and then took a seat.
"This gentleman?" said he, with a wave in my direction.
"Is it discreet? Is it right?"
"Dr. Watson is my friend and partner."
"Very good, Mr. Holmes. It is only in your client's interests
that I protested. The matter is so very delicate ----"
"Dr. Watson has already heard of it."
"Then we can proceed to business. You say that you are acting
for Lady Eva. Has she empowered you to accept my terms?"
"What are your terms?"
"Seven thousand pounds."
"And the alternative?"
"My dear sir, it is painful for me to discuss it; but if
the money is not paid on the 14th there certainly will be
no marriage on the 18th." His insufferable smile was more
complacent than ever.
Holmes thought for a little.
"You appear to me," he said, at last, "to be taking matters
too much for granted. I am, of course, familiar with the
contents of these letters. My client will certainly do
what I may advise. I shall counsel her to tell her future
husband the whole story and to trust to his generosity."
Milverton chuckled.
"You evidently do not know the Earl," said he.
From the baffled look upon Holmes's face I could see
clearly that he did.
"What harm is there in the letters?" he asked.
"They are sprightly -- very sprightly," Milverton answered.
"The lady was a charming correspondent. But I can assure
you that the Earl of Dovercourt would fail to appreciate
them. However, since you think otherwise, we will let it
rest at that. It is purely a matter of business. If you
think that it is in the best interests of your client that
these letters should be placed in the hands of the Earl,
then you would indeed be foolish to pay so large a sum of
money to regain them." He rose and seized his astrachan
coat.
Holmes was grey with anger and mortification.
"Wait a little," he said. "You go too fast. We would
certainly make every effort to avoid scandal in so delicate
a matter."
Milverton relapsed into his chair.
"I was sure that you would see it in that light," he purred.
"At the same time," Holmes continued, "Lady Eva is not a
wealthy woman. I assure you that two thousand pounds would
be a drain upon her resources, and that the sum you name is
utterly beyond her power. I beg, therefore, that you will
moderate your demands, and that you will return the letters
at the price I indicate, which is, I assure you, the
highest that you can get."
Milverton's smile broadened and his eyes twinkled humorously.
"I am aware that what you say is true about the lady's
resources," said he. "At the same time, you must admit
that the occasion of a lady's marriage is a very suitable
time for her friends and relatives to make some little
effort upon her behalf. They may hesitate as to an
acceptable wedding present. Let me assure them that this
little bundle of letters would give more joy than all the
candelabra and butter-dishes in London."
"It is impossible," said Holmes.
"Dear me, dear me, how unfortunate!" cried Milverton,
taking out a bulky pocket-book. "I cannot help thinking
that ladies are ill-advised in not making an effort. Look
at this!" He held up a little note with a coat-of-arms
upon the envelope. "That belongs to -- well, perhaps it is
hardly fair to tell the name until to-morrow morning. But
at that time it will be in the hands of the lady's husband.
And all because she will not find a beggarly sum which she
could get in an hour by turning her diamonds into paste.
It _is_ such a pity. Now, you remember the sudden end of
the engagement between the Honourable Miss Miles and
Colonel Dorking? Only two days before the wedding there
was a paragraph in the _Morning Post_ to say that it was
all off. And why? It is almost incredible, but the absurd
sum of twelve hundred pounds would have settled the whole
question. Is it not pitiful? And here I find you, a man
of sense, boggling about terms when your client's future
and honour are at stake. You surprise me, Mr. Holmes."
"What I say is true," Holmes answered. "The money cannot
be found. Surely it is better for you to take the
substantial sum which I offer than to ruin this woman's
career, which can profit you in no way?"
"There you make a mistake, Mr. Holmes. An exposure would
profit me indirectly to a considerable extent. I have
eight or ten similar cases maturing. If it was circulated
among them that I had made a severe example of the Lady Eva
I should find all of them much more open to reason. You
see my point?"
Holmes sprang from his chair.
"Get behind him, Watson! Don't let him out!
Now, sir, let us see the contents of that note-book."
Milverton had glided as quick as a rat to the side of the
room, and stood with his back against the wall.
"Mr. Holmes, Mr. Holmes," he said, turning the front of his
coat and exhibiting the butt of a large revolver, which
projected from the inside pocket. "I have been expecting
you to do something original. This has been done so often,
and what good has ever come from it? I assure you that I
am armed to the teeth, and I am perfectly prepared to use
my weapons, knowing that the law will support me. Besides,
your supposition that I would bring the letters here in a
note-book is entirely mistaken. I would do nothing so
foolish. And now, gentlemen, I have one or two little
interviews this evening, and it is a long drive to
Hampstead." He stepped forward, took up his coat, laid his
hand on his revolver, and turned to the door. I picked up
a chair, but Holmes shook his head and I laid it down
again. With a bow, a smile, and a twinkle Milverton was
out of the room, and a few moments after we heard the slam
of the carriage door and the rattle of the wheels as he
drove away.
