"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 havetalked with her. Good heavens, those talks! However, I have got all Iwanted. 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 youcan when such a stake is on the table. However, I rejoice to say thatI have a hated rival who will certainly cut me out the instant that myback is turned. What a splendid night it is!"
"You like this weather?"
"It suits my purpose. Watson, I mean to burgle Milverton's houseto-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 aflash of lightning in the night shows up in an instant every detail ofa wide landscape, so at one glance I seemed to see every possible resultof such an action--the detection, the capture, the honoured careerending in irreparable failure and disgrace, my friend himself lying atthe 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 neverprecipitate in my actions, nor would I adopt so energetic and indeed sodangerous a course if any other were possible. Let us look at the matterclearly and fairly. I suppose that you will admit that the action ismorally justifiable, though technically criminal. To burgle his houseis no more than to forcibly take his pocket-book--an action in which youwere prepared to aid me."
I turned it over in my mind.
"Yes," I said; "it is morally justifiable so long as our object is totake no articles save those which are used for an illegal purpose."
"Exactly. Since it is morally justifiable I have only to consider thequestion of personal risk. Surely a gentleman should not lay much stressupon 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 ofregaining these letters. The unfortunate lady has not the money, andthere are none of her people in whom she could confide. To-morrow isthe last day of grace, and unless we can get the letters to-night thisvillain will be as good as his word and will bring about her ruin. Imust, therefore, abandon my client to her fate or I must play thislast card. Between ourselves, Watson, it's a sporting duel betweenthis fellow Milverton and me. He had, as you saw, the best of the firstexchanges; but my self-respect and my reputation are concerned to fightit to a finish."
"Well, I don't like it; but I suppose it must be," said I. "When do westart?"
"You are not coming."
"Then you are not going," said I. "I give you my word of honour--andI never broke it in my life--that I will take a cab straight to thepolice-station and give you away unless you let me share this adventurewith you."
"You can't help me."
"How do you know that? You can't tell what may happen. Anyway, myresolution is taken. Other people beside you have self-respect and evenreputations."
Holmes had looked annoyed, but his brow cleared, and he clapped me onthe shoulder.
"Well, well, my dear fellow, be it so. We have shared the same roomfor some years, and it would be amusing if we ended by sharing thesame cell. You know, Watson, I don't mind confessing to you that I havealways 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 tooka neat little leather case out of a drawer, and opening it he exhibiteda number of shining instruments. "This is a first-class, up-to-dateburgling kit, with nickel-plated jemmy, diamond-tipped glass-cutter,adaptable keys, and every modern improvement which the march ofcivilization demands. Here, too, is my dark lantern. Everything is inorder. 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 st
rong natural turn for this sort of thing.Very good; do you make the masks. We shall have some cold supper beforewe start. It is now nine-thirty. At eleven we shall drive as far asChurch Row. It is a quarter of an hour's walk from there to AppledoreTowers. We shall be at work before midnight. Milverton is a heavysleeper and retires punctually at ten-thirty. With any luck we should beback 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 twotheatre-goers homeward bound. In Oxford Street we picked up a hansom anddrove to an address in Hampstead. Here we paid off our cab, and with ourgreat-coats buttoned up, for it was bitterly cold and the wind seemed toblow through us, we walked along the edge of the Heath.
"It's a business that needs delicate treatment," said Holmes. "Thesedocuments are contained in a safe in the fellow's study, and the studyis the ante-room of his bed-chamber. On the other hand, like all thesestout, little men who do themselves well, he is a plethoric sleeper.Agatha--that's my FIANCEE--says it is a joke in the servants' hall thatit's impossible to wake the master. He has a secretary who is devoted tohis interests and never budges from the study all day. That's why we aregoing at night. Then he has a beast of a dog which roams the garden. Imet Agatha late the last two evenings, and she locks the brute up soas to give me a clear run. This is the house, this big one in its owngrounds. Through the gate--now to the right among the laurels. We mightput on our masks here, I think. You see, there is not a glimmer of lightin any of the windows, and everything is working splendidly."
With our black silk face-coverings, which turned us into two of the mosttruculent figures in London, we stole up to the silent, gloomy house.A sort of tiled veranda extended along one side of it, lined by severalwindows and two doors.
"That's his bedroom," Holmes whispered. "This door opens straight intothe 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 agreenhouse which opens into the drawing-room."