第13章

"Imustreallyapologize，Hopkins，"saidSherlockHolmes；

"Ifearthatthescrambledeggsarecold。However，youwillenjoytherestofyourbreakfastallthebetter，willyounot，forthethoughtthatyouhavebroughtyourcasetoatriumphantconclusion。"

StanleyHopkinswasspeechlesswithamazement。

"Idon’tknowwhattosay，Mr。Holmes，"heblurtedoutatlast，withaveryredface。"ItseemstomethatIhavebeenmakingafoolofmyselffromthebeginning。Iunderstandnow，whatI

shouldneverhaveforgotten，thatIamthepupilandyouarethemaster。EvennowIseewhatyouhavedone，butIdon’tknowhowyoudidit，orwhatitsignifies。"

"Well，well，"saidHolmes，good—humouredly。"Wealllearnbyexperience，andyourlessonthistimeisthatyoushouldneverlosesightofthealternative。YouweresoabsorbedinyoungNeliganthatyoucouldnotspareathoughttoPatrickCairns，thetruemurdererofPeterCarey。"

Thehoarsevoiceoftheseamanbrokeinonourconversation。

"Seehere，mister，"saidhe，"Imakenocomplaintofbeingman—handledinthisfashion，butIwouldhaveyoucallthingsbytheirrightnames。YousayImurderedPeterCarey；

IsayIKILLEDPeterCarey，andthere’sallthedifference。

Maybeyoudon’tbelievewhatIsay。MaybeyouthinkIamjustslingingyouayarn。"

"Notatall，"saidHolmes。"Letushearwhatyouhavetosay。"

"It’ssoontold，and，bytheLord，everywordofitistruth。

IknewBlackPeter，andwhenhepulledouthisknifeIwhippedaharpoonthroughhimsharp，forIknewthatitwashimorme。

That’showhedied。Youcancallitmurder。Anyhow，I’dassoondiewitharoperoundmyneckaswithBlackPeter’sknifeinmyheart。"

"Howcameyouthere？"askedHolmes。

"I’lltellityoufromthebeginning。JustsitmeupalittlesoasIcanspeakeasy。Itwasin’83thatithappened——

Augustofthatyear。PeterCareywasmasteroftheSEAUNICORN，andIwasspareharpooner。Wewerecomingoutoftheice—packonourwayhome，withheadwindsandaweek’ssoutherlygale，whenwepickedupalittlecraftthathadbeenblownnorth。

Therewasonemanonher——alandsman。Thecrewhadthoughtshewouldfounder，andhadmadefortheNorwegiancoastinthedinghy。Iguesstheywerealldrowned。Well，wetookhimonboard，thisman，andheandtheskipperhadsomelongtalksinthecabin。Allthebaggagewetookoffwithhimwasonetinbox。

SofarasIknow，theman’snamewasnevermentioned，andonthesecondnighthedisappearedasifhehadneverbeen。Itwasgivenoutthathehadeitherthrownhimselfoverboardorfallenoverboardintheheavyweatherthatwewerehaving。Onlyonemanknewwhathadhappenedtohim，andthatwasme，forwithmyowneyesIsawtheskippertipuphisheelsandputhimovertherailinthemiddlewatchofadarknight，twodaysbeforewesightedtheShetlandlights。

"Well，Ikeptmyknowledgetomyselfandwaitedtoseewhatwouldcomeofit。WhenwegotbacktoScotlanditwaseasilyhushedup，andnobodyaskedanyquestions。Astrangerdiedbyanaccident，anditwasnobody’sbusinesstoinquire。ShortlyafterPeterCareygaveupthesea，anditwaslongyearsbeforeIcouldfindwherehewas。

Iguessedthathehaddonethedeedforthesakeofwhatwasinthattinbox，andthathecouldaffordnowtopaymewellforkeepingmymouthshut。

"IfoundoutwherehewasthroughasailormanthathadmethiminLondon，anddownIwenttosqueezehim。Thefirstnighthewasreasonableenough，andwasreadytogivemewhatwouldmakemefreeoftheseaforlife。Weweretofixitalltwonightslater。WhenIcameIfoundhimthreepartsdrunkandinaviletemper。Wesatdownandwedrankandweyarnedaboutoldtimes，butthemorehedrankthelessIlikedthelookonhisface。

