bō xī mǐ yà， jí jīn zhī jié kè。 dì yī cì shì jiè dà zhàn qián shòu 'ào dì lì tǒng zhì。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　 yī
　　 xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī shǐ zhōng chēng hū tā wéi nà wèi nǚ rén。 wǒ hěn shǎo tīng jiàn tā tí dào tā shí yòng guò bié de chēng hū。 zài tā de xīn mù zhōng， tā cái mào chāo qún， qí tā nǚ rén wú bù 'àn rán shī sè。 zhè dǎo bìng bù shì shuō tā duì 'ài lín · ài dé lè yòu shénme jìn hū 'ài qíng de gǎn qíng。 yīn wéi duì yú tā nà qiáng diào lǐ xìng、 yán jǐn kè bǎn hé lìng rén qīn pèi、 lěng jìng chén zhe de tóu nǎo lái shuō， yī qiē qíng gǎn， tè bié shì 'ài qíng zhè zhǒng qíng gǎn， dōushì gé gé bù rù de。 wǒ rèn wéi， tā jiǎn zhí shì shì jiè shàng yī jià yòng yú tuī lǐ hé guān chá de zuì wán měi wú xiá de jī qì。 dàn shì zuò wéi qíng rén， tā què huì bǎ zì jǐ zhì yú cuò wù de dì wèi。 tā cóng lái bù shuō wēn qíng mòmò de huà， gèng bù yòng shuō jiǎng huà shí cháng dài zhe jī fěng hé cháo xiào de kǒu wěn。 ér guān chá jiā duì yú zhè zhǒng wēn róu de qíng huà， què shì zàn shǎng de héng héng yīn wéi tā duì yú jiē shì rén men de dòng jī hé xíng wéi shì zài hǎo bù guò de dōng xī liǎo。 dàn shì duì yú yī gè xùn liàn yòu sù de lǐ lùn jiā lái shuō， róng xǔ zhè zhǒng qíng gǎn qīn rǎo tā zì jǐ nà zhǒng xì zhì yán jǐn de xìng gé， jiù huì shǐ tā fēn sàn jīng lì， shǐ tā suǒ qǔ dé de quán bù de zhì lì chéng guǒ shòu dào huái yí。 zài jīng mì yí qí zhōng luò rù shā lì， huò zhě tā de gāo bèi fàng dà jìng jìng tóu chǎn shēng liǎo liè wén， dōubù huì bǐ zài tā zhè yàng de xìng gé zhōng càn rù yī zhǒng qiáng liè de gǎn qíng gèng qǐ rǎo luàn zuò yòng de liǎo。 rán 'ér zhǐ yòu yī gè nǚ rén， ér zhè gè nǚ rén jiù shì yǐ gù de 'ài lín · ài dé lè， hái zài tā nà mó hú de chéng wèn tí de jì yì zhī zhōng。
　　 zuì jìn hěn shǎo hé fú 'ěr mó sī wù miàn。 wǒ hūn hòu jiù hé tā shū yú wǎng lái。 wǒ de wán mǎn de xìng fú hé dì yī cì gǎn dào zì jǐ chéng wéi jiā tíng de zhù rén 'ér chǎn shēng de jiā tíng lè qù， xī yǐn liǎo wǒ de quán bù zhù yì lì。 kě shì fú 'ěr mó sī， tā què háo fàng bù jī， yàn 'è shè huì shàng yī qiē fán rù de lǐ yí， suǒ yǐ yǐ rán zhù zài wǒ men nà suǒ bèi kè jiē de fáng zǐ lǐ， mái tóu yú jiù shū duī zhōng。 tā yī gè xīng qī fú yòng kě kǎ yīn， lìng yī gè xīng qī yòu chōng mǎn liǎo gànjìn， jiù zhè yàng jiāo tì dì chǔyú yòng yào wù yǐn qǐ de kē shuì zhuàng tài hé tā zì jǐ nà zhǒng rè liè xìng gé de wàng shèng jīng lì zhuàng tài zhōng。 zhèng rú wǎng cháng yī yàng， tā réng zuì xīn yú yán jiū fàn zuì xíng wéi， bìng yòng tā nà zhuó yuè de cái néng hé fēi fán de guān chá lì qù zhǎo nà xiē xiàn suǒ hé dǎ pò nà xiē nán jiě zhī mí， ér zhè xiē mí shì guān tīng rèn wéi háo wú xī wàng jiě dá 'ér bèi fàng qì liǎo de。 wǒ bù shí mó mó hú hú dì tīng dào yī xiē guān yú tā huó dòng de qíng kuàng： rú guān yú tā bèi zhào dào 'áo dé sà qù bàn lǐ tè léi bō fū 'àn shā 'àn； guān yú zhēn pò tíng kě mǎ lǐ fēi cháng guài de 'ā tè jīn sēn xiōng dì cǎn 'àn； yǐ jí zuì hòu guān yú tā wéi hé lán huáng jiā wán chéng dé nà me wēi miào hé chū sè de shǐ mìng děng děng。 zhè xiē qíng kuàng， wǒ hé qí tā dú zhě yī yàng， jǐn jǐn shì cóng bào zhǐ shàng dú dào de。 chú cǐ zhī wài， guān yú wǒ de lǎo yǒu hé huǒ bàn de qí tā qíng kuàng wǒ jiù zhī dào dé hěn shǎo liǎo。
　　 yòu yī tiān wǎn shàng héng héng yī bā bā bā nián sān yuè 'èr shí rì de wǎn shàng héng héng wǒ zài chū zhěn huí lái de tú zhōng（ cǐ shí wǒ yǐ yòu kāi yè xíng yī）， zhèng hǎo jīng guò bèi kè jiē。 nà suǒ fáng zǐ de dà mén， wǒ hái jì yì yóu xīn。 zài wǒ de xīn zhōng， wǒ zǒng shì bǎ tā tóng wǒ suǒ zhuī qiú de dōng xī bìng tóng zài " xuè zì de yán jiū " yī 'àn zhōng de shén mì shì jiàn lián xì zài yī qǐ。 dāng wǒ lù guò nà dà mén shí， wǒ tū rán chǎn shēng liǎo yǔ fú 'ěr mó sī xù tán xù tán de qiáng liè yuàn wàng， xiǎng liǎo jiě tā nà fēi fán de zhì lì mù qián zhèng qīng zhù yú shénme wèn tí。 tā de jǐ jiān wū zǐ， dēng guāng xuě liàng。 wǒ tái tóu yǎng shì， kě yǐ kàn jiàn fǎn yìng zài chuāng lián shàng de tā nà shòu gāo tiáo hēi sè cè yǐng liǎng cì lüè guò。 tā de tóu dī chuí xiōng qián， liǎng shǒu jǐn wò zài bèi hòu， xùn sù 'ér yòu jíqiè dì zài wū lǐ duó lái duó qù。 wǒ shēn xī tā de gè zhǒng jīng shén zhuàng tài hé shēng huó xí guàn， suǒ yǐ duì wǒ lái shuō， tā de zī tài hé jǔ zhǐ běn shēn jiù xiǎn shì chū nà shì zěn me yī huí shì héng héng tā yòu zài gōng zuò liǎo。 tā yī dìng shì gāng cóng fú yào hòu de shuì mèng zhōng qǐ shēn， zhèng rè zhōng yú tàn suǒ mǒu xiē xīn wèn tí de xiàn suǒ。 wǒ qìn liǎo qìn diàn líng， rán hòu bèi yǐn dào yī jiān wū zǐ lǐ， ér zhè jiān wū zǐ yǐ qián yòu yī bù fēn shì shǔ yú wǒ de。
　　 tā de tài dù bù hěn rè qíng， zhè zhǒng qíng kuàng shì shǎo jiàn de， dàn shì wǒ rèn wéi tā kàn dào wǒ shí hái shì gāo xīng de。 tā jīhū yī yán bù fā， kě shì mù guāng qīnqiè， zhǐ zhe yī zhāng fú shǒu yǐ ràng wǒ zuò xià， rán hòu bǎ tā de xuějiā yān hé rēng liǎo guò lái， bìng zhǐ liǎo zhǐ fàng zài jiǎo luò lǐ de jiǔ jīng píng hé xiǎo xíng méi qì lú。 tā zhàn zài bì lú qián， yòng tā nà dú tè de nèixǐng de shén tài kàn zhe wǒ。
　　 “ jié hūn duì nǐ hěn hé shì， ” tā shuō，“ huá shēng， wǒ xiǎng zì cóng wǒ men shàng cì jiàn miàn yǐ lái， nǐ tǐ zhòng zēng jiā liǎo qī bàng bàn。”
　　“ qī bàng。 " wǒ huí dá shuō。
　　“ zhēn de！ wǒ xiǎng shì qī bàng duō。 huá shēng， wǒ xiǎng shì qī bàng duō yī diǎn。 jù wǒ de guān chá， nǐ yòu kāi yè gěi rén kàn bìng liǎo bā。 kě shì nǐ guò qù méi gào sù guò wǒ， nǐ dǎ suàn xíng yī。”
　　“ zhè nǐ zěn me zhī dào de ní？”
　　“ zhè shì wǒ kàn chū lái de， shì wǒ tuī duàn chū lái de。 fǒu zé wǒ zěn me zhī dào nǐ zuì jìn yī zhí 'āi lín， ér qiě yòu yī wèi zuì bèn shǒu bèn jiǎo hé cū xīn dà yì de shǐ nǚ de ní？”
　　“ wǒ qīn 'ài de fú 'ěr mó sī， " wǒ shuō，“ nǐ jiǎn zhí tài lì hài liǎo。 nǐ yào shì huó zài jǐ shì jì yǐ qián， yī dìng huì bèi yòng huǒ xíng shāo sǐ de。 díquè， xīng qī sì wǒ bù xíng dào xiāng xià qù guò yī tàng， huí jiā shí bèi yǔ lín dé yī tā hú tú。 kě shì wǒ yǐ jīng huàn liǎo yī fú， zhēn xiǎng xiàng bù chū nǐ shì zěn yàng tuī duàn chū lái de。 zhì yú mǎ lì · zhēn， tā jiǎn zhí shì bù kě jiù yào， wǒ de qī zǐ yǐ jīng dǎ fā tā zǒu liǎo。 dàn shì zhè jiàn shì wǒ yě kàn bù chū nǐ shì zěn yàng tuī duàn chū lái de。”
　　 tā zì jǐ xī xī dì xiào liǎo qǐ lái， cuō zhe tā nà shuāng xì cháng de shén jīng zhì de shǒu。
　　“ zhè xiē shì běn shēn hěn jiǎn dān，” tā shuō，“ wǒ de yǎn jīng gào sù wǒ， zài nǐ zuǒ jiǎo nà zhǐ xié de lǐ cè， yě jiù shì lú huǒ gāng hǎo zhào dào de dì fāng， qí miàn shàng yòu liù dào jīhū píng xíng de liè hén。 hěn míng xiǎn， zhè xiē liè hén shì yóu yú yòu rén wèile qù diào zhān zài xié gēn de ní gē dá， cū xīn dà yì dì shùn zhe xié gēn guā ní shí zào chéng de。 yīn cǐ， nǐ qiáo， wǒ jiù dé chū zhè yàng de shuāngchóng tuī duàn， rèn wéi nǐ céng jīng zài 'è liè de tiān qì zhōng chū qù guò， yǐ jí nǐ chuān de pí xuē shàng chū xiàn de tè bié nán kàn de liè hén shì lún dūn nián qīng 'ér méi yòu jīng yàn de nǚ yōng rén gān de。 zhì yú nǐ kāi yè xíng yī má， nà shì yīn wéi rú guǒ yī wèi xiān shēng zǒu jìn wǒ de wū zǐ， shēn shàng dài zhe diǎn de qì wèi， tā de yòu shǒu shí zhǐ shàng yòu xiāo suān yín de hēi sè bān diǎn， tā de dà lǐ mào yòu cè miàn gǔ qǐ yī kuài， biǎo míng tā céng cáng guò tā de tīng zhěn qì， wǒ yào bù shuō tā shì yī yào jiè de yī wèi jī jí fènzǐ， nà wǒ jiù zhēn gòu yú chǔn de liǎo。”
　　 tā jiě shì tuī lǐ de guò chéng shì nà me háo bù fèi lì， wǒ bù jìn xiào liǎo qǐ lái。 " tīng nǐ jiǎng zhè xiē tuī lǐ shí， " wǒ shuō，“ shì qíng fǎng fó zǒng shì xiǎn dé nà me jiǎn dān， jīhū jiǎn dān dào liǎo kě xiào de chéng dù， shèn zhì wǒ zì jǐ yě néng tuī lǐ， zài nǐ jiě shì tuī lǐ guò chéng zhī qián， wǒ duì nǐ tuī lǐ de xià yī bù de měi yī qíng kuàng zǒng shì gǎn dào mí huò bù jiě。 dàn wǒ hái shì jué dé wǒ de yǎn lì bù bǐ nǐ de chā。”
　　“ díquè rú cǐ， " tā diǎn rán liǎo yī zhī xiāng yān， quán shēn shū zhǎn dì yǐ kào zài fú shǒu yǐ shàng， huí dá dào，“ nǐ shì zài kàn 'ér bù shì zài guān chá。 zhè 'èr zhě zhī jiān de qū bié shì hěn qīng chǔ de。 bǐ rú shuō， nǐ cháng kàn dào cóng xià miàn dà tīng dào zhè jiān wū zǐ de tī jí bā？”
　　“ jīng cháng kàn dào de。”
　　“ duō shǎo cì liǎo？”
　　“ ǹg， bù xià yú jǐ bǎi cì bā。”
　　“ nà me， yòu duō shǎo tī jí？”
　　“ duō shǎo tī jí？ wǒ bù zhī dào。”
　　“ nà jiù duì lā！ yīn wéi nǐ méi yòu guān chá， ér zhǐ shì kàn má。 zhè qià qià shì wǒ yào zhǐ chū de yào hài suǒ zài。 nǐ qiáo， wǒ zhī dào gòng yòu shí qī gè tī jí。 yīn wéi wǒ bù dàn kàn 'ér qiě guān chá liǎo。 shùn biàn shuō shuō， yóu yú nǐ duì zhè xiē xiǎo wèn tí yòu xīng qù， yòu yóu yú nǐ shàn yú bǎ wǒ de yī liǎng gè xiǎo jīng yàn jì lù xià lái， nǐ duì zhè gè dōng xī yě xǔ huì gǎn xīng qù de。 " tā bǎ yī zhí fàng zài tā zhuō zǐ shàng de yī zhāng fěn hóng sè de hòu hòu de biàn tiáo zhǐ rēng liǎo guò lái。“ zhè shì zuì jìn yī bān yóuchāi sòng lái de，” tā shuō，“ nǐ dà shēng dì niàn niàn kàn。”
　　 zhè zhāng biàn tiáo méi yòu rì qī， yě méi yòu qiān míng hé dì zhǐ。
　　 〔 biàn tiáo lǐ xiě dào： 〕 " mǒu jūn jiāng yú jīn wǎn píng shí sān kè qū fǎng， qú yòu zhì wéi zhòng yào zhī shì nǐ yǔ gé xià xiāng shāng。 gé xià zuì jìn wéi 'ōu zhōu yī wáng shì chū lì xiào láo biǎo míng， wěi tuō gé xià chéng bàn nán yú yán yù zhī dà shì， zú kě xìn lài。 cǐ zhǒng chuán shù， guǎng bō sì fāng， wǒ děng zhī zhī shèn rěn。 jiè shí wàng wù wài chū。 lái kè rú dài miàn jù， qǐng wù jiè yì shì xìng。”
　　“ zhè de què shì jiàn hěn shén mì de shì， " wǒ shuō，“ nǐ xiǎng zhè shì shénme yì sī？”
　　“ wǒ hái méi yòu kě yǐ zuò wéi lùn jù de shì shí。 zài wǒ men dé dào zhè xiē shì shí zhī qián jiù jiā yǐ tuī cè， nà shì zuì dà de cuò wù。 yòu rén bù zhī bù jué dì yǐ shì shí qiānqiǎng fù huì dì lái shì yìng lǐ lùn， ér bù shì yǐ lǐ lùn lái shì yìng shì shí。 dàn shì xiàn zài zhǐ yòu zhè me yī zhāng biàn tiáo， nǐ kàn néng bù néng cóng zhōng tuī duàn chū xiē shénme lái？”
　　 wǒ zǎi xì dì jiǎn chá bǐ jì hé zhè zhāng xiě zhe zì de zhǐ。
