IRENE ADLER Abridged from A Scandal in Bohemia

Irene Adler

Abridged from A Scandal in Bohemia 1891

“She would do anything to stop me from marrying another woman—anything,” says the King.

The case seems to be a simple one: the King of Bohemia is about to be married; but his former lover, Irene Adler, threatens to publish some very compromising photos to prevent the wedding.

The King asks Sherlock to recover the photos. But Irene Adler is not only very beautiful, she is also extremely intelligent, even more intelligent than Sherlock himself. Gradually, Sherlock becomes captivated by Irene’s beauty and mind.

• seldom = rarement

• felt = ressentait • mind = esprit

• of such emotions = de telles émotions • with a sneer = avec mépris

• but one = une et une seule

• seen little of = peu vu • as ever, deeply = comme toujours, profondément • in clearing up = à élucider

• journey to a patient = visite chez un malade

• his rooms = son appartement • lit = éclairé • figure = silhouette • was pacing = arpentait • clasped behind him = jointes dans le dos

Part I

To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard him mention her under any other name.

It was not that he felt any emotion for Irene Adler. All emotions were detestable to his cold mind. He was the most perfect reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen. He was a reasoner and could not admit the intrusion of such emotions into his life. He always spoke of love with a sneer.

And yet there was but one woman to him, and that woman was Irene Adler.

I had seen little of Holmes lately. Holmes was still, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his immense faculties in clearing up those mysteries which had been abandoned by the official police.

One night, I was returning from a journey to a patient when I passed the door in Baker Street. I felt a strong desire to see Holmes again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers.

His rooms were brilliantly lit. As I looked up, I saw his tall figure pass twice behind the window. He was pacing the room, with his hands clasped behind him. To me, it was clear. He was at work again. He was on the

• on the scent of = sur la piste de • I rang the bell = je sonnai • He waved me to an armchair. = Il me fit signe de m’asseoir.

• in practice again = vous avez repris vos consultations

• smelling of = dégageant une odeur de • you must be dull = il faut être idiot

• I could not help = je ne pus m’empêcher de

• my eyes are as good as yours = j’ai une aussi bonne vue que vous • quite so = absolument

• threw over = me fit passer • sheet of thick, pink-tinted paper = feuille de papier épais et rose

• last post = courrier du soir

scent of some new problem. I rang the bell.

He was glad, I think, to see me. He waved me to an armchair.

“In practice again, I observe,ˮ he said. “You did not tell me.ˮ

“How do you know?ˮ

“I see it, I deduce it. If a man walks in smelling of ether and with a stethoscope in his coat, you must be dull, indeed, if you do not deduce that he is in the medical profession.ˮ

I could not help laughing. “When I hear you give your reasons,ˮ I remarked, “the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously simple that I could easily do it myself, but I never do. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good as yours.ˮ

“Quite so,ˮ he answered, lighting a cigarette. “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. By the way, you may be interested in this.ˮ He threw over a sheet of thick, pink-tinted paper, which had been lying on the table.

“It came by the last post,ˮ he said. “Read it aloud.ˮ