for the purpose of consulting you.”
“We have tried and failed.”
“Then, pray consult,” said Holmes, shutting his “Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought.”
eyes once more.
“She will not sell.”
“The facts are briefly these: Some five years “Stolen, then.”
ago, during a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the
“Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars
acquaintance of the well-known adventuress, Irene
in my pay ransacked her house. Once we diverted
Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you.”
her luggage when she travelled. Twice she has
“Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor,” mur- been waylaid. There has been no result.”
mured Holmes without opening his eyes. For
“No sign of it?”
many years he had adopted a system of docket-
ing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so “Absolutely none.”
that it was difficult to name a subject or a person Holmes laughed. “It is quite a pretty little
on which he could not at once furnish information. problem,” said he.
In this case I found her biography sandwiched in “But a very serious one to me,” returned the
between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a staff- King reproachfully.
commander who had written a monograph upon “Very, indeed. And what does she propose to
the deep-sea fishes. do with the photograph?”
“Let me see!” said Holmes. “Hum! Born in “To ruin me.”
New Jersey in the year 1858. Contralto—hum! La “But how?”
Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera of War-
“I am about to be married.”
saw—yes! Retired from operatic stage—ha! Living
in London—quite so! Your Majesty, as I under- “So I have heard.”
stand, became entangled with this young person, “To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, sec-
wrote her some compromising letters, and is now ond daughter of the King of Scandinavia. You may
desirous of getting those letters back.” know the strict principles of her family. She is her-
self the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a doubt
“Precisely so. But how—”
as to my conduct would bring the matter to an
“Was there a secret marriage?” end.”
“None.” “And Irene Adler?”
“No legal papers or certificates?” “Threatens to send them the photograph. And
“None.” she will do it. I know that she will do it. You do
not know her, but she has a soul of steel. She has
“Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this the face of the most beautiful of women, and the
young person should produce her letters for black- mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I
mailing or other purposes, how is she to prove should marry another woman, there are no lengths
their authenticity?” to which she would not go—none.”
“There is the writing.” “You are sure that she has not sent it yet?”
“Pooh, pooh! Forgery.” “I am sure.”
“My private note-paper.” “And why?”

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“Because she has said that she would send it The King took a heavy chamois leather bag
on the day when the betrothal was publicly pro- from under his cloak and laid it on the table.
claimed. That will be next Monday.”
“There are three hundred pounds in gold and
“Oh, then we have three days yet,” said Holmes seven hundred in notes,” he said.
with a yawn. “That is very fortunate, as I have one
or two matters of importance to look into just at Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his
present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Lon- note-book and handed it to him.
don for the present?” “And Mademoiselle’s address?” he asked.
“Certainly. You will find me at the Langham “Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John’s
under the name of the Count Von Kramm.” Wood.”
“Then I shall drop you a line to let you know
Holmes took a note of it. “One other question,”
how we progress.”
said he. “Was the photograph a cabinet?”
“Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety.”
“It was.”
“Then, as to money?”
“You have carte blanche.” “Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust
that we shall soon have some good news for you.
“Absolutely?”
And good-night, Watson,” he added, as the wheels
“I tell you that I would give one of the of the royal brougham rolled down the street. “If
provinces of my kingdom to have that photo- you will be good enough to call to-morrow after-
graph.” noon at three o’clock I should like to chat this little
“And for present expenses?” matter over with you.”

