Chapter 103 The Return (18)
Milverton slid like a mouse to the side of the room and stood with his back against the wall.Then he turned up the front of his coat, revealing the butt of a pistol, and said: "Mr. Holmes, Mr. Holmes, I have expected you to do this. I have faced threats of this kind quite often, but what good are they? I tell you the truth, I am fully armed, and since the law allows self-defense, I am ready to use my gun. Besides, if you think that I will bring all the letters in my notebook, you are completely wrong. I am No such folly. Gentlemen, I have one or two more to see this evening, and it's a long way to Hampstead." He came forward, took up his overcoat, put his hand on his gun, Turn around and walk towards the door.I picked up a chair, Holmes shook his head, and I put it down again.Milverton bowed, smiled, winked, and went out of the house.In a moment we heard the slamming of doors and the rattle of wheels.The carriage drove away.

Holmes sat motionless by the fire, his hands deep in his trouser pockets, his chin sunk on his breast, and his eyes fixed on the glowing embers.He did not move or speak a word for half an hour.Then he stood up with a gesture of making up his mind and walked into his bedroom.After a while, a playful young worker with a goatee and a very proud look came out.He lit his clay pipe by the lamp, said to me: "I'll be back later, Watson," and disappeared into the night.I knew he had arranged a contest with Charles Augustus Milverton, but I never dreamed that this fight would take such a peculiar form.

Holmes was in and out of the suit all day long in those days, and it is needless to say that his time was spent in Hampstead, and he was well rewarded.But what exactly he did, I don't know anything.Finally, on a stormy night, he returned from the expedition amidst the wind and rain.He took off his make-up, sat in front of the fire, and smiled silently and knowingly as usual.

"Watson, do you think I'm getting married?"

"No, not at all."

"You'll be glad to tell you that I'm engaged."

"Dear friend, I wish-"

"And Milverton's maid."

"My God, Holmes!"

"Watson, I need some information."

"Aren't you overdoing it a bit?"

"It was a necessary step. I dressed up as a very busy plumber named Escot. I dated her every night and talked to her. God, what was it! But , I've got what I want. I know the Milverton house like the back of my hand."

"Holmes, but what about this girl?"

He shrugged his shoulders and said: "My dear Watson, there is no other way. Since the stakes are as such, you have to play your cards as best you can. However, I am glad that I have a rival in love, and he will squeeze me when I turn around." Drop. What a fine day it is tonight!"

"You like the weather?"

"It will serve my purpose. Watson, I mean breaking into the Milverton house this evening."

He said this sentence slowly in a very firm tone, and I couldn't help trembling all over my body, and my breathing stopped.Like lightning in the night, illuminating all corners of the field in an instant, I saw at a glance every possible consequence of this action--being discovered, being caught, a respected career ending in irreparable failure and humiliation, My friend will be at the mercy of the odious Milverton.

I said out loud, "For God's sake, think about what you're going to do!"

"My dear friend, I have thought it over. I have never acted recklessly, and I would not have taken such a risk if I could think of another way. Let us think it over, and I think you will think it morally right. It is justifiable, though it is against the law. To break into his house is nothing more than to take his books by force—you will approve of them."

I weighed it up and said, "Yes, as long as our intent is to take items that are used for illegal purposes, our actions are morally justified."

"Since it is morally justified, I am concerned only with personal risk. A gentleman should not think too much of personal risk if a lady is in desperate need of help."

"You will be misunderstood."

"Yes, it is a risk. But there is no other way but to get these letters back. The unfortunate lady has no money and no relatives to trust. To-morrow is the last day unless we get the letters to-night." , or the scoundrel will do what he says, and bring this lady to ruin. So, I either leave my client to his fate, or I will play this last card. I can only tell you, Watson, that this is the case between me and secret Alverton. You see, he has won the first round, but I must fight for my pride and honor."

I said, "I don't like it, but I guess that's all. When are we going?"

"You don't have to go."

I said, "Unless you don't go. I've said I'll go. If you won't let me take this risk with you, I'll go to the police and denounce you."

"You can't help me."

"How do you know? You can't tell about the future. Anyway, I've made up my mind. You're not the only one with self-respect and honor."

Holmes looked a little impatient, but at last he relaxed his brows. He patted me on the shoulder and said: "Well, well, my dear friend, that is all. We have lived together for several years, and if we are both A bullet would be interesting. To tell you frankly, Watson, I have always had the idea of ​​being a first-rate criminal, a highly profitable crime. From this point of view, Here's a rare opportunity. Look!" He took from a drawer a neat leather case containing shiny tools. "It's the best, the best burglar's tool, nickel-plated crowbar, diamond-encrusted glass knife, skeleton key, everything, and a lamp for the dark. Everything All set. Do you have shoes that don't scuff?"

"I have tennis shoes with rubber soles."

