Pagina 22 di 657

Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he.

"But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully.

"Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the

photograph?"

"To ruin me."

"But how?"

"I am about to be married."

"So I have heard."

"To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the

King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her

family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a

doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end."

"And Irene Adler?"

"Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I

know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul

of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and

the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry

another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not

go-none."

"You are sure that she has not sent it yet?"

"I am sure."

"And why?"