📝 您未登录，登录后完成练习可保存成绩、查看最佳记录。
总字符
0
正确字符
0
错误字符
0
错误率
0.00%
耗时(秒)
0
速度 WPM
0
0 / 66
1"It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a
2woman's dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid and searched. Two attempts of the sort have
3already been made. We may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Where, then?" "Her banker or her
4lawyer. There is that double possibility. But I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, and they
5like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but
6she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember
7that she had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own
8house." "But it has twice been burgled." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "But how will you look?" "I will not
9look." "What then?" "I will get her to show me." "But she will refuse." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble
10of wheels. It is her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." As he spoke the gleam of the sidelights of a
11carriage came round the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge.
12As it pulled up, one of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in the hope of earning a copper,
13but was elbowed away by another loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce quarrel broke out, which was
14increased by the two guardsmen, who took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, who was equally
15hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was the
16centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks.
17Holmes dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but, just as he reached her, he gave a cry and dropped to the ground,
18with the blood running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to their heels in one direction and the
19loungers in the other, while a number of better dressed people, who had watched the scuffle without taking part in it,
20crowded in to help the lady and to attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, had hurried up the
21steps; but she stood at the top with her superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking back into the
22street. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "He is dead," cried several voices. "No, no, there's life in him!"
23shouted another. "But he'll be gone before you can get him to hospital." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They
24would have had the lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's
25breathing now." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There
26is a comfortable sofa. This way, please!" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out in the
27principal room, while I still observed the proceedings from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the
28blinds 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
29compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in
30my life than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she
31waited upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery to Holmes to draw back now from the part which
32he had intrusted to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under my ulster. After all, I thought, we
33are not injuring her. We are but preventing her from injuring another. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him
34motion 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
35raise 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
36mouth than the whole crowd of spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and servant maids--joined in a
37general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I caught a glimpse
38of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Slipping
39through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my
40friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes
41until we had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the Edgeware Road. "You did it very nicely,
42Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could have been better. It is all right." "You have the photograph?" "I know where it
43is." "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
44make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the street
45was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "I guessed as much." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a
46little moist red paint in the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand to my face, and became a
47piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "That also I could fathom." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me
48in. What else could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room which I suspected. It lay between that
49and her bedroom, and I was determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for air, they were compelled to
50open the window, and you had your chance." "How did that help you?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her
51house is on fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she values most. It is a perfectly overpowering
52impulse, and I have more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Darlington Substitution Scandal it was of
53use to me, and also in the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; an unmarried one reaches for
54her 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
55are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were enough
56to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the
57right 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
58that it was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed from the room, and I have not seen her since.
59I rose, and, making my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to attempt to secure the photograph at once;
60but the coachman had come in, and as he was watching me narrowly, it seemed safer to wait. A little over-precipitance
61may ruin all." "And now?" I asked. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King to-morrow, and with
62you, 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
63when she comes she may find neither us nor the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain it with
64his own hands." "And when will you call?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall have a clear
65field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to
66the King without delay."
🎉 全部完成！共 66 行