"Excellent! Is there a mask?"

"I can make two out of black silk."

"I can see that you are very talented for this kind of thing. Very well, you make a mask. Let's eat before we move. It is 09:30 in the evening. We will arrive at the Tserchi residence at eleven o'clock district, and walk to the Abeldo Tower in a quarter of an hour, and we can start working before midnight. In any case, we can return with Mme. Eva's letter in our pocket by two o'clock."

Holmes and I put on our evening clothes, so that we were walking home like two lovers of the theatre.In Oxford Street we took a cab to a place in Hampstead.When we arrived, we paid for the carriage, and buttoned up our coats, for it was very cold, and the wind seemed to blow through us.We walked along the edge of the wasteland.

"The matter requires great care," said Holmes. "The letters are locked in a safe in the fellow's study, which is the vestibule of his bedroom. But, like all strong men who take care of themselves, he sleeps soundly. Very dead. In the servants' quarters, says Agatha, my fiancée, the inability to wake the master is a joke. He has a devoted secretary who never leaves the study all day. That's why we go at night. He There is also a ferocious dog that always walks around guarding the garden. The last two nights I got home from a late date with Agatha and she locked the dog up so I could come out. Look, this is That house, the big one in the yard. Go in the gate—go right through the laurel trees. Let's put on our masks here! You see, none of the windows has a light, and all goes well."

With our black silk masks on, we were literally two of the most combative men in London.We approached the quiet, gloomy house quietly.There is a tiled-roof balcony on one side of the house, and several windows and two doors on the balcony.

"That's his bedroom," said Holmes in a low voice. "The door opens on to the study. It would be best for us to go in here, but the door is locked and the inside is bolted, and there is a great noise in trying to get in." Come here. There is a greenhouse here, and the door leads to the living room."

The greenhouse was also locked. Holmes scratched a circle of glass with a glass knife, and stretched out his hand to unlock it from the inside.We went in and he closed the door behind him.From a legal point of view, we have become sinners.The warm air of the conservatory and the rich aroma of exotic flowers and plants hit our faces, making it difficult to breathe.In the dark he took my hand and led me swiftly through the bushes that grazed our faces.Holmes has a special ability to identify things in the dark, which is cultivated.Still holding my hand, he opened a door smoothly.I had the vague feeling that we had entered a large room in which a cigar had just been smoked.He groped his way among the furniture, opened another door, and closed it behind us as we passed.I reached out and felt a few tops hanging on the wall, and I knew I was in the aisle.After we had passed through this passage, Holmes softly opened a door on the right-hand side.Then there was something walking towards us and my heart almost jumped out of my chest, I just wanted to laugh out loud when I found out it was a cat.In this room, the fireplace was still burning, and there was a strong smell of tobacco.Holmes entered on tiptoe, and when I had entered he closed the door softly.We have come to Milverton's study, opposite a curtain leading to his bedroom.

The fire burned so vigorously that it lit up the whole room.There's a light switch by the door, but there's no need to turn it on even if it's safe.There was a thick curtain beside the fireplace, which blocked the bay window which we had just seen from the outside.On the other side of the fireplace was a door leading to a balcony.In the middle of the room stood a desk, behind which was a swivel chair of gleaming red leather.Opposite the desk was a large bookcase with a marble bust of Athena on it.In a corner, between the bookcase and the wall, stood a tall green safe, the bright brass handle of the door of which reflected the firelight from the fireplace.Holmes walked over quietly and looked into the safe.Then he slipped to the bedroom door again and stood there listening intently for a while with his head on one side.Can't hear anything inside.At this point it occurred to me that I could easily retreat through the outer door, so I examined the door, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was neither bolted nor locked.I touched Holmes on the arm in a gesture to him, and he turned his masked face in the direction of the door.I could see that he was startled and surprised by my action, and his reaction was not what I expected.

He leaned into my ear and said, "That's not very good, but I don't quite understand what you mean. Anyway, let's hurry up."

"What am I going to do?"

"Stand by the door. If you hear someone coming, put the bar on the inside, and we can go back the way we came. If they come from that way, we can go through this door when we finish our business. If we don't, we can hide in the ledge." Behind the curtains of the window. Do you understand?"