CHAPTER II.
At three o’clock precisely I was at Baker Street, whiskered, with an inflamed face and disreputable
but Holmes had not yet returned. The landlady clothes, walked into the room. Accustomed as I
informed me that he had left the house shortly af- was to my friend’s amazing powers in the use of
ter eight o’clock in the morning. I sat down be- disguises, I had to look three times before I was
side the fire, however, with the intention of await- certain that it was indeed he. With a nod he van-
ing him, however long he might be. I was already ished into the bedroom, whence he emerged in five
deeply interested in his inquiry, for, though it was minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old.
surrounded by none of the grim and strange fea- Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out
tures which were associated with the two crimes his legs in front of the fire and laughed heartily for
which I have already recorded, still, the nature of some minutes.
the case and the exalted station of his client gave it “Well, really!” he cried, and then he choked
a character of its own. Indeed, apart from the na- and laughed again until he was obliged to lie back,
ture of the investigation which my friend had on limp and helpless, in the chair.
hand, there was something in his masterly grasp “What is it?”
of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, “It’s quite too funny. I am sure you could never
which made it a pleasure to me to study his sys- guess how I employed my morning, or what I
tem of work, and to follow the quick, subtle meth- ended by doing.”
ods by which he disentangled the most inextrica-
“I can’t imagine. I suppose that you have been
ble mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invari-
watching the habits, and perhaps the house, of
able success that the very possibility of his failing
Miss Irene Adler.”
had ceased to enter into my head.
“Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I
It was close upon four before the door opened, will tell you, however. I left the house a little af-
and a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side- ter eight o’clock this morning in the character of a

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A Scandal in Bohemia

groom out of work. There is a wonderful sym- the field of my inquiry. I fear that I bore you with
pathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be these details, but I have to let you see my little dif-
one of them, and you will know all that there is ficulties, if you are to understand the situation.”
to know. I soon found Briony Lodge. It is a bijou “I am following you closely,” I answered.
villa, with a garden at the back, but built out in
front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock “I was still balancing the matter in my mind
to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, when a hansom cab drove up to Briony Lodge,
well furnished, with long windows almost to the and a gentleman sprang out. He was a remark-
floor, and those preposterous English window fas- ably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and mous-
teners which a child could open. Behind there was tached—evidently the man of whom I had heard.
nothing remarkable, save that the passage window He appeared to be in a great hurry, shouted to the
could be reached from the top of the coach-house. cabman to wait, and brushed past the maid who
I walked round it and examined it closely from ev- opened the door with the air of a man who was
ery point of view, but without noting anything else thoroughly at home.
of interest. “He was in the house about half an hour, and
“I then lounged down the street and found, as I could catch glimpses of him in the windows of
I expected, that there was a mews in a lane which the sitting-room, pacing up and down, talking ex-
runs down by one wall of the garden. I lent the citedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see
ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, and nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more
received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and flurried than before. As he stepped up to the cab,
half, two fills of shag tobacco, and as much infor- he pulled a gold watch from his pocket and looked
mation as I could desire about Miss Adler, to say at it earnestly, ‘Drive like the devil,’ he shouted,
nothing of half a dozen other people in the neigh- ‘first to Gross & Hankey’s in Regent Street, and
bourhood in whom I was not in the least inter- then to the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware
ested, but whose biographies I was compelled to Road. Half a guinea if you do it in twenty min-
listen to.” utes!’

“And what of Irene Adler?” I asked. “Away they went, and I was just wondering
whether I should not do well to follow them when
“Oh, she has turned all the men’s heads down up the lane came a neat little landau, the coach-
in that part. She is the daintiest thing under a bon- man with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie
net on this planet. So say the Serpentine-mews, to under his ear, while all the tags of his harness were
a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, drives sticking out of the buckles. It hadn’t pulled up be-
out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp fore she shot out of the hall door and into it. I only
for dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except caught a glimpse of her at the moment, but she
when she sings. Has only one male visitor, but was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might
a good deal of him. He is dark, handsome, and die for.
dashing, never calls less than once a day, and often
twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner “ ‘The Church of St. Monica, John,’ she cried,
Temple. See the advantages of a cabman as a con- ‘and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty min-
fidant. They had driven him home a dozen times utes.’
from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. “This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I
When I had listened to all they had to tell, I be- was just balancing whether I should run for it, or
gan to walk up and down near Briony Lodge once whether I should perch behind her landau when
more, and to think over my plan of campaign. a cab came through the street. The driver looked
“This Godfrey Norton was evidently an impor- twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before
tant factor in the matter. He was a lawyer. That he could object. ‘The Church of St. Monica,’ said I,
sounded ominous. What was the relation between ‘and half a sovereign if you reach it in twenty min-
them, and what the object of his repeated visits? utes.’ It was twenty-five minutes to twelve, and of
Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the course it was clear enough what was in the wind.
former, she had probably transferred the photo- “My cabby drove fast. I don’t think I ever drove
graph to his keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. faster, but the others were there before us. The cab
On the issue of this question depended whether and the landau with their steaming horses were
I should continue my work at Briony Lodge, or in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the
turn my attention to the gentleman’s chambers in man and hurried into the church. There was not a
the Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened soul there save the two whom I had followed and