Ispottedthatharpoonuponthewall，andIthoughtImightneeditbeforeIwasthrough。Thenatlasthebrokeoutatme，spittingandcursing，withmurderinhiseyesandagreatclasp—knifeinhishand。HehadnottimetogetitfromthesheathbeforeIhadtheharpoonthroughhim。Heavens！whatayellhegave；andhisfacegetsbetweenmeandmysleep！

Istoodthere，withhisbloodsplashingroundme，andIwaitedforabit；butallwasquiet，soItookheartoncemore。

Ilookedround，andtherewasthetinboxonashelf。IhadasmuchrighttoitasPeterCarey，anyhow，soItookitwithmeandleftthehut。LikeafoolIleftmybaccy—pouchuponthetable。

"NowI’lltellyouthequeerestpartofthewholestory。

IhadhardlygotoutsidethehutwhenIheardsomeonecoming，andIhidamongthebushes。Amancameslinkingalong，wentintothehut，gaveacryasifhehadseenaghost，andleggeditashardashecouldrununtilhewasoutofsight。

WhohewasorwhathewantedismorethanIcantell。

FormypartIwalkedtenmiles，gotatrainatTunbridgeWells，andsoreachedLondon，andnoonethewiser。

"Well，whenIcametoexaminetheboxIfoundtherewasnomoneyinit，andnothingbutpapersthatIwouldnotdaretosell。

IhadlostmyholdonBlackPeter，andwasstrandedinLondonwithoutashilling。Therewasonlymytradeleft。Isawtheseadvertisementsaboutharpoonersandhighwages，soIwenttotheshippingagents，andtheysentmehere。That’sallIknow，andIsayagainthatifIkilledBlackPeterthelawshouldgivemethanks，forIsavedthemthepriceofahempenrope。"

"Averyclearstatement，"saidHolmes，risingandlightinghispipe。"Ithink，Hopkins，thatyoushouldlosenotimeinconveyingyourprisonertoaplaceofsafety。Thisroomisnotwelladaptedforacell，andMr。PatrickCairnsoccupiestoolargeaproportionofourcarpet。"

"Mr。Holmes，"saidHopkins，"Idonotknowhowtoexpressmygratitude。EvennowIdonotunderstandhowyouattainedthisresult。"

"Simplybyhavingthegoodfortunetogettherightcluefromthebeginning。ItisverypossibleifIhadknownaboutthisnote—bookitmighthaveledawaymythoughts，asitdidyours。

ButallIheardpointedintheonedirection。Theamazingstrength，theskillintheuseoftheharpoon，therumandwater，theseal—skintobacco—pouch，withthecoarsetobacco——

allthesepointedtoaseaman，andonewhohadbeenawhaler。

Iwasconvincedthattheinitials`P。C。’uponthepouchwereacoincidence，andnotthoseofPeterCarey，sinceheseldomsmoked，andnopipewasfoundinhiscabin。YourememberthatIaskedwhetherwhiskyandbrandywereinthecabin。Yousaidtheywere。Howmanylandsmenaretherewhowoulddrinkrumwhentheycouldgettheseotherspirits？Yes，Iwascertainitwasaseaman。"

"Andhowdidyoufindhim？"

"Mydearsir，theproblemhadbecomeaverysimpleone。Ifitwereaseaman，itcouldonlybeaseamanwhohadbeenwithhimontheSEAUNICORN。SofarasIcouldlearnhehadsailedinnoothership。IspentthreedaysinwiringtoDundee，andattheendofthattimeIhadascertainedthenamesofthecrewoftheSEAUNICORNin1883。WhenIfoundPatrickCairnsamongtheharpoonersmyresearchwasnearingitsend。IarguedthatthemanwasprobablyinLondon，andthathewoulddesiretoleavethecountryforatime。IthereforespentsomedaysintheEast—end，devisedanArcticexpedition，putforthtemptingtermsforharpoonerswhowouldserveunderCaptainBasil——andbeholdtheresult！"

"Wonderful！"criedHopkins。"Wonderful！"