Holmes sat motionless by the fire, his hands buried deep in
his trouser pockets, his chin sunk upon his breast, his
eyes fixed upon the glowing embers. For half an hour he
was silent and still. Then, with the gesture of a man who
has taken his decision, he sprang to his feet and passed
into his bedroom. A little later a rakish young workman
with a goatee beard and a swagger lit his clay pipe at the
lamp before descending into the street. "I'll be back some
time, Watson," said he, and vanished into the night.
I understood that he had opened his campaign against Charles
Augustus Milverton; but I little dreamed the strange shape
which that campaign was destined to take.
For some days Holmes came and went at all hours in this
attire, but beyond a remark that his time was spent at
Hampstead, and that it was not wasted, I knew nothing of
&nb
sp; what he was doing. At last, however, on a wild,
tempestuous evening, when the wind screamed and rattled
against the windows, he returned from his last expedition,
and having removed his disguise he sat before the fire and
laughed heartily in his silent inward fashion.
"You would not call me a marrying man, Watson?"
"No, indeed!"
"You'll be interested to hear that I am engaged."
"My dear fellow! I congrat ----"
"To Milverton's housemaid."
"Good heavens, Holmes!"
"I wanted information, Watson."
"Surely you have gone too far?"
"It was a most necessary step. I am a plumber with a
rising business, Escott by name. I have walked out with
her each evening, and I have talked with her. Good
heavens, those talks! However, I have got all I wanted.
I know Milverton's house as I know the palm of my hand."
"But the girl, Holmes?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"You can't help it, my dear Watson. You must play your
cards as best you can when such a stake is on the table.
However, I rejoice to say that I have a hated rival who
will certainly cut me out the instant that my back is
turned. What a splendid night it is!"
"You like this weather?"
"It suits my purpose. Watson, I mean to burgle Milverton's
house to-night."
I had a catching of the breath, and my skin went cold at
the words, which were slowly uttered in a tone of
concentrated resolution. As a flash of lightning in the
night shows up in an instant every detail of a wide
landscape, so at one glance I seemed to see every possible
result of such an action -- the detection, the capture, the
honoured career ending in irreparable failure and disgrace,
my friend himself lying at the mercy of the odious
Milverton.
"For Heaven's sake, Holmes, think what you are doing," I cried.
"My dear fellow, I have given it every consideration.
I am never precipitate in my actions, nor would I adopt so
energetic and indeed so dangerous a course if any other
were possible. Let us look at the matter clearly and
fairly. I suppose that you will admit that the action is
morally justifiable, though technically criminal.
To burgle his house is no more than to forcibly take his
pocket-book -- an action in which you were prepared to aid me."
I turned it over in my mind.
"Yes," I said; "it is morally justifiable so long as our
object is to take no articles save those which are used for
an illegal purpose."
"Exactly. Since it is morally justifiable I have only to
consider the question of personal risk. Surely a gentleman
should not lay much stress upon this when a lady is in most
desperate need of his help?"
"You will be in such a false position."
"Well, that is part of the risk. There is no other
possible way of regaining these letters. The unfortunate
lady has not the money, and there are none of her people in
whom she could confide. To-morrow is the last day of
grace, and unless we can get the letters to-night this
villain will be as good as his word and will bring about
her ruin. I must, therefore, abandon my client to her fate
or I must play this last card. Between ourselves, Watson,
it's a sporting duel between this fellow Milverton and me.
He had, as you saw, the best of the first exchanges; but my
self-respect and my reputation are concerned to fight it to
a finish."
"Well, I don't like it; but I suppose it must be," said I.
"When do we start?"
"You are not coming."
"Then you are not going," said I. "I give you my word of
honour -- and I never broke it in my life -- that I will
take a cab straight to the police-station and give you away
unless you let me share this adventure with you."
"You can't help me."
"How do you know that? You can't tell what may happen.
Anyway, my resolution is taken. Other people beside you
have self-respect and even reputations."
Holmes had looked annoyed, but his brow cleared, and he
clapped me on the shoulder.
"Well, well, my dear fellow, be it so. We have shared the
same room for some years, and it would be amusing if we
ended by sharing the same cell. You know, Watson, I don't
mind confessing to you that I have always had an idea that
I would have made a highly efficient criminal. This is the
chance of my lifetime in that direction. See here!" He
took a neat little leather case out of a drawer, and
opening it he exhibited a number of shining instruments.
"This is a first-class, up-to-date burgling kit, with
nickel-plated jemmy, diamond-tipped glass-cutter, adaptable
keys, and every modern improvement which the march of
civilization demands. Here, too, is my dark lantern.
Everything is in order. Have you a pair of silent shoes?"
"I have rubber-soled tennis shoes."
"Excellent. And a mask?"
"I can make a couple out of black silk."
