\"Imustreallyapologize，Hopkins，\"saidSherlockHolmes；
\"Ifearthatthescrambledeggsarecold。However，youwillenjoytherestofyourbreakfastallthebetter，willyounot，forthethoughtthatyouhavebroughtyourcasetoatriumphantconclusion。\"
StanleyHopkinswasspeechlesswithamazement。
\"Idon’tknowwhattosay，Mr。Holmes，\"heblurtedoutatlast，withaveryredface。\"ItseemstomethatIhavebeenmakingafoolofmyselffromthebeginning。Iunderstandnow，whatI
shouldneverhaveforgotten，thatIamthepupilandyouarethemaster。EvennowIseewhatyouhavedone，butIdon’tknowhowyoudidit，orwhatitsignifies。\"
\"Well，well，\"saidHolmes，good—humouredly。\"Wealllearnbyexperience，andyourlessonthistimeisthatyoushouldneverlosesightofthealternative。YouweresoabsorbedinyoungNeliganthatyoucouldnotspareathoughttoPatrickCairns，thetruemurdererofPeterCarey。\"
Thehoarsevoiceoftheseamanbrokeinonourconversation。
\"Seehere，mister，\"saidhe，\"Imakenocomplaintofbeingman—handledinthisfashion，butIwouldhaveyoucallthingsbytheirrightnames。YousayImurderedPeterCarey；
IsayIKILLEDPeterCarey，andthere’sallthedifference。
Maybeyoudon’tbelievewhatIsay。MaybeyouthinkIamjustslingingyouayarn。\"
\"Notatall，\"saidHolmes。\"Letushearwhatyouhavetosay。\"
\"It’ssoontold，and，bytheLord，everywordofitistruth。
IknewBlackPeter，andwhenhepulledouthisknifeIwhippedaharpoonthroughhimsharp，forIknewthatitwashimorme。
That’showhedied。Youcancallitmurder。Anyhow，I’dassoondiewitharoperoundmyneckaswithBlackPeter’sknifeinmyheart。\"
\"Howcameyouthere？\"askedHolmes。
\"I’lltellityoufromthebeginning。JustsitmeupalittlesoasIcanspeakeasy。Itwasin’83thatithappened——
Augustofthatyear。PeterCareywasmasteroftheSEAUNICORN，andIwasspareharpooner。Wewerecomingoutoftheice—packonourwayhome，withheadwindsandaweek’ssoutherlygale，whenwepickedupalittlecraftthathadbeenblownnorth。
Therewasonemanonher——alandsman。Thecrewhadthoughtshewouldfounder，andhadmadefortheNorwegiancoastinthedinghy。Iguesstheywerealldrowned。Well，wetookhimonboard，thisman，andheandtheskipperhadsomelongtalksinthecabin。Allthebaggagewetookoffwithhimwasonetinbox。
SofarasIknow，theman’snamewasnevermentioned，andonthesecondnighthedisappearedasifhehadneverbeen。Itwasgivenoutthathehadeitherthrownhimselfoverboardorfallenoverboardintheheavyweatherthatwewerehaving。Onlyonemanknewwhathadhappenedtohim，andthatwasme，forwithmyowneyesIsawtheskippertipuphisheelsandputhimovertherailinthemiddlewatchofadarknight，twodaysbeforewesightedtheShetlandlights。
\"Well，Ikeptmyknowledgetomyselfandwaitedtoseewhatwouldcomeofit。WhenwegotbacktoScotlanditwaseasilyhushedup，andnobodyaskedanyquestions。Astrangerdiedbyanaccident，anditwasnobody’sbusinesstoinquire。ShortlyafterPeterCareygaveupthesea，anditwaslongyearsbeforeIcouldfindwherehewas。
Iguessedthathehaddonethedeedforthesakeofwhatwasinthattinbox，andthathecouldaffordnowtopaymewellforkeepingmymouthshut。
\"IfoundoutwherehewasthroughasailormanthathadmethiminLondon，anddownIwenttosqueezehim。Thefirstnighthewasreasonableenough，andwasreadytogivemewhatwouldmakemefreeoftheseaforlife。Weweretofixitalltwonightslater。WhenIcameIfoundhimthreepartsdrunkandinaviletemper。Wesatdownandwedrankandweyarnedaboutoldtimes，butthemorehedrankthelessIlikedthelookonhisface。
