Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 107 The Return (18)
We wore masks of black silk like the most aggressive men in London.We approached the big silent and dreary house lightly.There is a balcony on each side of the house with a tiled roof, windows and doors.

"That's his bedroom," said Holmes softly. "It opens onto the study. It suits us well, but the door is bolted and locked, and it would make a loud noise if it were opened. Come here, there is a flower room here, the door is facing the living room."

The greenhouse was locked, so Holmes removed a circle of glass and opened the lock inside.After we went in, he closed the door behind him.From a legal point of view, we are now sinners.The warm air and the rich fragrance of flowers and plants in the greenhouse made it hard for us to breathe.He held my hand tightly in the dark and led me through a patch of bushes where our faces brushed.Holmes had a peculiar ability to distinguish various objects in the dark, which was the result of years of unceasing practice. He opened a window while holding my hand.I can feel that we are now entering a large room, and someone has smoked cigars in this room.He fumbled among the furniture, opened another door, and closed it behind him.I reached out and found some tops hanging on the wall, I figured we were in the hallway.After crossing the hallway, he opened a door on the right.At this moment, I felt something rushing towards us, which made me very nervous, and then I realized it was a cat, and I almost laughed out loud.A fire was burning in the room, and it smelled very strongly of tobacco.He lifted his foot and walked in. After I entered, he closed the door gently.We are now in Milverton's study, and there is a curtain on the opposite side, which means that it is the door leading to Milverton's bedroom.

The fire was burning so vigorously that it lit up the whole house.There was a light switch by the door, but even if it was safe, there was no need to turn on the light.There was a very thick curtain over the fireplace, from which we could see the bay window from the outside, and on the other side of it was a door to the balcony.There is a desk and half a swivel chair in the room, and the red leather is shining.On the opposite side of the desk is a large bookcase with a marble bust of Athena on it. Between the bookcase and the wall is an extra-high green safe. The firelight from the fireplace is reflected on the copper cabinet door.Holmes walked softly over and took a look.Then I went to the bedroom again, tilted my head and listened to the movement inside, but I couldn't hear any sound inside.Then it occurred to me that the door leading out was a good way of retreat, and I examined it very carefully, and was surprised to find that it was neither bar nor locked.I touched him and he turned his head to look in the direction of the door.I could tell he was startled and surprised by my actions.These reactions from him also came as a surprise to me.

He put his mouth in my ear and said, "Don't do it, I still don't quite understand what you mean. Anyway, we must hurry up."

"what have I done?"

"Stand at the door, and if you hear anyone coming, bolt the door from the inside, and we can go back the way we came. If they come the way we came, we'll go back when we're done." Go through this door, and if we don't finish our business, we'll hide behind the bay window, you know?"

I nodded and stood by the door.The horror of earlier was gone, and now there was a single strong desire in the heart, and it was not at all felt in the defense of the law.Although what we do now is lawless, what we do is not for ourselves, it is noble and chivalrous, and we have long seen the ugly nature of the enemy clearly.It added fun to our adventure, and I didn't feel guilty at all. Instead, I felt that adventure made me excited and joyful.I was very happy to watch Holmes open the tool bag with ease, like a surgeon performing a complex operation, calmly, scientifically and accurately choose his tools.I know that he has a special fondness for opening safes, and I know even more that he hates this green monster in front of him. It has hurt the reputation of many beautiful ladies.He put his overcoat on the chair, rolled up the cuffs of his evening coat, took out the two kinds of gimbals from the bag, the sledge stick, and the skeleton keys.I stood in the middle of the doors, keeping my eyes on both doors, ready for an emergency.Still, I don't really know what to do when I get stuck.For half an hour Holmes was absorbed in his work, lifting one thing and putting down that like a skilled mechanic.Finally I heard a "click" and he opened the green door.I saw that there were many papers in the cabinet, all sealed and bound with wax paint, and words were written on them.Holmes took out a packet from it, but it was impossible to make out what was written in the dim light.As Milverton was sleeping in the next room, it was impossible to turn on the light, but a small fire in the dark.Suddenly he stopped, listening intently to what was going on outside, then immediately shut the cupboard door, picked up his overcoat, pocketed his tools, and ran to the bay window curtain, beckoning me over.

When I got to his side, I heard the voice telling him to stop.There was the sound of a door closing in the distance, and the sound of fast and heavy footsteps, with some slightly unclear "rustling" sounds mixed in with the very heavy footsteps.The voice reached the corridor outside the house and stopped in front of the door. The door was opened, and then the electric light came on with a "click".The door was closed again, and we again smelled the strong, acrid smell of cigar smoke.Later, a few yards away from us, the man was walking up and down continuously.The footsteps finally stopped, and then I heard the "creak" of the chair, and then the "click" of the lock being unlocked, and the sound of "rustle" of paper.