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A Scandal in Bohemia

a surpliced clergyman, who seemed to be expostu- “Not in the least.”

lating with them. They were all three standing in “Nor running a chance of arrest?”
a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side
“Not in a good cause.”
aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a
church. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the “Oh, the cause is excellent!”
altar faced round to me, and Godfrey Norton came “Then I am your man.”
running as hard as he could towards me. “I was sure that I might rely on you.”
“ ‘Thank God,’ he cried. ‘You’ll do. Come! “But what is it you wish?”
Come!’ “When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I
“ ‘What then?’ I asked. will make it clear to you. Now,” he said as he
turned hungrily on the simple fare that our land-
“ ‘Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it
lady had provided, “I must discuss it while I eat,
won’t be legal.’
for I have not much time. It is nearly five now. In
“I was half-dragged up to the altar, and be- two hours we must be on the scene of action. Miss
fore I knew where I was I found myself mumbling Irene, or Madame, rather, returns from her drive at
responses which were whispered in my ear, and seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her.”
vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and “And what then?”
generally assisting in the secure tying up of Irene
Adler, spinster, to Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It “You must leave that to me. I have already ar-
was all done in an instant, and there was the gen- ranged what is to occur. There is only one point on
tleman thanking me on the one side and the lady which I must insist. You must not interfere, come
on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me what may. You understand?”
in front. It was the most preposterous position in “I am to be neutral?”
which I ever found myself in my life, and it was the “To do nothing whatever. There will probably
thought of it that started me laughing just now. It be some small unpleasantness. Do not join in it.
seems that there had been some informality about It will end in my being conveyed into the house.
their license, that the clergyman absolutely refused Four or five minutes afterwards the sitting-room
to marry them without a witness of some sort, and window will open. You are to station yourself
that my lucky appearance saved the bridegroom close to that open window.”
from having to sally out into the streets in search “Yes.”
of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and
“You are to watch me, for I will be visible to
I mean to wear it on my watch-chain in memory
you.”
of the occasion.”
“Yes.”
“This is a very unexpected turn of affairs,” said
I; “and what then?” “And when I raise my hand—so—you will
throw into the room what I give you to throw, and
“Well, I found my plans very seriously men- will, at the same time, raise the cry of fire. You
aced. It looked as if the pair might take an imme- quite follow me?”
diate departure, and so necessitate very prompt
“Entirely.”
and energetic measures on my part. At the church
door, however, they separated, he driving back to “It is nothing very formidable,” he said, tak-
the Temple, and she to her own house. ‘I shall ing a long cigar-shaped roll from his pocket. “It is
drive out in the park at five as usual,’ she said as an ordinary plumber’s smoke-rocket, fitted with a
she left him. I heard no more. They drove away cap at either end to make it self-lighting. Your task
in different directions, and I went off to make my is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire,
own arrangements.” it will be taken up by quite a number of people.
You may then walk to the end of the street, and I
“Which are?” will rejoin you in ten minutes. I hope that I have
“Some cold beef and a glass of beer,” he an- made myself clear?”
swered, ringing the bell. “I have been too busy “I am to remain neutral, to get near the win-
to think of food, and I am likely to be busier still dow, to watch you, and at the signal to throw in
this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want your this object, then to raise the cry of fire, and to wait
co-operation.” you at the corner of the street.“
“I shall be delighted.” “Precisely.”
“You don’t mind breaking the law?” “Then you may entirely rely on me.”