　　“ xiě zhè zhāng tiáo zǐ de rén dà gài xiāng dāng yòu qián， " wǒ shuō zhe， jìn lì mó fǎng wǒ huǒ bàn de tuī lǐ fāng fǎ。 " zhè zhǒng zhǐ bàn gè kè lǎng mǎi bù dào yī dié。 zhǐ zhì tè bié jiēshí hé tǐng kuò。”
　　“ tè bié héng héng zhèng shì zhè liǎng gè zì， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ zhè gēn běn bù shì yī zhāng yīng guó zào de zhǐ。 nǐ jǔ qǐ lái xiàng liàng chù zhào zhào kàn。”
　　 wǒ zhè yàng zuò liǎo。 kàn dào zhǐ zhì wén lǐ zhōng yòu yī gè dà " Ｅ " hé yī gè xiǎo "g"、 yī gè " Ｐ " yǐ jí yī gè " Ｇ " hé yī gè xiǎo "t" jiāo zhì zài yī qǐ。
　　“ nǐ liǎo jiě zhè shì shénme yì sī？ " fú 'ěr mó sī wèn dào。
　　“ wú yí， shì zhì zào zhě de míng zì， gèng què qiē dì shuō， shì tā míng zì de jiāo zhì zì mǔ。”
　　“ wán quán bù duì， ‘Ｇ ' hé xiǎo ' ｔ ' dài biǎo de shì "Ｇ ｅ ｓｅ ｌｌｓ ｃ ｈ ａ eｔ ’ yě jiù shì dé wén ' gōng sī ' zhè gè cí。 xiàng wǒ men ' Ｃ ｏ ． ' zhè me yī gè guàn yòng de suō xiě cí yī yàng。 dāng rán，‘Ｐ ' dài biǎo de shì 'Ｐａ ｐ ｉｅ ｒ’ héng héng ' zhǐ '。 xiàn zài gāi lún dào 'Ｅ ｇ’ liǎo。 ràng wǒ men fān yī xià《 dà lù dì míng cí diǎn》。 " tā cóng shū jià shàng ná xià yī běn hěn hòu de zōng sè shū pí de shū。 "Ｅｇｌｏ ｗＥｇｌｏ ｎｉｔ ｚ， héng héng yòu liǎo，Ｅｇｒｉａ。 nà shì zài shuō dé yǔ de guó jiā lǐ héng héng yě jiù shì zài bō xī mǐ yà， lí kǎ 'ěr sī bā dé bù yuǎn。 ' yǐ wǎ lún sī tǎn zú yú cǐ dì 'ér wén míng， tóng shí yě yǐ qí bō lí gōng chǎng hé zào zhǐ chǎng lín lì 'ér zhù chēng。 ' hā， hā， lǎo xiōng， nǐ liǎo jiě zhè shì shénme yì sī？ " tā de yǎn jīng shǎn shǎn fā guāng， dé yì dì pēn chū yī dà kǒu lán sè de xiāng yān de yān wù。
　　“ zhè zhǒng zhǐ shì zài bō xī mǐ yà zhì zào de。”
　　“ wán quán zhèng què。 xiě zhè zhāng zhǐ tiáo de shì dé guó rén。 nǐ shì fǒu zhù yì dào ' cǐ zhǒng chuán shù， guǎng bō sì fāng， wǒ děng zhī zhī shèn rěn ' zhè zhǒng jù zǐ de tè shū jié gòu？ fǎ guó rén huò rén shì bù huì zhè yàng xiě de。 zhǐ yòu dé guó rén cái zhè yàng luàn yòng dòng cí。 yīn cǐ， xiàn zài yòu dài chá míng de shì zhè wèi yòng bō xī mǐ yà zhǐ xiě zì、 nìngyuàn dài miàn jù yǐ yǎn gài tā de lú shān zhēn miàn mùdì dé guó rén dào dǐ xiǎng gān xiē shénme。 héng héng qiáo， yào shì wǒ méi yòu gǎo cuò de huà， tā lái liǎo， tā jiāng dǎ pò wǒ men de yī qiē yí tuán。”
　　 jiù zài tā shuō huà de shí hòu， xiǎng qǐ liǎo yī zhèn qīng cuì de mǎ tí shēng hé mǎ chē lún zǐ mó cā lù biān xiāng biān shí de gágá shēng， jiē zhe yòu rén měng liè dì lā zhe mén líng。 fú 'ěr mó sī chuī liǎo yī xià kǒu shào。
　　“ tīng shēng xiǎng shì liǎng qí mǎ，” tā shuō。“ bù cuò， " tā jiē zhe shuō， yǎn jīng cháo chuāng wài qiáo liǎo yī yǎn，“ yī liàng kě 'ài de xiǎo mǎ chē hé yī duì piào liàng de mǎ， měi pǐ zhí yī bǎi wǔ shí jī ní。 huá shēng， yào shì méi yòu shénme bié de huà， zhè gè 'àn zǐ kě yòu de shì qián。”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng wǒ gāi zǒu liǎo， fú 'ěr mó sī。”
　　“ nǎ 'ér de huà， yī shēng， nǐ jiù dāi zài zhè lǐ。 yào shì méi yòu wǒ zì jǐ de bāo sī wēi 'ěr， wǒ jiāng bù zhī suǒ cuò。 zhè gè 'àn zǐ kàn lái hěn yòu qù， cuò guò tā nà jiù tài ① yí hàn liǎo。”
　　“ kě shì nǐ de wěi tuō rén ……”
　　“ béng guǎn tā。 wǒ kě néng xū yào nǐ de bāng zhù， tā yě xǔ tóng yàng rú cǐ。 tā lái lā。 nǐ jiù zuò zài nà zhāng fú shǒu yǐ zǐ lǐ， yī shēng， hǎohǎo dì duān xiáng zhe wǒ men bā。”
　　 wǒ men tīng dào yī zhèn huǎn màn 'ér chén zhòng de jiǎo bù shēng。 xiān shì zài lóu tī shàng， rán hòu zài guò dào shàng， dào liǎo mén kǒu zhòu rán tíng zhǐ。 jiē zhe shì shēng yīn xiǎng liàng hé shén qì huó xiàn de kòu mén shēng。
　　“ qǐng jìn lái！ " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō。
　　 yī gè rén zǒu liǎo jìn lái， tā de shēn cái bù xià yú liù yīng chǐ liù yīng cùn， xiōng bù kuān kuò， sì zhī yòu lì。 tā de yī zhe huá lì。 dàn nà nà fù lì táng huáng de zhuāng shù， zài yīng guó zhè dì fāng xiǎn dé yòu diǎn jìn hū yōng sú。 tā de xiù zǐ hé shuāng pái niǔ kòu de shàng yī qián jīn de kāi chā chù dū xiāng zhe kuān kuò de gāo pí xiāng biān， jiān shàng pī de shēn lán sè dà chǎng yòng xīng hóng sè de sī chóu zuò chèn lǐ， lǐng kǒu bié zhe yī zhǐ yòng dān kē huǒ yàn xíng de lǜ bǎo shí xiāng qiàn de shì zhēn。 jiā shàng jiǎo shàng chuānzhuó yī shuāng gāo dào xiǎo tuǐ dù de pí xuē， xuē kǒu shàng xiāng zhe shēn zōng sè máo pí， zhè jiù shǐ dé rén men duì yú tā zhěng gè wài biǎo cū yě shē huá de yìn xiàng， gèng jiā shēn kè。 tā shǒu lǐ ná zhe yī dǐng dà yán mào， liǎn de shàng bàn bù dài zhe yī zhǐ hēi sè de gài guò quán gǔ de zhē hù miàn jù。 xiǎn rán tā gāng gāng zhěng lǐ guò miàn jù， yīn wéi jìn wū shí， tā de shǒu hái tíng liú zài miàn jù shàng。 yóu liǎn de xià bàn bù kàn， tā zuǐ chún hòu 'ér xià chuí， xià bā yòu cháng yòu zhí， xiǎn shì chū yī zhǒng jìn hū wán gù de guǒ duàn， xiàng shì gè xìng gé jiān qiáng de rén。
　　① bāo sī wēi 'ěr shì yīng guó zhù míng wén xué jiā yuē hàn shēng de yī míng dé lì zhù shǒu。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　“ nǐ shōu dào wǒ xiě de tiáo zǐ liǎo má？ " tā wèn dào， shēng yīn shēn chén、 shā yǎ， dài zhe nóng zhòng de dé guó kǒu yīn。 " wǒ gào sù guò nǐ， wǒ yào lái bài fǎng nǐ。 " tā lún liú dì qiáo zhe wǒ men liǎng gè rén， hǎo xiàng ná bù zhǔn gēn shuí shuō huà shìde。
　　“ qǐng zuò， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ zhè wèi shì wǒ de péng yǒu hé tóng shì héng héng huá shēng yī shēng。 tā jīng cháng dà lì bāng zhù wǒ bàn 'àn zǐ。 qǐng wèn， wǒ yīnggāi zěn me chēng hū nín？”
　　“ nǐ kě yǐ chēng hū wǒ féng · kè lā mǔ bó jué。 wǒ shì bō xī mǐ yà guì zú。 wǒ xiǎng zhè wèi xiān shēng héng héng nǐ de péng yǒu， shì wèi zhí dé zūn jìng hé shí fēn shěn shèn de rén， wǒ yě kě yǐ bǎ jí wéi zhòng yào de shì tuō fù gěi tā。 fǒu zé， wǒ nìngyuàn gēn nǐ dān dú tán。”
　　 wǒ zhàn qǐ shēn lái yào zǒu， kě shì fú 'ěr mó sī zhuā zhù wǒ de shǒu wàn， bǎ wǒ tuī huí dào yuán lái de fú shǒu yǐ lǐ。 " yào tán liǎng gè yī qǐ tán， yào jiù bù tán， " tā duì lái kè shuō，“ zài zhè wèi xiān shēng gēn qián， fán shì nín kě yǐ gēn wǒ tán de nín jìn guǎn tán hǎo liǎo。”
　　 bó jué sǒng liǎo sǒng tā nà kuān kuò de jiān bǎng shuō dào，“ nà me wǒ shǒu xiān dé yuē dìng nǐ men 'èr wèi zài liǎng nián nèi jué duì bǎo mì， liǎng nián hòu zhè shì jiù wú guān zhòng yào liǎo。 mù qián shuō tā zhòng yào dé yě xǔ kě yǐ yǐng xiǎng zhěng gè 'ōu zhōu lì shǐ de jìn chéng dōubù guòfèn。”
　　“ wǒ bǎo zhèng zūn yuē， " fú 'ěr mó sī dá dào。
　　“ wǒ yě shì。”
　　“ zhè miàn jù nǐ men bù zài yì bā， " wǒ men zhè wèi mò shēng de bù sù zhī kè jì xù shuō，“ pài wǒ lái de guì rén bù yuàn yì ràng nǐ men zhī dào tā pài lái de dài lǐ rén shì shuí， yīn cǐ wǒ kě yǐ lì kè chéng rèn wǒ gāng cái suǒ shuō de bìng bù shì wǒ zì jǐ zhēn zhèng de chēng hào。”
　　“ zhè wǒ zhī dào， "， fú 'ěr mó sī lěng bīng bīng dì dá dào。
　　“ qíng kuàng shí fēn wēi miào。 wǒ men bì xū cǎi qǔ yī qiē yù fáng cuò shī， jìn lì fáng zhǐ shǐ shì qíng fā zhǎn chéng yī gè dà chǒu wén， yǐ miǎn shǐ yī gè 'ōu zhōu wáng zú zāo dào yán zhòng sǔn hài。 tǎn shuài dì shuō， zhè jiàn shì huì shǐ wěi dà de 'ào mǔ sī tǎn jiā zú héng héng bō xī mǐ yà shì xí guó wáng héng héng shòu dào qiān lián。”
　　“ zhè wǒ yě zhī dào， "， fú 'ěr mó sī nán nán dì shuō dào， suí jí zuò dào fú shǒu yǐ lǐ， hé shàng liǎo yǎn jīng。
　　 zài lái kè de xīn mù zhōng， tā guò qù wú yí shì bèi kè huà wéi 'ōu zhōu fēn xī wèn tí zuì tòu chè de tuī lǐ zhě hé jīng lì zuì chōng pèi de zhēn tàn。 zhè shí wǒ men de lái kè bù jìn duì zhè gè rén juàn dài de、 lǎn yáng yáng de tǐ tài yòng yī zhǒng míng xiǎn de jīng yà mù guāng sǎo liǎo yī yǎn。 fú 'ěr mó sī màn tiáo sī lǐ dì zhòng xīn zhāng kāi shuāng yǎn， bù nài fán dì qiáo zhe tā nà shēn qū kuí wěi de wěi tuō rén。
　　“ yào shì bì xià kěn qū zūn jiāng 'àn qíng chǎn míng，” tā shuō，“ nà wǒ jiù huì gèng hǎo dì wéi nín xiào láo。”
　　 zhè rén cóng yǐ zǐ lǐ měng dì zhàn liǎo qǐ lái， jī dòng dé wú yǐ zì zhì dì zài wū zǐ lǐ duó lái duó qù。 jiē zhe， tā yǐ yī zhǒng jué wàng de zī tài bǎ liǎn shàng de miàn jù chě diào rēng dào dì xià。
　　“ nǐ shuō duì liǎo， " tā hǎn dào，“ wǒ jiù shì guó wáng， wǒ wèishénme yào yǐn mán ní？”
　　“ ǹg， zhēn de má？ " fú 'ěr mó sī nán nán dì shuō，“ bì xià hái méi kāi kǒu， wǒ jiù zhī dào wǒ shì yào gēn kǎ sī 'ěr － fèi 'ěr shī tài yīn dà gōng、 bō xī mǐ yà de shì xí guó wáng、 wēi lián · gē tè lài xī · xī jí sī méng dé · féng · ào mǔ shī tài yīn jiāo tán。”
　　“ dàn shì nǐ néng lǐ jiě， " wǒ men pò guài de lái kè yòu chóngxīn zuò xià lái， yòng shǒu mō liǎo yī xià tā nà yòu gāo yòu bái de qián 'é shuō dào，“ nǐ néng lǐ jiě wǒ shì bù guàn yú qīn zì bàn zhè zhǒng shì de。 kě shì zhè jiàn shì shì rú cǐ dì wēi miào， yǐ zhì yú rú guǒ wǒ bǎ tā gào sù yī gè zhēn tàn， jiù bù dé bù shǐ zì jǐ rèn qǐ bǎi bù。 wǒ shì wèile xiàng nǐ zhēng xún yì jiàn cái wēi fú chū xíng， cóng bù lā gé lái cǐ de。”
　　“ nà jiù qǐng tán bā， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào， suí jí yòu bǎ yǎn jīng hé shàng liǎo。
　　“ jiǎn dān dì shuō， shì qíng shì zhè yàng de： dà yuē wǔ nián yǐ qián， zài wǒ dào huá shā cháng qī fǎng wèn qī jiān， wǒ rèn shí liǎo dà míng dǐng dǐng de nǚ mào xiǎn jiā 'ài lín · ài dé lè。 wú yí nǐ shì hěn shú xī zhè míng zì de。”
　　“ yī shēng， qǐng nǐ zài wǒ de zī liào suǒ yǐn zhōng chá chá 'ài lín · ài dé lè zhè gè rén， " fú 'ěr mó sī nán nán dì shuō， yǎn jīng zhēng yě méi zhēng kāi yī xià。 tā duō nián lái cǎi qǔ zhè me yī zhǒng bàn fǎ， jiù shì bǎ yòu guān xǔ duō rén hé shì de yī xiē cái liào tiē shàng qiān tiáo bèi chá。 yīn cǐ， yào xiǎng shuō chū yī gè tā bù néng mǎ shàng tí gōng qǐ qíng kuàng de rén huò shì， nà shì qǐ bù róng yì de。 guān yú zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ， wǒ zhǎo dào liǎo guān yú tā de gè rén jīng lì de cái liào。 tā shì jiā zài yī gè yóu tài fǎ xué bó shì hé xiě guò yī qǐ guān yú shēn hǎi yú lèi zhuān tí lùn wén de cān móu guān zhè liǎng fèn lì shǐ cái liào zhōng jiān de。