Ispottedthatharpoonuponthewall，andIthoughtImightneeditbeforeIwasthrough。Thenatlasthebrokeoutatme，spittingandcursing，withmurderinhiseyesandagreatclasp—knifeinhishand。HehadnottimetogetitfromthesheathbeforeIhadtheharpoonthroughhim。Heavens！whatayellhegave；andhisfacegetsbetweenmeandmysleep！
Istoodthere，withhisbloodsplashingroundme，andIwaitedforabit；butallwasquiet，soItookheartoncemore。
Ilookedround，andtherewasthetinboxonashelf。IhadasmuchrighttoitasPeterCarey，anyhow，soItookitwithmeandleftthehut。LikeafoolIleftmybaccy—pouchuponthetable。
\"NowI’lltellyouthequeerestpartofthewholestory。
IhadhardlygotoutsidethehutwhenIheardsomeonecoming，andIhidamongthebushes。Amancameslinkingalong，wentintothehut，gaveacryasifhehadseenaghost，andleggeditashardashecouldrununtilhewasoutofsight。
WhohewasorwhathewantedismorethanIcantell。
FormypartIwalkedtenmiles，gotatrainatTunbridgeWells，andsoreachedLondon，andnoonethewiser。
\"Well，whenIcametoexaminetheboxIfoundtherewasnomoneyinit，andnothingbutpapersthatIwouldnotdaretosell。
IhadlostmyholdonBlackPeter，andwasstrandedinLondonwithoutashilling。Therewasonlymytradeleft。Isawtheseadvertisementsaboutharpoonersandhighwages，soIwenttotheshippingagents，andtheysentmehere。That’sallIknow，andIsayagainthatifIkilledBlackPeterthelawshouldgivemethanks，forIsavedthemthepriceofahempenrope。\"
\"Averyclearstatement，\"saidHolmes，risingandlightinghispipe。\"Ithink，Hopkins，thatyoushouldlosenotimeinconveyingyourprisonertoaplaceofsafety。Thisroomisnotwelladaptedforacell，andMr。PatrickCairnsoccupiestoolargeaproportionofourcarpet。\"
\"Mr。Holmes，\"saidHopkins，\"Idonotknowhowtoexpressmygratitude。EvennowIdonotunderstandhowyouattainedthisresult。\"
\"Simplybyhavingthegoodfortunetogettherightcluefromthebeginning。ItisverypossibleifIhadknownaboutthisnote—bookitmighthaveledawaymythoughts，asitdidyours。
ButallIheardpointedintheonedirection。Theamazingstrength，theskillintheuseoftheharpoon，therumandwater，theseal—skintobacco—pouch，withthecoarsetobacco——
allthesepointedtoaseaman，andonewhohadbeenawhaler。
Iwasconvincedthattheinitials`P。C。’uponthepouchwereacoincidence，andnotthoseofPeterCarey，sinceheseldomsmoked，andnopipewasfoundinhiscabin。YourememberthatIaskedwhetherwhiskyandbrandywereinthecabin。Yousaidtheywere。Howmanylandsmenaretherewhowoulddrinkrumwhentheycouldgettheseotherspirits？Yes，Iwascertainitwasaseaman。\"
\"Andhowdidyoufindhim？\"
\"Mydearsir，theproblemhadbecomeaverysimpleone。Ifitwereaseaman，itcouldonlybeaseamanwhohadbeenwithhimontheSEAUNICORN。SofarasIcouldlearnhehadsailedinnoothership。IspentthreedaysinwiringtoDundee，andattheendofthattimeIhadascertainedthenamesofthecrewoftheSEAUNICORNin1883。WhenIfoundPatrickCairnsamongtheharpoonersmyresearchwasnearingitsend。IarguedthatthemanwasprobablyinLondon，andthathewoulddesiretoleavethecountryforatime。IthereforespentsomedaysintheEast—end，devisedanArcticexpedition，putforthtemptingtermsforharpoonerswhowouldserveunderCaptainBasil——andbeholdtheresult！\"
\"Wonderful！\"criedHopkins。\"Wonderful！\"
\"YoumustobtainthereleaseofyoungNeliganassoonaspossible，\"
saidHolmes。\"IconfessthatIthinkyouowehimsomeapology。
Thetinboxmustbereturnedtohim，but，ofcourse，thesecuritieswhichPeterCareyhassoldarelostforever。There’sthecab，Hopkins，andyoucanremoveyourman。Ifyouwantmeforthetrial，myaddressandthatofWatsonwillbesomewhereinNorway——