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A Scandal in Bohemia

“That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost to anyone else? She could trust her own guardian-
time that I prepare for the new role I have to play.” ship, but she could not tell what indirect or po-
litical influence might be brought to bear upon a
He disappeared into his bedroom and returned
business man. Besides, remember that she had
in a few minutes in the character of an amiable and
resolved to use it within a few days. It must be
simple-minded Nonconformist clergyman. His
where she can lay her hands upon it. It must be in
broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white tie,
her own house.”
his sympathetic smile, and general look of peer-
ing and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John “But it has twice been burgled.”
Hare alone could have equalled. It was not merely “Pshaw! They did not know how to look.”
that Holmes changed his costume. His expression, “But how will you look?”
his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with ev- “I will not look.”
ery fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a “What then?”
fine actor, even as science lost an acute reasoner, “I will get her to show me.”
when he became a specialist in crime. “But she will refuse.”
It was a quarter past six when we left Baker “She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble
Street, and it still wanted ten minutes to the hour of wheels. It is her carriage. Now carry out my
when we found ourselves in Serpentine Avenue. orders to the letter.”
It was already dusk, and the lamps were just be- As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a
ing lighted as we paced up and down in front of carriage came round the curve of the avenue. It
Briony Lodge, waiting for the coming of its occu- was a smart little landau which rattled up to the
pant. The house was just such as I had pictured door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of the
it from Sherlock Holmes’ succinct description, but loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open
the locality appeared to be less private than I ex- the door in the hope of earning a copper, but was
pected. On the contrary, for a small street in a elbowed away by another loafer, who had rushed
quiet neighbourhood, it was remarkably animated. up with the same intention. A fierce quarrel broke
There was a group of shabbily dressed men smok- out, which was increased by the two guardsmen,
ing and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder who took sides with one of the loungers, and by
with his wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting the scissors-grinder, who was equally hot upon the
with a nurse-girl, and several well-dressed young other side. A blow was struck, and in an instant
men who were lounging up and down with cigars the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was
in their mouths. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling
men, who struck savagely at each other with their
“You see,” remarked Holmes, as we paced to
fists and sticks. Holmes dashed into the crowd
and fro in front of the house, “this marriage rather
to protect the lady; but just as he reached her he
simplifies matters. The photograph becomes a
gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the
double-edged weapon now. The chances are that
blood running freely down his face. At his fall
she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr.
the guardsmen took to their heels in one direction
Godfrey Norton, as our client is to its coming to
and the loungers in the other, while a number of
the eyes of his princess. Now the question is,
better-dressed people, who had watched the scuf-
Where are we to find the photograph?”
fle without taking part in it, crowded in to help
“Where, indeed?” the lady and to attend to the injured man. Irene
Adler, as I will still call her, had hurried up the
“It is most unlikely that she carries it about
steps; but she stood at the top with her superb fig-
with her. It is cabinet size. Too large for easy
ure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking
concealment about a woman’s dress. She knows
back into the street.
that the King is capable of having her waylaid and
searched. Two attempts of the sort have already “Is the poor gentleman much hurt?” she asked.
been made. We may take it, then, that she does “He is dead,” cried several voices.
not carry it about with her.” “No, no, there’s life in him!” shouted another.
“But he’ll be gone before you can get him to hos-
“Where, then?” pital.”
“Her banker or her lawyer. There is that dou- “He’s a brave fellow,” said a woman. “They
ble possibility. But I am inclined to think neither. would have had the lady’s purse and watch if it
Women are naturally secretive, and they like to do hadn’t been for him. They were a gang, and a
their own secreting. Why should she hand it over rough one, too. Ah, he’s breathing now.”

