No. 7 The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton by Arthur Conan Doyle
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. 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 asporting 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 civilisation 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 fiance -- 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 realised 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 aturning 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 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, ajemmy, 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 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 borne to our nostrils . then the footsteps continued backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards, 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 asemi- 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 areassuring 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

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