the adventure of charles augustus milverton-第3章

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　　〃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　instruments　and　choosing　his　tool

with　the　calm；　scientific　accuracy　of　a　surgeon　who　performs　a

delicate　operation。　I　knew　that　the　opening　of　safes　was　a

particular　hobby　with　him；　and　I　understood　the　joy　which　it　gave

him　to　be　confronted　with　this　green　and　gold　monster；　the　dragon

which　held　in　its　maw　the　reputations　of　many　fair　ladies。　Turning

up　the　cuffs　of　his　dress…coat…　he　had　placed　his　overcoat　on　a　chair…

Holmes　laid　out　two　drills；　a　jemmy；　and　several　skeleton　keys。　I

stood　at　the　centre　door　with　my　eyes　glancing　at　each　of　the

others；　ready　for　any　emergency；　though；　indeed；　my　plans　were

somewhat　vague　as　to　what　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　had　a　glimpse　of　a　number　of　paper　packets；

each　tied；　sealed；　and　inscribed。　Holmes　picked　one　out；　but　it　was　as

hard　to　read　by　the　flickering　fire；　and　he　drew　out　his　little　dark

lantern；　for　it　was　too　dangerous；　with　Milverton　in　the　next　room；　to

switch　on　the　electric　light。　Suddenly　I　saw　him　halt；　listen

intently；　and　then　in　an　instant　he　had　swung　the　door　of　the　safe　to；

picked　up　his　coat；　stuffed　his　tools　into　the　pockets；　and　darted

behind　the　window　curtain；　motioning　me　to　do　the　same。

　　It　was　only　when　I　had　joined　him　there　that　I　heard　what　had

alarmed　his　quicker　senses。　There　was　a　noise　somewhere　within　the

house。　A　door　slammed　in　the　distance。　Then　a　confused；　dull　murmur

broke　itself　into　the　measured　thud　of　heavy　footsteps　rapidly

approaching。　They　were　in　the　passage　outside　the　room。　They　paused　at

the　door。　The　door　opened。　There　was　a　sharp　snick　as　the　electric

light　was　turned　on。　The　door　closed　once　more；　and　the　pungent　reek

of　a　strong　cigar　was　home　to　our　nostrils。　Then　the　footsteps

continued　backward　and　forward；　backward　and　forward；　within　a　few

yards　of　us。　Finally　there　was　a　creak　from　a　chair；　and　the　footsteps

ceased。　Then　a　key　clicked　in　a　lock；　and　I　heard　the　rustle　of

papers。

　　So　far　I　had　not　dared　to　look　out；　but　now　I　gently　parted　the

division　of　the　curtains　in　front　of　me　and　peeped　through。　From　the

pressure　of　Holmes's　shoulder　against　mine；　I　knew　that　he　was　sharing

my　observations。　Right　in　front　of　us；　and　almost　within　our　reach；

was　the　broad；　rounded　back　of　Milverton。　It　was　evident　that　we　had

entirely　miscalculated　his　movements；　that　he　had　never　been　to　his

bedroom；　but　that　he　had　been　sitting　up　in　some　smoking　or　billiard

room　in　the　farther　wing　of　the　house；　the　windows　of　which　we　had　not

seen。　His　broad；　grizzled　head；　with　its　shining　patch　of　baldness；

was　in　the　immediate　foreground　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　his　mouth。　He　wore　a　semi…military　smoking

jacket；　claret…coloured；　with　a　black　velvet　collar。　In　his　hand　he

held　a　long；　legal　document　which　he　was　reading　in　an　indolent

fashion；　blowing　rings　of　tobacco　smoke　from　his　lips　as　he　did　so。

There　was　no　promise　of　a　speedy　departure　in　his　composed　bearing　and

his　comfortable　attitude。

　　I　felt　Holmes's　hand　steal　into　mine　and　give　me　a　reassuring　shake；

as　if　to　say　that　the　situation　was　within　his　powers；　and　that　he　was

easy　in　his　mind。　I　was　not　sure　whether　he　had　seen　what　was　only　too

obvious　from　my　position；　that　the　door　of　the　safe　was　imperfectly

closed；　and　that　Milverton　might　at　any　moment　observe　it。　In　my　own

mind　I　had　determined　that　if　I　were　sure；　from　the　rigidity　of　his

gaze；　that　it　had　caught　his　eye；　I　would　at　once　spring　out；　throw　my

great　coat　over　his　head；　pinion　him；　and　leave　the　rest　to　Holmes。

But　Milverton　never　looked　up。　He　was　languidly　interested　by　the

papers　in　his　hand；　and　page　after　page　was　turned　as　he　followed

the　argument　of　the　lawyer。　At　least；　I　thought；　when　he　has

finished　the　document　and　the　cigar　he　will　go　to　his　room；　but　before

he　had　reached　the　end　of　either；　there　came　a　remarkable　development；

which　turned　our　thoughts　into　quite　another　channel。

　　Several　times　I　had　observed　that　Milverton　looked　at　his　watch；　and

once　he　had　risen　and　sat　down　again；　with　a　gesture　of　impatience。

The　idea；　however；　that　he　might　have　an　appointment　at　so　strange

an　hour　never　occurred　to　me　until　a　faint　sound　reached　my　ears

from　the　veranda　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

nocturnal　vigil　of　Milverton。　There　was　the　gentle　rustle　of　a　woman's

dress。　I　had　closed　the　slit　between　the　curtains　as　Milverton's

face　had　turned　in　our　direction；　but　now　I　ventured　very　carefully　to

open　it　once　more。　He　had　resumed　his　seat；　the　cigar　still　projecting

at　an　insolent　angle　from　the　corner　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　drawn　round　her　chin。　Her　breath

