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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 pocketbook… 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 a sporting 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 besides 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 this 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 civilization 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 fiancee… 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 realized 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