I leave a photograph which he might care to possess; and I remain, dear Mr Sherlock Holmes, “Very truly yours, “IRENE NORTON, _née_ ADLER.” “What a woman—oh, what a woman!” cried the King of Bohemia, when we had all three read this epistle “Did I not tell you how quick and resolute she was Would she not have made an admirable queen Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?” “From what I have seen of the lady, she seems, indeed, to be on a very different level to your Majesty,” said Holmes coldly “I am sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty’s business to a more successful conclusion.” “On the contrary, my dear sir,” cried the King; “nothing could be more successful I know that her word is inviolate The photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire.” “I am glad to hear your Majesty say so.” “I am immensely indebted to you Pray tell me in what way I can reward you This ring—” He slipped an emerald snake ring from his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand “Your Majesty has something which I should value even more highly,” said Holmes “You have but to name it.” “This photograph!” The King stared at him in amazement “Certainly, if you wish it.” “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 And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a woman’s wit He used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late And when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her photograph, it is always under the honourable title of _the_ woman THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I had called upon my friend, Mr Sherlock Holmes, one day in the autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door behind me “You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Watson,” he said cordially “I was afraid that you were engaged.” “So I am Very much so.” “Then I can wait in the next room.” “Not at all “Try the settee,” said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in judicial moods “I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum routine of everyday life Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some time Wilson, you would have the great kindness to recommence your narrative I ask you not merely because my friend Dr Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every possible detail from your lips As a rule, when I have heard some slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my memory I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection Our visitor bore every mark of being an average commonplace British tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him Altogether, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and discontent upon his features Sherlock Holmes’ quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion “How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr “How did you know, for example, that I did manual labour It’s as true as gospel, for I began as a ship’s carpenter.” “Your hands, my dear sir Your right hand is quite a size larger than your left I have made a small study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature of the subject That trick of staining the fishes’ scales of a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China When, in addition, I see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter becomes even more simple.” Mr “I thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see that there was nothing in it after all.” “I begin to think, Watson,” said Holmes, “that I make a mistake in explaining ‘_Omne ignotum pro magnifico_,’ you know, and my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I am so candid Can you not find the advertisement, Mr Wilson?” “Yes, I have got it now,” he answered with his thick red finger planted halfway down the column All red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age of twenty-one years, are eligible