"YoumustobtainthereleaseofyoungNeliganassoonaspossible，"

saidHolmes。"IconfessthatIthinkyouowehimsomeapology。

Thetinboxmustbereturnedtohim，but，ofcourse，thesecuritieswhichPeterCareyhassoldarelostforever。There’sthecab，Hopkins，andyoucanremoveyourman。Ifyouwantmeforthetrial，myaddressandthatofWatsonwillbesomewhereinNorway——

I’llsendparticularslater。"

VII。———TheAdventureofCharlesAugustusMilverton。

ITisyearssincetheincidentsofwhichIspeaktookplace，andyetitiswithdiffidencethatIalludetothem。Foralongtime，evenwiththeutmostdiscretionandreticence，itwouldhavebeenimpossibletomakethefactspublic；butnowtheprincipalpersonconcernedisbeyondthereachofhumanlaw，andwithduesuppressionthestorymaybetoldinsuchfashionastoinjurenoone。ItrecordsanabsolutelyuniqueexperienceinthecareerbothofMr。SherlockHolmesandofmyself。ThereaderwillexcusemeifIconcealthedateoranyotherfactbywhichhemighttracetheactualoccurrence。

Wehadbeenoutforoneofoureveningrambles，HolmesandI，andhadreturnedaboutsixo’clockonacold，frostywinter’sevening。AsHolmesturnedupthelampthelightfelluponacardonthetable。Heglancedatit，andthen，withanejaculationofdisgust，threwitonthefloor。

Ipickeditupandread：——

CHARLESAUGUSTUSMILVERTON，APPLEDORETOWERS，AGENT。HAMPSTEAD。

"Whoishe？"Iasked。

"TheworstmaninLondon，"Holmesanswered，ashesatdownandstretchedhislegsbeforethefire。"Isanythingonthebackofthecard？"

Iturneditover。

"Willcallat6。30——C。A。M。，"Iread。

"Hum！He’saboutdue。Doyoufeelacreeping，shrinkingsensation，Watson，whenyoustandbeforetheserpentsintheZooandseetheslithery，gliding，venomouscreatures，withtheirdeadlyeyesandwicked，flattenedfaces？Well，that’showMilvertonimpressesme。I’vehadtodowithfiftymurderersinmycareer，buttheworstofthemnevergavemetherepulsionwhichIhaveforthisfellow。AndyetIcan’tgetoutofdoingbusinesswithhim——indeed，heishereatmyinvitation。"

"Butwhoishe？"

"I’lltellyou，Watson。Heisthekingofalltheblackmailers。

Heavenhelptheman，andstillmorethewoman，whosesecretandreputationcomeintothepowerofMilverton。Withasmilingfaceandaheartofmarblehewillsqueezeandsqueezeuntilhehasdrainedthemdry。Thefellowisageniusinhisway，andwouldhavemadehismarkinsomemoresavourytrade。Hismethodisasfollows：Heallowsittobeknownthatheispreparedtopayveryhighsumsforletterswhichcompromisepeopleofwealthorposition。Hereceivesthesewaresnotonlyfromtreacherousvaletsormaids，butfrequentlyfromgenteelruffianswhohavegainedtheconfidenceandaffectionoftrustingwomen。

Hedealswithnoniggardhand。Ihappentoknowthathepaidsevenhundredpoundstoafootmanforanotetwolinesinlength，andthattheruinofanoblefamilywastheresult。EverythingwhichisinthemarketgoestoMilverton，andtherearehundredsinthisgreatcitywhoturnwhiteathisname。Nooneknowswherehisgripmayfall，forheisfartoorichandfartoocunningtoworkfromhandtomouth。Hewillholdacardbackforyearsinordertoplayitatthemomentwhenthestakeisbestworthwinning。IhavesaidthatheistheworstmaninLondon，andIwouldaskyouhowcouldonecomparetheruffianwhoinhotbloodbludgeonshismatewiththisman，whomethodicallyandathisleisuretorturesthesoulandwringsthenervesinordertoaddtohisalreadyswollenmoney—bags？"

Ihadseldomheardmyfriendspeakwithsuchintensityoffeeling。

"Butsurely，"saidI，"thefellowmustbewithinthegraspofthelaw？"

