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he did。
〃What harm is there in the letters？〃 he asked。
〃They are sprightly… very sprightly；〃 Milverton answered。 〃The
lady was a charming 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 astrakhan coat。
Holmes was gray with anger and mortification。
〃Wait a little；〃 he said。 〃You go too fast。 We should 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 pocketbook。 〃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 a beggarly 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 notebook。〃
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 notebook 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 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 odi