coincidence, and not those of peter carey, since he seldom

smoked, and no pipe was found in his cabin. you remember

that i asked whether whisky and brandy were in the cabin.

you said they were. how many landsmen are there who would

drink rum when they could get these other spirits?

yes, i was certain it was a seaman."

"and how did you find him?"

"my dear sir, the problem had become a very simple one.

if it were a seaman, it could only be a seaman who had been

with him on the _sea unicorn_. so far as i could learn he

had sailed in no other ship. i spent three days in wiring

to dundee, and at the end of that time i had ascertained

the names of the crew of the _sea unicorn_ in 1883. when i

found patrick cairns among the harpooners my research was

nearing its end. i argued that the man was probably in

london, and that he would desire to leave the country for a

time. i therefore spent some days in the east-end, devised

an arctic expedition, put forward tempting terms for

harpooners who would serve under captain basil -- and

behold the result!"

"wonderful!" cried hopkins. "wonderful!"

"you must obtain the release of young neligan as soon as

possible," said holmes. "i confess that i think you owe

him some apology. the tin box must be returned to him,

but, of course, the securities which peter carey has sold

are lost for ever. there's the cab, hopkins, and you can

remove your man. if you want me for the trial, my address

and that of watson will be somewhere in norway -- i'll send

particulars later."

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{---------------------- textual notes --------------------}

{1} {anaemic: the a&e are ligatured}

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{chas, rev 4, 1/17/96 rms, 4th proofing}

{the adventure of charles augustus milverton, arthur conan doyle}

{source: the strand magazine, 27 (april 1904)}

{etext prepared by roger squires rsquires@nmia.com}

{braces({}) in the text indicate textual end-notes}

{underscores (_) in the text indicate italics}

vii. -- the adventure of charles augustus milverton.

it is years since the incidents of which i speak took

place, and yet it is with diffidence that i allude to them.

for a long time, even with the utmost discretion and

reticence, it would have been impossible to make the facts

public; but now the principal person concerned is beyond

the reach of human law, and with due suppression the story

may be told in such fashion as to injure no one. it

records an absolutely unique experience in the career both

of mr. sherlock holmes and of myself. the reader will

excuse me if i conceal the date or any other fact by which

he might trace the actual occurrence.

we had been out for one of our evening rambles, holmes and

i, and had returned about six o'clock on a cold, frosty

winter's evening. as holmes turned up the lamp the light

fell upon a card on the table. he glanced at it, and then,

with an ejaculation of disgust, threw it on the floor.

i picked it up and read:--

charles augustus milverton,

appledore towers,

agent. hampstead.

"who is he?" i asked.

"the worst man in london," holmes answered, as he sat down

and stretched his legs before the fire. "is anything on

the back of the card?"

i turned it over.

"will call at 6.30 -- c.a.m.," i read.

"hum! he's about due. do you feel a creeping, shrinking

sensation, watson, when you stand before the serpents in

the zoo and see the slithery, gliding, venomous creatures,

with their deadly eyes and wicked, flattened faces? well,

that's how milverton impresses me. i've had to do with

fifty murderers in my career, but the worst of them never

gave me the repulsion which i have for this fellow. and

yet i can't get out of doing business with him -- indeed,

he is here at my invitation."

"but who is he?"

"i'll tell you, watson. he is the king of all the

blackmailers. heaven help the man, and still more the

woman, whose secret and reputation come into the power of

milverton. with a smiling face and a heart of marble he

will squeeze and squeeze until he has drained them dry.

the fellow is a genius in his way, and would have made his

mark in some more savoury trade. his method is as follows:

he allows it to be known that he is prepared to pay very

high sums for letters which compromise people of wealth or

position. he receives these wares not only from

treacherous valets or maids, but frequently from genteel

ruffians who have gained the confidence and affection of

trusting women. he deals with no niggard hand. i happen

to know t