"Technically，nodoubt，butpracticallynot。Whatwoulditprofitawoman，forexample，togethimafewmonths’

imprisonmentifherownruinmustimmediatelyfollow？Hisvictimsdarenothitback。Ifeverheblackmailedaninnocentperson，then，indeed，weshouldhavehim；butheisascunningastheEvilOne。No，no；wemustfindotherwaystofighthim。"

"Andwhyishehere？"

"Becauseanillustriousclienthasplacedherpiteouscaseinmyhands。ItistheLadyEvaBrackwell，themostbeautifulDEBUTANTEoflastseason。SheistobemarriedinafortnighttotheEarlofDovercourt。Thisfiendhasseveralimprudentletters——imprudent，Watson，nothingworse——whichwerewrittentoanimpecuniousyoungsquireinthecountry。

Theywouldsufficetobreakoffthematch。MilvertonwillsendtheletterstotheEarlunlessalargesumofmoneyispaidhim。

Ihavebeencommissionedtomeethim，and——tomakethebesttermsIcan。"

Atthatinstanttherewasaclatterandarattleinthestreetbelow。LookingdownIsawastatelycarriageandpair，thebrilliantlampsgleamingontheglossyhaunchesofthenoblechestnuts。Afootmanopenedthedoor，andasmall，stoutmaninashaggyastrachanovercoatdescended。Aminutelaterhewasintheroom。

CharlesAugustusMilvertonwasamanoffifty，withalarge，intellectualhead，around，plump，hairlessface，aperpetualfrozensmile，andtwokeengreyeyes，whichgleamedbrightlyfrombehindbroad，golden—rimmedglasses。TherewassomethingofMr。Pickwick’sbenevolenceinhisappearance，marredonlybytheinsincerityofthefixedsmileandbythehardglitterofthoserestlessandpenetratingeyes。Hisvoicewasassmoothandsuaveashiscountenance，asheadvancedwithaplumplittlehandextended，murmuringhisregretforhavingmissedusathisfirstvisit。Holmesdisregardedtheoutstretchedhandandlookedathimwithafaceofgranite。Milverton’ssmilebroadened；heshruggedhisshoulders，removedhisovercoat，foldeditwithgreatdeliberationoverthebackofachair，andthentookaseat。

"Thisgentleman？"saidhe，withawaveinmydirection。

"Isitdiscreet？Isitright？"

"Dr。Watsonismyfriendandpartner。"

"Verygood，Mr。Holmes。Itisonlyinyourclient’sintereststhatIprotested。Thematterissoverydelicate————"

"Dr。Watsonhasalreadyheardofit。"

"Thenwecanproceedtobusiness。YousaythatyouareactingforLadyEva。Hassheempoweredyoutoacceptmyterms？"

"Whatareyourterms？"

"Seventhousandpounds。"

"Andthealternative？"

"Mydearsir，itispainfulformetodiscussit；butifthemoneyisnotpaidonthe14ththerecertainlywillbenomarriageonthe18th。"Hisinsufferablesmilewasmorecomplacentthanever。

Holmesthoughtforalittle。

"Youappeartome，"hesaid，atlast，"tobetakingmatterstoomuchforgranted。Iam，ofcourse，familiarwiththecontentsoftheseletters。MyclientwillcertainlydowhatImayadvise。Ishallcounselhertotellherfuturehusbandthewholestoryandtotrusttohisgenerosity。"

Milvertonchuckled。

"YouevidentlydonotknowtheEarl，"saidhe。

FromthebaffledlookuponHolmes’sfaceIcouldseeclearlythathedid。

"Whatharmisthereintheletters？"heasked。

"Theyaresprightly——verysprightly，"Milvertonanswered。

"Theladywasacharmingcorrespondent。ButIcanassureyouthattheEarlofDovercourtwouldfailtoappreciatethem。

However，sinceyouthinkotherwise，wewillletitrestatthat。

Itispurelyamatterofbusiness。IfyouthinkthatitisinthebestinterestsofyourclientthattheselettersshouldbeplacedinthehandsoftheEarl，thenyouwouldindeedbefoolishtopaysolargeasumofmoneytoregainthem。"

Heroseandseizedhisastrachancoat。

Holmeswasgreywithangerandmortification。

"Waitalittle，"hesaid。"Yougotoofast。Wewouldcertainlymakeeveryefforttoavoidscandalinsodelicateamatter。"

