Sherlock Holmes complete collection by sir arthur conan doyle

The Return of Sherlock Holmes CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON

IT IS years since the incidents of which I speak took place, and yet it iswith diffidence that I allude to them. For a long time, even with theutmost discretion and reticence, it would have been impossible to makethe facts public, but now the principal person concerned is beyond thereach of human law, and with due suppression the story may be told insuch fashion as to injure no one. It records an absolutely uniqueexperience in the career both of Mr. Sherlock Holmes and of myself. Thereader will excuse me if I conceal the date or any other fact by which hemight trace the actual occurrence.We had been out for one of our evening rambles, Holmes and I, andhad returned about six o'clock on a cold, frosty winter's evening. AsHolmes turned up the lamp the light fell upon a card on the table. Heglanced at it, and then, with an ejaculation of disgust, threw it on thefloor. I picked it up and read:CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON,Appledore Towers,Hampstead.Agent."Who is he?" I asked."The worst man in London," Holmes answered, as he sat down andstretched his legs before the fire. "Is anything on the back of the card?"I turned it over."Will call at 6:30-C. A. M.," I read."Hum! He's about due. Do you feel a creeping, shrinking sensation,Watson, when you stand before the serpents in the Zoo, and see theslithery, gliding, venomous creatures, with their deadly eyes and wicked,flattened faces? Well, that's how Milverton impresses me. I've had to dowith fifty murderers in my career, but the worst of them never gave methe repulsion which I have for this fellow. And yet I can't get out of doingbusiness with him-indeed, he is here at my invitation.""But who is he?""I'll tell you, Watson. He is the king of all the blackmailers. Heavenhelp the man, and still more the woman, whose secret and reputationcome into the power of Milverton! With a smiling face and a heart ofmarble, he will squeeze and squeeze until he has drained them dry. Thefellow is a genius in his way, and would have made his mark in somemore savoury trade. His method is as follows: He allows it to be knownthat he is prepared to pay very high sums for letters which compromisepeople of wealth and position. He receives these wares not only from treacherous valets or maids, but frequently from genteel ruffians, whohave gained the confidence and affection of trusting women. He dealswith no niggard [573] hand. I happen to know that he paid seven hundredpounds to a footman for a note two lines in length, and that the ruin of anoble family was the result. Everything which is in the market goes toMilverton, and there are hundreds in this great city who turn white at hisname. No one knows where his grip may fall, for he is far too rich and fartoo cunning to work from hand to mouth. He will hold a card back foryears in order to play it at the moment when the stake is best worthwinning. I have said that he is the worst man in London, and I would askyou how could one compare the ruffian, who in hot blood bludgeons hismate, with this man, who methodically and at his leisure tortures the souland wrings the nerves in order to add to his already swollen money-bags?"I had seldom heard my friend speak with such intensity of feeling."But surely," said I, "the fellow must be within the grasp of the law?""Technically, no doubt, but practically not. What would it profit awoman, for example, to get him a few months' imprisonment if her ownruin must immediately follow? His victims dare not hit back. If ever heblackmailed an innocent person, then indeed we should have him, but heis as cunning as the Evil One. No, no, we must find other ways to fighthim.""And why is he here?""Because an illustrious client has placed her piteous case in my hands.It is the Lady Eva Blackwell, the most beautiful debutante of last season.She is to be married in a fortnight to the Earl of Dovercourt. This fiendhas several imprudent letters-imprudent, Watson, nothing worse-whichwere written to an impecunious young squire in the country. They wouldsuffice to break off the match. Milverton will send the letters to the Earlunless a large sum of money is paid him. I have been commissioned tomeet him, and-to make the best terms I can."At that instant there was a clatter and a rattle in the street below.Looking down I saw a stately carriage and pair, the brilliant lampsgleaming on the glossy haunches of the noble chestnuts. A footmanopened the door, and a small, stout man in a shaggy astrakhan overcoatdescended. A minute later he was in the room.Charles Augustus Milverton was a man of fifty, with a large,intellectual head, a round, plump, hairless face, a perpetual frozen smile,and two keen gray eyes, which gleamed brightly from behind broad, goldrimmed glasses. There was something of Mr. Pickwick's benevolence inhis appearance, marred only by the insincerity of the fixed smile and bythe hard glitter of those restless and penetrating eyes. His voice was assmooth and suave as his countenance, as he advanced with a plump littlehand extended, murmuring his regret for having missed us at his firstvisit. Holmes disregarded the outstretched hand and looked at him with aface of granite. Milverton's smile broadened, he shrugged his shoulders,removed his overcoat, folded it with great deliberation over the back of achair, 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 Iprotested. 