(II)
The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood upon the steps. She watched us with a 24)sardonic eye as we stepped from the 25)brougham.
“Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?” said she.
“I am Mr. Holmes,” answered my companion, looking at her with a questioning and rather startled gaze.
“Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Cross for the Continent.”
“What!” Sherlock Holmes 26)staggered back, white with 27)chagrin and surprise. “Do you mean that she has left England?”
“Never to return.”
“And the 28)papers?” asked the King 29)hoarsely. “All is lost.”
“We shall see.” He pushed past the servant and rushed into the 30)drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was scattered about in every direction, with 31)dismantled shelves and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly 32)ransacked them before her 33)flight. Holmes rushed at the 34)bell-pull, tore back a small sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler herself in evening dress, the letter was 35)superscribed to “Sherlock Holmes, 36)Esq. To be left till called for.” My friend tore it open and we all three read it together. It was ran in this way:
“MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,—You really did it very well. You 37)took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind old 38)clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the 39)coachman, to watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, and came down just as you departed. Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Holmes…As to the photograph, your client may rest in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Very truly yours, IRENE ADLER.”
“What a woman—oh, what a woman!” cried the King of Bohemia. “Did I not tell you how quick and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?”
“From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a very different level to your Majesty,” said Holmes coldly. “I am sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business to a more successful conclusion.”
“On the contrary, my dear sir,” cried the King; “nothing could be more successful. I know that her word is 40)inviolate. The photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire.”
“I am glad to hear your Majesty say so.”
“I am immensely 41)indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can reward you. This ring—” He slipped an 42)emerald snake ring from his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand.
“Your Majesty has something which I should value even more highly,” said Holmes.
“You have but to name it.”
“This photograph!”
The King stared at him in amazement.
“Irene's photograph!” he cried.
“Certainly, if you wish it.”
“I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the matter. I have the honor to wish you a very good-morning.” He bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the King had stretched out to him…
布里翁尼府第的大门敞开着，一位老妇站在台阶上。她目带轻蔑地看着我们从四轮马车里下来。
“我想是夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生吧？”她说道。
“我是福尔摩斯，”我的同伴疑惑而又有些惊愕地注视着她答道。
“真的！我的女主人告诉我你多半会来的。今天早晨她跟她的丈夫一起走了，他们乘五点十五分的火车从蔡林克罗斯到欧洲大陆去了。”
“什么！”夏洛克·福尔摩斯向后打了个趔趄，懊恼吃惊，脸色发白。“你是说她已经离开英国了吗？”
“再也不回来了。”
“那张照片呢？”国王声音嘶哑地问道，“一切都完了！”
“我们要看一下。”福尔摩斯推开仆人，奔进了客厅，国王和我紧跟在后面。屋里的家具四处散放着，架子拆了下来，抽屉被拉开，好像这位女士在离开前匆匆忙忙地翻箱倒柜搜索了一番似的。福尔摩斯冲到拉铃索处，拉开一扇小百叶窗，伸进手去，掏出一张照片和一封信。照片上艾琳·艾德勒本人穿着晚礼服。信封上写着：“夏洛 克·福尔摩斯先生，留交本人亲收。”我的朋友把信拆开，我们三个人一起读这封信。信中这样写道：
“我亲爱的夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生：你的确干得非常漂亮。你完全把我给骗过去了。直到发出火警以前，我也没起一点疑心。但是随后，当我发觉我已经如何泄露了自己的秘密时，我开始思索了。几个月以前，就有人警告我要防备你。他们告诉我说，要是国王雇侦探的话，那一定会是你。他们已经告诉我你的地址。可是尽管如此，你还是让我泄露了你要知道的秘密。甚至在我起了疑心之后，我还觉得很难相信那么一位和蔼可亲的老牧师其实是另有图谋的。但是，你知道的，我自己是个训练有素的女演员。男性服装对我而言并不陌生。我自己就常常借便女扮男装。我派马车夫约翰去监视你，然后跑上楼，穿上我的散步便服，我下楼来的时候，你正好离开。随后，我在后面跟着你走到你家门口，这样，我才肯定了自己真的是你这位著名的夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生的查探对象……至于那张照片，你的委托人可以放心。我爱着一位比他更好的人，而这个人也爱我。国王可以做任何他愿意做的事，而不必顾虑他曾残忍错待过的人会对他有什么妨碍。我保留那张照片，只是为了保护自己，为了保留一件武器——它将能始终保护我不会受到他将来可能带来的任何伤害。我留下一张照片，他也许想要。谨此向您——亲爱的夏洛克·福尔摩斯先生致意。艾琳·艾德勒敬上。”
“一个多么了不起的女人啊——噢，一个多么了不起的女人啊！”波希米亚国王大声说道，“我不是告诉过你们她是多么机敏和果断吗？假如她能当王后，那她也会是一位令人钦佩的王后。可是她和我地位悬殊，这多么令人遗憾啊！”
“从我在这位女士身上所看到的来说，她的确和陛下不在同一高度，”福尔摩斯冷冷地说道，“我很遗憾没能使陛下的事情得到一个更为圆满的结局。”
“恰恰相反，我亲爱的先生，”国王大声说道，“再没有任何结局比这个更为圆满的了。我知道她说话算数。那张照片现在如同它已经被烧掉一样使我感到放心了。”
“我很高兴听到陛下这么说。”
“我对你感激不尽。请告诉我该怎样酬答你才好。这枚戒指——”他从他的手指上取下一枚蛇形的翡翠戒指，托在手掌上。
“陛下有一件我认为甚至比这戒指更有价值的东西。”福尔摩斯说道。
“你尽管说。”
“这张照片！”
国王惊异地睁大眼睛凝视着他。
“艾琳的相片！”他大声说道。
“你要是想要的话，当然可以。”
“谢谢陛下。那么这件事就算办妥了吧。我谨祝您早安。”他鞠了个躬，然后转身离开，全然无视国王向其伸出的手……