Milvertonrelapsedintohischair。

"Iwassurethatyouwouldseeitinthatlight，"hepurred。

"Atthesametime，"Holmescontinued，"LadyEvaisnotawealthywoman。Iassureyouthattwothousandpoundswouldbeadrainuponherresources，andthatthesumyounameisutterlybeyondherpower。Ibeg，therefore，thatyouwillmoderateyourdemands，andthatyouwillreturnthelettersatthepriceI

indicate，whichis，Iassureyou，thehighestthatyoucanget。"

Milverton’ssmilebroadenedandhiseyestwinkledhumorously。

"Iamawarethatwhatyousayistrueaboutthelady’sresources，"saidhe。"Atthesametime，youmustadmitthattheoccasionofalady’smarriageisaverysuitabletimeforherfriendsandrelativestomakesomelittleeffortuponherbehalf。Theymayhesitateastoanacceptableweddingpresent。

Letmeassurethemthatthislittlebundleofletterswouldgivemorejoythanallthecandelabraandbutter—dishesinLondon。"

"Itisimpossible，"saidHolmes。

"Dearme，dearme，howunfortunate！"criedMilverton，takingoutabulkypocket—book。"Icannothelpthinkingthatladiesareill—advisedinnotmakinganeffort。Lookatthis！"Heheldupalittlenotewithacoat—of—armsupontheenvelope。"Thatbelongsto——well，perhapsitishardlyfairtotellthenameuntilto—morrowmorning。Butatthattimeitwillbeinthehandsofthelady’shusband。Andallbecauseshewillnotfindabeggarlysumwhichshecouldgetbyturningherdiamondsintopaste。ItISsuchapity。Now，yourememberthesuddenendoftheengagementbetweentheHonourableMissMilesandColonelDorking？OnlytwodaysbeforetheweddingtherewasaparagraphintheMORNINGPOSTtosaythatitwasalloff。

Andwhy？Itisalmostincredible，buttheabsurdsumoftwelvehundredpoundswouldhavesettledthewholequestion。

Isitnotpitiful？AndhereIfindyou，amanofsense，bogglingabouttermswhenyourclient’sfutureandhonourareatstake。Yousurpriseme，Mr。Holmes。"

"WhatIsayistrue，"Holmesanswered。"Themoneycannotbefound。SurelyitisbetterforyoutotakethesubstantialsumwhichIofferthantoruinthiswoman’scareer，whichcanprofityouinnoway？"

"Thereyoumakeamistake，Mr。Holmes。Anexposurewouldprofitmeindirectlytoaconsiderableextent。Ihaveeightortensimilarcasesmaturing。IfitwascirculatedamongthemthatIhadmadeasevereexampleoftheLadyEvaIshouldfindallofthemmuchmoreopentoreason。Youseemypoint？"

Holmessprangfromhischair。

"Getbehindhim，Watson！Don’tlethimout！Now，sir，letusseethecontentsofthatnote—book。"

Milvertonhadglidedasquickasarattothesideoftheroom，andstoodwithhisbackagainstthewall。

"Mr。Holmes，Mr。Holmes，"hesaid，turningthefrontofhiscoatandexhibitingthebuttofalargerevolver，whichprojectedfromtheinsidepocket。"Ihavebeenexpectingyoutodosomethingoriginal。Thishasbeendonesooften，andwhatgoodhasevercomefromit？IassureyouthatIamarmedtotheteeth，andIamperfectlypreparedtousemyweapons，knowingthatthelawwillsupportme。Besides，yoursuppositionthatIwouldbringthelettershereinanote—bookisentirelymistaken。Iwoulddonothingsofoolish。Andnow，gentlemen，Ihaveoneortwolittleinterviewsthisevening，anditisalongdrivetoHampstead。"Hesteppedforward，tookuphiscoat，laidhishandonhisrevolver，andturnedtothedoor。Ipickedupachair，butHolmesshookhisheadandIlaiditdownagain。

Withbow，asmile，andatwinkleMilvertonwasoutoftheroom，andafewmomentsafterweheardtheslamofthecarriagedoorandtherattleofthewheelsashedroveaway。