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 forLady Eva. Has she empowered you to accept my terms?""What are your terms?"[574] "Seven thousand pounds.""And the alternative?""My dear sir, it is painful for me to discuss it, but if the money is notpaid on the 14th, there certainly will be no marriage on the 18th." Hisinsufferable 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 forgranted. I am, of course, familiar with the contents of these letters. Myclient will certainly do what I may advise. I shall counsel her to tell herfuture 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 hedid."What harm is there in the letters?" he asked."They are sprightly-very sprightly," Milverton answered. "The ladywas a charming correspondent. But I can assure you that the Earl of Dovercourt would fail to appreciate them. However, since you thinkotherwise, we will let it rest at that. It is purely a matter of business. Ifyou think that it is in the best interests of your client that these lettersshould be placed in the hands of the Earl, then you would indeed befoolish to pay so large a sum of money to regain them." He rose andseized his astrakhan coat.Holmes was gray with anger and mortification."Wait a little," he said. "You go too fast. We should certainly makeevery 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 wealthywoman. I assure you that two thousand pounds would be a drain upon herresources, and that the sum you name is utterly beyond her power. I beg,therefore, that you will moderate your demands, and that you will returnthe letters at the price I indicate, which is, I assure you, the highest thatyou 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," saidhe. "At the same time you must admit that the occasion of a lady'smarriage is a very suitable time for her friends and relatives to make somelittle effort upon her behalf. They may hesitate as to an acceptablewedding present. Let me assure them that this little bundle of letterswould 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 abulky pocketbook. "I cannot help thinking that ladies are ill-advised innot making an effort. Look at this!" He held up a little note with a coat-ofarms upon the envelope. "That belongs to-well, perhaps it is hardly fair totell the name until to-morrow morning. But at that time it will be in thehands of the lady's husband. And all because she will not find a beggarlysum which she could get by turning her diamonds into paste. It is such apity! Now, you remember the sudden end of the engagement between theHonourable Miss Miles and Colonel Dorking? Only two days before thewedding, there was a paragraph in the Morning Post to say that it was alloff. And why? It is almost incredible, but the absurd sum of twelve [575]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 yourclient'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 toruin this woman's career, which can profit you in no way?""There you make a mistake, Mr. Holmes. An exposure would profit meindirectly to a considerable extent. I have eight or ten similar casesmaturing. If it was circulated among them that I had made a severeexample of the Lady Eva, I should find all of them much more open toreason. 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 notebook."Milverton had glided as quick as a rat to the side of the room and stoodwith his back against the wall."Mr. Holmes, Mr. Holmes," he said, turning the front of his coat andexhibiting the butt of a large revolver, which projected from the insidepocket. "I have been expecting you to do something original. This hasbeen done so often, and what good has ever come from it? I assure youthat I am armed to the teeth, and I am perfectly prepared to use myweapons, knowing that the law will support me. Besides, your suppositionthat I would bring the letters here in a notebook is entirely mistaken. Iwould do nothing so foolish. And now, gentlemen, I have one or two littleinterviews this evening, and it is a long drive to Hampstead." He steppedforward, took up his coat, laid his hand on his revolver, and turned to thedoor. I picked up a chair, but Holmes shook his head, and I laid it downagain. 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 therattle of the wheels as he drove away.Holmes sat motionless by the fire, his hands buried deep in his trouserpockets, his chin sunk upon his breast, his eyes fixed upon the glowingembers. For half an hour he was silent and still. Then, with the gesture ofa man who has taken his decision, he sprang to his feet and passed intohis bedroom. A little later a rakish young workman, with a goatee beardand a swagger, lit his clay pipe at the lamp before descending into thestreet. "I'll be back some time, Watson," said he, and vanished into thenight. I understood that he had opened his campaign against CharlesAugustus Milverton, but I little dreamed the strange shape which thatcampaign 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 notwasted, I knew nothing of what he was doing. At last, however, on a wild,tempestuous evening, when the wind screamed and rattled against thewindows, he returned from his last expedition, and having removed hisdisguise he sat before the fire and laughed heartily in his silent inwardfashion."You would not call me a marrying man, Watson?""No, indeed!""You'll be interested to hear that I'm engaged.""My dear fellow! I congrat- -""To Milverton's housemaid.""Good heavens, Holmes!"