I’llsendparticularslater。\"
VII。———TheAdventureofCharlesAugustusMilverton。
ITisyearssincetheincidentsofwhichIspeaktookplace，andyetitiswithdiffidencethatIalludetothem。Foralongtime，evenwiththeutmostdiscretionandreticence，itwouldhavebeenimpossibletomakethefactspublic；butnowtheprincipalpersonconcernedisbeyondthereachofhumanlaw，andwithduesuppressionthestorymaybetoldinsuchfashionastoinjurenoone。ItrecordsanabsolutelyuniqueexperienceinthecareerbothofMr。SherlockHolmesandofmyself。ThereaderwillexcusemeifIconcealthedateoranyotherfactbywhichhemighttracetheactualoccurrence。
Wehadbeenoutforoneofoureveningrambles，HolmesandI，andhadreturnedaboutsixo’clockonacold，frostywinter’sevening。AsHolmesturnedupthelampthelightfelluponacardonthetable。Heglancedatit，andthen，withanejaculationofdisgust，threwitonthefloor。
Ipickeditupandread：——
CHARLESAUGUSTUSMILVERTON，APPLEDORETOWERS，AGENT。HAMPSTEAD。
\"Whoishe？\"Iasked。
\"TheworstmaninLondon，\"Holmesanswered，ashesatdownandstretchedhislegsbeforethefire。\"Isanythingonthebackofthecard？\"
Iturneditover。
\"Willcallat6。30——C。A。M。，\"Iread。
\"Hum！He’saboutdue。Doyoufeelacreeping，shrinkingsensation，Watson，whenyoustandbeforetheserpentsintheZooandseetheslithery，gliding，venomouscreatures，withtheirdeadlyeyesandwicked，flattenedfaces？Well，that’showMilvertonimpressesme。I’vehadtodowithfiftymurderersinmycareer，buttheworstofthemnevergavemetherepulsionwhichIhaveforthisfellow。AndyetIcan’tgetoutofdoingbusinesswithhim——indeed，heishereatmyinvitation。\"
\"Butwhoishe？\"
\"I’lltellyou，Watson。Heisthekingofalltheblackmailers。
Heavenhelptheman，andstillmorethewoman，whosesecretandreputationcomeintothepowerofMilverton。Withasmilingfaceandaheartofmarblehewillsqueezeandsqueezeuntilhehasdrainedthemdry。Thefellowisageniusinhisway，andwouldhavemadehismarkinsomemoresavourytrade。Hismethodisasfollows：Heallowsittobeknownthatheispreparedtopayveryhighsumsforletterswhichcompromisepeopleofwealthorposition。Hereceivesthesewaresnotonlyfromtreacherousvaletsormaids，butfrequentlyfromgenteelruffianswhohavegainedtheconfidenceandaffectionoftrustingwomen。
Hedealswithnoniggardhand。Ihappentoknowthathepaidsevenhundredpoundstoafootmanforanotetwolinesinlength，andthattheruinofanoblefamilywastheresult。EverythingwhichisinthemarketgoestoMilverton，andtherearehundredsinthisgreatcitywhoturnwhiteathisname。Nooneknowswherehisgripmayfall，forheisfartoorichandfartoocunningtoworkfromhandtomouth。Hewillholdacardbackforyearsinordertoplayitatthemomentwhenthestakeisbestworthwinning。IhavesaidthatheistheworstmaninLondon，andIwouldaskyouhowcouldonecomparetheruffianwhoinhotbloodbludgeonshismatewiththisman，whomethodicallyandathisleisuretorturesthesoulandwringsthenervesinordertoaddtohisalreadyswollenmoney—bags？\"
Ihadseldomheardmyfriendspeakwithsuchintensityoffeeling。
\"Butsurely，\"saidI，\"thefellowmustbewithinthegraspofthelaw？\"
\"Technically，nodoubt，butpracticallynot。Whatwoulditprofitawoman，forexample，togethimafewmonths’
imprisonmentifherownruinmustimmediatelyfollow？Hisvictimsdarenothitback。Ifeverheblackmailedaninnocentperson，then，indeed，weshouldhavehim；butheisascunningastheEvilOne。No，no；wemustfindotherwaystofighthim。\"