Holmessatmotionlessbythefire，hishandsburieddeepinhistrouserpockets，hischinsunkuponhisbreast，hiseyesfixedupontheglowingembers。Forhalfanhourhewassilentandstill。Then，withthegestureofamanwhohastakenhisdecision，hesprangtohisfeetandpassedintohisbedroom。

Alittlelaterarakishyoungworkmanwithagoateebeardandaswaggerlithisclaypipeatthelampbeforedescendingintothestreet。"I’llbebacksometime，Watson，"saidhe，andvanishedintothenight。IunderstoodthathehadopenedhiscampaignagainstCharlesAugustusMilverton；butIlittledreamedthestrangeshapewhichthatcampaignwasdestinedtotake。

ForsomedaysHolmescameandwentatallhoursinthisattire，butbeyondaremarkthathistimewasspentatHampstead，andthatitwasnotwasted，Iknewnothingofwhathewasdoing。

Atlast，however，onawild，tempestuousevening，whenthewindscreamedandrattledagainstthewindows，hereturnedfromhislastexpedition，andhavingremovedhisdisguisehesatbeforethefireandlaughedheartilyinhissilentinwardfashion。

"Youwouldnotcallmeamarryingman，Watson？"

"No，indeed！"

"You’llbeinterestedtohearthatIamengaged。"

"Mydearfellow！Icongrat————"

"ToMilverton’shousemaid。"

"Goodheavens，Holmes！"

"Iwantedinformation，Watson。"

"Surelyyouhavegonetoofar？"

"Itwasamostnecessarystep。Iamaplumberwitharisingbusiness，Escottbyname。Ihavewalkedoutwithhereachevening，andIhavetalkedwithher。Goodheavens，thosetalks！

However，IhavegotallIwanted。IknowMilverton’shouseasIknowthepalmofmyhand。"

"Butthegirl，Holmes？"

Heshruggedhisshoulders。

"Youcan’thelpit，mydearWatson。Youmustplayyourcardsasbestyoucanwhensuchastakeisonthetable。However，IrejoicetosaythatIhaveahatedrivalwhowillcertainlycutmeouttheinstantthatmybackisturned。Whatasplendidnightitis！"

"Youlikethisweather？"

"Itsuitsmypurpose。Watson，ImeantoburgleMilverton’shouseto—night。"

Ihadacatchingofthebreath，andmyskinwentcoldatthewords，whichwereslowlyutteredinatoneofconcentratedresolution。Asaflashoflightninginthenightshowsupinaninstanteverydetailofawidelandscape，soatoneglanceIseemedtoseeeverypossibleresultofsuchanaction——thedetection，thecapture，thehonouredcareerendinginirreparablefailureanddisgrace，myfriendhimselflyingatthemercyoftheodiousMilverton。

"ForHeaven’ssake，Holmes，thinkwhatyouaredoing，"Icried。

"Mydearfellow，Ihavegiveniteveryconsideration。Iamneverprecipitateinmyactions，norwouldIadoptsoenergeticandindeedsodangerousacourseifanyotherwerepossible。

Letuslookatthematterclearlyandfairly。Isupposethatyouwilladmitthattheactionismorallyjustifiable，thoughtechnicallycriminal。Toburglehishouseisnomorethantoforciblytakehispocket—book——anactioninwhichyouwerepreparedtoaidme。"

Iturneditoverinmymind。

"Yes，"Isaid；"itismorallyjustifiablesolongasourobjectistotakenoarticlessavethosewhichareusedforanillegalpurpose。"

"Exactly。SinceitismorallyjustifiableIhaveonlytoconsiderthequestionofpersonalrisk。Surelyagentlemanshouldnotlaymuchstressuponthiswhenaladyisinmostdesperateneedofhishelp？"

"Youwillbeinsuchafalseposition。"

"Well，thatispartoftherisk。Thereisnootherpossiblewayofregainingtheseletters。Theunfortunateladyhasnotthemoney，andtherearenoneofherpeopleinwhomshecouldconfide。To—morrowisthelastdayofgrace，andunlesswecangetthelettersto—nightthisvillainwillbeasgoodashiswordandwillbringaboutherruin。Imust，therefore，abandonmyclienttoherfateorImustplaythislastcard。Betweenourselves，Watson，it’sasportingduelbetweenthisfellowMilvertonandme。Hehad，asyousaw，thebestofthefirstexchanges；butmyself—respectandmyreputationareconcernedtofightittoafinish。"

"Well，Idon’tlikeit；butIsupposeitmustbe，"saidI。

"Whendowestart？"

"Youarenotcoming。"

"Thenyouarenotgoing，"saidI。"Igiveyoumywordofhonour——andIneverbrokeitinmylife——thatIwilltakeacabstraighttothepolice—stationandgiveyouawayunlessyouletmesharethisadventurewithyou。"

"Youcan’thelpme。"

"Howdoyouknowthat？Youcan’ttellwhatmayhappen。

Anyway，myresolutionistaken。Otherpeoplebesideyouhaveself—respectandevenreputations。"

Holmeshadlookedannoyed，buthisbrowcleared，andheclappedmeontheshoulder。

"Well，well，mydearfellow，beitso。Wehavesharedthesameroomforsomeyears，anditwouldbeamusingifweendedbysharingthesamecell。Youknow，Watson，Idon’tmindconfessingtoyouthatIhavealwayshadanideathatIwouldhavemadeahighlyefficientcriminal。Thisisthechanceofmylifetimeinthatdirection。Seehere！"Hetookaneatlittleleathercaseoutofadrawer，andopeningitheexhibitedanumberofshininginstruments。"Thisisafirst—class，up—to—dateburglingkit，withnickel—platedjemmy，diamond—tippedglass—cutter，adaptablekeys，andeverymodernimprovementwhichthemarchofcivilizationdemands。Here，too，ismydarklantern。

Everythingisinorder。Haveyouapairofsilentshoes？"

"Ihaverubber—soledtennisshoes。"

"Excellent。Andamask？"

"Icanmakeacoupleoutofblacksilk。"

"Icanseethatyouhaveastrongnaturalturnforthissortofthing。Verygood；doyoumakethemasks。Weshallhavesomecoldsupperbeforewestart。Itisnownine—thirty。AtelevenweshalldriveasfarasChurchRow。Itisaquarterofanhour’swalkfromtheretoAppledoreTowers。Weshallbeatworkbeforemidnight。Milvertonisaheavysleeperandretirespunctuallyatten—thirty。Withanyluckweshouldbebackherebytwo，withtheLadyEva’slettersinmypocket。"

HolmesandIputonourdress—clothes，sothatwemightappeartobetwotheatre—goershomewardbound。InOxfordStreetwepickedupahansomanddrovetoanaddressinHampstead。

Herewepaidoffourcab，andwithourgreat—coatsbuttonedup，foritwasbitterlycoldandthewindseemedtoblowthroughus，wewalkedalongtheedgeoftheHeath。

"It’sabusinessthatneedsdelicatetreatment，"saidHolmes。

"Thesedocumentsarecontainedinasafeinthefellow’sstudy，andthestudyistheante—roomofhisbed—chamber。Ontheotherhand，likeallthesestout，littlemenwhodothemselveswell，heisaplethoricsleeper。Agatha——that’smyFIANCEE——saysitisajokeintheservants’hallthatit’simpossibletowakethemaster。Hehasasecretarywhoisdevotedtohisinterestsandneverbudgesfromthestudyallday。That’swhywearegoingatnight。Thenhehasabeastofadogwhichroamsthegarden。ImetAgathalatethelasttwoevenings，andshelocksthebruteupsoastogivemeaclearrun。Thisisthehouse，thisbigoneinitsowngrounds。Throughthegate——nowtotherightamongthelaurels。Wemightputonourmaskshere，Ithink。Yousee，thereisnotaglimmeroflightinanyofthewindows，andeverythingisworkingsplendidly。"

Withourblacksilkface—coverings，whichturnedusintotwoofthemosttruculentfiguresinLondon，westoleuptothesilent，gloomyhouse。Asortoftiledverandaextendedalongonesideofit，linedbyseveralwindowsandtwodoors。

"That’shisbedroom，"Holmeswhispered。"Thisdooropensstraightintothestudy。Itwouldsuitusbest，butitisboltedaswellaslocked，andweshouldmaketoomuchnoisegettingin。Comeroundhere。There’sagreenhousewhichopensintothedrawing—room。"