No. 7 The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton by Arthur Conan Doyle
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the adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton

by Arthur Conan Doyle

it_is years since_the incidents of_which I speak took place, and yet it_is with diffidence that I allude to_them . for_a_long_time, even with_the utmost discretion and reticence, it would_have_been impossible to make_the facts public; but now the principal person concerned is beyond the reach of human law, and with due suppression the story may_be told in_such fashion as_to injure no one . it records an absolutely unique experience in_the career both of Mr Sherlock Holmes and of myself . the reader will excuse me if I conceal the date or any_other fact by_which he might trace the actual occurrence .

we had_been out for one_of_our evening rambles, Holmes and I, and had returned about six o'clock on a cold, frosty winter's evening . as Holmes turned up the lamp the light fell upon a card on_the table . he glanced at it, and then, with an ejaculation of disgust, threw it on_the floor .I picked it up and read:--

Charles Augustus Milverton, Appledore Towers, agent .Hampstead .

" who_is he ? " I asked .

" the worst man in London," Holmes answered, as he sat down and stretched 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 acreeping, shrinking sensation, Watson, when_you stand before_the serpents in_the zoo and_see the slithery, gliding, venomous creatures, with their deadly eyes and wicked, flattened faces ? well, that's how Milverton impresses me .I've had to_do with fifty murderers in my career, but the worst of_them never gave_me the repulsion which I_have for_this fellow . and yet I_can't get out of doing business 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 . heaven help the man, and still more the woman, whose secret and reputation come into_the power of Milverton . with asmiling face and a heart of marble he_will squeeze and squeeze until he has drained them dry . the fellow is a genius in_his way, and would_have made his mark in some more savoury trade . his method is as follows: he allows it to_be known that he_is prepared to_pay very high sums for letters which compromise people of wealth or position . he receives these wares not_only from treacherous valets or maids, but frequently from genteel ruffians who_have gained the confidence and affection of trusting women . he deals with no niggard hand .I happen to_know that he paid seven hundred pounds to a footman for a note two lines in length, and_that the ruin of a noble family was_the result . everything which_is in_the market goes to Milverton, and there_are hundreds in_this great city who turn white at his name . no one knows where his grip may fall, for he_is far too rich and far too cunning to work from hand to mouth . he_will hold a card back for years in_order to play it at_the moment when_the stake is best worth winning . I_have said that he is_the worst man in London, and i_would ask_you how could one compare the ruffian who in hot blood bludgeons his mate with_this man, who methodically and at his leisure tortures the soul and 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 a woman, for example, to_get him a few_months' imprisonment if her own ruin must immediately follow ? his victims dare not hit back . if ever he blackmailed an innocent person, then, indeed, we_should_have him; but he_is as cunning as_the evil one . no, no; we_must find other ways to fight him ."

" and why is he here ? "

" because an illustrious client has placed her piteous case in my hands . it_is_the lady Eva Brackwell, the most beautiful debutante of last season . she is_to_be married in a fortnight to_the earl of Dovercourt . this fiend has several imprudent letters -- imprudent, Watson, nothing worse -- which were written to an impecunious young squire in_the country . they_would suffice to break off the match .Milverton will send the letters to_the earl unless a large sum of money is paid him . I_have_been commissioned to meet 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 lamps gleaming on_the glossy haunches of_the noble chestnuts .a footman opened the door, and a small, stout man in a shaggy astrachan overcoat descended .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 grey eyes, which gleamed brightly from behind broad, golden-rimmed glasses . there_was something of Mr Pickwick's benevolence in_his appearance, marred only by_the insincerity of_the fixed smile and by_the hard glitter of_those restless and penetrating eyes . his voice was as smooth and suave as his countenance, as he advanced with a plump little hand extended, murmuring his regret for having missed us at his first visit .Holmes disregarded the outstretched hand and looked at him with a face of granite .Milverton's smile broadened; he shrugged his shoulders, removed his overcoat, folded it with great deliberation over the back of a chair, 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 I protested . 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 for lady Eva . has she empowered you to accept my terms ? "

" what_are your terms ? "

"Seven thousand pounds ."

" and_the alternative ? "

" my dear_Sir, it_is painful for_me to discuss it; but if_the money is_not paid on_the 14th there certainly will_be no marriage on_the 18th ." his insufferable 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 for granted . I_am, of_course, familiar with_the contents of_these letters . my client will certainly do what I_may advise . I_shall counsel her to_tell her future 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 he_did .

" what harm is_there in_the letters ? " he asked .

" they_are sprightly -- very sprightly," Milverton answered ." the lady was acharming correspondent . but I_can assure you that_the earl of Dovercourt would fail to appreciate them . however, since you_think otherwise, we_will let it rest at_that . it_is purely a matter of business . if_you_think that_it_is in_the best interests of your client that_these letters should_be placed in_the hands of_the earl, then you_would indeed be foolish to_pay so large a sum of money to regain them ." he rose and seized his astrachan coat .

Holmes was grey with anger and mortification .

" wait a little," he_said ." you go too fast . we_would certainly make every 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 wealthy woman .I assure you that two thousand pounds would_be a drain upon her resources, and_that the sum you name is utterly beyond her power .I beg, therefore, that you_will moderate your demands, and_that you_will return the letters at_the price I indicate, which_is, I assure you, the highest that you_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," said he ." at_the same time, you_must admit that_the occasion of a lady's marriage is a very suitable time for her friends and relatives to_make some little effort upon her behalf . they_may hesitate as_to an acceptable wedding present . let me assure them that_this little bundle of letters would 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 a bulky pocket- book ." I_cannot help thinking that ladies are ill- advised in not making an effort . look at_this ! " he held up a little note with a coat- of-arms upon_the envelope ." that belongs to -- well, perhaps it_is hardly fair to_tell the name until to- morrow morning . but at_that_time it_will_be in_the hands of_the lady's husband . and all because she will not find abeggarly sum which she_could get by turning her diamonds into paste . it_is such a pity . now, you remember the sudden end of_the engagement between_the Honourable miss Miles and colonel Dorking ? only two days before_the wedding there_was a paragraph in_the morning post to_say that_it_was all off . and why ? it_is almost incredible, but the absurd sum of twelve 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 your client'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 to ruin this woman's career, which can profit you in no way ? "

" there you make a mistake, Mr Holmes . an exposure would profit me indirectly to a considerable extent . I_have eight or ten similar cases maturing . if_it_was circulated among them that I had made a severe example of_the lady Eva i_should find all of_them much more open to reason . 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 note- book ."

Milverton had glided as quick as a rat to_the side of_the room, and stood with_his back against the wall .

" Mr Holmes, Mr Holmes," he_said, turning the front of_his coat and exhibiting the butt of a large revolver, which projected from_the inside pocket ." I_have_been expecting you to_do something original . this has_been_done so often, and what good has ever come from_it ? I assure you that I_am armed to_the teeth, and I_am perfectly prepared to use my weapons, knowing that_the law will support me . besides, your supposition that i_would bring the letters here in a note- book is 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 agoatee 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, he 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 amarrying man, Watson ? "

" no, indeed ! "

" you'll be interested to hear that I_am 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 arising 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 acatching of_the breath, and my skin went cold at_the words, which were slowly uttered in a tone of concentrated resolution .

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