[576] "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 havetalked with her. Good heavens, those talks! However, I have got all Iwanted. 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 bestyou can when such a stake is on the table. However, I rejoice to say that Ihave a hated rival, who will certainly cut me out the instant that my backis turned. What a splendid night it is!""You like this weather?""It suits my purpose. Watson, I mean to burgle Milverton's house tonight."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 flashof lightning in the night shows up in an instant every detail of a wildlandscape, so at one glance I seemed to see every possible result of suchan action-the detection, the capture, the honoured career ending inirreparable failure and disgrace, my friend himself lying at the mercy ofthe 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 neverprecipitate in my actions, nor would I adopt so energetic and, indeed, sodangerous a course, if any other were possible. Let us look at the matterclearly and fairly. I suppose that you will admit that the action is morallyjustifiable, though technically criminal. To burgle his house is no morethan to forcibly take his pocketbook-an action in which you wereprepared 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 noarticles save those which are used for an illegal purpose.""Exactly. Since it is morally justifiable, I have only to consider thequestion of personal risk. Surely a gentleman should not lay much stressupon 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 ofregaining these letters. The unfortunate lady has not the money, and thereare none of her people in whom she could confide. To-morrow is the lastday of grace, and unless we can get the letters to-night, this villain will beas 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. Betweenourselves, Watson, it's a sporting duel between this fellow Milverton andme. He had, as you saw, the best of the first exchanges, but my selfrespect 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 westart?""You are not coming.""Then you are not going," said I. "I give you my word of honour-and Inever broke it in my life-that I will take a cab straight to the policestation and give you away, unless you let me share this adventure withyou.""You can't help me.""How do you know that? You can't tell what may happen. Anyway, my[577] resolution is taken. Other people besides you have self-respect, andeven reputations."Holmes had looked annoyed, but his brow cleared, and he clapped meon the shoulder."Well, well, my dear fellow, be it so. We have shared this same roomfor some years, and it would be amusing if we ended by sharing the samecell. You know, Watson, I don't mind confessing to you that I havealways 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 aneat little leather case out of a drawer, and opening it he exhibited anumber of shining instruments. "This is a first-class, up-to-date burglingkit, with nickel-plated jemmy, diamond-tipped glass-cutter, adaptablekeys, and every modern improvement which the march of civilizationdemands. Here, too, is my dark lantern. Everything is in order. Have youa 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 supperbefore we start. It is now nine-thirty. At eleven we shall drive as far asChurch Row. It is a quarter of an hour's walk from there to AppledoreTowers. We shall be at work before midnight. Milverton is a heavysleeper, and retires punctually at ten-thirty. With any luck we should beback 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 betwo theatre-goers homeward bound. In Oxford Street we picked up ahansom 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 windseemed to blow through us, we walked along the edge of the heath."It's a business that needs delicate treatment," said Holmes. "Thesedocuments are contained in a safe in the fellow's study, and the study isthe 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'smy fiancee-says it is a joke in the servants' hall that it's impossible towake the master. He has a secretary who is devoted to his interests, andnever 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 latethe last two evenings, and she locks the brute up so as to give me a clearrun. This is the house, this big one in its own grounds. Through thegate-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 themost 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 severalwindows and two doors."That's his bedroom," Holmes whispered. "This door opens straightinto the study. It would suit us best, but it is bolted as well as locked, andwe should make too much noise getting in. Come round here. There's agreenhouse which opens into the drawing-room."The place was locked, but Holmes removed a circle of glass and turnedthe key from the inside. An instant afterwards he had closed the doorbehind us, and we had become felons in the eyes of the law. The thick,warm air of the conservatory [578] and the rich, choking fragrance ofexotic plants took us by the throat. He seized my hand in the darkness andled me swiftly past banks of shrubs which brushed against our faces. Holmes had remarkable powers, carefully cultivated, of seeing in thedark. Still holding my hand in one of his, he opened a door, and I wasvaguely conscious that we had entered a large room in which a cigar hadbeen smoked not long before. He felt his way among the furniture,opened