Приключения Шерлока Холмса

           ThephotographwasofIreneAdlerherselfineveningdress,theletterwassuperscribedto"SherlockHolmes,Esq.Tobelefttillcalledfor." Myfriendtoreitopenandweallthreereadittogether. Itwasdatedatmidnightoftheprecedingnightandraninthisway: 

           MYDEARMR.SHERLOCKHOLMES: 

           Youreallydiditverywell. Youtookmeincompletely. Untilafterthealarmoffire,Ihadnotasuspicion. Butthen,whenIfoundhowIhadbetrayedmyself,Ibegantothink. Ihadbeenwarnedagainstyoumonthsago.IhadbeentoldthatiftheKingemployedanagentitwouldcertainlybeyou. Andyouraddresshadbeengivenme. Yet,withallthis,youmademerevealwhatyouwantedtoknow. EvenafterIbecamesuspicious,Ifoundithardtothinkevilofsuchadear,kindoldclergyman. But,youknow,Ihavebeentrainedasanactressmyself. Malecostumeisnothingnewtome. Ioftentakeadvantageofthefreedomwhichitgives. IsentJohn,thecoachman,towatchyou,ranupstairs,gotintomywalking-clothes,asIcallthem,andcamedownjustasyoudeparted. 

           Well,Ifollowedyoutoyourdoor,andsomadesurethatIwasreallyanobjectofinteresttothecelebratedMr.SherlockHolmes. ThenI,ratherimprudently,wishedyougood-night,andstartedfortheTempletoseemyhusband. 

           Weboththoughtthebestresourcewasflight,whenpursuedbysoformidableanantagonist; soyouwillfindthenestemptywhenyoucallto-morrow. Astothephotograph,yourclientmayrestinpeace. Iloveandamlovedbyabettermanthanhe. TheKingmaydowhathewillwithouthindrancefromonewhomhehascruellywronged. Ikeepitonlytosafeguardmyself,andtopreserveaweaponwhichwillalwayssecuremefromanystepswhichhemighttakeinthefuture.