The Return of Sherlock Holmes

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