another door, and closed it behind us. Putting out my hand I feltseveral coats hanging from the wall, and I understood that I was in apassage. We passed along it, and Holmes very gently opened a door uponthe right-hand side. Something rushed out at us and my heart sprang intomy mouth, but I could have laughed when I realized that it was the cat. Afire was burning in this new room, and again the air was heavy withtobacco smoke. Holmes entered on tiptoe, waited for me to follow, andthen very gently closed the door. We were in Milverton's study, and aportiere 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 Isaw the gleam of an electric switch, but it was unnecessary, even if it hadbeen safe, to turn it on. At one side of the fireplace was a heavy curtainwhich covered the bay window we had seen from outside. On the otherside was the door which communicated with the veranda. A desk stood inthe centre, with a turning-chair of shining red leather. Opposite was alarge 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, thefirelight flashing back from the polished brass knobs upon its face.Holmes stole across and looked at it. Then he crept to the door of thebedroom, and stood with slanting head listening intently. No sound camefrom within. Meanwhile it had struck me that it would be wise to secureour retreat through the outer door, so I examined it. To my amazement, itwas neither locked nor bolted. I touched Holmes on the arm, and heturned his masked face in that direction. I saw him start, and he wasevidently as surprised as I."I don't like it," he whispered, putting his lips to my very ear. "I can'tquite 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 getthrough the door if our job is done, or hide behind these window curtainsif it is not. Do you understand?"I nodded, and stood by the door. My first feeling of fear had passedaway, and I thrilled now with a keener zest than I had ever enjoyed whenwe were the defenders of the law instead of its defiers. The high object ofour mission, the consciousness that it was unselfish and chivalrous, thevillainous character of our opponent, all added to the sporting interest ofthe adventure. Far from feeling guilty, I rejoiced and exulted in ourdangers. With a glow of admiration I watched Holmes unrolling his caseof instruments and choosing his tool with the calm, scientific accuracy ofa surgeon who performs a delicate operation. I knew that the opening ofsafes was a particular hobby with him, and I understood the joy which itgave him to be confronted with this green and gold monster, the dragonwhich held in its maw the reputations of many fair ladies. Turning up thecuffs of his dress-coat-he had placed his overcoat on a chair-Holmes laidout two drills, a jemmy, and several skeleton keys. I stood at the centredoor with my eyes glancing at each of the others, ready for anyemergency, though, indeed, my plans were [579] somewhat vague as towhat I should do if we were interrupted. For half an hour, Holmes worked with concentrated energy, laying down one tool, picking up another,handling each with the strength and delicacy of the trained mechanic.Finally I heard a click, the broad green door swung open, and inside I hada glimpse of a number of paper packets, each tied, sealed, and inscribed.Holmes picked one out, but it was hard to read by the flickering fire, andhe drew out his little dark lantern, for it was too dangerous, withMilverton in the next room, to switch on the electric light. Suddenly I sawhim halt, listen intently, and then in an instant he had swung the door ofthe safe to, picked up his coat, stuffed his tools into the pockets, anddarted behind the window curtain, motioning me to do the same.It was only when I had joined him there that I heard what had alarmedhis quicker senses. There was a noise somewhere within the house. Adoor slammed in the distance. Then a confused, dull murmur broke itselfinto the measured thud of heavy footsteps rapidly approaching. They werein the passage outside the room. They paused at the door. The dooropened. There was a sharp snick as the electric light was turned on. Thedoor closed once more, and the pungent reek of a strong cigar was borneto our nostrils. Then the footsteps continued backward and forward,backward and forward, within a few yards of us. Finally there was a creakfrom a chair, and the footsteps ceased. Then a key clicked in a lock, and Iheard the rustle of papers.So far I had not dared to look out, but now I gently parted the divisionof the curtains in front of me and peeped through. From the pressure ofHolmes's shoulder against mine, I knew that he was sharing my observations. Right in front of us, and almost within our reach, was thebroad, rounded back of Milverton. It was evident that we had entirelymiscalculated his movements, that he had never been to his bedroom, butthat he had been sitting up in some smoking or billiard room in the fartherwing of the house, the windows of which we had not seen. His broad,grizzled head, with its shining patch of baldness, was in the immediateforeground of our vision. He was leaning far back in the red leather chair,his legs outstretched, a long, black cigar projecting at an angle from hismouth. He wore a semi-military smoking jacket, claret-coloured, with ablack velvet collar. In his hand he held a long, legal document which hewas reading in an indolent fashion, blowing rings of tobacco smoke fromhis lips as he did so. There was no promise of a