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: