"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。"