n we shall drive as far as church

row. it is a quarter of an hour's walk from there to

appledore towers. we shall be at work before midnight.

milverton is a heavy sleeper and retires punctually at

ten-thirty. with any luck we should be back here by two,

with the lady eva's letters in my pocket."

holmes and i put on our dress-clothes, so that we might

appear to be two theatre-goers homeward bound. in oxford

street we picked up a hansom and drove to an address in

hampstead. here we paid off our cab, and with our

great-coats buttoned up, for it was bitterly cold and the

wind seemed to blow through us, we walked along the edge of

the heath.

"it's a business that needs delicate treatment," said

holmes. "these documents are contained in a safe in the

fellow's study, and the study is the ante-room of his

bed-chamber. on the other hand, like all these stout,

little men who do themselves well, he is a plethoric

sleeper. agatha -- that's my _fiancee_ -- says {2} it is a

joke in the servants' hall that it's impossible to wake the

master. he has a secretary who is devoted to his interests

and never budges from the study all day. that's why we are

going at night. then he has a beast of a dog which roams

the garden. i met agatha late the last two evenings, and

she locks the brute up so as to give me a clear run. this

is the house, this big one in its own grounds. through the

gate -- now to the right among the laurels. we might put

on our masks here, i think. you see, there is not a

glimmer of light in any of the windows, and everything is

working splendidly."

with our black silk face-coverings, which turned us into

two of the most truculent figures in london, we stole up to

the silent, gloomy house. a sort of tiled veranda extended

along one side of it, lined by several windows and two doors.

"that's his bedroom," holmes whispered. "this door opens

straight into the study. it would suit us best, but it is

bolted as well as locked, and we should make too much noise

getting in. come round here. there's a greenhouse which

opens into the drawing-room."

the place was locked, but holmes removed a circle of glass

and turned the key from the inside. an instant afterwards

he had closed the door behind us, and we had become felons

in the eyes of the law. the thick, warm air of the

conservatory and the rich, choking fragrance of exotic

plants took us by the throat. he seized my hand in the

darkness and led me swiftly past banks of shrubs which

brushed against our faces. holmes had remarkable powers,

carefully cultivated, of seeing in the dark. still holding

my hand in one of his he opened a door, and i was vaguely

conscious that we had entered a large room in which a cigar

had been smoked not long before. he felt his way among the

furniture, opened another door, and closed it behind us.

putting out my hand i felt several coats hanging from the

wall, and i understood that i was in a passage. we passed

along it, and holmes very gently opened a door upon the

right-hand side. something rushed out at us and my heart

sprang into my mouth, but i could have laughed when i

realized that it was the cat. a fire was burning in this

new room, and again the air was heavy with tobacco smoke.

holmes entered on tiptoe, waited for me to follow, and then

very gently closed the door. we were in milverton's study,

and a _portiere_ {3} at the farther side showed the

entrance to his bedroom.

it was a good fire, and the room was illuminated by it.

near the door i saw the gleam of an electric switch, but it

was unnecessary, even if it had been safe, to turn it on.

at one side of the fireplace was a heavy curtain,

which covered the bay window we had seen from outside.

on the other side was the door which communicated with the

veranda. a desk stood in the centre, with a turning chair

of shining red leather. opposite was a large bookcase,

with a marble bust of athene on the top. in the corner

between the bookcase and the wall there stood a tall green

safe, the firelight flashing back from the polished brass

knobs upon its face. holmes stole across and looked at it.

then he crept to the door of the bedroom, and stood with

slanting head listening intently. no sound came from

within. meanwhile it had struck me that it would be wise

to secure our retreat through the outer door, so i examined it.

to my amazement it was neither locked nor bolted! i touched

holmes on the arm, and he turned his masked face in that

direction. i saw him start, and he was evidently as

surprised as i.

"i don't like it," he whispered, putting his lips to my very ear.

"i can't quite make it out. anyhow, we have no time to lose."

"can i do anything?"

"yes; stand by the door. if you hear anyone come, bolt it

on the inside, and we can get away as we came. if they

com