　　“ ràng wǒ qiáo qiáo， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō，“ ǹg！ yī bā wǔ bā nián shēng yú xīn zé xī zhōu。 nǚ dī yīn héng héng ǹg！ yì dà lì gē jù yuàn héng héng ǹg！ huá shā dì guó gē jù yuàn shǒu xí nǚ gē shǒu héng héng duì liǎo！ tuì chū liǎo gē jù wǔ tái héng héng hā！ zhù zài lún dūn héng héng yī diǎn bù cuò！ jù wǒ lǐ jiě， bì xià hé zhè wèi nián qīng nǚ rén yòu qiān lián。 nín gěi tā xiě guò jǐ fēng huì shǐ zì jǐ shòu lián lěi de xìn， xiàn zài zé jí yú xiǎng bǎ nà xiē xìn nòng huí lái。”
　　“ yī diǎn bù cuò。 dàn shì， zěn me cái néng……”
　　“ céng jīng hé tā mì mì jié guò hūn má？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ méi yòu fǎ lǜ wén jiàn huò zhèng míng má？”
　　“ méi yòu。”
　　“ nà wǒ jiù bù míng bái liǎo， bì xià。 rú guǒ zhè wèi nián qīng nǚ rén xiǎng yòng xìn lái dá dào 'é zhà huò qí tā mùdì shí， tā zěn me néng gòu zhèng míng zhè xiē xìn shì zhēn de ní？”
　　“ yòu wǒ xiě de zì。”
　　“ pēi！ wěi zào de。”
　　“ wǒ sī rén de xìn jiān。”
　　“ tōu de。”
　　“ wǒ zì jǐ de yìn jiàn。”
　　“ fǎng zào de。”
　　“ wǒ de zhào piàn。”
　　“ mǎi de。”
　　“ wǒ men liǎng réndōu zài zhè zhāng zhào piàn lǐ li。”
　　“ ō， tiān nǎ！ nà jiù zāo liǎo。 bì xià de shēng huó díquè shì tài bù jiǎn diǎn liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ dāng shí zhēn shì fēng liǎo héng héng jīng shén cuò luàn。”
　　“ nín yǐ jīng duì nín zào chéng liǎo yán zhòng de sǔn hài。”
　　“ dāng shí wǒ zhǐ bù guò shì gè wáng chǔ， hái hěn nián qīng。 xiàn zài wǒ yě bù guò sān shí suì。”
　　“ nà jiù bì xū bǎ nà zhāng xiàng qǐ zhòng xīn shōu huí。”
　　“ wǒ men yǐ jīng shì guò， dàn shì dū shī bài liǎo。”
　　“ bì xià bì xū chū qián， bǎ zhào piàn mǎi guò lái。”
　　“ tā yī dìng bù mài。”
　　“ nà me jiù tōu bā。”
　　“ wǒ men yǐ jīng shì guò wǔ cì liǎo。 yòu liǎng cì wǒ chū qián gù xiǎo tōu sōu biàn liǎo tā de fáng zǐ。 yī cì tā zài lǚ xíng shí wǒ men diào huàn liǎo tā de xíng lǐ。 hái yòu liǎng cì wǒ men duì tā jìn xíng liǎo lán lù qiǎng jié。 kě shì dū yī wú suǒ huò。”
　　“ nà zhāng xiàng piàn de hén jì yī diǎn dōuméi yòu？”
　　“ yī sī yī háo dōuméi yòu。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī xiào liǎo， shuō dào：“ zhè wán quán shì yī gè wēi bù zú dào de wèn tí。”
　　“ dàn shì duì wǒ lái shuō， què shì gè shí fēn yán zhòng de wèn tí。 " guó wáng yòng zé bèi de kǒu qì dǐng liǎo tā yī jù。
　　“ shí fēn yán zhòng。 díquè rú cǐ。 nà tā dǎ suàn yòng zhè zhào piàn gān xiē shénme ní。”
　　“ bǎ wǒ huǐ diào。”
　　“ zěn me gè huǐ fǎ？”
　　“ wǒ jí jiāng jié hūn liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ tīng shuō liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ jiāng hé sī kān de nà wéi yà guó wáng de 'èr gōng zhù kè luò dì 'ěr dé · luò tè màn · féng · zhá kè sī mài níng gēn jié hūn。 nǐ kě néng zhī dào tā men de yán gé jiā guī bā。 tā zì jǐ jiù shì yī gè jí wéi mǐn gǎn de rén。 zhǐ yào duì wǒ de xíng wéi yòu sī háo huái yí， jiù huì shǐ zhè hūn shì gào chuī。”
　　“ nà me 'ài lín · ài dé lè ní？”
　　“ wēi xié zhe yào bǎ zhào piàn sòng gěi tā men。 ér tā shì huì nà yàng zuò de。 wǒ zhī dào tā shì huì nà yàng zuò de。 nǐ bù liǎo jiě tā， tā de gè xìng jiān qiáng rú gāng。 tā jì yòu zuì měi lì de nǚ rén de miàn róng， yòu yòu zuì gāng yì de nán rén de xīn。 zhǐ yào wǒ hé lìng yī gè nǚ rén jié hūn， tā shì shénme shìdōu zuòde chū lái de。”
　　“ nín gǎn kěn dìng tā hái méi yòu bǎ zhào piàn sòng chū qù má？”
　　“ wǒ gǎn kěn dìng。”
　　“ wèishénme？”
　　“ yīn wéi tā shuō guò， tā yào zài hūn yuē gōng kāi xuān bù de nà yī tiān bǎ zhào piàn sòng chū qù。 nà jiù shì xià xīng qī yī。”
　　“ ō， nà zán men hái yòu sān tiān shí jiān， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō zhe， dǎ liǎo yī gè hē qiàn。 " tài xìng yùn liǎo， yīn wéi mù qián wǒ hái yòu yī liǎng zhuāng zhòng yào de shì qíng yào diào chá diào chá。 dāng rán。 bì xià zàn shí yào dài zài lún dūn luó？”
　　“ duì。 nǐ kě yǐ zài lán 'è mǔ lǚ guǎn zhǎo dào wǒ。 yòng de míng zì shì féng · kè lā mǔ bó jué。”
　　“ wǒ jiāng xiě fēng duǎn xìn ràng nín zhī dào wǒ men de jìn zhǎn qíng kuàng。”
　　“ nà tài hǎo liǎo。 wǒ fēi cháng jí yú zhī dào。”
　　“ nà me， guān yú qián de shì zěn me yàng？”
　　“ yóu nǐ quán quán chǔlǐ。”
　　“ háo wú tiáo jiàn má？”
　　“ wǒ kě yǐ gào sù nǐ， wèile dé dào nà zhāng zhào piàn， wǒ yuàn yì ná wǒ lǐng tǔ zhōng de yī gè shěng lái jiāo huàn。”
　　“ nà me yǎn qián de fèi yòng ní？”
　　 guó wáng cóng tā de dà chǎng xià miàn ná chū yī gè hěn zhòng de líng yáng qǐ dài， bǎ tā fàng zài zhuō shàng。
　　“ zhè lǐ yòu sān bǎi bàng jīn bì hé qì bǎi bàng chāo piào。 " tā shuō。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī zài tā bǐ jì běn de yī zhāng zhǐ shàng lǎolǎo cǎo cǎo dì xiě liǎo shōu tiáo， rán hòu dì gěi tā。
　　“ nà wèi xiǎo jiě de dì zhǐ ní？ " tā wèn dào。
　　“ shèng yuē hàn wǔ dé， sài péng tài 'ēn dà jiē， bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī jì liǎo xià lái。“ hái yòu yī gè wèn tí，” tā shuō dào，“ zhào piàn shì liù yīng cùn de má？”
　　“ shì de。”
　　“ nà me， zài jiàn， bì xià， wǒ xiāng xìn wǒ men bù jiǔ jiù huì gěi nín dài lái hǎo xiāo xī。 huá shēng， zài jiàn， " tā jiē zhe duì wǒ shuō， zhè shí huáng jiā sì lún mǎ chē zhèng xiàng jiē xīn shǐ qù。 " wǒ xiǎng qǐng nǐ míng tiān xià wǔ sān diǎn zhōng lái， gēn nǐ liáo liáo zhè jiàn xiǎo shì qíng。”
　　' sān diǎn zhōng zhěng， wǒ dào liǎo bèi kè jiē， fú 'ěr mó sī shàng wèi huí lái。 jù nǚ fáng dōng shuō， tā shì zài zǎo chén gāng guò bā diǎn de shí hòu chū qù de。 jìn guǎn rú cǐ， wǒ zài bì lú bàng zuò xià， dǎ suàn bù guǎn tā qù duō jiǔ dōuyào děng dài， yīn wéi wǒ yǐ jīng duì tā de diào chá shēn gǎn xīng qù。 suī rán zhè 'àn zǐ quē fá wǒ jì lù guò de nà liǎng jiàn zuì 'àn suǒ jù yòu de nà zhǒng cán rěn hé bù kě sī yì de tè zhēng， kě shì， zhè 'àn zǐ de xìng zhì jí qí wěi tuō rén de gāo guì dì wèi， què shǐ tā jù yòu qí běn shēn yīngyǒu de tè sè。 díquè， chú liǎo wǒ de péng yǒu zhèng zài jìn xíng diào chá de 'àn zǐ de xìng zhì wài， tā nà zhǒng qiǎo miào dì zhǎng wò qíng kuàng hé mǐn ruì 'ér yòu tòu chè dì tuī lǐ de gōng zuò fāng shì， yǐ jí nà zhǒng jiě jué zuì nán jiě jué de 'ào mì de xùn sù 'ér jīng xì de fāng fǎ， hěn zhí dé wǒ qù yán jiū hé xué xí， bìng qiě cóng zhōng dé dào hěn dà lè qù。 tā yī guàn qǔ shèng， zhè zài wǒ yǐ shì sī kōng jiàn guàn。 suǒ yǐ， zài wǒ de nǎo hǎi lǐ cóng wèi chǎn shēng guò tā yě yòu kě néng shī bài de xiǎng fǎ。
　　 sì diǎn zhōng zuǒ yòu， wū mén kāi liǎo， zǒu jìn lái yī gè zuì xūn xūn de mǎ fū。 tā yàng zǐ lā lā tà tà， liú zhe luò sāi hú xū， miàn hóng 'ěr chì， yī shān pò làn bù kān。 jìn guǎn wǒ duì wǒ péng yǒu de huà zhuāng shù de jīng rén jì qiǎo yǐ jīng xí yǐ wéi cháng liǎo， wǒ hái shì yào zài sān shěn shì cái gǎn kěn dìng zhēn de shì tā。 tā xiàng wǒ diǎn tóu zhāo hū yī xià jiù jìn liǎo wò shì。 bù xiāo wǔ fēn zhōng， tā jiù hé wǎng cháng yī yàng shēn chuān huā ní yī fú， fēng dù gāo yǎ dì chū xiàn zài wǒ miàn qián。 tā bǎ shǒu chā zài yī dài lǐ， zài bì lú qián shū zhǎn kāi shuāng tuǐ， jìn qíng dì xiào liǎo yī zhèn zǐ。
　　“ ō， zhēn de má？ " tā hǎn dào， hū rán qiàng zhù liǎo hóu lóng， jiē zhe yòu xiào liǎo qǐ lái， zhí dào xiàode ruǎn ruò wú lì dì tǎng zài yǐ zǐ shàng。
　　“ zhè shì zěn me huí shì？”
　　“ jiǎn zhí tài yòu qù liǎo。 wǒ gǎn shuō nǐ zěn me yě cāi bù chū wǒ shàng wǔ zài máng shénme， huò zhě máng de jiēguǒ shì shénme。”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng xiàng bù chū lái。 yě xǔ nǐ yī zhí zài zhù yì guān chá 'ài lín · ài dé lè xiǎo jiě de shēng huó xí guàn， yě xǔ hái guān chá liǎo tā de fáng zǐ。”
　　“ yī diǎn bù cuò， dàn shì jié jú què xiāng dāng bù píng cháng。 bù guò wǒ yuàn yì bǎ qíng kuàng gào sù nǐ。 wǒ jīn tiān zǎo chén bā diǎn shāo guò yī diǎn lí kāi zhè lǐ， bàn chéng yī gè shī yè de mǎ fū。 zài nà xiē mǎ fū zhōng jiān cún zài zhe yī zhǒng měi hǎo de hù xiāng tóng qíng、 yì qì xiāng tóu de gǎn qíng。 rú guǒ nǐ chéng wéi tā men zhī zhōng de yī yuán， nǐ jiù kě yǐ zhī dào nǐ yào xiǎng zhī dào de yī qiē。 wǒ hěn kuài jiù zhǎo dào liǎo bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì。 nà shì yīzhuàng xiǎo qiǎo yǎ zhì de bié shù， hòu miàn yòu gè huā yuán。 zhè shì yīzhuàng liǎng céng lóu fáng， miàn duì zhe mǎ lù jiàn zào de。 mén shàng guà zhe qià bó suǒ。 yòu biān shì kuān chǎng de qǐ jū shì， nèi bù zhuāng shì huá lì， chuāng hù zhī cháng jīhū dào dá dì miàn， rán 'ér nà xiē kě xiào de yīng guó chuāng shuān lián xiǎo hái dōunéng dǎ kāi。 chú liǎo cóng mǎ chē fáng de fáng dǐng kě yǐ gòu dé zhe guò dào de chuāng hù yǐ wài， jiù méi yòu shénme zhí dé zhù yì de liǎo。 wǒ wéi rào bié shù xún xíng liǎo yī biàn， cóng gè gè jiǎo dù zǎi xì zhēn chá， dàn bìng wèi fā xiàn rèn hé lìng rén gǎn xīng qù zhī chù。
　　“ jiē zhe wǒ shùn zhe jiē dào màn bù， guǒ rán bù chū suǒ liào， wǒ fā xiàn zài kào zhe huā yuán qiáng de xiǎo xiàng lǐ， yòu yī pái mǎ fáng。 wǒ bāng zhù nà xiē mǎ fū shū xǐ mǎ pǐ。 tā men chóu láo wǒ liǎng gè biàn shì、 yī bēi hùn hé jiǔ、 liǎng yān dǒu zhuāng dé mǎn mǎn de bǎn yān sī，① bìng qiě tí gōng liǎo xǔ duō wǒ xiǎng zhī dào de yòu guān 'ài dé lè xiǎo jiě de qíng kuàng。 chú tā zhī wài， tā men hái gào sù wǒ zhù zài fù jìn de qí tā liù、 qǐ gè rén de qíng kuàng， wǒ duì zhè xiē rén sī háo bù gǎn xīng qù， dàn shì yòu bù dé bù tīng xià qù。”
　　① hēi pí jiǔ hé liè pí jiǔ huò xīn chén liǎng zhǒng pí jiǔ gè bàn de hùn hé wù。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　“ ài lín · ài dé lè de qíng kuàng rú hé？ " wǒ wèn dào。
　　“ ō， tā shǐ nà yī dài suǒ yòu de nán réndōu bài dǎo zài tā de shí liú qún xià。 tā shì shì jiè shàng zuì qiào lì de jiā rén liǎo。 zài sài péng tài 'ēn dà jiē mǎ fáng， rén réndōu shì zhè me shuō de。 tā guò zhe níng jìng de shēng huó， zài yīnyuè huì shàng yǎn chàng。 měi tiān wǔ diǎn zhōng chū qù， qī diǎn zhōng huí jiā chī wǎn cān。 tā chú liǎo yǎn chàng wài， qí yú shí jiān zé shēn jū jiǎn chū。 tā zhǐ yǔ yī gè nán rén jiāo wǎng， ér qiě guò cóng shèn mì。 tā fū sè yǒu hēi， tǐ tài yīng jùn， hěn yòu zhāoqì。 tā měi tiān zhì shǎo lái kàn tā yī huí， jīng cháng shì liǎng huí。 tā shì zhù zài tǎn pǔ 'ěr de gē fú léi · nuò dùn xiān shēng。 nǐ dǒng yī gè zuò wéi xīn fù chē fū de hǎo chù má？ zhè xiē mǎ chē fū wèitā gǎn chē bù xià shí jǐ cì， cóng sài péng tài 'ēn dà jiē mǎ fáng sòng tā huí jiā， duì tā de shì wú bù zhī xiǎo。 wǒ tīng wán liǎo tā men suǒ tán de yī qiē zhī hòu， biàn kāi shǐ zài yī cì zài bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì fù jìn màn bù pái huái， sī kǎo wǒ de xíng dòng fāng 'àn。