\"Andwhyishehere？\"
\"Becauseanillustriousclienthasplacedherpiteouscaseinmyhands。ItistheLadyEvaBrackwell，themostbeautifulDEBUTANTEoflastseason。SheistobemarriedinafortnighttotheEarlofDovercourt。Thisfiendhasseveralimprudentletters——imprudent，Watson，nothingworse——whichwerewrittentoanimpecuniousyoungsquireinthecountry。
Theywouldsufficetobreakoffthematch。MilvertonwillsendtheletterstotheEarlunlessalargesumofmoneyispaidhim。
Ihavebeencommissionedtomeethim，and——tomakethebesttermsIcan。\"
Atthatinstanttherewasaclatterandarattleinthestreetbelow。LookingdownIsawastatelycarriageandpair，thebrilliantlampsgleamingontheglossyhaunchesofthenoblechestnuts。Afootmanopenedthedoor，andasmall，stoutmaninashaggyastrachanovercoatdescended。Aminutelaterhewasintheroom。
CharlesAugustusMilvertonwasamanoffifty，withalarge，intellectualhead，around，plump，hairlessface，aperpetualfrozensmile，andtwokeengreyeyes，whichgleamedbrightlyfrombehindbroad，golden—rimmedglasses。TherewassomethingofMr。Pickwick’sbenevolenceinhisappearance，marredonlybytheinsincerityofthefixedsmileandbythehardglitterofthoserestlessandpenetratingeyes。Hisvoicewasassmoothandsuaveashiscountenance，asheadvancedwithaplumplittlehandextended，murmuringhisregretforhavingmissedusathisfirstvisit。Holmesdisregardedtheoutstretchedhandandlookedathimwithafaceofgranite。Milverton’ssmilebroadened；heshruggedhisshoulders，removedhisovercoat，foldeditwithgreatdeliberationoverthebackofachair，andthentookaseat。
\"Thisgentleman？\"saidhe，withawaveinmydirection。
\"Isitdiscreet？Isitright？\"
\"Dr。Watsonismyfriendandpartner。\"
\"Verygood，Mr。Holmes。Itisonlyinyourclient’sintereststhatIprotested。Thematterissoverydelicate————\"
\"Dr。Watsonhasalreadyheardofit。\"
\"Thenwecanproceedtobusiness。YousaythatyouareactingforLadyEva。Hassheempoweredyoutoacceptmyterms？\"
\"Whatareyourterms？\"
\"Seventhousandpounds。\"
\"Andthealternative？\"
\"Mydearsir，itispainfulformetodiscussit；butifthemoneyisnotpaidonthe14ththerecertainlywillbenomarriageonthe18th。\"Hisinsufferablesmilewasmorecomplacentthanever。
Holmesthoughtforalittle。
\"Youappeartome，\"hesaid，atlast，\"tobetakingmatterstoomuchforgranted。Iam，ofcourse，familiarwiththecontentsoftheseletters。MyclientwillcertainlydowhatImayadvise。Ishallcounselhertotellherfuturehusbandthewholestoryandtotrusttohisgenerosity。\"
Milvertonchuckled。
\"YouevidentlydonotknowtheEarl，\"saidhe。
FromthebaffledlookuponHolmes’sfaceIcouldseeclearlythathedid。
\"Whatharmisthereintheletters？\"heasked。
\"Theyaresprightly——verysprightly，\"Milvertonanswered。
\"Theladywasacharmingcorrespondent。ButIcanassureyouthattheEarlofDovercourtwouldfailtoappreciatethem。
However，sinceyouthinkotherwise，wewillletitrestatthat。
Itispurelyamatterofbusiness。IfyouthinkthatitisinthebestinterestsofyourclientthattheselettersshouldbeplacedinthehandsoftheEarl，thenyouwouldindeedbefoolishtopaysolargeasumofmoneytoregainthem。\"
Heroseandseizedhisastrachancoat。
Holmeswasgreywithangerandmortification。
\"Waitalittle，\"hesaid。\"Yougotoofast。Wewouldcertainlymakeeveryefforttoavoidscandalinsodelicateamatter。\"
Milvertonrelapsedintohischair。
\"Iwassurethatyouwouldseeitinthatlight，\"hepurred。
