t. we would

certainly make every effort to avoid scandal in so delicate

a matter."

milverton relapsed into his chair.

"i was sure that you would see it in that light," he purred.

"at the same time," holmes continued, "lady eva is not a

wealthy woman. i assure you that two thousand pounds would

be a drain upon her resources, and that the sum you name is

utterly beyond her power. i beg, therefore, that you will

moderate your demands, and that you will return the letters

at the price i indicate, which is, i assure you, the

highest that you can get."

milverton's smile broadened and his eyes twinkled humorously.

"i am aware that what you say is true about the lady's

resources," said he. "at the same time, you must admit

that the occasion of a lady's marriage is a very suitable

time for her friends and relatives to make some little

effort upon her behalf. they may hesitate as to an

acceptable wedding present. let me assure them that this

little bundle of letters would give more joy than all the

candelabra and butter-dishes in london."

"it is impossible," said holmes.

"dear me, dear me, how unfortunate!" cried milverton,

taking out a bulky pocket-book. "i cannot help thinking

that ladies are ill-advised in not making an effort. look

at this!" he held up a little note with a coat-of-arms

upon the envelope. "that belongs to -- well, perhaps it is

hardly fair to tell the name until to-morrow morning. but

at that time it will be in the hands of the lady's husband.

and all because she will not find a beggarly sum which she

could get in an hour by turning her diamonds into paste.

it _is_ such a pity. now, you remember the sudden end of

the engagement between the honourable miss miles and

colonel dorking? only two days before the wedding there

was a paragraph in the _morning post_ to say that it was

all off. and why? it is almost incredible, but the absurd

sum of twelve hundred pounds would have settled the whole

question. is it not pitiful? and here i find you, a man

of sense, boggling about terms when your client's future

and honour are at stake. you surprise me, mr. holmes."

"what i say is true," holmes answered. "the money cannot

be found. surely it is better for you to take the

substantial sum which i offer than to ruin this woman's

career, which can profit you in no way?"

"there you make a mistake, mr. holmes. an exposure would

profit me indirectly to a considerable extent. i have

eight or ten similar cases maturing. if it was circulated

among them that i had made a severe example of the lady eva

i should find all of them much more open to reason. you

see my point?"

holmes sprang from his chair.

"get behind him, watson! don't let him out!

now, sir, let us see the contents of that note-book."

milverton had glided as quick as a rat to the side of the

room, and stood with his back against the wall.

"mr. holmes, mr. holmes," he said, turning the front of his

coat and exhibiting the butt of a large revolver, which

projected from the inside pocket. "i have been expecting

you to do something original. this has been done so often,

and what good has ever come from it? i assure you that i

am armed to the teeth, and i am perfectly prepared to use

my weapons, knowing that the law will support me. besides,

your supposition that i would bring the letters here in a

note-book is entirely mistaken. i would do nothing so

foolish. and now, gentlemen, i have one or two little

interviews this evening, and it is a long drive to

hampstead." he stepped forward, took up his coat, laid his

hand on his revolver, and turned to the door. i picked up

a chair, but holmes shook his head and i laid it down

again. with a bow, a smile, and a twinkle milverton was

out of the room, and a few moments after we heard the slam

of the carriage door and the rattle of the wheels as he

drove away.

holmes sat motionless by the fire, his hands buried deep in

his trouser pockets, his chin sunk upon his breast, his

eyes fixed upon the glowing embers. for half an hour he

was silent and still. then, with the gesture of a man who

has taken his decision, he sprang to his feet and passed

into his bedroom. a little later a rakish young workman

with a goatee beard and a swagger lit his clay pipe at the

lamp before descending into the street. "i'll be back some

time, watson," said he, and vanished into the night.

i understood that he had opened his campaign against charles

augustus milverton; but i little dreamed the strange shape

which that campaign was destined to take.

for some days holmes came and went at all hours in this

attire, but beyond a remark that his time was spent at

hampstead, and that it was not wasted, i knew nothing of

what he was doing. at last, however, on a wild,

tempestuous evening, when the wind screamed and rattled