e the other way, we can get through the door if our job

is done, or hide behind these window curtains if it is not.

do you understand?"

i nodded and stood by the door. my first feeling of fear

had passed away, and i thrilled now with a keener zest than

i had ever enjoyed when we were the defenders of the law

instead of its defiers. the high object of our mission,

the consciousness that it was unselfish and chivalrous, the

villainous character of our opponent, all added to the

sporting interest of the adventure. far from feeling

guilty, i rejoiced and exulted in our dangers. with a glow

of admiration i watched holmes unrolling his case of

instruments and choosing his tool with the calm, scientific

accuracy of a surgeon who performs a delicate operation.

i knew that the opening of safes was a particular hobby

with him, and i understood the joy which it gave him to be

confronted with this green and gold monster, the dragon

which held in its maw the reputations of many fair ladies.

turning up the cuffs of his dress-coat -- he had placed his

overcoat on a chair -- holmes laid out two drills, a jemmy,

and several skeleton keys. i stood at the centre door with

my eyes glancing at each of the others, ready for any

emergency; though, indeed, my plans were somewhat vague as

to what i should do if we were interrupted. for half an

hour holmes worked with concentrated energy, laying down

one tool, picking up another, handling each with the

strength and delicacy of the trained mechanic. finally i

heard a click, the broad green door swung open, and inside

i had a glimpse of a number of paper packets, each tied,

sealed, and inscribed. holmes picked one out, but it was

hard to read by the flickering fire, and he drew out his

little dark lantern, for it was too dangerous, with

milverton in the next room, to switch on the electric

light. suddenly i saw him halt, listen intently, and then

in an instant he had swung the door of the safe to, picked

up his coat, stuffed his tools into the pockets, and darted

behind the window curtain, motioning me to do the same.

it was only when i had joined him there that i heard what

had alarmed his quicker senses. there was a noise

somewhere within the house. a door slammed in the

distance. then a confused, dull murmur broke itself into

the measured thud of heavy footsteps rapidly approaching.

they were in the passage outside the room. they paused at

the door. the door opened. there was a sharp snick as the

electric light was turned on. the door closed once more,

and the pungent reek of a strong cigar was borne to our

nostrils. then the footsteps continued backwards and

forwards, backwards and forwards, within a few yards of us.

finally, there was a creak from a chair, and the footsteps

ceased. then a key clicked in a lock and i heard the

rustle of papers.

so far i had not dared to look out, but now i gently parted

the division of the curtains in front of me and peeped

through. from the pressure of holmes's shoulder against

mine i knew that he was sharing my observations. right in

front of us, and almost within our reach, was the broad,

rounded back of milverton. it was evident that we had

entirely miscalculated his movements, that he had never

been to his bedroom, but that he had been sitting up in

some smoking or billiard room in the farther wing of the

house, the windows of which we had not seen. his broad,

grizzled head, with its shining patch of baldness, was in

the immediate foreground of our vision. he was leaning far

back in the red leather chair, his legs outstretched, a

long black cigar projecting at an angle from his mouth. he

wore a semi-military smoking jacket, claret-coloured, with

a black velvet collar. in his hand he held a long legal

document, which he was reading in an indolent fashion,

blowing rings of tobacco smoke from his lips as he did so.

there was no promise of a speedy departure in his composed

bearing and his comfortable attitude.

i felt holmes's hand steal into mine and give me a

reassuring shake, as if to say that the situation was

within his powers and that he was easy in his mind. i was

not sure whether he had seen what was only too obvious from

my position, that the door of the safe was imperfectly

closed, and that milverton might at any moment observe it.

in my own mind i had determined that if i were sure, from

the rigidity of his gaze, that it had caught his eye, i

would at once spring out, throw my great-coat over his

head, pinion him, and leave the rest to holmes. but

milverton never looked up. he was languidly interested by

the papers in his hand, and page after page was turned as

he followed the argument of the lawyer. at least,

i thought, when he has finished the document and the cigar

he will go to his room; but before he had reached the end of

eit