No. 7 The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton by Arthur Conan Doyle
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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've 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 note 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 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 ground perfectly, and he threaded his way swiftly among a plantation of small trees, I close at his heels, and_our foremost pursuer panting behind us . it_was asix- foot wall which barred our path, but he sprang to_the top and over . as I_did the same I_felt the hand of_the man behind me grab at my ankle; but I kicked myself free and scrambled over a glass- strewn coping .I fell upon my face among some bushes; but Holmes had me on my feet in an instant, and together we dashed away across the huge expanse of Hampstead heath . we had run two miles, I suppose, before Holmes at last halted and listened intently . all was absolute silence behind us . we had shaken off our pursuers and were safe .

we had breakfasted and were smoking our morning pipe on_the day after_the remarkable experience which I_have recorded when Mr Lestrade, of Scotland yard, very solemn and impressive, was ushered into our modest sitting- room .

" good morning, Mr Holmes," said he; " good morning . may I ask if_you_are very busy just now ? "

" not too busy to listen to_you ."

" i_thought that, perhaps, if_you had nothing particular on hand, you_might care to assist us in a most remarkable case which occurred only last night at Hampstead ."

" dear me ! " said Holmes ." what_was that ? "

"A murder -- a most dramatic and remarkable murder . I_know how keen you_are upon these things, and i_would take it as a great favour if_you_would step down to Appledore Towers and give_us the benefit of your advice . 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 blackmailing purposes . these papers have all been burned by_the murderers . no article of value was taken, as_it_is probable that_the criminals were men of good position, 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 foot-marks, we_have their description; it's ten to one that we trace them . the first fellow was a bit too active, but the second was caught by_the under- gardener and only got away after a struggle . he_was a middle- sized, strongly- built man -- square jaw, thick neck, moustache, a mask over his eyes ."

" that's rather vague," said Sherlock Holmes ." why, it might_be a description of Watson ! "

" it's true," said the inspector, with much amusement ." it might_be a description of Watson ."

" well, I_am afraid I_can't help_you, Lestrade," said Holmes ." the fact is_that I_knew this fellow Milverton, that I considered him one_of_the_most dangerous men in London, and_that i_think there_are certain crimes which the law cannot touch, and which therefore, to some extent, justify private revenge . no, it's no use arguing . I_have_made up my mind . my sympathies are with_the criminals rather than with_the victim, and i_will_not handle this_case ."

Holmes had_not said one word to_me about_the tragedy which we had witnessed, but I observed all the morning that he_was in_his most thoughtful mood, and he_gave me the impression, from_his vacant eyes and_his abstracted manner, of a man who_is striving to recall something to_his memory . we were in_the middle of_our lunch when he suddenly sprang to_his feet ." by Jove, Watson; I've got it ! " he cried ." take your hat ! come with me ! " he hurried at his top speed down baker street and along Oxford street, until we had almost reached regent circus . here on_the left_hand there stands a shop window filled with photographs of_the celebrities and beauties of_the day .Holmes's eyes fixed themselves upon one_of_them, and following his gaze I_saw the picture of a regal and stately lady in court dress, with a high diamond tiara upon her noble head .I looked at_that delicately- curved nose, at_the marked eyebrows, at_the straight mouth, and_the strong little chin beneath it . then I caught my breath as I_read the time-honoured title of_the great nobleman and statesman whose wife she had_been . my eyes met those of Holmes, and he put his finger to_his lips as_we turned away from_the window .

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