　　“ zhè gè gē fú léi · nuò dùn xiǎn rán shì zhè jiàn shì de guān jiàn xìng rén wù。 tā shì yī wèi lǜ shī。 zhè tīng qǐ lái bù dà miào。 tā men liǎng rén zhī jiān shì shénme guān xì ní？ tā bù duàn dì lái kàn tā yòu shénme mùdì？ tā shì tā de wěi tuō rén， tā de péng yǒu， huò zhě shì tā de qíng fù？ rú guǒ shì tā de wěi tuō rén， tā dà gài yǐ jīng bǎ zhào piàn jiāo gěi tā bǎo cún liǎo。 rú guǒ shì tā de qíng fù， nà jiù bù dà huì nà me zuò。 zhè gè wèn tí de dá 'àn jiāng jué dìng wǒ yīngdāng jì xù duì bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì de diào chá gōng zuò ní， hái shì bǎ wǒ de zhù yì lì zhuǎn dào nà wèi xiān shēng zài tǎn pǔ 'ěr de zhù zhái fāng miàn。 zhè shì bì xū jiā yǐ xiǎo xīn cóng shì de yào diǎn suǒ zài， zhè jiù kuò dà liǎo wǒ diào chá de fàn wéi。 wǒ dān xīn zhè xiē suǒ suǒ suì suì de xì jié huì shǐ nǐ gǎn jué yàn fán， dàn shì wǒ bì xū ràng nǐ kàn dào wǒ de yī diǎn kùn nán， rú guǒ nǐ yào xiǎng liǎo jiě qíng kuàng de huà。”
　　“ wǒ zhèng zài zǎi xì dì qīng tīng ní， " wǒ huí dá dào。
　　“ wǒ xīn lǐ zhèng zài quán héng zhe lì hài dé shī de shí hòu， hū dì qiáo jiàn yī liàng shuāng lún mǎ chē gǎn dào bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì mén qián， yóu chē lǐ tiào chū yī wèi shēn shì。 tā shì yī wèi fēi cháng piào liàng de nán rén， hēi hēi de， yīng gōu bí zǐ， liú zhe xiǎo hú zǐ héng héng xiǎn rán jiù shì wǒ tīng shuō de nà gè rén。 tā fǎng fó shí wàn huǒ jí shìde yàng zǐ， dà shēng yāo hē yào chē fū děng zhe tā。 tā cóng tì tā kāi mén de nǚ pú miàn qián cā shēn 'ér guò， xiǎn shì chū háo wú jū shù de shén tài。
　　“ tā zài wū zǐ lǐ dòu liú liǎo dà yuē bàn gè xiǎo shí。 wǒ tòu guò qǐ jū shì de chuāng hù kě yǐ yǐn yǐn yuē yuē dì kàn jiàn tā duó lái duó qù， huī wǔ shuāng bì xīng fèn dì tán zhe。 zhì yú tā， wǒ shénme yě méi kàn dào。 tā suí jí zǒu liǎo chū lái， hǎo xiàng bǐ gāng cái gèng jiā jí máng de yàng zǐ。 tā zài dēng shàng mǎ chē shí， cóng kǒu dài lǐ tāo chū yī kuài jīn biǎo， rèqiè dì kàn liǎo kàn hǎn dào，‘ pàn mìng kuài gǎn， xiān dào shè zhèng jiē gé luó sī · hàn jī lǚ guǎn， rán hòu dào 'āi pò fēng 'ěr lù shèng mò ní kǎ jiào táng。 nǐ yào shì néng zài 'èr shí fēn zhōng zhī nèi gǎn dào， wǒ jiù shǎng gěi nǐ bàn gè jī ní。 '
　　“ tā men yī xià zǐ jiù zǒu liǎo。 wǒ zhèng zài yóu yù bù jué shì fǒu yīnggāi jǐn jǐn wěi suí de dāng 'ér， hū dì cóng xiǎo xiàng lǐ lái liǎo yī liàng xiǎo qiǎo yǎ zhì de sì lún mǎ chē。 nà mǎ chē fū de shàng yī de kòu zǐ zhǐ yòu yī bàn shì kòu shàng de， lǐng dài wāi zài 'ěr biān， mǎ qǐ wǎn jù shàng suǒ yòu jīn shǔ gū tóu què dū yóu dài kòu zhōng tū chū lái。 chē hái méi tíng wěn， tā jiù yóu dà mén fēi bēn chū lái yī tóu zuàn jìn chē xiāng。 zài zhè shà nà jiān， wǒ zhǐ piē liǎo tā yī yǎn， dàn yǐ kě kàn chū tā shì gè kě 'ài de nǚ rén， róng mào zhī biāo zhì zú lìng nán rén qīng dǎo。
　　“ ' yuē hàn， qù shèng mò ní kǎ jiào táng， ' tā hǎn dào，‘ yào shì nǐ néng zài 'èr shí fēn zhōng zhī nèi gǎn dào nà lǐ de huà， wǒ jiù shǎng gěi nǐ bàn bàng jīn bì。 '
　　“ huá shēng， zhè shì bù kě cuò guò de hǎo jī huì。 wǒ zhèng quán héng shì yīngdāng gǎn shàng qù ní， hái shì yīngdāng pān zài chē hòu shí， qià hǎo yī liàng chū zū mǎ chē cóng zhè jiē shàng jīng guò。 gǎn chē rén duì nà fěi bó de chē fèi qiáo liǎo yòu qiáo。 dàn wǒ zài tā kě néng biǎo shì bù gān zhī qián jiù tiào jìn chē lǐ。 ' shèng mò ní kǎ jiào táng， ' wǒ shuō，‘ gěi nǐ bàn bàng jīn bì， yào shì nǐ zài 'èr shí fēn zhōng zhī nèi gǎn dào nà lǐ de huà。 ' nà shí shì shí yī diǎn sān shí wǔ fēn， jiāng yào fā shēng shénme shì qíng， nà dāng rán shì hěn qīng chǔ de。
　　“ wǒ de mǎ chē fū gǎn dé fēi kuài。 wǒ jué dé wǒ cóng wèi gǎn dé zhè me kuài guò， dàn nà liǎng liàng mǎ chē yǐ jīng bǐ wǒ men xiān xíng dào dá。 zài wǒ gǎn dào de shí hòu， nà liàng chū zū mǎ chē hé nà liàng sì lún mǎ chē zǎo yǐ tíng zài mén qián liǎo， liǎngjì mǎ zhèng qì chuǎn xū xū mào zhe rè qì。 wǒ fù liǎo chē qián， jí máng zǒu jìn jiào táng。 zài nà lǐ chú liǎo wǒ suǒ zhuī zōng de liǎng gè rén hé yī gè shēn chuān bái sè fǎ yī、 hǎo xiàng zhèng zài quàn gào tā men shénme shìde mù shī wài， bié wú tā rén。 tā men sān gè rén wéi zài yī qǐ zhàn zài shèng tán qián。 wǒ jiù xiàng 'ǒu 'ěr làng dàng dào jiào táng lǐ lái de qí tā yóu shǒu hǎo xián de rén yī yàng， xìn bù shùn zhe liǎng bàng de tōng dào wǎng qián zǒu。 shǐ wǒ gǎn dào jīng yì de shì， hū rán jiān zài shèng tán qián de zhè sān gè rén de liǎn dū zhuǎn guò lái cháo zhe wǒ。 gē fú léi · nuò dùn pàn mìng xiàng wǒ páo lái。
　　“ xiè tiān xiè dì！ ' tā hǎn dào，‘ yòu liǎo nǐ jiù xíng liǎo。 lái！ lái！ '
　　“ zhè shì zěn me huí shì？ ' wǒ wèn dào。
　　“ lái， lǎo xiōng， lái， zhǐ yào sān fēn zhōng jiù gòu liǎo， yào bù rán jiù bù hé fǎ liǎo。 '
　　“ wǒ shì bèi bàn tuō bàn lā shàng shèng tán de。 zài wǒ hái méi nòng qīng chǔ wǒ zhàn zài shénme dì fāng yǐ qián， wǒ fā jué wǒ zì jǐ zhèng nán nán dì duì wǒ 'ěr biān dī dī de huà yǔ zuò chū dá fù， wèiwǒ yī wú suǒ zhī de shì zuò zhèng。 zǒng de lái shuō shì bāng zhù bǎ wèi hūn nǚ zǐ 'ài lín · ài dé lè hé dān shēn hàn gē fú léi · nuò dùn jǐn mì dì jié hé zài yī qǐ。 zhè yī qiē shì zài hěn duǎn de shí jiān nèi wán chéng de。 jiē zhe nán fāng zài wǒ zhè yī biān duì wǒ biǎo shì gǎn xiè， nǚ fāng zài wǒ nà yī biān duì wǒ biǎo shì gǎn xiè， ér mù shī zé zài wǒ duì miàn xiàng wǒ wēi xiào。 zhè shì wǒ yòu shēng yǐ lái cóng wèi pèng dào guò de zuì huāng miù jué lún de chǎng miàn。 gāng cái wǒ yī xiǎng dào zhè jiàn shì jiù jìn bù zhù dà xiào qǐ lái liǎo。 kàn lái tā men de jié hūn zhèng míng yòu diǎn bù gòu hé fǎ， mù shī zài méi yòu mǒu xiē zhèng rén de qíng kuàng xià， duàn rán jù jué gěi tā men zhèng hūn， xìng 'ér yòu wǒ chū xiàn shǐ dé xīn láng bù zhì yú bì xū páo dào dà jiē shàng qù zhǎo yī wèi bīn xiāng。 xīn niàn shǎng gěi wǒ yī bàng jīn bì。 wǒ dǎ suàn bǎ tā shuān zài biǎo liàn shàng dài zhe， yǐ jì niàn zhè cì de jì yù。”
　　“ zhè zhēn shì yī jiàn wán quán chū hū yì liào de shì， " wǒ shuō dào，“ hòu lái yòu zěn yàng ní？”
　　“ ké， wǒ jué dé wǒ de jìhuà shòu dào yán zhòng de wēi xié。 kàn lái zhè yī duì yòu kě néng lì kè lí kāi zhè lǐ， yīn cǐ wǒ bì xū cǎi qǔ xùn sù 'ér yòu lì de cuò shī。 tā men zài jiào táng mén kǒu fēn shǒu。 tā zuò chē huí tǎn pǔ 'ěr， ér tā zé huí dào tā zì jǐ de zhù chù。 ' wǒ hái xiàng píng cháng yī yàng， wǔ diǎn zhōng zuò chē dào gōng yuán qù， ' tā cí bié tā shí shuō dào， wǒ jiù tīng dào zhè xiē。 tā men gè zì chéng chē shǐ xiàng bù tóng de fāng xiàng， wǒ yě lí kāi liǎo nà lǐ qù wéi zì jǐ zuò xiē 'ān pái。”
　　“ shì shénme 'ān pái？”
　　“ yī xiē lǔ niú ròu hé yī bēi pí jiǔ， " tā qìn liǎo yī xià diàn líng dá dào，“ wǒ yī zhí máng dé bù kě kāi jiāo， méi gōng fū xiǎng dào chī dōng xī， jīn wǎn wǒ hěn kě néng hái yào gèng máng xiē。 shùn biàn shuō yī jù， dà fū， wǒ jiāng xū yào nǐ de hé zuò。”
　　“ wǒ hěn lè yì。”
　　“ nǐ bù pà fàn fǎ má？”
　　“ yī diǎn yě bù。”
　　“ yě bù pà wàn yī bèi bǔ má？”
　　“ wèile yī gè gāo shàng de mù biāo， wǒ bù pà。”
　　“ ō， zhè mù biāo shì zài gāo shàng bù guò liǎo。”
　　“ nà me， wǒ jiù shì nǐ suǒ xū yào de rén liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ yuán xiān jiù kěn dìng wǒ shì kě yǐ yǐ zhàng nǐ de。”
　　“ kě shì nǐ dǎ suàn zěn me bàn ní？”
　　“ tè nà tài tài yī duān lái pán zǐ， wǒ jiù xiàng nǐ shuō míng。 xiàn zài， " tā jī cháng lù lù dì zhuǎn xiàng nǚ fáng dōng ná lái de jiǎn dān shí pǐn， shuō dào，“ wǒ bù dé bù biān chī biān tán zhè jiàn shì， yīn wéi wǒ de shí jiān suǒ shèng wú jǐ。 xiàn zài kuài wǔ diǎn zhōng liǎo。 wǒ men bì xū zài liǎng gè zhōng tóu nèi gǎn dào xíng dòng dì diǎn。 ài lín xiǎo jiě， bù， shì fū rén， jiāng zài qǐ diǎn zhōng qū chē guī lái。 wǒ men bì xū zài bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì yǔ tā xiāng yù。”
　　“ rán hòu zěn me yàng？”
　　“ zhè yǐ hòu de shì yī dìng yào ràng wǒ lái bàn。 wǒ duì jiāng yào fā shēng de shì qíng yǐ yòu suǒ 'ān pái。 xiàn zài zhǐ yòu yī diǎn wǒ bì xū jiān chí de， nà jiù shì， bù guǎn fā shēng shénme qíng kuàng， nǐ dū yī dìng bù yào gān yù。 nǐ dǒng má？”
　　“ nán dào wǒ shénme shì yě bù guǎn má？”
　　“ shénme shìdōu bié guǎn。 yě xǔ huì yòu xiē xiǎo xiǎo de bù yú kuài shì jiàn。 nǐ kě bù yào jiè rù。 zài wǒ bèi sòng jìn wū zǐ shí， zhè zhǒng bù yú kuài de shì jiù huì jié shù de。 sì、 wǔ fēn zhōng yǐ hòu， qǐ jū shì de chuāng hù jiāng huì dǎ kāi。 nǐ yào zài jǐn 'āi zhe dǎ kāi chuāng hù de dì fāng shǒu hòu zhe。”
　　“ shì。”
　　“ nǐ yī dìng yào dīng zhe wǒ， wǒ zǒng shì huì ràng nǐ kàn dé jiàn de。”
　　“ shì。”
　　“ wǒ yī jǔ shǒu héng héng jiù xiàng zhè yàng héng héng nǐ jiù bǎ wǒ ràng nǐ rēng de dōng xī rēng jìn wū zǐ lǐ qù， tóng shí， tí gāo sǎng mén hǎn ' zháohuǒ liǎo '。 nǐ wán quán tīng qīng chǔ wǒ de huà liǎo má？”
　　“ wán quán dǒng liǎo。”
　　“ nà méi yòu shénme dà bù liǎo de shì， " tā cóng kǒu dài lǐ tāo chū yī zhǐ cháng cháng de xiàng xuějiā yān múyàng de juàn tǒng shuō dào，“ zhè shì yī zhǐ guǎn zǐ gōng yòng de pǔ tōng yān huǒ tǒng， liǎng tóu dōuyòu gài zǐ， kě yǐ zì rán。 nǐ de rèn wù jiù shì zhuān guǎn zhè dōng xī。 dāng nǐ gāo hǎn zháohuǒ de shí hòu， yī dìng yòu xǔ duō rén gǎn lái jiù huǒ。 zhè yàng nǐ jiù kě yǐ zǒu dào jiē de nà yī tóu qù。 wǒ zài shí fēn zhōng zhī nèi hé nǐ chóngxīn huì hé。 wǒ xī wàng nǐ yǐ jīng míng bái wǒ suǒ shuō de huà liǎo， shì má？”
　　“ wǒ yīnggāi bǎo chí bù jiè rù de zhuàng tài； kào jìn chuāng hù； dīng zhe nǐ； yī kàn dào xìn hào， jiù bǎ zhè dōng xī rēng jìn qù； rán hòu hǎn zhe huǒ liǎo； bìng qiě dào jiē de guǎi jiǎo nà lǐ qù děng nǐ。”
　　“ wán quán zhèng què。”
　　“ nà nǐ jiù qiáo wǒ de bā。”
　　“ zhè tài hǎo liǎo。 wǒ xiǎng， yě xǔ kuài dào wǒ wéi bàn yǎn xīn juésè zuò zhǔn bèi de shí hòu liǎo。”
