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
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