4 Trouble on the Avenue

Chapter 4 Trouble on the Avenue We left Baker Street at quarter past six and reached Serpentine Avenue thirty-five minutes later. It was already dusk and the street lamps were being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge waiting for Mrs. Norton to arrive. Her house was just as Holmes had described, but the street was a lot busier than I expected in this quiet corner of St. John's Wood. There was a group of shabbily dressed men laughing and talking on the street corner, a scissors-grinder with his wheel, two guardsmen who were talking to a nurse, and several well- dressed young men idling around as if waiting for a party to begin.

"This marriage rather simplifies matters," Holmes remarked as we paced to and fro in front of the house. "The photograph has become a double-edged weapon, for she won't want it seen by Mr. Godfrey Norton any more than our client will want it coming to the attention of his princess."

"Where do you think the photograph is?" I asked. "It's very unlikely she carries it with her." "Why is that?" "The king said it was large in size with a cardboard backing, so she'd struggle to conceal it within her coat. She also knows that the king is quite capable of having her stopped and searched —he's tried that twice already." "So if it's not with her, where is it?" "It could be at her bank or with her lawyer, but I'm inclined to think neither. My impression is that she trusts no one and relies on herself. A banker or lawyer could be pressured into handing

over the photograph, but she probably believes she can't be. Besides, remember that she plans to send the photograph to the king of Scandinavia in a few days, when his daughter's engagement is announced, so it must be in a place where she can lay her hands on it. It has to be in her house." "But the king's men burgled it twice." "They didn't know where to look." "And how will you know where to look?" "I'm not going to look, Watson." "What's your plan then?" "I'll get her to show me where it is." "But she'll refuse," I insisted.

"She won't be able to," said Holmes. Then he stopped. "Hear that rumble of wheels? That's her carriage. Now remember to do exactly as I told you." As he spoke, the gleam of a carriage's sidelights appeared around the curve of Serpentine Avenue, and a smart little carriage rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. It was just pulling up when one of the shabbily dressed men who had been lounging on the corner suddenly dashed forward to open the door in the hope of earning a shilling. He was elbowed out of the way by another lounger, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce quarrel broke out, which was made worse when the two guardsmen took the side of one of the loungers, and when the scissors- grinder decided to support the other man.

Very soon, the lady, who had stepped out of the carriage, found herself in the midst of a knot of battling men, all striking wildly at each other with fists and sticks. Holmes dashed into the crowd to protect the lady, but as he reached her, he gave a cry and fell to the ground with blood pouring down his face.