　　 tā yǐnmò dào wò shì lǐ qù。 guò liǎo jǐ fēn zhōng zài chū lái shí yǐ zhuāng bàn chéng yī gè hé 'ǎi kě qīn 'ér dān chún pǔ sù de xīn jiào mù shī。 tā nà dǐng kuān dà de hēi mào、 kuān sōng xià chuí de kù zǐ、 bái sè de lǐng dài、 fù yú tóng qíng xīn de wēi xiào yǐ jí nà zhǒng níng shì de、 rén cí de、 hǎo pò de shén tài， zhǐ yòu yuē hàn · lǐ 'ěr xiān shēng kān yǔ bǐ nǐ。 fú 'ěr① mó sī bù jǐn jǐn shì huàn liǎo zhuāng shù， lián tā de biǎo qíng、 tā de tài dù、 shèn zhì tā de líng hún sì hū dū suí zhe tā suǒ zhuāng bàn de xīn jiǎo sè 'ér qǐ liǎo biàn huà。 dāng tā chéng wéi yī wèi yán jiū zuì xíng de zhuān jiā de shí hòu， wǔ tái shàng jiù shǎo liǎo yī wèi chū sè de yǎn yuán， shèn zhì huì shǐ kē xué jiè shǎo liǎo yī wèi mǐn ruì de tuī lǐ jiā。
　　 wǒ men lí kāi bèi kè jiē de shí hòu shì liù diǎn yī kè。 wǒ men tí qián shí fēn zhōng dào dá sài péng tài 'ēn dà jiē。 shí yǐ huáng hūn， wǒ men zài bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì wài miàn duó lái duó qù děng wū zhù huí lái shí， zhèng hǎo liàng dēng liǎo。 zhè suǒ fáng zǐ zhèng rú wǒ gēn jù fú 'ěr mó sī de jiǎn dān miáo shù suǒ xiǎng xiàng de nà yàng。 dàn shì dì diǎn bù xiàng wǒ yù qī de nà me píng jìng， qià qià xiāng fǎn， duì yú fù jìn dì qū dōuhěn 'ān jìng de yī tiáo xiǎo jiē lái shuō， tā shí fēn rè nào。 jiē tóu guǎi jiǎo yòu yī qún chuān dé pò pò làn làn、 chōu zhe yān、 shuō shuō xiào xiào de rén， yī gè dài zhe jiǎo tà mó lún de mó jiǎn zǐ de rén， liǎng gè zhèng zài tóng bǎo mǔ tiáoqíng de jǐng wèi， yǐ jí jǐ gè yī zhe tǐ miàn、 zuǐ lǐ diāo zhe xuějiā yān、 diào 'ér láng dāng de nián qīng rén。 " nǐ kàn， " dāng wǒ men zài fáng zǐ qián miàn duó lái duó qù de shí hòu， fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ tā men jié liǎo hūn dǎo shǐ shì qíng jiǎn dān huà liǎo。 nà zhāng zhào piàn xiàn zài biàn chéng shuāng rèn wǔ qì liǎo。 hěn kě néng tā zhī pà tā bèi gē fú léi · nuò dùn kàn jiàn， yóu rú wǒ men de wěi tuō rén zhī pà tā chū xiàn zài gōng zhù gēn qián yī yàng。 yǎn qián de wèn tí shì， wǒ men dào nǎ lǐ qù zhǎo nà zhāng zhào piàn？”
　　① shí jiǔ shì jì zhōng yè dào běn shì jì chū yīng guó zhù míng xǐ jù yǎn yuán。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　“ zhēn de， dào nǎ 'ér qù zhǎo yā？”
　　“ tā suí shēn dài zhe tā de kě néng xìng shì zuì xiǎo de。 yīn wéi nà shì zhāng liù yīng cùn zhào piàn， yào zài yī jiàn nǚ rén de yī fú lǐ qīng yì dì cáng qǐ lái， wèi miǎn xián tài dà liǎo xiē。 ér qiě tā zhī dào guó wáng shì huì lán jié hé sōu chá tā de。 zhè lèi de cháng shì yǐ jīng fā shēng guò liǎng cì liǎo。 yīn cǐ， wǒ men kě yǐ tuī duàn tā shì bù huì suí shēn dài zhe tā de。”
　　“ nà me， zài nǎ 'ér ní？”
　　“ zài tā de yínháng jiā huò zhě lǜ shī de shǒu lǐ。 shì yòu zhè liǎng zhǒng kě néng xìng de。 dàn shì wǒ què jué dé nǎ yī zhǒng kě néng xìng dōubù xiàn shí。 nǚ rén tiān shēng jiù hǎo bǎo mì， tā men xǐ huān cǎi qǔ tā men zì jǐ de yǐn cáng dōng xī de fāng fǎ。 tā wèishénme yào bǎ zhào AE mín f3 jiāo gěi bié rén ní？ tā duì zì jǐ de jiān hù néng lì shì xìn dé guò de。 kě shì yī gè bàn lǐ shí wù de rén kě néng huì shòu dào shénme yàng jiànjiē de huò de yǐng xiǎng， nà tā jiù shuō bù shàng lái liǎo。 cǐ wài， nǐ kě bié wàng liǎo tā shì jué yì yào zài jǐ tiān zhī nèi lì yòng zhè zhāng zhào piàn de。 yīn cǐ yī dìng zài tā suí shǒu kě yǐ ná dào de dì fāng， yī dìng zài tā zì jǐ de wū zǐ lǐ。”
　　“ dàn shì wū zǐ yǐ jīng liǎng cì bèi dào liǎo。”
　　“ hēng！ tā men bù zhī dào zěn me qù zhǎo。”
　　“ kě nǐ yòu zěn me gè zhǎo fǎ？”
　　“ wǒ gēn běn bù zhǎo。”
　　“ nà yòu zěn me bàn？”
　　“ wǒ yào shǐ tā bǎ zhào piào liàng gěi wǒ kàn。”
　　“ nà tā shì bù huì gān de。”
　　“ tā bù néng bù gān。 wǒ tīng jiàn chē lún shēng liǎo。 nà shì tā zuò de mǎ chē。 xiàn zài yào yán gé 'àn zhào wǒ de mìng lìng xíng shì。”
　　 tā shuō huà shí， mǎ chē liǎng cè chē dēng fā chū de shǎn shuò dēng guāng shùn zhe wān qū de jiē dào rào guò lái。 nà shì yī liàng piào liàng de sì lún xiǎo mǎ chē gē dā gē dā dì shǐ dào bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì mén qián。 mǎ chē gāng yī tíng xià， yī gè liú làng hàn cóng jiǎo luò lǐ chōng shàng qián qù kāi chē mén， xī wàng zuàn gè tóng zǐ， dàn shì què bèi bào zhe tóng yàng xiǎng fǎ cuàn zài qián tóu de lìng yī gè liú làng hàn jǐ kāi。 yú shì bào fā liǎo yīcháng jī liè de zhēng chǎo， liǎng gè jǐng wèi zhàn zài yī gè liú làng hàn yī biān， ér mó jiǎn dāo de zé tóng yàng qǐ jìn dì zhàn zài lìng yī gè liú làng hàn yī biān。 zhè yàng zhēng chǎo dé jiù gèng lì hài liǎo。 jiē zhe bù zhī shì shuí xiān dòng shǒu kāi dǎ， zhè shí zhè wèi fū rén gāng hǎo xià chē， lì kè jiù bèi juàn jìn jiū chán zài yī qǐ de rén qún zhōng jiān。 zhè xiē rén mǎn miàn tōng hóng， niǔ zài yī qǐ quán dǎ bàng jī， yě mán dì hù xiāng 'ōu dǒu。 fú 'ěr mó sī měng dì chōng rù rén qún qù bǎo wèi fū rén。 dàn shì， gāng dào tā de shēn biān， jiù dà hǎn yī shēng， dǎo wò yú dì， liǎn shàng xiān xuè zhí liú。 zhòng rén jiàn tā dǎo dì， liǎng gè jǐng wèi cháo yī gè fāng xiàng bá jiǎo liù zǒu， nà xiē liú làng hàn cháo lìng yī gè fāng xiàng táo zhī yāo yāo。 cǐ shí， yòu xiē yī zhe bǐ jiào zhěng qí、 zhǐ kàn rè nào 'ér méi yòu cān jiā 'ōu dǒu de rén jǐ liǎo jìn lái， wéi fū rén jiě wéi hé zhào gù zhè wèi shòu shāng de xiān shēng。 ài lín · ài dé lè héng héng wǒ hái yuàn yì zhè me chēng hū tā héng héng jí máng páo shàng tái jiē。 dàn shì tā zài zuì gāo yī céng tái jiē zhàn zhù liǎo， mén tīng lǐ de dēng guāng gòu huá chū liǎo tā de jí qǐ yōu měi de shēn cái de lún kuò。 tā huí tóu cháo jiē dào wèn dào：
　　“ nà wèi kě lián de xiān shēng shāng dé lì hài má？”
　　“ tā yǐ jīng sǐ lā， " jǐ gè shēng yīn yī qǐ hǎn dào。
　　“ bù， bù， hái huó zhe ní， " lìng yī shēng yīn gāo jiào zhe，“ dàn shì děng bù dào nǐ men bǎ tā sòng jìn yī yuàn， tā jiù huì sǐ qù de。”
　　“ tā shì gè yǒng gǎn de rén， " yī gè nǚ rén shuō dào，“ yào bù shì tā de huà， nà xiē liú làng hàn zǎo jiù bǎ fū rén de qián bāo hé biǎo qiǎng zǒu liǎo。 tā men shì yī bāng， ér qiě shì yī bāng cū bào de jiā huǒ。 ā， tā xiàn zài néng hū xī liǎo。”
　　“ bù néng ràng tā tǎng zài jiē shàng。 wǒ men kě yǐ bǎ tā tái jìn wū zǐ lǐ qù má， fū rén？”
　　“ dāng rán kě yǐ。 bǎ tā tái dào qǐ jū shì lǐ qù。 nà 'ér yòu yī zhāng shū fú de shā fā。 qǐng dào zhè biān lái bā。 " dà jiā huǎn màn 'ér zhuāng yán dì bǎ tā tái jìn bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì， ān zhì zài zhèng fáng lǐ。 zhè shí wǒ yóu zhàn zài kào jìn chuāng kǒu de dì fāng yī zhí zài kàn zhe zhěng gè shì qíng de jīng guò。 dēng dū diǎn rán liǎo。 kě shì chuāng lián méi yòu lā shàng， suǒ yǐ wǒ kě yǐ kàn dào fú 'ěr mó sī shì zěn yàng bèi 'ān fàng zài cháng shā fā shàng de。 dāng shí tā duì tā bàn yǎn de juésè shì fǒu gǎn dào yòu xiē nèi jiù wǒ bù zhī dào， dàn shì wǒ què zhī dào， wǒ zì jǐ yòu shēng yǐ lái cóng wèi bǐ kàn jiàn wǒ suǒ mì móu fǎn duì de měi rén huò zhě kàn dào tā fú shì shāng zhě de nà zhǒng wēn yǎ hé qīnqiè de yí tài gèng gǎn dào yóu zhōng de xiū kuì liǎo。 kě shì xiàn zài duì fú 'ěr mó sī wěi tuō wǒ bàn yǎn de juésè bàn tú shuǎi shǒu bùgànliǎo， wèi miǎn shì yī zhǒng duì tā zuì bēi bǐ de bèi pàn。 wǒ yìng xià xīn cháng， cóng wǒ de cháng wài tào lǐ qǔ chū yān huǒ tǒng。 wǒ xiǎng， wǒ men bì jìng bù shì shāng hài zhè měi rén， wǒ men bù guò shì bù ràng tā shāng hài bié rén bà liǎo。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī kào zài nà zhāng cháng shā fā shàng。 wǒ kàn dào tā de dòng zuò hěn xiàng yī gè xū yào kōng qì de nà zhǒng rén de yàng zǐ。 yī gè nǚ pú cōng máng zǒu guò qù bǎ chuāng hù měng dì tuī kāi。 jiù zài nà yī shà nà wǒ kàn dào tā jǔ qǐ shǒu lái。 gēn jù zhè gè xìn hào， wǒ bǎ yān huǒ tǒng rēng jìn wū lǐ qù， gāo shēng hǎn dào：“ zháohuǒ lā！ " wǒ de hǎn shēng gāng luò， quán bù kàn rè nào de rén， chuān dé tǐ miàn de hé chuān dé bù nà me tǐ miàn de rén， shēn shì、 mǎ fū hé nǚ pú men， yě qí shēng jiān jiào qǐ lái：“ zháohuǒ lā！ " nóng yān gǔn gǔn， liáo rào quán shì， bìng qiě cóng dǎ kāi de chuāng hù mào liǎo chū qù。 wǒ piē jiàn zhēng xiān kǒng hòu cōng cōng páo dòng de rén yǐng。 shāo guò piàn kè， wǒ hái tīng dào cóng fáng lǐ chuán chū fú 'ěr mó sī yào dà jiā fàng xīn nà shì yīcháng xū jīng de hǎn shēng。 wǒ jí sù chuān guò jīng hū de rén qún， páo dào jiē dào de guǎi jiǎo。 bù dào shí fēn zhōng de shí jiān， wǒ gāo xīng dì fā xiàn liǎo wǒ de péng yǒu， tā yún e zhe wǒ de gēbo táo lí xuān 'áo sāo dòng de xiàn chǎng。 zài wǒ men zhuǎn dào 'āi pò wéi 'ěr lù de yī tiáo 'ān jìng jiē dào yǐ qián， tā yòu jǐ fēn zhōng dū mò mò dì jí sù xiàng qián zǒu zhe。
　　“ yī shēng， nǐ gānde zhēn piào liàng，” tā shuō dào，“ bù kě néng bǐ zhè gèng piào liàng liǎo。 yī qiē shùn lì。”
　　“ nǐ nòng dào nà zhāng zhào piàn liǎo má？”
　　“ wǒ zhī dào zài nǎ 'ér liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ shì zěn yàng fā xiàn de？”
　　“ zhè zhèng rú wǒ hé nǐ shuō guò de nà yàng， shì tā bǎ zhào piào liàng gěi wǒ kàn de。”
　　“ wǒ hái bù dà míng bái。”
　　“ wǒ bù yuàn yì bǎ zhè gè shuō dé hěn shén mì，” tā shuō zhe xiào liǎo qǐ lái，“ zhè jiàn shì hěn jiǎn dān。 nǐ dāng rán kàn dé chū lái zài jiē shàng de měi yī gè réndōu shì hé zán men yī huǒ de。 tā men jīn tiān wǎn shàng tǒng tǒng shì gù lái de。”
　　“ wǒ yě cāi dào liǎo shì zhè me huí shì。”
　　“ dāng liǎng biān zhēng chǎo qǐ lái de shí hòu， wǒ shǒu zhǎng lǐ yòu yī xiǎo kuài shī de hóng yán liào。 wǒ chōng shàng qián qù， diē dǎo zài dì， bǎ shǒu gǎn jǐn wǔ zài liǎn shàng， zhè jiù chéng wéi yī gè lìng rén kě lián de yàng zǐ。 zhè shì yī tào lǎo huā zhāo liǎo。”
　　“ zhè gè wǒ yě chuài mó chū lái liǎo。”
　　“ rán hòu tā men bǎ wǒ tái jìn qù。 tā bù dé bù bǎ wǒ nòng jìn qù。 bù zhè me bàn tā yòu néng zěn me bàn？ tā bǎ wǒ fàng zài qǐ jū shì lǐ， zhè zhèng shì wǒ yù liào de nà jiān wū zǐ。 nà me zhào piàn jiù cáng zài zhè jiān wū zǐ hé tā de wò shì zhī jiān， wǒ jué dìng yào kàn kàn dào dǐ shì zài nǎ jiān wū zǐ lǐ。 tā men bǎ wǒ fàng zài cháng shā fā shàng， wǒ zuò chū xū yào kōng qì de dòng zuò， tā men zhǐ hǎo dǎ kāi chuāng hù， zhè yàng nǐ de jī huì jiù lái liǎo。”
　　“ zhè duì nǐ yòu shénme bāng zhù ní？”
