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“He can’t lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?

“Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable 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 on fire,

her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she values most. It

is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have more than once taken

advantage of it. In the case of the Darlington Substitution Scandal it

was of use to me, and also in the Arnsworth Castle business. A married

woman grabs at her baby; an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box.

Now it was clear to me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house

more precious to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to

secure it. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting

were enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The

photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the right

bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a glimpse of it as

she half drew it out. When I cried out that it was a false alarm, she

replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed from the room, and I have

not seen her since. I rose, and, making my excuses, escaped from the

house. I hesitated whether to attempt to secure the photograph at once;

but the coachman had come in, and as he was watching me narrowly, it

seemed safer to wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all.

“And now? I asked.

“Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King

to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be shown

into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is probable that

when she comes she may find neither us nor the photograph. It might be

a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain it with his own hands.

“And when will you call?

“At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall have a

clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage may mean a

complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to the King without