speedy departure in hiscomposed bearing and his comfortable attitude.I felt Holmes's hand steal into mine and give me a reassuring shake, asif to say that the situation was within his powers, and that he was easy inhis mind. I was not sure whether he had seen what was only too obviousfrom my position, that the door of the safe was imperfectly closed, andthat Milverton might at any moment observe it. In my own mind I haddetermined that if I were sure, from the rigidity of his gaze, that it hadcaught his eye, I would at once spring out, throw my great coat over hishead, pinion him, and leave the rest to Holmes. But Milverton neverlooked up. He was languidly interested by the papers in his hand, andpage after page was turned as he followed the argument of the lawyer. Atleast, I thought, when he has finished the document and the cigar he willgo to his room, but before he had reached the end of either, there came aremarkable development, which turned our thoughts into quite anotherchannel.Several times I had observed that Milverton looked at his watch, andonce he had risen and sat down again, with a gesture of impatience. Theidea, however, [580] that he might have an appointment at so strange anhour never occurred to me until a faint sound reached my ears from theveranda outside. Milverton dropped his papers and sat rigid in his chair.The sound was repeated, and then there came a gentle tap at the door.Milverton rose and opened it."Well," said he, curtly, "you are nearly half an hour late."So this was the explanation of the unlocked door and of the nocturnalvigil of Milverton. There was the gentle rustle of a woman's dress. I hadclosed the slit between the curtains as Milverton's face had turned in ourdirection, but now I ventured very carefully to open it once more. He hadresumed his seat, the cigar still projecting at an insolent angle from thecorner of his mouth. In front of him, in the full glare of the electric light,there stood a tall, slim, dark woman, a veil over her face, a mantle drawnround her chin. Her breath came quick and fast, and every inch of thelithe figure was quivering with strong emotion."Well," said Milverton, "you made me lose a good night's rest, mydear. I hope you'll prove worth it. You couldn't come any other time-eh?"The woman shook her head."Well, if you couldn't you couldn't. If the Countess is a hard mistress,you have your chance to get level with her now. Bless the girl, what areyou shivering about? That's right. Pull yourself together. Now, let us getdown to business." He took a notebook from the drawer of his desk. "Yousay that you have five letters which compromise the Countess d'Albert.You want to sell them. I want to buy them. So far so good. It only remainsto fix a price. I should want to inspect the letters, of course. If they arereally good specimens- - Great heavens, is it you?"The woman, without a word, had raised her veil and dropped themantle from her chin. It was a dark, handsome, clear-cut face whichconfronted Milverton- a face with a curved nose, strong, dark eyebrowsshading hard, glittering eyes, and a straight, thin-lipped mouth set in adangerous smile."It is I," she said, "the woman whose life you have ruined."Milverton laughed, but fear vibrated in his voice. "You were so veryobstinate," said he. "Why did you drive me to such extremities? I assureyou I wouldn't hurt a fly of my own accord, but every man has hisbusiness, and what was I to do? I put the price well within your means.You would not pay.""So you sent the letters to my husband, and he-the noblest gentlemanthat ever lived, a man whose boots I was never worthy to lace-he brokehis gallant heart and died. You remember that last night, when I camethrough that door, I begged and prayed you for mercy, and you laughed inmy face as you are trying to laugh now, only your coward heart cannotkeep your lips from twitching. Yes, you never thought to see me hereagain, but it was that night which taught me how I could meet you face toface, and alone. Well, Charles Milverton, what have you to say?""Don't imagine that you can bully me," said he, rising to his feet. "I have only to raise my voice, and I could call my servants and have youarrested. But I will make allowance for your natural anger. Leave theroom at once as you came, and I will say no more."The woman stood with her hand buried in her bosom, and the samedeadly smile on her thin lips."You will ruin no more lives as you have ruined mine. You will wringno more hearts as you wrung mine. I will free the world of a poisonousthing. Take that, you hound-and that!-and that!-and that!-and that!"[581] She had drawn a little gleaming revolver, and emptied barrel afterbarrel into Milverton's body, the muzzle within two feet of his shirt front.He shrank away and then fell forward upon the table, coughing furiouslyand clawing among the papers. Then he staggered to his feet, receivedanother shot, and rolled upon the floor. "You've done me," he cried, andlay still. The woman looked at him intently, and ground her heel into hisupturned face. She looked again, but there was no sound or movement. Iheard a sharp rustle, the night air blew into the heated room, and theavenger was gone.No interference upon our part could have saved the man from his fate,but, as the woman poured bullet after bullet into Milverton's shrinkingbody I was about to spring out, when I felt Holmes's cold, strong graspupon my wrist. I understood the whole argument of that