against the windows, he returned from his last expedition,

and having removed his disguise he sat before the fire and

laughed heartily in his silent inward fashion.

"you would not call me a marrying man, watson?"

"no, indeed!"

"you'll be interested to hear that i am engaged."

"my dear fellow! i congrat ----"

"to milverton's housemaid."

"good heavens, holmes!"

"i wanted information, watson."

"surely you have gone too far?"

"it was a most necessary step. i am a plumber with a

rising business, escott by name. i have walked out with

her each evening, and i have talked with her. good

heavens, those talks! however, i have got all i wanted.

i know milverton's house as i know the palm of my hand."

"but the girl, holmes?"

he shrugged his shoulders.

"you can't help it, my dear watson. you must play your

cards as best you can when such a stake is on the table.

however, i rejoice to say that i have a hated rival who

will certainly cut me out the instant that my back is

turned. what a splendid night it is!"

"you like this weather?"

"it suits my purpose. watson, i mean to burgle milverton's

house to-night."

i had a catching of the breath, and my skin went cold at

the words, which were slowly uttered in a tone of

concentrated resolution. as a flash of lightning in the

night shows up in an instant every detail of a wide

landscape, so at one glance i seemed to see every possible

result of such an action -- the detection, the capture, the

honoured career ending in irreparable failure and disgrace,

my friend himself lying at the mercy of the odious

milverton.

"for heaven's sake, holmes, think what you are doing," i cried.

"my dear fellow, i have given it every consideration.

i am never precipitate in my actions, nor would i adopt so

energetic and indeed so dangerous a course if any other

were possible. let us look at the matter clearly and

fairly. i suppose that you will admit that the action is

morally justifiable, though technically criminal.

to burgle his house is no more than to forcibly take his

pocket-book -- an action in which you were prepared to aid me."

i turned it over in my mind.

"yes," i said; "it is morally justifiable so long as our

object is to take no articles save those which are used for

an illegal purpose."

"exactly. since it is morally justifiable i have only to

consider the question of personal risk. surely a gentleman

should not lay much stress upon this when a lady is in most

desperate need of his help?"

"you will be in such a false position."

"well, that is part of the risk. there is no other

possible way of regaining these letters. the unfortunate

lady has not the money, and there are none of her people in

whom she could confide. to-morrow is the last day of

grace, and unless we can get the letters to-night this

villain will be as good as his word and will bring about

her ruin. i must, therefore, abandon my client to her fate

or i must play this last card. between ourselves, watson,

it's a sporting duel between this fellow milverton and me.

he had, as you saw, the best of the first exchanges; but my

self-respect and my reputation are concerned to fight it to

a finish."

"well, i don't like it; but i suppose it must be," said i.

"when do we start?"

"you are not coming."

"then you are not going," said i. "i give you my word of

honour -- and i never broke it in my life -- that i will

take a cab straight to the police-station and give you away

unless you let me share this adventure with you."

"you can't help me."

"how do you know that? you can't tell what may happen.

anyway, my resolution is taken. other people beside you

have self-respect and even reputations."

holmes had looked annoyed, but his brow cleared, and he

clapped me on the shoulder.

"well, well, my dear fellow, be it so. we have shared the

same room for some years, and it would be amusing if we

ended by sharing the same cell. you know, watson, i don't

mind confessing to you that i have always had an idea that

i would have made a highly efficient criminal. this is the

chance of my lifetime in that direction. see here!" he

took a neat little leather case out of a drawer, and

opening it he exhibited a number of shining instruments.

"this is a first-class, up-to-date burgling kit, with

nickel-plated jemmy, diamond-tipped glass-cutter, adaptable

keys, and every modern improvement which the march of

civilization demands. here, too, is my dark lantern.

everything is in order. have you a pair of silent shoes?"

"i have rubber-soled tennis shoes."

"excellent. and a mask?"

"i can make a couple out of black silk."

"i can see that you have a strong natural turn for this

sort of thing. very good; do you make the masks.

we shall have some cold supper before we start. it is now

nine-thirty. at eleve