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  1. A bird's-eye view of Baker Street on the hazy morning of 21 March 1888, with one amber window glowing in Holmes's lodgings where he and Watson sit over toast and coffee before the King bursts in.

    Baker Street at morning

    I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed into the room.

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  2. The King of Bohemia bursts into the Baker Street sitting-room and seizes Holmes by both shoulders, hungry for news.

    Grasped by the shoulders

    “You have really got it!” he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face.

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  3. On the steps of Briony Lodge, Sherlock Holmes recoils, white-faced, as the housekeeper tells him Irene Adler has left England for good.

    Holmes staggers

    “What!” Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and surprise. “Do you mean that she has left England?”

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  4. Three men burst into the abandoned drawing-room of Briony Lodge, where overturned furniture and open drawers tell of Irene Adler's hasty flight.

    The ransacked drawing-room

    “We shall see.” He pushed past the servant and rushed into the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her flight. Holmes rushed at the 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 superscribed to “Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for.” My friend tore it open, and we all three read it together. It was dated at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way:

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  5. Sherlock Holmes, beaten by Irene Adler yet level and faintly ironic, lifts her cabinet photograph beside his cheek and names it as his price.

    "This photograph!"

    “This photograph!”

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  6. Holmes turns for the door with the photograph against his chest, leaving the King of Bohemia alone in the ransacked drawing-room, his hand still held out with the emerald ring on the palm.

    The unseen hand

    “I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good morning.” He bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his chambers.

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  7. Chapter 3

    Flight of Irene Adler, Holmes's defeat

    The end · Back to the book Read this chapter