the adventure of charles augustus milverton-第2章

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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　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　what　he　was　doing。　At　last；

however；　on　a　wild；　tempestuous　evening；　when　the　wind　screamed　and

rattled　against　the　windows；　be　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'm　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　wild　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　pocketbook…　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　besides　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　this　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　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

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