I was afraid to look in just now, but now I slowly parted the curtain in front of me and looked in, and I felt my friend looking in at the same time.Milverton's broad, round back was within reach.Clearly we were wrong about his behaviour, for he was not sleeping in the bedroom at all, but had been smoking in the smoking-room or the billiard-room, the windows of which we hadn't seen at all just now.In front of our eyes was a large, round head with gray hair, and a hairless area on it to shine.He leaned back on the red leather chair, stretched out his legs, and still had a cigar in his mouth.He was wearing a fuchsia military-style smoking jacket with a black velvet collar, holding a stack of thick legal documents, reading them lazily, and puffing out smoke rings.Judging from his leisurely demeanor, he didn't mean to leave in a hurry.

Holmes quietly took my hand firmly, and shook it firmly, as if to say that he was very sure of it, and his mind was stable.I could see that the safe door wasn't fully locked at all, which he could have found any minute.I have resolved that if I see from Milverton's gaze that he finds the locker unlocked, I shall jump out at once, cover his head with the overcoat, knock him unconscious, and my friend will do the rest. up.But he didn't look up to notice those at all.He idly looked at the files, flipping through the pages of the lawyer's briefs.I thought maybe he'd go back to his bedroom after reading the papers and smoking a cigarette.But before this time, something unexpected happened, which had to lead our thoughts in another direction.

I watched the guy look at his watch a few times, standing up and sitting down once with an impatient look on his face.Immediately afterwards, we heard an extremely small sound from the balcony outside. We never thought that any appointment would be set at this time.The guy put down the file and leaned back in his chair.Then there was a soft knock on the door, and he got up to open it.

He said very unfriendly: "Hey, you're half an hour late."

Why is this?That's why he didn't lock the door or go to bed late at night.Immediately thereafter, a woman's clothes were softly rustling.As his face turned towards us, I quickly closed the slit of the curtain, then carefully opened it again.Then he sat back in his chair, the cigar still dangling from the corner of his mouth.In the bright light, a tall, dark-skinned woman was standing opposite him, wearing a cloak and veil.She was breathing rapidly and every part of her body was shaking with emotion.

Milverton said: "My dear, you keep me waiting. I hope you don't disappoint me. Why don't you come at another time?"

The woman shook her head.

"Well, if you can't. If the countess is difficult to handle, now you have a chance to fight her. God bless you! Why do you tremble? Well, cheer up and don't be afraid. Now we will Let's talk about this deal." He took a notebook out of a desk drawer. "Didn't you say you were going to sell five letters? Among them was Countess Dalbe's? I'll buy them all, it's great. As long as it's good—oh, why are you?"

Without saying a word, the woman took off her veil and cloak.What appeared in front of this guy was a beautiful, delicate, dark face.Under the thick black eyebrows, the eyes are firm and piercing, and there is a dangerous smile on the small and thin lips.

She said: "Yes, I am the woman you ruined your life."

Milverton laughed, but fear made his voice tremble.He said: "You are too stubborn, why do you force me to go to such an extreme? I can't hurt a fly for myself. But everyone has their own difficulties, can I have another way? The price I want It's completely within your power, but you don't buy it."

"So you sent letters to my husband, the noblest man in the world, and I was not worthy to tie his shoes. These letters broke his heart, and he died. You must remember me Came in through that door last night and begged you not to do that? But you laughed at me again and again, and you still laugh at me, but I'm not afraid of your cowardly heart. Don't your lips tremble too? Yes, you are Seeing me here again is unexpected, isn't it? But it was that night that you taught me how to face a man like you, and when I was alone with you. Charles Milverton, you have other things Did you say that?"

He raised his side and said: "Don't threaten me, as long as I call my servants loudly, they will catch you immediately. But I suppress my anger now and forgive you, you go, I won't do anything to you again."

The woman stood there motionless, her hands on her chest, the murderous smile still on her thin lips.

"It's impossible for you to destroy other people's lives like you destroyed mine, and you will never hurt more people's hearts like you did to mine. I will take your vicious Get rid of the guy, you vicious dog, shoot me, shoot, shoot, shoot again!"

She pulled a shiny little pistol out of her pocket and it rained bullets into the guy's chest, the muzzle not two feet from his chest.He curled up and fell to the desk, coughing violently, clutching the documents with both hands, then stood up staggeringly, was shot again, and fell to the ground.He said loudly: "You killed me!" Then he fell to the ground and remained motionless.The woman stared at him closely, then kicked him wildly.I took a closer look at him again, and saw that he hadn't moved at all. With the sound of "rustling", the avenger left, and the cold air at night blew into the room.

