mmediatedeparture,andsonecessitateverypromptandenergeticmeasuresonmypart.Atthechurchdoor,however,theyseparated,hedrivingbacktotheTemple,andshetoherownhouse.‘Ishalldriveoutintheparkatfiveasusual,’shesaidasshelefthim.Iheardnomore.Theydroveawayindifferentdirections,andIwentofftomakemyownarrangements.”
“Whichare?”
“Somecoldbeefandaglassofbeer,”heanswered,ringingthebell.“Ihavebeentoobusytothinkoffood,andIamlikelytobebusierstillthisevening.Bytheway,Doctor,Ishallwantyourco-operation.”
“Ishallbedelighted.”
“Youdon’tmindbreakingthelaw?”
“Notintheleast.”
“Norrunningachanceofarrest?”
“Notinagoodcause.”
“Oh,thecauseisexcellent!”
“ThenIamyourman.”
“IwassurethatImightrelyonyou.”
“Butwhatisityouwish?”
“WhenMrs.TurnerhasbroughtinthetrayIwillmakeitcleartoyou.Now,”hesaidasheturnedhungrilyonthesimplefarethatourlandladyhadprovided,“ImustdiscussitwhileIeat,forIhavenotmuchtime.Itisnearlyfivenow.Intwohourswemustbeonthesceneofaction.MissIrene,orMadame,rather,returnsfromherdriveatseven.WemustbeatBrionyLodgetomeether.”
“Andwhatthen?”
“Youmustleavethattome.Ihavealreadyarrangedwhatistooccur.ThereisonlyonepointonwhichImustinsist.Youmustnotinterfere,comewhatmay.Youunderstand?”
“Iamtobeneutral?”
“Todonothingwhatever.Therewillprobablybesomesmallunpleasantness.Donotjoininit.Itwillendinmybeingconveyedintothehouse.Fourorfiveminutesafterwardsthesitting-roomwindowwillopen.Youaretostationyourselfclosetothatopenwindow.”
“Yes.”
“Youaretowatchme,forIwillbevisibletoyou.”
“Yes.”
“AndwhenIraisemyhand—so—youwillthrowintotheroomwhatIgiveyoutothrow,andwill,atthesametime,raisethecryoffire.Youquitefollowme?”
“Entirely.”
“Itisnothingveryformidable,”hesaid,takingalongcigar-shapedrollfromhispocket.“Itisanordinaryplumber’ssmoke-rocket,fittedwithacapateitherendtomakeitself-lighting.Yourtaskisconfinedtothat.Whenyouraiseyourcryoffire,itwillbetakenupbyquiteanumberofpeople.Youmaythenwalktotheendofthestreet,andIwillrejoinyouintenminutes.IhopethatIhavemademyselfclear?”
“Iamtoremainneutral,togetnearthewindow,towatchyou,andatthesignaltothrowinthisobject,thentoraisethecryoffire,andtowaityouatthecornerofthestreet.”
“Precisely.”
“Thenyoumayentirelyrelyonme.”
“Thatisexcellent.Ithink,perhaps,itisalmosttimethatIprepareforthenewroleIhavetoplay.”
Hedisappearedintohisbedroomandreturnedinafewminutesinthecharacterofanamiableandsimple-mindedNonconformistclergyman.Hisbroadblackhat,hisbaggytrousers,hiswhitetie,hissympatheticsmile,andgenerallookofpeeringandbenevolentcuriosityweresuchasMr.JohnHarealonecouldhaveequalled.ItwasnotmerelythatHolmeschangedhiscostume.Hisexpression,hismanner,hisverysoulseemedtovarywitheveryfreshpartthatheassumed.Thestagelostafineactor,evenassciencelostanacutereasoner,whenhebecameaspecialistincrime.
ItwasaquarterpastsixwhenweleftBakerStreet,anditstillwantedtenminutestothehourwhenwefoundourselvesinSerpentineAvenue.Itwasalreadydusk,andthelampswerejustbeinglightedaswepacedupanddowninfrontofBrionyLodge,waitingforthecomingofitsoccupant.ThehousewasjustsuchasIhadpictureditfromSherlockHolmes’succinctdescription,butthelocalityappearedtobelessprivatethanIexpected.Onthecontrary,forasmallstreetinaquietneighbourhood,itwasremarkablyanimated.Therewasagroupofshabbilydressedmensmokingandlaughinginacorner,ascissors-grinderwithhiswheel,twoguardsmenwhowereflirtingwithanurse-girl,andseveralwell-dressedyoungmenwhowereloungingupanddownwithcigarsintheirmouths.
“Yousee,”remarkedHolmes,aswepacedtoandfroinfrontofthehouse,“thismarriagerathersimplifiesmatters.Thephotographbecomesadouble-edgedweaponnow.ThechancesarethatshewouldbeasaversetoitsbeingseenbyMr.GodfreyNorton,asourclientistoitscomingtotheeyesofhisprincess.Nowthequestionis,Wherearewetofindthephotograph?”
“Where,indeed?”
“Itismostunlikelythatshecarriesitaboutwithher.Itiscabinetsize.Toolargeforeasyconcealmentaboutawoman’sdress.Sh