came　quick　and　fast；　and　every　inch　of　the　lithe　figure　was

quivering　with　strong　emotion。

　　〃Well；〃　said　Milverton；　〃you　made　me　lose　a　good　night's　rest；　my

dear。　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　are　you　shivering　about？　That's　right。　Pull　yourself

together。　Now；　let　us　get　down　to　business。〃　He　took　a　notebook　from

the　drawer　of　his　desk。　〃You　say　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　remains　to　fix　a　price。　I　should　want　to

inspect　the　letters；　of　course。　If　they　are　really　good　specimens…

Great　heavens；　is　it　you？〃

　　The　woman；　without　a　word；　had　raised　her　veil　and　dropped　the

mantle　from　her　chin。　It　was　a　dark；　handsome；　clear…cut　face　which

confronted　Milverton…　a　face　with　a　curved　nose；　strong；　dark　eyebrows

shading　hard；　glittering　eyes；　and　a　straight；　thin…lipped　mouth　set

in　a　dangerous　smile。

　　〃It　is　I；〃　she　said；　〃the　woman　whose　life　you　have　ruined。〃

　　Milverton　laughed；　but　fear　vibrated　in　his　voice。　〃You　were　so　very

obstinate；〃　said　he。　〃Why　did　you　drive　me　to　such　extremities？　I

assure　you　I　wouldn't　hurt　a　fly　of　my　own　accord；　but　every　man　has

his　business；　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

gentleman　that　ever　lived；　a　man　whose　boots　I　was　never　worthy　to

lace…　he　broke　his　gallant　heart　and　died。　You　remember　that　last

night；　when　I　came　through　that　door；　I　begged　and　prayed　you　for

mercy；　and　you　laughed　in　my　face　as　you　are　trying　to　laugh　now；　only

your　coward　heart　cannot　keep　your　lips　from　twitching。　Yes；　you　never

thought　to　see　me　here　again；　but　it　was　that　night　which　taught　me

how　I　could　meet　you　face　to　face；　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　you　arrested。　But　I　will　make　allowance　for　your　natural

anger。　Leave　the　room　at　once　as　you　came；　and　I　will　say　no　more。〃

　　The　woman　stood　with　her　hand　buried　in　her　bosom；　and　the　same

deadly　smile　on　her　thin　lips。

　　〃You　will　ruin　no　more　lives　as　you　have　ruined　mine。　You　will　wring

no　more　hearts　as　you　wrung　mine。　I　will　free　the　world　of　a　poisonous

thing。　Take　that；　you　hound…　and　that！…　and　that！…　and　that！〃

　　She　had　drawn　a　little　gleaming　revolver；　and　emptied　barrel　after

barrel　into　Milverton's　body；　the　muzzle　within　two　feet　of　his

shirt　front。　He　shrank　away　and　then　fell　forward　upon　the　table；

coughing　furiously　and　clawing　among　the　papers。　Then　he　staggered

to　his　feet；　received　another　shot；　and　rolled　upon　the　floor。　〃You've

done　me；〃　he　cried；　and　lay　still。　The　woman　looked　at　him　intently；

and　ground　her　heel　into　his　upturned　face。　She　looked　again；　but

there　was　no　sound　or　movement。　I　heard　a　sharp　rustle；　the　night

air　blew　into　the　heated　room；　and　the　avenger　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

shrinking　body　I　was　about　to　spring　out；　when　I　felt　Holmes's　cold；

strong　grasp　upon　my　wrist。　I　understood　the　whole　argument　of　that

firm；　restraining　grip…　that　it　was　no　affair　of　ours；　that　justice

had　overtaken　a　villain；　that　we　had　our　own　duties　and　our　own

objects；　which　were　not　to　be　lost　sight　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　sound　of　hurrying　feet。

The　revolver　shots　had　roused　the　household。　With　perfect　coolness

Holmes　slipped　across　to　the　safe；　filled　his　two　arms　with　bundles　of

letters；　and　poured　them　all　into　the　fire。　Again　and　again　he　did　it；

until　the　safe　was　empty。　Someone　turned　the　handle　and　beat　upon

the　outside　of　the　door。　Holmes　looked　swiftly　round。　The　letter　which

had　been　the　messenger　of　death　for　Milverton　lay；　all　mottled　with

his　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；　and　locked　it　on　the　outside。　〃This　way；　Watson；〃　said　he；　〃we　can

scale　the　garden　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　was　open；　and　figures　were　rushing　down　the　drive。　The

whole　garden　was　alive　with　people；　and　one　fellow　raised　a

view…halloa　as　we　emerged　from　the　veranda　and　followed　hard　at　our

heels。　Holmes　seemed　to　know　the　grounds　per