firm, restraininggrip-that it was no affair of ours, that justice had overtaken a villain, thatwe had our own duties and our own objects, which were not to be lostsight of. But hardly had the woman rushed from the room when Holmes,with swift, silent steps, was over at the other door. He turned the key in the lock. At the same instant we heard voices in the house and the soundof hurrying feet. The revolver shots had roused the household. Withperfect coolness Holmes slipped across to the safe, filled his two armswith bundles of letters, and poured them all into the fire. Again and againhe did it, until the safe was empty. Someone turned the handle and beatupon the outside of the door. Holmes looked swiftly round. The letterwhich had been the messenger of death for Milverton lay, all mottled withhis blood, upon the table. Holmes tossed it in among the blazing papers.Then he drew the key from the outer door, passed through after me, andlocked it on the outside. "This way, Watson," said he, "we can scale thegarden wall in this direction."I could not have believed that an alarm could have spread so swiftly.Looking back, the huge house was one blaze of light. The front door wasopen, and figures were rushing down the drive. The whole garden wasalive with people, and one fellow raised a view-halloa as we emergedfrom the veranda and followed hard at our heels. Holmes seemed to knowthe grounds perfectly, and he threaded his way swiftly among a plantationof small trees, I close at his heels, and our foremost pursuer pantingbehind us. It was a six-foot wall which barred our path, but he sprang tothe top and over. As I did the same I felt the hand of the man behind megrab at my ankle, but I kicked myself free and scrambled over a grassstrewn coping. I fell upon my face among some bushes, but Holmes hadme on my feet in an instant, and together we dashed away across the hugeexpanse of Hampstead Heath. We had run two miles, I suppose, beforeHolmes at last halted and listened intently. All was absolute silencebehind us. We had shaken off our pursuers and were safe.We had breakfasted and were smoking our morning pipe on the dayafter the remarkable experience which I have recorded, when Mr.Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, very solemn and impressive, was ushered intoour modest sitting-room."Good-morning, Mr. Holmes," said he; "good-morning. May I ask ifyou are very busy just now?""Not too busy to listen to you.""I thought that, perhaps, if you had nothing particular on hand, youmight care to assist us in a most remarkable case, which occurred onlylast night at Hampstead."[582] "Dear me!" said Holmes. "What was that?""A murder-a most dramatic and remarkable murder. I know how keenyou are upon these things, and I would take it as a great favour if youwould step down to Appledore Towers, and give us the benefit of youradvice. It is no ordinary crime. We have had our eyes upon this Mr.Milverton for some time, and, between ourselves, he was a bit of a villain.He is known to have held papers which he used for blackmailingpurposes. These papers have all been burned by the murderers. No articleof value was taken, as it is probable that the criminals were men of goodposition, whose sole object was to prevent social exposure.""Criminals?" said Holmes. "Plural?""Yes, there were two of them. They were as nearly as possible captured red-handed. We have their footmarks, we have their description, it's tento one that we trace them. The first fellow was a bit too active, but thesecond was caught by the under-gardener, and only got away after astruggle. He was a middle-sized, strongly built man-square jaw, thickneck, moustache, a mask over his eyes.""That's rather vague," said Sherlock Holmes. "Why, it might be adescription of Watson!""It's true," said the inspector, with amusement. "It might be adescription of Watson.""Well, I'm afraid I can't help you, Lestrade," said Holmes. "The fact isthat I knew this fellow Milverton, that I considered him one of the mostdangerous men in London, and that I think there are certain crimes whichthe law cannot touch, and which therefore, to some extent, justify privaterevenge. No, it's no use arguing. I have made up my mind. Mysympathies are with the criminals rather than with the victim, and I willnot handle this case."Holmes had not said one word to me about the tragedy which we hadwitnessed, but I observed all the morning that he was in his mostthoughtful mood, and he gave me the impression, from his vacant eyesand his abstracted manner, of a man who is striving to recall something tohis memory. We were in the middle of our lunch, when he suddenlysprang to his feet. "By Jove, Watson, I've got it!" he cried. "Take yourhat! Come with me!" He hurried at his top speed down Baker Street andalong Oxford Street, until we had almost reached Regent Circus. Here, on the left hand, there stands a shop window filled with photographs of thecelebrities and beauties of the day. Holmes's eyes fixed themselves uponone of them, and following his gaze I saw the picture of a regal andstately lady in Court dress, with a high diamond tiara upon her noblehead. I looked at that delicately curved nose, at the marked eyebrows, atthe straight mouth, and the strong little chin beneath it. Then I caught mybreath as I read the time-honoured title of the great nobleman andstatesman whose wife she had been. My eyes met those of Holmes, andhe put his finger to his lips as we turned away from the window.