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from outside。 On the other side was the door which communicated with
the veranda。 A desk stood in the centre； with a turning…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； a jemmy； 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 as
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 home to our nostrils。 Then the footsteps
continued backward and forward； backward and forward； 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 a semi…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 a reassuring 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 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