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A Scandal in Bohemia

“He can’t lie in the street. May we bring him an accomplice. They were all engaged for the
in, marm?“ evening.”
“Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There “I guessed as much.”
is a comfortable sofa. This way, please!“
“Then, when the row broke out, I had a little
Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony moist red paint in the palm of my hand. I rushed
Lodge and laid out in the principal room, while I forward, fell down, clapped my hand to my face,
still observed the proceedings from my post by the and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick.”
window. The lamps had been lit, but the blinds
“That also I could fathom.”
had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as
he lay upon the couch. I do not know whether he “Then they carried me in. She was bound to
was seized with compunction at that moment for have me in. What else could she do? And into
the part he was playing, but I know that I never felt her sitting-room, which was the very room which
more heartily ashamed of myself in my life than I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom,
when I saw the beautiful creature against whom and I was determined to see which. They laid me
I was conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with on a couch, I motioned for air, they were com-
which she waited upon the injured man. And yet it pelled to open the window, and you had your
would be the blackest treachery to Holmes to draw chance.”
back now from the part which he had intrusted to “How did that help you?”
me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-
rocket from under my ulster. After all, I thought, “It was all-important. When a woman thinks
we are not injuring her. We are but preventing her that her house is on fire, her instinct is at once to
from injuring another. rush to the thing which she values most. It is a per-
fectly overpowering impulse, and I have more than
Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Dar-
him motion like a man who is in need of air. A lington substitution scandal it was of use to me,
maid rushed across and threw open the window. and also in the Arnsworth Castle business. A mar-
At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and ried woman grabs at her baby; an unmarried one
at the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to me
a cry of “Fire!” The word was no sooner out of my that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house
mouth than the whole crowd of spectators, well more precious to her than what we are in quest of.
dressed and ill—gentlemen, ostlers, and servant- She would rush to secure it. The alarm of fire was
maids—joined in a general shriek of “Fire!” Thick admirably done. The smoke and shouting were
clouds of smoke curled through the room and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded
out at the open window. I caught a glimpse of beautifully. The photograph is in a recess behind
rushing figures, and a moment later the voice of a sliding panel just above the right bell-pull. She
Holmes from within assuring them that it was a was there in an instant, and I caught a glimpse of
false alarm. Slipping through the shouting crowd it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it
I made my way to the corner of the street, and in was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the
ten minutes was rejoiced to find my friend’s arm in rocket, rushed from the room, and I have not seen
mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. He her since. I rose, and, making my excuses, escaped
walked swiftly and in silence for some few min- from the house. I hesitated whether to attempt to
utes until we had turned down one of the quiet secure the photograph at once; but the coachman
streets which lead towards the Edgeware Road. had come in, and as he was watching me narrowly
“You did it very nicely, Doctor,” he remarked. it seemed safer to wait. A little over-precipitance
“Nothing could have been better. It is all right.” may ruin all.”
“You have the photograph?” “And now?” I asked.
“I know where it is.” “Our quest is practically finished. I shall call
“And how did you find out?” with the King to-morrow, and with you, if you
care to come with us. We will be shown into the
“She showed me, as I told you she would.” sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is probable
“I am still in the dark.” that when she comes she may find neither us nor
“I do not wish to make a mystery,” said he, the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his
laughing. “The matter was perfectly simple. You, Majesty to regain it with his own hands.”
of course, saw that everyone in the street was “And when will you call?”

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A Scandal in Bohemia

“At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so “Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes.”
that we shall have a clear field. Besides, we must
There were several people on the pavement at
be prompt, for this marriage may mean a complete
the time, but the greeting appeared to come from
change in her life and habits. I must wire to the
a slim youth in an ulster who had hurried by.
King without delay.”
We had reached Baker Street and had stopped “I’ve heard that voice before,” said Holmes,
at the door. He was searching his pockets for the staring down the dimly lit street. “Now, I wonder
key when someone passing said: who the deuce that could have been.”