　　“ zhè tài zhòng yào liǎo。 dāng yī gè nǚ rén yī xiǎng dào tā de fáng zǐ zháohuǒ shí， tā jiù huì běn néng dì lì kè qiǎng jiù tā zuì zhēn guì de dōng xī。 zhè zhǒng wán quán bù kě kàng jù de chōng dòng， wǒ yǐ jīng bù zhǐ yī cì dì lì yòng guò liǎo。 zài dá lín dùn dǐng tì chǒu wén yī 'àn zhōng， wǒ lì yòng liǎo tā， zài 'ā 'ēn wò sī chéng bǎo 'àn zhōng yě shì rú cǐ。 jié liǎo hūn de nǚ rén gǎn jǐn bào qǐ tā de yīng hái； méi jié guò hūn de nǚ rén shǒu xiān bǎ shǒu shēn xiàng zhū bǎo hé。 xiàn zài wǒ yǐ jīng qīng chǔ， zài zhè fáng zǐ de dōng xī lǐ， duì yú wǒ men dāng qián zhè wèi fū rén lái shuō， méi yòu bǐ wǒ men qù zhuī xún de nà jiàn dōng xī gèng wéi bǎo guì de liǎo。 tā yī dìng huì chōng shàng qián qù bǎ tā qiǎng dào shēn biān。 zháohuǒ de jǐng bào fàng dé hěn chū sè。 pēn chū de yān wù hé jīng hū shēng zú yǐ zhèn dòng gāng tiě bān de shén jīng。 tā de fǎn yìng miào jí liǎo。 nà zhāng zhào piàn shōu cáng zài bì kān lǐ， zhè gè bì kān qià hǎo wèi yú yòu biān líng de lā suǒ shàng miàn de nà kuài néng nuó dòng de qiàn bǎn hòu miàn。 tā zài nà dì fāng zhǐ dāi liǎo piàn kè de shí jiān。 dāng tā bǎ nà zhāng zhào piàn chōu chū yī bàn de shí hòu， wǒ yī yǎn kàn dào liǎo tā。 dāng wǒ gāo hǎn nà shì yīcháng xū jīng shí， tā yòu bǎ tā fàng huí qù liǎo。 tā kàn liǎo yī xià yān huǒ tǒng， jiù bēn chū liǎo wū zǐ， cǐ hòu wǒ jiù méi zài kàn dào tā liǎo。 wǒ zhàn liǎo qǐ lái， zhǎo gè jiè kǒu tōu tōu liù chū nà suǒ fáng zǐ。 wǒ céng yóu yù shì fǒu yīnggāi shì zhe bǎ nà zhāng zhào qí mǎ shàng nòng dào shǒu， dàn shì mǎ chē fū jìn lái liǎo。 tā zhù yì dì dīng zhe wǒ， yīn cǐ yào děng dài shí jī， zhè yàng sì hū 'ān quán xiē。 fǒu zé， zhǐ yào yòu yī diǎn guòfèn lǔ mǎng， jiù huì bǎ zhěng gè shì qíng gǎo zāo。”
　　“ xiàn zài zěn me bàn？ " wǒ wèn dào。
　　“ wǒ men de diào chá shí jì shàng yǐ jīng wán chéng liǎo。 míng tiān wǒ jiāng tóng guó wáng yī kuài qù bài fǎng tā。 rú guǒ nǐ yuàn yì gēn wǒ men yī qǐ qù de huà， nà nǐ yě qù。 yòu rén huì bǎ wǒ men yǐn jìn qǐ jū shì lǐ hòu jiàn nà fū rén； dàn shì kǒng pà tā chū lái huì kè shí， tā jì zhǎo bù dào wǒ men， yě zhǎo bù dào nà zhào piàn liǎo。 bì xià néng gòu qīn shǒu chóngxīn dé dào nà zhāng zhào piàn， yī dìng shì huì fēi cháng mǎn yì de。”
　　“ nà me nǐ men shénme shí hòu qù bài fǎng tā ní？”
　　“ zǎo chén bā diǎn zhōng。 chèn tā hái méi qǐ chuáng de shí hòu， wǒ men jiù kě yǐ fàng shǒu gān。 cǐ wài， wǒ men bì xū lì jí xíng dòng qǐ lái， yīn wéi jié hūn yǐ hòu tā de shēng huó xí guàn kě néng wán quán biàn liǎo。 wǒ bì xū lì jí gěi guó wáng dǎ gè diàn bào。”
　　 zhè shí wǒ men yǐ jīng zǒu dào bèi kè jiē， zài mén kǒu tíng liǎo xià lái。 zhèng zài tā cóng kǒu dài lǐ tāo yàoshì de shí hòu， yòu rén lù guò zhè lǐ， bìng dǎ liǎo gè zhāo hū：
　　“ wǎn 'ān， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng。”
　　 zhè shí zài rén hángdào shàng yòu hǎo jǐ gè rén。 kě shì zhè jù wèn hòu huà hǎo xiàng shì yī gè gè zǐ xì cháng、 shēn chuān cháng wài tào de nián qīng rén cōng cōng zǒu guò shí shuō de。
　　“ wǒ yǐ qián tīng jiàn guò nà shēng yīn， " fú 'ěr mó sī jīng yà dì níng shì zháohūn 'àn de jiē dào shuō，“ kě shì wǒ bù zhī dào hé wǒ dǎ zhāo hū de dào dǐ shì shuí。”
　　 nà tiān wǎn shàng， wǒ zài bèi kè jiē guò yè。 zài wǒ men zǎo chén qǐ lái zhèng chī kǎo miàn bāo、 hē kā fēi de shí hòu， bō xī mǐ yà guó wáng měng dì chōng liǎo jìn lái。
　　“ nǐ zhēn de ná dào nà zhāng zhào piàn liǎo má？ " tā liǎng shǒu zhuā zhù xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī de shuāng jiān rèqiè dì kàn zhe tā de liǎn gāo shēng hǎn dào。
　　“ hái méi yòu。”
　　“ kě shì yòu xī wàng má？”
　　“ yòu xī wàng。”
　　“ nà me lái bā。 wǒ hèn bù dé gǎn kuài qù。”
　　“ wǒ men bì xū gù liàng chū zū mǎ chē。”
　　“ bù bì liǎo， wǒ de sì lún mǎ chē zài wài miàn děng zhe ní。”
　　“ zhè yàng jiù gèng xǐngshì liǎo。 " wǒ men zǒu xià tái jiē， zài cì dòng shēn dào bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì qù。
　　“ ài lín · ài dé lè yǐ jīng jié hūn liǎo， " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào。
　　“ jié hūn liǎo！ shénme shí hòu？”
　　“ zuó tiān。”
　　“ gēn shuí jié hūn？”
　　“ gēn yī gè jiào zuò nuò dùn de yīng guó lǜ shī。”
　　“ dàn shì tā bù kě néng 'ài tā。”
　　“ wǒ dǎo xī wàng tā 'ài tā。”
　　“ nǐ wèishénme zhè yàng ní？”
　　“ yīn wéi zhè yàng jiù miǎn dé bì xià hài pà jiāng lái fā shēng má fán liǎo。 rú guǒ zhè wèi nǚ shì 'ài tā de zhàng fū， tā jiù bù 'ài bì xià。 rú guǒ tā bù 'ài bì xià， tā jiù méi yòu lǐ yóu huì gān yù bì xià de jìhuà liǎo。”
　　“ zhè dǎo shì zhēn de。 kě shì…… ā， rú guǒ tā hé wǒ de shēn fèn yī yàng jiù hǎo liǎo， tā huì shì yī wèi duō me liǎo bù qǐ de wáng hòu yā！ " shuō wán tā yòu chóngxīn xiàn yú yōu yù de chén mò zhōng， yī zhí dào wǒ men zài sài péng tài 'ēn dà jiē tíng xià lái shí dōushì rú cǐ。
　　 bù lǐ wēng ní fǔ dì de dà mén chǎng kāi zhe。 yī gè shàng nián jì de fù rén zhàn zài tái jiē shàng。 tā yòng yī zhǒng miè shì de yǎn guāng qiáo zhe wǒ men cóng sì lún mǎ chē lǐ xià lái。
　　“ wǒ xiǎng shì xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng bā？ " tā shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ shì fú 'ěr mó sī， " wǒ de huǒ bàn chà yì dì、 duō shǎo yòu xiē jīng 'ě dì zhù shì zhe tā dá dào。
　　“ zhēn shì！ wǒ de nǚ zhù rén gào sù wǒ nǐ duō bàn huì lái de。 jīn tiān zǎo chén tā gēn tā de xiān shēng yī qǐ zǒu liǎo， tā men chéng wǔ diǎn shí wǔ fēn de huǒ chē cóng cài lín kè luó sī dào 'ōu zhōu dà lù qù liǎo。”
　　“ shénme！ " xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiàng hòu dǎ liǎo gè lièqie， ào nǎo hé jīng yì dé liǎn sè fā bái。
　　“ nǐ de yì sī shì shuō tā yǐ jīng lí kāi yīng guó liǎo má？”
　　“ zài yě bù huí lái liǎo。”
　　“ hái yòu nà zhāng zhào piàn ní？ " guó wáng 'á shēng 'á píng dì wèn dào， " yī qiēdōu wán liǎo！”
　　“ wǒ men yào kàn yī xià。 " fú 'ěr mó sī tuī kāi pú rén， bēn jìn liǎo kè tīng， guó wáng hé wǒ jǐn gēn zài hòu miàn。 jiā jù sì miàn bā fāng luàn qī bā zāo dì sàn bǎi zhe， jià zǐ chāi liǎo xià lái， chōu tì lā kāi lái liǎo， jiù hǎo xiàng zhè wèi nǚ shì zài tā chū bēn yǐ qián cōng cōng máng máng dì fān xiāng dǎo guì sōu chá guò yī fān shìde。 fú 'ěr mó sī chōng dào líng de lā suǒ de dì fāng， lā kāi yī shàn xiǎo lā mén， shēn jìn shǒu qù， tāo chū yī zhāng zhào piàn hé yī fēng xìn。 zhào piàn shì 'ài lín · ài dé lè běn rén chuānzhuó yè lǐ fú zhào de。 xìn fēng shàng xiě zhe：“ xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， liú jiāo běn rén qīn shōu。 " wǒ de péng yǒu bǎ xìn chāi kāi， wǒ men sān gè rén wéi zhe yī qǐ dú zhè fēng xìn。 xiě xìn rì qī shì jīn tiān líng chén。 xìn zhōng zhè yàng xiě dào：
　　 qīn 'ài de xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng：
　　 nǐ de què gānde fēi cháng piào liàng。 nǐ wán quán bǎ wǒ gěi piàn guò qù liǎo。 zhí dào fā chū huǒ jǐng yǐ qián， wǒ yī diǎn yě bù yí xīn。 dàn shì suí hòu dāng wǒ fā jué wǒ yǐ jīng shì rú hé xiè lù liǎo zì jǐ de mì mì shí， wǒ kāi shǐ sī suǒ liǎo。 jǐ gè yuè yǐ qián， rén jiā jiù jǐng gào wǒ yào fáng bèi nǐ liǎo。 yòu rén shuō yào shì guó wáng gù yī wèi zhēn tàn de huà， nà yī dìng shì nǐ。 tā men yǐ jīng gào sù wǒ nǐ de dì zhǐ。 kě shì jìn guǎn suǒ yòu zhè xiē， nǐ hái shì shǐ wǒ xiè lù liǎo nǐ suǒ xiǎng yào zhī dào de mì mì。 shèn zhì zài wǒ kāi shǐ yí xīn yǐ hòu， wǒ hái jué dé hěn nán xiāng xìn nà me yī wèi shàng liǎo nián jì、 hé 'ǎi kě qīn de mù shī huì huái yòu 'è yì。 dàn shì， nǐ zhī dào， wǒ zì jǐ shì gè xùn liàn yòu sù de nǚ yǎn yuán。 nán xìng fú zhuāng duì wǒ bìng bù shēng shū。 wǒ zì jǐ jiù cháng cháng nǚ bàn nán zhuāng， bìng chèn jī lì yòng tā suǒ dài lái de zì yóu。 wǒ pài yuē hàn héng héng mǎ chē fū héng héng jiān shì nǐ， rán hòu páo shàng lóu， chuān shàng wǒ de sàn bù biàn fú， wǒ xià lóu lái de shí hòu， nǐ zhèng hǎo lí kāi。
　　 suí hòu， wǒ zài hòu miàn gēn zhe nǐ zǒu dào nǐ jiā mén kǒu， zhè yàng， wǒ kěn dìng wǒ zhēn de shì nǐ zhè wèi zhù míng de xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng gǎn xīng qù de duì xiàng liǎo。 yú shì， wǒ xiāng dāng mào shī dì zhù nǐ wǎn 'ān， jiē zhe dòng shēn dào tǎn pǔ 'ěr qù kàn wǒ de zhàng fū。
　　 wǒ men liǎ dū rèn wéi bèi zhè me yī wèi kě pà de duì shǒu dīng zhe， sān shí liù jì zǒu wéi shàng cè； yīn cǐ zài nǐ míng tiān lái shí jiāng fā xiàn zhè gè wō shì kōng de。 zhì yú nà zhāng zhào piàn， nǐ de wěi tuō rén kě yǐ fàng xīn hǎo liǎo。 wǒ 'ài yī wèi bǐ tā qiáng de rén， ér zhè gè rén yě 'ài wǒ。 guó wáng kě yǐ zuò tā yuàn yì zuò de shì， ér bù bì gù lǜ tā suǒ cuò dài guò de rén huì duì tā yòu shénme fáng 'ài。 wǒ bǎo liú nà zhāng zhào piàn， zhǐ shì wèile bǎo hù zì jǐ。 zhè shì bǎo cáng yī jiàn jiāng néng yǒng yuǎn bǎo hù wǒ bù shòu tā jiāng lái kě néng cǎi qǔ de rèn hé shǒu duàn sǔn hài de wǔ qì。 wǒ xiàn zài liú gěi tā yī zhāng tā kě néng yuàn yì shōu xià de zhào piàn。 jǐn cǐ xiàng nín héng héng qīn 'ài de xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng zhì yì。
　　 ài lín · ài dé lè · nuò dùn jìng shàng
　　“ duō me liǎo bù qǐ de nǚ rén 'ā héng héng 'ō， yī gè duō me liǎo bù qǐ de nǚ rén 'ā！ " dāng wǒ men sān gè rén yī qǐ niàn zhè fēng xìn shí， bō xī mǐ yà guó wáng zhè me hǎn dào。
　　“ wǒ bù shì gào sù guò nǐ men， tā shì duō me jī mǐn hé guǒ duàn má？ jiǎ rú tā néng dāng wáng hòu， nà tā bù jiù shì yī gè lìng rén qīn pèi de wáng hòu má？ duō me kě xī tā hé wǒ de dì wèi bù yī yàng！ "①
　　“ cóng wǒ zài zhè wèi nǚ shì shēn shàng suǒ kàn dào de lái shuō， tā de shuǐ píng díquè hé bì xià de shuǐ píng hěn bù yī yàng， " fú 'ěr mó sī lěng dàn dì shuō dào，“ wǒ hěn yí hàn méi néng shǐ bì xià de shì qíng dé dào yī gè gèng wéi chéng gōng de jié jú。”
　　“ qīn 'ài de xiān shēng， zhè kě qià qià xiāng fǎn， " guó wáng shuō dào，“ zài méi yòu rèn hé jié jú bǐ zhè gè gèng wéi chéng gōng de liǎo。 wǒ zhī dào tā shì shuō huà suàn shù de。 nà zhāng zhào piàn xiàn zài shì hé tā yǐ jīng bèi shāo diào nà yàng shǐ wǒ gǎn dào fàng xīn liǎo。”
　　① cǐ chù " dì wèi " hé xià miàn de " shuǐ píng "， yuán wén dū yòngｌｅ ｖｅｌ yī cí， cí yì shuāng guān。 héng héng yì zhě zhù
　　“ wǒ hěn gāo xīng tīng bì xià zhè me shuō。”