\"Atthesametime，\"Holmescontinued，\"LadyEvaisnotawealthywoman。Iassureyouthattwothousandpoundswouldbeadrainuponherresources，andthatthesumyounameisutterlybeyondherpower。Ibeg，therefore，thatyouwillmoderateyourdemands，andthatyouwillreturnthelettersatthepriceI
indicate，whichis，Iassureyou，thehighestthatyoucanget。\"
Milverton’ssmilebroadenedandhiseyestwinkledhumorously。
\"Iamawarethatwhatyousayistrueaboutthelady’sresources，\"saidhe。\"Atthesametime，youmustadmitthattheoccasionofalady’smarriageisaverysuitabletimeforherfriendsandrelativestomakesomelittleeffortuponherbehalf。Theymayhesitateastoanacceptableweddingpresent。
Letmeassurethemthatthislittlebundleofletterswouldgivemorejoythanallthecandelabraandbutter—dishesinLondon。\"
\"Itisimpossible，\"saidHolmes。
\"Dearme，dearme，howunfortunate！\"criedMilverton，takingoutabulkypocket—book。\"Icannothelpthinkingthatladiesareill—advisedinnotmakinganeffort。Lookatthis！\"Heheldupalittlenotewithacoat—of—armsupontheenvelope。\"Thatbelongsto——well，perhapsitishardlyfairtotellthenameuntilto—morrowmorning。Butatthattimeitwillbeinthehandsofthelady’shusband。Andallbecauseshewillnotfindabeggarlysumwhichshecouldgetbyturningherdiamondsintopaste。ItISsuchapity。Now，yourememberthesuddenendoftheengagementbetweentheHonourableMissMilesandColonelDorking？OnlytwodaysbeforetheweddingtherewasaparagraphintheMORNINGPOSTtosaythatitwasalloff。
Andwhy？Itisalmostincredible，buttheabsurdsumoftwelvehundredpoundswouldhavesettledthewholequestion。
Isitnotpitiful？AndhereIfindyou，amanofsense，bogglingabouttermswhenyourclient’sfutureandhonourareatstake。Yousurpriseme，Mr。Holmes。\"
\"WhatIsayistrue，\"Holmesanswered。\"Themoneycannotbefound。SurelyitisbetterforyoutotakethesubstantialsumwhichIofferthantoruinthiswoman’scareer，whichcanprofityouinnoway？\"
\"Thereyoumakeamistake，Mr。Holmes。Anexposurewouldprofitmeindirectlytoaconsiderableextent。Ihaveeightortensimilarcasesmaturing。IfitwascirculatedamongthemthatIhadmadeasevereexampleoftheLadyEvaIshouldfindallofthemmuchmoreopentoreason。Youseemypoint？\"
Holmessprangfromhischair。
\"Getbehindhim，Watson！Don’tlethimout！Now，sir，letusseethecontentsofthatnote—book。\"
Milvertonhadglidedasquickasarattothesideoftheroom，andstoodwithhisbackagainstthewall。
\"Mr。Holmes，Mr。Holmes，\"hesaid，turningthefrontofhiscoatandexhibitingthebuttofalargerevolver，whichprojectedfromtheinsidepocket。\"Ihavebeenexpectingyoutodosomethingoriginal。Thishasbeendonesooften，andwhatgoodhasevercomefromit？IassureyouthatIamarmedtotheteeth，andIamperfectlypreparedtousemyweapons，knowingthatthelawwillsupportme。Besides，yoursuppositionthatIwouldbringthelettershereinanote—bookisentirelymistaken。Iwoulddonothingsofoolish。Andnow，gentlemen，Ihaveoneortwolittleinterviewsthisevening，anditisalongdrivetoHampstead。\"Hesteppedforward，tookuphiscoat，laidhishandonhisrevolver，andturnedtothedoor。Ipickedupachair，butHolmesshookhisheadandIlaiditdownagain。
Withbow，asmile，andatwinkleMilvertonwasoutoftheroom，andafewmomentsafterweheardtheslamofthecarriagedoorandtherattleofthewheelsashedroveaway。
Holmessatmotionlessbythefire，hishandsburieddeepinhistrouserpockets，hischinsunkuponhisbreast，hiseyesfixedupontheglowingembers。Forhalfanhourhewassilentandstill。Then，withthegestureofamanwhohastakenhisdecision，hesprangtohisfeetandpassedintohisbedroom。