I nodded and stood by the door.My initial sense of terror was gone, and now a strong sense of flouting the law surged through me, a feeling we never had in our defense of the law.Our mission is noble, and I think our actions are selfless and chivalrous because we recognize the ugly nature of our enemies.All of these add to the excitement and fun of this adventure.I felt no guilt at all, but was glad and excited about our peril.I watched with admiration as Holmes opened his tool-bag, and he chose his tools calmly, scientifically, and precisely like a surgeon performing a complex operation.I know that Holmes has a special penchant for opening safes, and I understand the great joy that is brought to him by the green monster before him, the very dragon that has eaten away the reputations of many beautiful ladies.He put his overcoat on a chair, rolled up the cuffs of his evening coat, and produced two drills, a crowbar, and skeleton keys.I stood by the middle door, with my eyes on the other two, ready for emergencies.Still, it's not clear to me what to do when we get stuck.Holmes put down one tool and picked up another like a skilled mechanic.He concentrated on working for half an hour, and finally I heard a click, and the green door of the safe was pushed open. I saw inside there were many paper bags, bundled separately, sealed with wax, and writing on them.Holmes picked out a packet, but the writing could not be read in the flickering light. He produced a small lamp for use in the dark, for Milverton was in the next house and it was too dangerous to turn on the electric light.Suddenly I saw him stop, and listen intently, and at once he shut the safe door, took up his overcoat, pocketed his tools, and ran to the curtain of the bay window, beckoning me to go too.

I was beside him before I heard a voice that set his keen senses on alert.There was the slamming of a door in the distance, and then the sound of heavy footsteps approaching rapidly, with a low, indistinct rustle mixed with the heavy footsteps.The footsteps had reached the aisle outside the house, stopped in front of the door, and the door opened.With a click, the light turned on.The door closed again, and we smelled a strong, acrid smell of cigars.Then there was the sound of footsteps coming and going a few yards from us, someone pacing up and down.At last the footsteps stopped, but the chair creaked again.Then there was the click of a key in the lock, and the rustle of papers being turned.

I had been afraid to look just now, and now I gently parted the curtain in front of me to peek inside.I felt Holmes's shoulder on mine, and I knew he was watching too.Milverton's broad, round back was facing us, almost palpable.Evidently we had miscalculated what he was doing, he hadn't been in the bedroom, but was sitting smoking in the smoking room or the pool room on the other side of the house, the windows of which we hadn't seen just now.His head is round and big, his hair is already gray, and there is a part of his head that glows from baldness, which is in front of our line of sight.He was leaning back in a red-painted chair, with his legs stretched out, a cigar slanted in his mouth.He was wearing a fuchsia army-style smoking jacket with a black velvet collar.He held a thick stack of legal documents in his hand, and read them idly, puffing out smoke rings.It's hard to see him changing this calm, comfortable position anytime soon.

I felt that Holmes quietly took my hand, and gave me a firm squeeze, as if to say that he was sure of the situation and that his mind was stable.It was obvious from my vantage point that the door of the safe was not fully closed, and Milverton might find out at any moment.I wonder if Holmes saw it.I had made up my mind that if I saw from the way Milverton was staring that the cabinet had caught his attention, I would jump out at once, put my overcoat over his head, hold him down, and do the rest. Let Holmes do it.But Milverton never looked up. He lazily held the document and flipped through the lawyer's defense materials page by page.Later, I thought he would go to the bedroom to rest after reading the document and smoking a cigarette, but before this time, things had an unexpected development, which led our thinking to another direction.

Several times I saw Milverton look at his watch, and once he got up and sat down impatiently.It didn't even occur to me that he had a date at this time until I heard a faint voice on the balcony outside.Milverton put down the file and sat down on the chair.Another faint sound was heard, and then there was a soft knock on the door.Milverton stood up and opened the door.

He said bluntly: "Well, you are almost half an hour late."

That was why Milverton stayed up late at night.I heard the rustling of a woman's clothes.I had closed the middle seam of the curtain just now when Milverton's face was turned towards us, and now I opened it again cautiously.Now he was sitting in the chair again, the cigar still dangling from his mouth.Opposite him stood a woman in bright light.She was tall, thin and dark, with a black veil and a cloak tied at her chin.Her breathing was rapid, and every part of her lithe body was throbbing with excitement.

Milverton said, "My dear, you have kept me up all night. I hope I have had a good night. Can't you come some other time?"

The woman shook her head.

"Well, you can't come if you can't come. If the Countess is a difficult woman, you've got a chance to take on her now. Bless you. Why are you trembling? Yes, get your spirits up. We'll get down to business now Come." He took a notebook from a desk drawer. "You said you had five letters for sale, including Countess D'Arbe's, and I was going to buy them. That's all very well, as long as they're good—oh, yes. you?"

Without a word, the woman lifted her veil and unfastened her cloak from her chin.What appeared in front of Milverton was a beautiful, delicate, swarthy face, with a crooked nose, dark and hard eyebrows covering a pair of firm, shining eyes, and thin lips with menacing smile.

She said, "It was me, the woman whose life you ruined."

Milverton laughed, but it was clear he was terrified.He said with a trembling voice, "You are too stubborn. Why did you force me to go to such an extreme? I don't even have the heart to hurt a fly, but everyone has their own difficult scriptures, so what can I do? You are fully capable of paying the price I set, but you are unwilling to pay it."

(End of this chapter)

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