Part 3

When I arrived next day, Holmes was not there, so I waited in his room. At four o’clock door opened, and very strange servant came in. He wore old, dirty clothes, and I had to look very hard before I saw that it was my old friend.
‘Holmes!’ I cried. ‘Where have you been?’
‘I’ve had very good day,’ he replied with smile. ‘I’ve been outside Miss Irene Adler’s house. servants are always happy to talk, and so I have heard lot about young woman. For example, she has good-looking man friend called Godfrey Norton, lawyer, who often visits her. Now why? If he’s her lawyer, perhaps she’s already given him photograph. But if he loves her, she won’t show him photograph.’
‘Most interesting, Holmes!’ I said.

‘While I was there, Mr Norton himself suddenly arrived. I watched them through windows. When he left, he jumped into taxi. “To church of St Monica, as fast as you can!” he shouted. Two minutes later Miss Adler ran out of her house, jumped into another taxi and called, “To church of St Monica, quickly!” I couldn’t miss this, Watson, so I jumped into third taxi. When I arrived, I went into church. Godfrey Norton looked round and saw me.
“Thank God!” he shouted. “Come here quickly!” “Why?” I asked. “Come on, man, we need you!” And so I helped Godfrey Norton to marry Irene Adler. They needed witness, and servant from street was better than nobody.’
‘So she’s married him! What shall we do now?’ I asked.

‘Well, tonight, my dear Watson, I need your help. Will you do what I ask? Without questions?’
‘Of course, Holmes, if you think that it’s important,’ I answered.
‘Later, we’ll go to Briony Lodge. Irene Adler, or Irene Norton, will arrive home at seven o’clock, and she will ask me to go into house. You must wait outside near sitting-room window, and when it opens, watch me go inside. When I hold up my hand, throw this thing into room and shout “Fire!”‘
I took small thing out of his hand. ‘What is it, Holmes?’ I asked.
‘It’s smoke-stick. room will very quickly be full of smoke. After that, wait for me at corner of street.’
‘Right, I’ll do what you want,’ I said.

That evening Holmes again wore different clothes, and large, black hat. But it was not just clothes that were different. He changed his face, his hair – everything. He was different man.
We walked together to Serpentine Avenue. Outside house there were lot of people who were smoking, laughing and talking. Holmes and I walked up and down in front of house.
‘You see,’ said Holmes to me, ‘I think she doesn’t want her new husband to see photograph. But where is it? At her bank? No. Women like to keep important things close to themselves. I’m sure it’s in her house.’
‘But King’s men tried to find it!’ I said.
‘Yes, but they didn’t know where to look!’ said Holmes.
‘But how will you know?’ I asked.
‘I won’t look. She’ll show me. She’ll have to.’