Alittlelaterarakishyoungworkmanwithagoateebeardandaswaggerlithisclaypipeatthelampbeforedescendingintothestreet。\"I’llbebacksometime，Watson，\"saidhe，andvanishedintothenight。IunderstoodthathehadopenedhiscampaignagainstCharlesAugustusMilverton；butIlittledreamedthestrangeshapewhichthatcampaignwasdestinedtotake。
ForsomedaysHolmescameandwentatallhoursinthisattire，butbeyondaremarkthathistimewasspentatHampstead，andthatitwasnotwasted，Iknewnothingofwhathewasdoing。
Atlast，however，onawild，tempestuousevening，whenthewindscreamedandrattledagainstthewindows，hereturnedfromhislastexpedition，andhavingremovedhisdisguisehesatbeforethefireandlaughedheartilyinhissilentinwardfashion。
\"Youwouldnotcallmeamarryingman，Watson？\"
\"No，indeed！\"
\"You’llbeinterestedtohearthatIamengaged。\"
\"Mydearfellow！Icongrat————\"
\"ToMilverton’shousemaid。\"
\"Goodheavens，Holmes！\"
\"Iwantedinformation，Watson。\"
\"Surelyyouhavegonetoofar？\"
\"Itwasamostnecessarystep。Iamaplumberwitharisingbusiness，Escottbyname。Ihavewalkedoutwithhereachevening，andIhavetalkedwithher。Goodheavens，thosetalks！
However，IhavegotallIwanted。IknowMilverton’shouseasIknowthepalmofmyhand。\"
\"Butthegirl，Holmes？\"
Heshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Youcan’thelpit，mydearWatson。Youmustplayyourcardsasbestyoucanwhensuchastakeisonthetable。However，IrejoicetosaythatIhaveahatedrivalwhowillcertainlycutmeouttheinstantthatmybackisturned。Whatasplendidnightitis！\"
\"Youlikethisweather？\"
\"Itsuitsmypurpose。Watson，ImeantoburgleMilverton’shouseto—night。\"
Ihadacatchingofthebreath，andmyskinwentcoldatthewords，whichwereslowlyutteredinatoneofconcentratedresolution。Asaflashoflightninginthenightshowsupinaninstanteverydetailofawidelandscape，soatoneglanceIseemedtoseeeverypossibleresultofsuchanaction——thedetection，thecapture，thehonouredcareerendinginirreparablefailureanddisgrace，myfriendhimselflyingatthemercyoftheodiousMilverton。
\"ForHeaven’ssake，Holmes，thinkwhatyouaredoing，\"Icried。
\"Mydearfellow，Ihavegiveniteveryconsideration。Iamneverprecipitateinmyactions，norwouldIadoptsoenergeticandindeedsodangerousacourseifanyotherwerepossible。
Letuslookatthematterclearlyandfairly。Isupposethatyouwilladmitthattheactionismorallyjustifiable，thoughtechnicallycriminal。Toburglehishouseisnomorethantoforciblytakehispocket—book——anactioninwhichyouwerepreparedtoaidme。\"
Iturneditoverinmymind。
\"Yes，\"Isaid；\"itismorallyjustifiablesolongasourobjectistotakenoarticlessavethosewhichareusedforanillegalpurpose。\"
\"Exactly。SinceitismorallyjustifiableIhaveonlytoconsiderthequestionofpersonalrisk。Surelyagentlemanshouldnotlaymuchstressuponthiswhenaladyisinmostdesperateneedofhishelp？\"
\"Youwillbeinsuchafalseposition。\"
\"Well，thatispartoftherisk。Thereisnootherpossiblewayofregainingtheseletters。Theunfortunateladyhasnotthemoney，andtherearenoneofherpeopleinwhomshecouldconfide。To—morrowisthelastdayofgrace，andunlesswecangetthelettersto—nightthisvillainwillbeasgoodashiswordandwillbringaboutherruin。Imust，therefore，abandonmyclienttoherfateorImustplaythislastcard。Betweenourselves，Watson，it’sasportingduelbetweenthisfellowMilvertonandme。Hehad，asyousaw，thebestofthefirstexchanges；butmyself—respectandmyreputationareconcernedtofightittoafinish。\"
