The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Complete Series

Psst!

Got you!

Now look here...

But mum!

Close the window, John.

To Sherlock Holmes, she was always "the woman,"

the beautiful Irena Adler of dubious and questionable memory.

At the time of our involvement in the Irena Adler case,

Holmes and I had been sharing rooms in Baker Street

for some years.

My practice had caused me to be absent in the country

for several days.

As usual, after leaving Holmes for any length of time,

I returned filled with apprehension as to his mood.

Oh!

Oh, hello, Mrs. Hudson.

Dr. Watson, just look at you, half soaked to the skin!

Yes, well, I am not surprised,

I have just spent 20 minutes standing in the pouring rain

waiting for a cab.

It won't do that old wound of yours any good

getting so wet, Doctor.

I know.

I'll just take this coat and your hat

and see that they're properly dried.

Mrs. Hudson, I haven't eaten all day.

I do hope supper will be up very soon.

That's very doubtful.

I don't know what's come over Mr. Holmes,

he seems to be all on edge.

I'm not to bring up supper until I'm called.

Those are his orders.

Thank you, Mrs. Hudson.

My dear Holmes,

what is it tonight, morphine or cocaine?

Well, I can strongly recommend

a seven percent solution of cocaine.

Would you care to try it?

No, indeed!

I speak not only as your friend, but as a medical man.

How can you risk such damage to the great powers

with which you have been endowed?!

I cannot tell you

how it clarifies and stimulates the mind.

Yes, and destroys it in time!

My mind rebels at stagnation.

Give me problems, give me work,

give me the most abstruse cryptogram,

the most intricate analysis, and I'm in my proper atmosphere.

Then I can dispense with artificial stimulants.

But I abhor the dull routine of existence.

I crave mental exultation.

That is why I have chosen my own profession,

or rather created it,

for I am the only one in the world.

The only unofficial detective.

The only unofficial consulting detective.

I take no credit in my cases.

The work itself,

the pleasure of finding a field for my particular powers

is my highest reward.

You can close that drawer.

You have made the wrong diagnosis, Doctor!

I have my stimulant here.

I hope you enjoyed your week in the country.

It was good for the appetite.

Incidentally, I do wish you would ring for supper.

What is this?

Yes, I must get ready for my visitor.

It came by the morning post.

Give me your observations.

Well, it's undated and without either signature or address.

Good, read it aloud.

"Dear Mr. Holmes:

There will call upon you tonight at a quarter to eight

a gentleman who"--

good heavens, we've only a few minutes, Holmes.

Go on.

"A gentleman who desires to consult with you

upon a matter of the very deepest moment.

Your recent services to one of the royal houses of Europe

have shown that you are one who may be safely trusted

with matters which are of an importance

which can hardly be exaggerated.

This account of you we have from all quarters received,

be in your chamber then."

Good--good heavens, this is a mystery, indeed.

What do you imagine it means?

I have no data yet.

It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.

Mm.

But the note itself,

what do you deduce from it?

It's a man's writing.

Good.

Presumably well-to-do, it's expensive paper, this.

It's peculiarly strong and stiff.

Peculiar, that is the very word.

It is not English paper at all.

Hold it up to the light.

Ah, large E, small g, large P, and G

with a small t woven into the texture.

And that is?

Maker's monogram.

Excellent, Watson!

Come along!

Let us consult our continental gazetteer.

Your cigars; you see, I was not unmindful of your return.

Oh, Holmes!

Would you care for some whiskey?

Later, perhaps, when we've eaten.

The monogram is an abbreviation for Papier Gesellschaft,

which is the German for "paper company."

And the Eg, Eglow, Eglonitz, Egria,

a German-speaking district of Bohemia

noted for its numerous glass factories

and paper mills, there.

Bohemia, the kingdom of Bohemia.

And the note is written by a German.

You see, "this account of you

we have from all quarters received,"

only a German is so uncourteous to his words.

So we are to expect a German from Bohemia.

Here he is,

drawn by a pair, a nice little brougham.

There's money in this case, Watson, if there's nothing else.

Holmes, I think your visitor will want me out of the way.

Not a bit, Doctor, stay where you are!

I am lost without my Boswell.

But he sounded so secretive.

I may need your help, and so may he.

Now, stay in that armchair, and give me your full attention.

Here he comes.

I'm sorry, sir,

but you cannot come in here unannounced like this!

Mr. Holmes does not see anybody without appointment!

Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Holmes!

There was nothing I could do!

It's perfectly all right, Mrs. Hudson!

If you would kindly leave us.

Yes.

And close the door.

Of course.

Thank you.

You read my note?

Yes. Pray take a seat!

This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson,

who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases!

How do you do, sir.

Who do I have the honor to address?

You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman.

I should much prefer to communicate with you alone.

No, it is both, or none.

You may say before this gentleman

anything which you may wish to say to me.

Very well, I take your word

that he is a man of honor and discretion.

But I must begin by binding you both to absolute secrecy

for a period of two years.

Indeed?

At the end of that time

the matter will be of no importance.

At present it is of such weight

that it may have an influence upon European history.

I promise.

And I.

You will excuse this mask.

The august person who employs me

wishes his agent to be unknown to you.

In fact, I may confess that the title I have given you

is not exactly my own.

I was aware of that.

The circumstances are of great delicacy;

every precaution must be taken to prevent an immense scandal

which would seriously compromise

one of the royal houses of Europe.

To speak plainly,

the matter concerns the great House of Ormstein,

hereditary kings of Bohemia.

I was aware of that, too, your Majesty.

You are right...

I am the King.

Why should I attempt to conceal it?

Why, indeed?

Your Majesty had not spoken

before I was aware that I was addressing

Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein,

Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and hereditary King of Bohemia.

And in passing, the finest dualist in Europe.

You have killed four opponents.

Honorably.

Of course.

The facts are briefly these:

Ah!

Some 10 years ago, during a lengthy visit to Warsaw,

I made the acquaintance of the well known adventuress,

Irena Adler.

The name is no doubt familiar to you.

Kindly look her up in my index, will you, Watson.

So, I deduce that your Majesty became entangled with this lady,