"I can see that you have a strong natural turn for this
sort of thing. Very good; do you make the masks.
We shall have some cold supper before we start. It is now
nine-thirty. At eleven we shall drive as far as Church
Row. It is a quarter of an hour's walk from there to
Appledore Towers. We shall be at work before midnight.
Milverton is a heavy sleeper and retires punctually at
ten-thirty. With any luck we should be back here by two,
with the Lady Eva's letters in my pocket."
Holmes and I put on our dress-clothes, so that we might
appear to be two theatre-goers homeward bound. In Oxford
Street we picked up a hansom and drove to an address in
Hampstead. Here we paid off our cab, and with our
great-coats buttoned up, for it was bitterly cold and the
wind seemed to blow through us, we walked along the edge of
the Heath.
"It's a business that needs delicate treatment," said
Holmes. "These documents are contained in a safe in the
fellow's study, and the study is the ante-room of his
bed-chamber. On the other hand, like all these stout,
little men who do themselves well, he is a plethoric
sleeper. Agatha -- that's my _fiancee_ -- says {2} it is a
joke in the servants' hall that it's impossible to wake the
master. He has a secretary who is devoted to his interests
and never budges from the study all day. That's why we are
going at night. Then he has a beast of a dog which roams
the garden. I met Agatha late the last two evenings, and
she locks the brute up so as to give me a clear run. This
is the house, this big one in its own grounds. Through the
gate -- now to the right among the laurels. We might put
on our masks here, I think. You see, there is not a
glimmer of light in any of the windows, and everything is
working splendidly."
>
With our black silk face-coverings, which turned us into
two of the most truculent figures in London, we stole up to
the silent, gloomy house. A sort of tiled veranda extended
along one side of it, lined by several windows and two doors.
"That's his bedroom," Holmes whispered. "This door opens
straight into the study. It would suit us best, but it is
bolted as well as locked, and we should make too much noise
getting in. Come round here. There's a greenhouse which
opens into the drawing-room."
The place was locked, but Holmes removed a circle of glass
and turned the key from the inside. An instant afterwards
he had closed the door behind us, and we had become felons
in the eyes of the law. The thick, warm air of the
conservatory and the rich, choking fragrance of exotic
plants took us by the throat. He seized my hand in the
darkness and led me swiftly past banks of shrubs which
brushed against our faces. Holmes had remarkable powers,
carefully cultivated, of seeing in the dark. Still holding
my hand in one of his he opened a door, and I was vaguely
conscious that we had entered a large room in which a cigar
had been smoked not long before. He felt his way among the
furniture, opened another door, and closed it behind us.
Putting out my hand I felt several coats hanging from the
wall, and I understood that I was in a passage. We passed
along it, and Holmes very gently opened a door upon the
right-hand side. Something rushed out at us and my heart
sprang into my mouth, but I could have laughed when I
realized that it was the cat. A fire was burning in this
new room, and again the air was heavy with tobacco smoke.
Holmes entered on tiptoe, waited for me to follow, and then
very gently closed the door. We were in Milverton's study,
and a _portiere_ {3} at the farther side showed the
entrance to his bedroom.
It was a good fire, and the room was illuminated by it.
Near the door I saw the gleam of an electric switch, but it
was unnecessary, even if it had been safe, to turn it on.
At one side of the fireplace was a heavy curtain,
which covered the bay window we had seen from outside.
On the other side was the door which communicated with the
veranda. A desk stood in the centre, with a turning chair
of shining red leather. Opposite was a large bookcase,
with a marble bust of Athene on the top. In the corner
between the bookcase and the wall there stood a tall green
safe, the firelight flashing back from the polished brass
knobs upon its face. Holmes stole across and looked at it.
Then he crept to the door of the bedroom, and stood with
slanting head listening intently. No sound came from
within. Meanwhile it had struck me that it would be wise
to secure our retreat through the outer door, so I examined it.
To my amazement it was neither locked nor bolted! I touched
Holmes on the arm, and he turned his masked face in that
direction. I saw him start, and he was evidently as
surprised as I.
"I don't like it," he whispered, putting his lips to my very ear.
"I can't quite make it out. Anyhow, we have no time to lose."
"Can I do anything?"
"Yes; stand by the door. If you hear anyone come, bolt it
on the inside, and we can get away as we came. If they
come the other way, we can get through the door if our job
is done, or hide behind these window curtains if it is not.
Do you understand?"
I nodded and stood by the door. My first feeling of fear
had passed away, and I thrilled now with a keener zest than
I had ever enjoyed when we were the defenders of the law
instead of its defiers. The high object of our mission,
the consciousness that it was unselfish and chivalrous, the
villainous character of our opponent, all added to the
sporting interest of the adventure. Far from feeling
guilty, I rejoiced and exulted in our dangers. With a glow
of admiration I watched Holmes unrolling his case of