- Sherlock Holmes: She is a lovely woman, Watson, with a face that a man might die for.
- Dr. John Watson: "A face a man might die for?" Unusual language for you, Holmes.
- Sherlock Holmes: A metaphor, Watson, nothing else.
- Sherlock Holmes: You don't mind breaking the law?
- Dr. John Watson: Not in the least.
- Sherlock Holmes: Nor running the chance of arrest?
- Dr. John Watson: Not in a good cause.
- Sherlock Holmes: Oh, the cause is excellent.
- Dr. John Watson: Well, then I am your man.
- Dr. John Watson: The best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a woman's wit. He used to sneer much at 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 that woman, it is always under the honourable title of *the* woman.
- King of Bohemia: What a woman! What a queen she would have made! Is it not a pity she was not on my level?
- Sherlock Holmes: From what I have seen of the lady, yes indeed, she is on a very different level to your Majesty.
- Sherlock Holmes: My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems; give me work. Give me the most abstruse cryptogram, the most intricate analysis, and I'm in my proper atmosphere. Then I can dispense with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave mental exultation. That is why I have chosen my own profession, or rather, created it, for I am the only one in the world.
- Dr. John Watson: The only unofficial detective?
- Sherlock Holmes: The only unofficial consulting detective.
- [first lines]
- John: [surprising two burglars] Got you!
- [Irene enters with a gun, and gestures with it for the burglars to drop their knives]
- 1st Burglar: Now look here!
- [Irene gestures for the burglars to leave]
- John: But, ma'am...
- [the burglars leave by the window]
- Irene Adler: Close the window, John.
- Dr. John Watson: [narrating] To Sherlock Holmes, she was always The Woman, the beautiful Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory.
- [last lines]
- Dr. John Watson: [narrating] There is but one woman to him: the beautiful Irene Adler of dubious and questionable memory.
- Dr. John Watson: [Watson and a disguised Holmes travel by hansom cab to Irene Adler's home to retrieve a compromising photograph] Well, the question is, where to find the photograph? I mean, the house has twice been burgled.
- Sherlock Holmes: Ah, she was too clever for them. She is a remarkable woman.
- Dr. John Watson: Well, they must have searched very thoroughly.
- Sherlock Holmes: *They* did not know how to look.
- Dr. John Watson: And how will you look?
- Sherlock Holmes: I shall not look.
- Dr. John Watson: What, then?
- Sherlock Holmes: I will allow her to show me.
- Dr. John Watson: [bursts out laughing] But she'll refuse!
- Sherlock Holmes: She will not be able to. Ah, we draw near the scene of action. We had better walk from here.
- [knocks on the ceiling of the cab]
- Sherlock Holmes: Was there a secret marriage?
- King of Bohemia: None.
- Sherlock Holmes: No legal papers or certificates?
- King of Bohemia: None.
- Sherlock Holmes: Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If the person should produce your letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is she to prove their authenticity?
- King of Bohemia: There is the writing.
- Sherlock Holmes: Pooh, pooh! Forgery!
- King of Bohemia: My private writing paper.
- Sherlock Holmes: Stolen!
- King of Bohemia: My own seal.
- Sherlock Holmes: Imitated!
- King of Bohemia: My photograph.
- Sherlock Holmes: Bought!
- King of Bohemia: [slowly saying] We... were both in... the photograph.
- Sherlock Holmes: Oh dear, dear, dear. Yes, that is very bad. Your Majesty has certainly committed an indiscretion.