　　“ wǒ zhēn duì nǐ gǎn 'ēn bù jìn。 qǐng gào sù wǒ zěn yàng chóu dá nǐ cái hǎo。 zhè zhǐ jiè zhǐ…… " tā cóng tā de shǒu zhǐ shàng tuō xià yī zhǐ shé xíng de lǜ bǎo shí jiè zhǐ， tuō zài shǒu zhǎng shàng dì gěi tā。
　　“ bì xià yòu yī jiàn wǒ rèn wéi bǐ zhè jiè zhǐ shèn zhì gèng yòu jià zhí de dōng xī。 " fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào。
　　“ nǐ zhǐ yào shuō chū lái shì shénme dōng xī jiù chéng。”
　　“ zhè zhāng zhào piàn！”
　　 guó wáng jīng yì dì zhēng dà yǎn jīng zhù shì zhe tā。
　　“ ài lín de xiàngpiàn！ " tā hǎn dào，“ nǐ yào shì xiǎng yào de huà， dāng rán kě yǐ。”
　　“ xiè xiè bì xià。 nà me zhè jiàn shì jiù suàn bàn tuǒ liǎo bā。 wǒ jǐn zhù nín zǎo 'ān。” tā jū liǎo gè gōng biàn zhuǎn shēn 'ér zǒu， duì guó wáng shēn xiàng tā de shǒu lián kàn dū bù kàn yī yǎn。 tā hé wǒ yī qǐ fǎn huí tā de zhù chù qù。
　　 zhè jiù shì bō xī mǐ yà wáng guó zěn yàng shòu dào yī zhuāng dà chǒu wén de wēi xié， ér fú 'ěr mó sī de jié chū jìhuà yòu shì zěn yàng wéi yī gè nǚ rén de cōng míng cái zhì suǒ cuò bài de jīng guò。 tā guò qù duì nǚ rén de cōng míng jī zhì cháng cháng jiā yǐ cháo xiào， jìn lái wǒ hěn shǎo tīng dào tā zhè yàng de cháo xiào liǎo。 dāng tā shuō dào 'ài lín · ài dé lè huò tí dào tā nà zhāng zhào piàn shí， tā zǒng shì yòng nà wèi nǚ rén zhè yī zūn jìng de chēng hū。

　　I.
　　 To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.
　　 I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of my former friend and companion.
　　 One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which had formerly been in part my own.
　　 His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular introspective fashion.
　　 "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you."
　　 "Seven!" I answered.
　　 "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not tell me that you intended to go into harness."
　　 "Then, how do you know?"
　　 "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and careless servant girl?"
　　 "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it out."
　　 He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands together.
　　 "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce him to be an active member of the medical profession."
　　 I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as yours."
　　 "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room."
　　 "Frequently."
　　 "How often?"
　　 "Well, some hundreds of times."
　　 "Then how many are there?"
　　 "How many? I don't know."
　　 "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are interested in these little problems, and since you are good enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud."
　　 The note was undated, and without either signature or address.
　　 "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult 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 safely be 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 at that hour, and do not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask."
　　 "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that it means?"
　　 "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. What do you deduce from it?"
　　 I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was written.
　　 "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly strong and stiff."
　　 "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an English paper at all. Hold it up to the light."
　　 I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper.
　　 "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes.
　　 "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather."
　　 "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue triumphant cloud from his cigarette.
　　 "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said.
　　 "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian could not have written that. It is the German who is so uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts."
　　 As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the bell. Holmes whistled.
　　 "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in this case, Watson, if there is nothing else."
　　 "I think that I had better go, Holmes."
　　 "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity to miss it."
　　 "But your client--"
　　 "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best attention."
　　 A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there was a loud and authoritative tap.
　　 "Come in!" said Holmes.
　　 A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy.
　　 "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to address.
　　 "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?"
　　 "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate with you alone."
　　 I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say before this gentleman anything which you may say to me."
　　 The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it may have an influence upon European history."
　　 "I promise," said Holmes.
　　 "And I."
　　 "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have just called myself is not exactly my own."
　　 "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly.
　　 "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia."
　　 "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself down in his armchair and closing his eyes.
　　 Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his gigantic client.
　　 "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he remarked, "I should be better able to advise you."
　　 The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to conceal it?"
　　 "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "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."
　　 "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting you."
　　 "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more.
　　 "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you."
　　 "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea fishes.
　　 "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and is now desirous of getting those letters back."
　　 "Precisely so. But how--"
　　 "Was there a secret marriage?"
　　 "None."
　　 "No legal papers or certificates?"
　　 "None."
　　 "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is she to prove their authenticity?"
　　 "There is the writing."
　　 "Pooh, pooh! Forgery."
　　 "My private note-paper."
　　 "Stolen."
　　 "My own seal."
　　 "Imitated."
　　 "My photograph."
　　 "Bought."
　　 "We were both in the photograph."
　　 "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an indiscretion."
　　 "I was mad--insane."
　　 "You have compromised yourself seriously."
　　 "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now."
　　 "It must be recovered."
　　 "We have tried and failed."
　　 "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought."
　　 "She will not sell."
　　 "Stolen, then."
　　 "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice she has been waylaid. There has been no result."
　　 "No sign of it?"
　　 "Absolutely none."
　　 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?"
　　 "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday."
　　 "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in London for the present?"
　　 "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Count Von Kramm."
　　 "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress."
　　 "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety."
　　 "Then, as to money?"
　　 "You have carte blanche."
　　 "Absolutely?"
　　 "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom to have that photograph."
　　 "And for present expenses?"
　　 The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and laid it on the table.
　　 "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in notes," he said.
　　 Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and handed it to him.
　　 "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked.
　　 "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood."
　　 Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the photograph a cabinet?"
　　 "It was."
　　 "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you."
　　 II.
　　 At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to enter into my head.
　　 He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her overpowering excitement and concern.
　　 "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him."
　　 "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can."
　　 "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself think that he is innocent?"
　　 "I think that it is very probable."
　　 "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes."
　　 Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said.
　　 "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because I was concerned in it."
　　 "In what way?" asked Holmes.
　　 "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them."
　　 "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a union?"
　　 "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her.
　　 "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father if I call to-morrow?"
　　 "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it."
　　 "The doctor?"
　　 "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive who had known dad in the old days in Victoria."
　　 "Ha! In Victoria! That is important."
　　 "Yes, at the mines."
　　 "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner made his money."
　　 "Yes, certainly."
　　 "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to me."
　　 "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do tell him that I know him to be innocent."
　　 "I will, Miss Turner."
　　 "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street.
　　 "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I call it cruel."