CHAPTER III.
I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an el-
engaged upon our toast and coffee in the morning derly woman stood upon the steps. She watched
when the King of Bohemia rushed into the room. us with a sardonic eye as we stepped from the
“You have really got it!” he cried, grasping brougham.
Sherlock Holmes by either shoulder and looking “Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?” said she.
eagerly into his face.
“Not yet.” “I am Mr. Holmes,” answered my companion,
looking at her with a questioning and rather star-
“But you have hopes?”
tled gaze.
“I have hopes.”
“Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone.” “Indeed! My mistress told me that you were
likely to call. She left this morning with her hus-
“We must have a cab.”
band by the 5.15 train from Charing Cross for the
“No, my brougham is waiting.” Continent.”
“Then that will simplify matters.” We de-
scended and started off once more for Briony “What!” Sherlock Holmes staggered back,
Lodge. white with chagrin and surprise. “Do you mean
that she has left England?”
“Irene Adler is married,” remarked Holmes.
“Married! When?” “Never to return.”
“Yesterday.” “And the papers?” asked the King hoarsely.
“But to whom?” “All is lost.”
“To an English lawyer named Norton.” “We shall see.” He pushed past the servant
“But she could not love him.” and rushed into the drawing-room, followed by
“I am in hopes that she does.” the King and myself. The furniture was scattered
about in every direction, with dismantled shelves
“And why in hopes?”
and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ran-
“Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of sacked them before her flight. Holmes rushed at
future annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, the bell-pull, tore back a small sliding shutter, and,
she does not love your Majesty. If she does not love plunging in his hand, pulled out a photograph and
your Majesty, there is no reason why she should a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler her-
interfere with your Majesty’s plan.” self in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to
“It is true. And yet—Well! I wish she had been “Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for.”
of my own station! What a queen she would have My friend tore it open and we all three read it to-
made!” He relapsed into a moody silence, which gether. It was dated at midnight of the preceding
was not broken until we drew up in Serpentine night and ran in this way:
Avenue.

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A Scandal in Bohemia

“My dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes: “Irene Norton, née Adler.”

“You really did it very well. You
took me in completely. Until after the “What a woman—oh, what a woman!” cried
alarm of fire, I had not a suspicion. the King of Bohemia, when we had all three read
But then, when I found how I had be- this epistle. “Did I not tell you how quick and
trayed myself, I began to think. I had resolute she was? Would she not have made an
been warned against you months ago. admirable queen? Is it not a pity that she was not
I had been told that if the King em- on my level?”
ployed an agent it would certainly be “From what I have seen of the lady she seems
you. And your address had been given indeed to be on a very different level to your
me. Yet, with all this, you made me re- Majesty,” said Holmes coldly. “I am sorry that I
veal what you wanted to know. Even have not been able to bring your Majesty’s busi-
after I became suspicious, I found it ness to a more successful conclusion.”
hard to think evil of such a dear, kind
“On the contrary, my dear sir,” cried the King;
old clergyman. But, you know, I have
“nothing could be more successful. I know that
been trained as an actress myself. Male
her word is inviolate. The photograph is now as
costume is nothing new to me. I often
safe as if it were in the fire.”
take advantage of the freedom which
it gives. I sent John, the coachman, “I am glad to hear your Majesty say so.”
to watch you, ran up stairs, got into “I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me
my walking-clothes, as I call them, and in what way I can reward you. This ring—” He
came down just as you departed. slipped an emerald snake ring from his finger and
“Well, I followed you to your door, held it out upon the palm of his hand.
and so made sure that I was really an “Your Majesty has something which I should
object of interest to the celebrated Mr. value even more highly,” said Holmes.
Sherlock Holmes. Then I, rather im-
prudently, wished you good-night, and “You have but to name it.”
started for the Temple to see my hus- “This photograph!”
band. The King stared at him in amazement.
“We both thought the best resource
“Irene’s photograph!” he cried. “Certainly, if
was flight, when pursued by so
you wish it.”
formidable an antagonist; so you will
find the nest empty when you call to- “I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more
morrow. As to the photograph, your to be done in the matter. I have the honour to wish
client may rest in peace. I love and you a very good-morning.” He bowed, and, turn-
am loved by a better man than he. ing away without observing the hand which the
The King may do what he will with- King had stretched out to him, he set off in my
out hindrance from one whom he has company for his chambers.
cruelly wronged. I keep it only to And that was how a great scandal threatened
safeguard myself, and to preserve a to affect the kingdom of Bohemia, and how the
weapon which will always secure me best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were beaten by
from any steps which he might take in a woman’s wit. He used to make merry over the
the future. I leave a photograph which cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do
he might care to possess; and I remain, it of late. And when he speaks of Irene Adler, or
dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, when he refers to her photograph, it is always un-
“Very truly yours, der the honourable title of the woman.

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