\"Well，Idon’tlikeit；butIsupposeitmustbe，\"saidI。
\"Whendowestart？\"
\"Youarenotcoming。\"
\"Thenyouarenotgoing，\"saidI。\"Igiveyoumywordofhonour——andIneverbrokeitinmylife——thatIwilltakeacabstraighttothepolice—stationandgiveyouawayunlessyouletmesharethisadventurewithyou。\"
\"Youcan’thelpme。\"
\"Howdoyouknowthat？Youcan’ttellwhatmayhappen。
Anyway，myresolutionistaken。Otherpeoplebesideyouhaveself—respectandevenreputations。\"
Holmeshadlookedannoyed，buthisbrowcleared，andheclappedmeontheshoulder。
\"Well，well，mydearfellow，beitso。Wehavesharedthesameroomforsomeyears，anditwouldbeamusingifweendedbysharingthesamecell。Youknow，Watson，Idon’tmindconfessingtoyouthatIhavealwayshadanideathatIwouldhavemadeahighlyefficientcriminal。Thisisthechanceofmylifetimeinthatdirection。Seehere！\"Hetookaneatlittleleathercaseoutofadrawer，andopeningitheexhibitedanumberofshininginstruments。\"Thisisafirst—class，up—to—dateburglingkit，withnickel—platedjemmy，diamond—tippedglass—cutter，adaptablekeys，andeverymodernimprovementwhichthemarchofcivilizationdemands。Here，too，ismydarklantern。
Everythingisinorder。Haveyouapairofsilentshoes？\"
\"Ihaverubber—soledtennisshoes。\"
\"Excellent。Andamask？\"
\"Icanmakeacoupleoutofblacksilk。\"
\"Icanseethatyouhaveastrongnaturalturnforthissortofthing。Verygood；doyoumakethemasks。Weshallhavesomecoldsupperbeforewestart。Itisnownine—thirty。AtelevenweshalldriveasfarasChurchRow。Itisaquarterofanhour’swalkfromtheretoAppledoreTowers。Weshallbeatworkbeforemidnight。Milvertonisaheavysleeperandretirespunctuallyatten—thirty。Withanyluckweshouldbebackherebytwo，withtheLadyEva’slettersinmypocket。\"
HolmesandIputonourdress—clothes，sothatwemightappeartobetwotheatre—goershomewardbound。InOxfordStreetwepickedupahansomanddrovetoanaddressinHampstead。
Herewepaidoffourcab，andwithourgreat—coatsbuttonedup，foritwasbitterlycoldandthewindseemedtoblowthroughus，wewalkedalongtheedgeoftheHeath。
\"It’sabusinessthatneedsdelicatetreatment，\"saidHolmes。
\"Thesedocumentsarecontainedinasafeinthefellow’sstudy，andthestudyistheante—roomofhisbed—chamber。Ontheotherhand，likeallthesestout，littlemenwhodothemselveswell，heisaplethoricsleeper。Agatha——that’smyFIANCEE——saysitisajokeintheservants’hallthatit’simpossibletowakethemaster。Hehasasecretarywhoisdevotedtohisinterestsandneverbudgesfromthestudyallday。That’swhywearegoingatnight。Thenhehasabeastofadogwhichroamsthegarden。ImetAgathalatethelasttwoevenings，andshelocksthebruteupsoastogivemeaclearrun。Thisisthehouse，thisbigoneinitsowngrounds。Throughthegate——nowtotherightamongthelaurels。Wemightputonourmaskshere，Ithink。Yousee，thereisnotaglimmeroflightinanyofthewindows，andeverythingisworkingsplendidly。\"
Withourblacksilkface—coverings，whichturnedusintotwoofthemosttruculentfiguresinLondon，westoleuptothesilent，gloomyhouse。Asortoftiledverandaextendedalongonesideofit，linedbyseveralwindowsandtwodoors。
\"That’shisbedroom，\"Holmeswhispered。\"Thisdooropensstraightintothestudy。Itwouldsuitusbest，butitisboltedaswellaslocked，andweshouldmaketoomuchnoisegettingin。Comeroundhere。There’sagreenhousewhichopensintothedrawing—room。\"