　　 "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?"
　　 "Yes, but only for you and me."
　　 "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?"
　　 "Ample."
　　 "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours."
　　 I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young McCarthy's innocence.
　　 It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town.
　　 "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young McCarthy."
　　 "And what did you learn from him?"
　　 "Nothing."
　　 "Could he throw no light?"
　　 "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, sound at heart."
　　 "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as this Miss Turner."
　　 "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all that he has suffered."
　　 "But if he is innocent, who has done it?"
　　 "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all minor matters until to-morrow."
　　 There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe Pool.
　　 "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is despaired of."
　　 "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes.
　　 "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free."
　　 "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes.
　　 "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody about here speaks of his kindness to him."
　　 "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not deduce something from that?"
　　 "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies."
　　 "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard to tackle the facts."
　　 "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth.
　　 "And that is--"
　　 "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine."
　　 "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Farm upon the left."
　　 "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool.
　　 Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a definite end.
　　 The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking up a scent, and then turned upon my companion.
　　 "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked.
　　 "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon or other trace. But how on earth--"
　　 "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the highroad, where all traces were lost.
　　 "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, and I shall be with you presently."
　　 It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he had picked up in the wood.
　　 "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "The murder was done with it."
　　 "I see no marks."
　　 "There are none."
　　 "How do you know, then?"
　　 "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other weapon."
　　 "And the murderer?"
　　 "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be enough to aid us in our search."
　　 Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a hard-headed British jury."
　　 "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, and shall probably return to London by the evening train."
　　 "And leave your case unfinished?"
　　 "No, finished."
　　 "But the mystery?"
　　 "It is solved."
　　 "Who was the criminal, then?"
　　 "The gentleman I describe."
　　 "But who is he?"
　　 "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a populous neighbourhood."
　　 Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard."
　　 "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before I leave."
　　 Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds himself in a perplexing position.
　　 "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a cigar and let me expound."
　　 "Pray do so."
　　 "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One was the fact that his father should, according to his account, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double point our research must commence, and we will begin it by presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true."
　　 "What of this 'Cooee!' then?"
　　 "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was someone who had been in Australia."
　　 "What of the rat, then?"
　　 Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand over part of the map. "What do you read?"
　　 "ARAT," I read.
　　 "And now?" He raised his hand.
　　 "BALLARAT."
　　 "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat."
　　 "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed.
　　 "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak."
　　 "Certainly."
　　 "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could hardly wander."
　　 "Quite so."
　　 "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal."
　　 "But how did you gain them?"
　　 "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of trifles."
　　 "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces."
　　 "Yes, they were peculiar boots."
　　 "But his lameness?"
　　 "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he was lame."
　　 "But his left-handedness."
　　 "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety which are rolled in Rotterdam."
　　 "And the cigar-holder?"
　　 "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife."
　　 "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--"
　　 "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor.
　　 The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease.
　　 "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my note?"
　　 "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to see me here to avoid scandal."
　　 "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall."
　　 "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question was already answered.
　　 "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It is so. I know all about McCarthy."
　　 The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at the Assizes."
　　 "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely.
　　 "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears that I am arrested."
　　 "It may not come to that," said Holmes.
　　 "What?"
　　 "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Young McCarthy must be got off, however."
　　 "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol."
　　 Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall not use it unless it is absolutely needed."
　　 "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but will not take me long to tell.
　　 "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be in his power.
　　 "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang.
　　 "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me.
　　 "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his foot.
　　 "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman within hail.'
　　 "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing which I could not give. He asked for Alice.
　　 "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses to talk it over.
　　 "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that occurred."
　　 "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we may never be exposed to such a temptation."
　　 "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?"
　　 "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or dead, shall be safe with us."
　　 "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room.
　　 "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'"
　　 James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their past.
　　
　　---------------------
　　
　　"And now?" I asked.
　　 "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain it with his own hands."
　　 "And when will you call?"
　　 "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to the King without delay."
　　 We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said:
　　 "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes."
　　 There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had hurried by.
　　 "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have been."
　　 III.
　　 I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed into the room.
　　 "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face.
　　 "Not yet."
　　 "But you have hopes?"
　　 "I have hopes."
　　 "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone."
　　 "We must have a cab."
　　 "No, my brougham is waiting."
　　 "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off once more for Briony Lodge.
　　 "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes.
　　 "Married! When?"
　　 "Yesterday."
　　 "But to whom?"
　　 "To an English lawyer named Norton."
　　 "But she could not love him."
　　 "I am in hopes that she does."
　　 "And why in hopes?"
　　 "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan."
　　 "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in Serpentine Avenue.
　　 The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped from the brougham.
　　 "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she.
　　 "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a questioning and rather startled gaze.
　　 "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Cross for the Continent."
　　 "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?"
　　 "Never to return."
　　 "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost."
　　 "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way:
　　 "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call them, and came down just as you departed.
　　 "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and started for the Temple to see my husband.
　　 "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might take in the future. 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.
　　 "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "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.