If we intervene, we can't keep him alive.When the woman shot at his shivering body, I was about to jump out, but Holmes grabbed me hard with his icy hands.I understand what he means: this is not about us, this is a struggle between good and evil, and we must not forget what we are here for.No sooner had the woman rushed out of the room than Holmes, taking a few quick steps, reached the other door and turned the key in the lock.At the same time we heard the house commotion, footsteps and voices, and gunshots woke everyone up.Holmes stepped forward steadily, stood in front of the safe, picked up the letters and threw them into the fireplace until all the letters were thrown away.At that time, someone was turning the doorknob and knocking on the door. My friend turned his head and saw the doomsday letter splattered with Milverton's blood still on the table. He quickly picked it up and threw it into the fire.He pulled out a key that led to an outer door, and we went out and locked the door in turn."This way, Watson," said he, "we can leave by the garden."

I really can't imagine that the alarm came so quickly.I looked back, the whole house was lit up, the front door was open, and figures were walking down the path one by one, and the whole garden was in chaos.When we left the balcony, someone yelled "get it" and followed us closely.Holmes seemed to know this very well, and led me swiftly through the undergrowth, while the pursuer was panting with exhaustion.It was a six-foot wall that barred our way, but Holmes leaped across it in a flash.As I climbed up, I felt someone grab my ankle, but I kicked his hand away, climbed over the wall, and fell face down.My friend picked me up, and together we ran hastily forward, across the heath of Hems.We ran about two miles before stopping and listening carefully again, but nothing happened.No one is following us anymore, so we are safe and sound.

After doing this extraordinary thing, I wrote it all down.The next morning, just after breakfast, we were smoking, when Mr Lethrid, of Scotland Yard, was ushered into our drawing-room with grave faces.

He said: "Good morning, Mr. Holmes, are you busy now?"

"Busy is busy, but I still have time to listen to you."

"I thought, if you were not too busy at the moment, you might be able to help us with a curious case which took place last night in Hampstead."

"Ah! what case?" said Holmes.

"An astonishing and peculiar murder. We know you are very interested in this case. If you go to the Abeldota, give us some suggestions, so that the process of solving the case may be a little faster. We are very concerned about the deceased. He has been under surveillance for a long time, and he is a big villain to be honest. He is known to blackmail people with written materials. The murderer burned all the materials, but did not move any valuables, so it can be seen that the prisoner is very Possibly high-profile individuals whose only purpose is to prevent the circulation of these materials into society."

Holmes said, "Is there more than one of them?"

"Yes, there were two of them, and we nearly caught them. We had their footprints, and we knew what they looked like, and we had a good chance of finding them. The first man acted very well. Quick, the second man was almost caught by the gardener's apprentice, and he managed to escape after a desperate struggle. This man is of medium height, strong body, square jaw, thick neck, full beard, and wearing a mask."

Sherlock Holmes said: "It still sounds vague, but it seems that you are describing Watson."

"Really, I'm describing Dr. Watson," Lesred said jokingly.

"It is very difficult for me, Les Reed," said Holmes. "Milverton is notorious, and I once thought him the most dangerous man in London, and I think there are crimes which the law cannot interfere with, so that, to a certain extent, private Vengeance is justified. Don't waste any more time here. I have decided now that I have sympathy for the prisoner and not for the victim, and I don't think I will pursue this case."

Holmes said nothing to me that morning about the murder he had witnessed.I knew he was thinking about something. From his confused eyes and absent-minded demeanor, I could see that he must be trying to remember something.While we were at lunch he stood up suddenly, and exclaimed: "My God! Watson, I've got it all figured out, put on your hat, come on, let's go together!" He walked quickly out of Baker Street. To Oxford Street, walk straight towards Regent Street Square.On the left, there is a shop window with pictures of all the famous people and socialites.Holmes fixed his eyes on one of them, and I followed his gaze. It was a royal lady, solemn and sacred in court dress, with a diamond-encrusted tiara on her head.I looked more closely at the crooked nose, thick eyebrows, straight mouth, and that sharp, hard little chin.I hardly breathed when I saw the ancient and noble title of this woman's husband - a great statesman and nobleman.We looked at each other, and as we turned to leave, he put a finger to my lips, signaling that I must keep it a secret.Napoleon with pearls

Mr Ruthred, of Scotland Yard, used to come and sit with us in the evenings, and that was the usual thing.Holmes welcomed him, because it would give Holmes an easy idea of ​​what the police were doing.My friend always listens to the sheriff's case with his heart, and at the same time uses his own knowledge and rich experience to give the other party some opinions or suggestions.

One evening, after a brief discussion of the weather and the newspapers, Lethred fell silent and continued smoking his cigars.My friend looked at him anxiously and asked, "Do you have any very difficult cases on your hands?"

"Oh, Mr. Holmes, no, there is no serious case."

"Then tell me."

Lesred laughed.

(End of this chapter)