《福尔摩斯探案集·波希米亚丑闻》第14节
“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?”
注释摘要
这段对话是整篇小说案情陈述的核心收束部分，也是国王第一次正面揭示他恐惧的根源。字面上，国王向福尔摩斯坦白自己即将与斯堪的纳维亚国王的二女儿克洛蒂尔德·洛特曼·冯·萨克斯–迈宁根成婚，而女方家族以品性严苛著称，新娘本人更是对任何道德瑕疵都零容忍。一丁点关于他过往行为的怀疑，就会让婚事告吹。福尔摩斯只插了一句“And Irene Adler?”，国王便给出了那…