The Return of Sherlock Holmes Part 12 (2/2)
”But who is he?”
”I'll tell you, Watson He is the king of all the blackmailers Heaven help the man, and still more the woman, whose secret and reputation co face and a heart of marble, he will squeeze and squeeze until he has drained theenius in his way, and would have made his mark in some more savoury trade His method is as follows: He allows it to be known that he is prepared to pay very high sums for letters which compromise people of wealth and position He receives these wares not only froenteel ruffians, who have gained the confidence and affection of trusting woard hand I happen to know that he paid seven hundred pounds to a footth, and that the ruin of a noble faoes to Milverton, and there are hundreds in this great city who turn white at his naripto work from hand to mouth He will hold a card back for years in order to play it at theI have said that he is the worst man in London, and I would ask you how could one coeons his mate, with this man, who s the nerves in order to add to his already swollen s?”
I had seldo
”But surely,” said I, ”the fellow rasp of the law?”
”Technically, no doubt, but practically not What would it profit a woet him a few months' imprisonment if her own ruin must immediately follow? His victims dare not hit back If ever he blackmailed an innocent person, then indeed we should have hi as the Evil One No, no, we ht him”
”And why is he here?”
”Because an illustrious client has placed her piteous case in my hands It is the Lady Eva Blackwell, the most beautiful debutante of last season She is to be ht to the Earl of Dovercourt This fiend has several i worse--which ritten to an i squire in the country They would suffice to break off the match Milverton will send the letters to the Earl unless a large sum of money is paid him I have been commissioned to meet him, and--to make the best terms I can”
At that instant there was a clatter and a rattle in the street below Looking down I saw a stately carriage and pair, the brilliant lalossy haunches of the noble chestnuts A footy astrakhan overcoat descended A ustus Milverton was a e, intellectual head, a round, pluray eyes, which glealasses There was so of Mr Pickwick's benevolence in his appearance, marred only by the insincerity of the fixed s eyes His voice was as smooth and suave as his countenance, as he advanced with a plu arded the outstretched hand and looked at hiranite Milverton's sed his shoulders rereat deliberation over the back of a chair, and then took a seat
”This gentleman?” said he, with a wave in ht?”
”Dr Watson is ood, Mr Holmes It is only in your client's interests that I protested The matter is so very delicate----”
”Dr Watson has already heard of it”
”Then we can proceed to business You say that you are acting for Lady Eva Has she empowered you to accept my terms?”
”What are your terms?”
”Seven thousand pounds”
”And the alternative?”
”My dear sir, it is painful for me to discuss it, but if the money is not paid on the 14th, there certainly will be no e on the 18th” His insufferable sht for a little
”You appear to ranted I am, of course, familiar with the contents of these letters My client will certainly do what I may advise I shall counsel her to tell her future husband the whole story and to trust to his generosity”
Milverton chuckled
”You evidently do not know the Earl,” said he
From the baffled look upon Holmes's face, I could see clearly that he did
”What harhtly--very sprightly,” Milverton answered ”The lady was a char correspondent But I can assure you that the Earl of Dovercourt would fail to appreciate them However, since you think otherwise, ill let it rest at that It is purely a matter of business If you think that it is in the best interests of your client that these letters should be placed in the hands of the Earl, then you would indeed be foolish to pay so large a suain theray with anger and o too fast We should certainly make every effort to avoid scandal in so delicate a matter”
Milverton relapsed into his chair
”I was sure that you would see it in that light,” he purred
”At the same time,” Holmes continued, ”Lady Eva is not a wealthy woman I assure you that two thousand pounds would be a drain upon her resources, and that the su, therefore, that you will moderate your demands, and that you will return the letters at the price I indicate, which is, I assure you, the highest that you can get”
Milverton's smile broadened and his eyes twinkled humorously
”I am aware that what you say is true about the lady's resources,” said he ”At the sae is a very suitable time for her friends and relatives to make some little effort upon her behalf Theypresent Let ive more joy than all the candelabra and butter-dishes in London”
”It is impossible,” said Holmes
”Dearout a bulky pocketbook ”I cannot help thinking that ladies are ill-advised in notan effort Look at this!” He held up a little note with a coat-of-ars to--well, perhaps it is hardly fair to tell the na But at that time it will be in the hands of the lady's husband And all because she will not find a beggarly su her diamonds into paste It IS such a pity! Now, you ree? Only two days before the wedding, there was a paragraph in the MORNING POST to say that it was all off And why? It is almost incredible, but the absurd sum of twelve hundred pounds would have settled the whole question Is it not pitiful? And here I find you, aabout terms, when your client's future and honour are at stake You surprise me, Mr Holmes”
”What I say is true,” Holmes answered ”The money cannot be found Surely it is better for you to take the substantial sum which I offer than to ruin this woman's career, which can profit you in no way?”
”There you make a mistake, Mr Holmes An exposure would profit ht or ten si them that I had made a severe example of the Lady Eva, I should find all of them muchfrom his chair
”Get behind him, Watson! Don't let him out! Now, sir, let us see the contents of that notebook”
Milverton had glided as quick as a rat to the side of the rooainst the wall
”Mr Hol the front of his coat and exhibiting the butt of a large revolver, which projected fro you to do soood has ever come from it? I assure you that I am armed to the teeth, and I a that the laill supportthe letters here in a notebook is entirely entle, and it is a long drive to Hampstead” He stepped forward, took up his coat, laid his hand on his revolver, and turned to the door I picked up a chair, but Holain With bow, a smile, and a twinkle, Milverton was out of the rooe door and the rattle of the wheels as he drove away
Holmes sat motionless by the fire, his hands buried deep in his trouser pockets, his chin sunk upon his breast, his eyes fixed upon the glowing embers For half an hour he was silent and still Then, with the gesture of ato his feet and passed into his bedroooatee beard and a swagger, lit his clay pipe at the la into the street ”I'll be back soht I understood that he had opened his caustus Milverton, but I little drean was destined to take
For some days Holmes came and went at all hours in this attire, but beyond a remark that his time was spent at Ha of what he was doing At last, however, on a wild, teainst the s, he returned frouise he sat before the fire and laughed heartily in his silent inward fashi+on
”You would not callman, Watson?”
”No, indeed!”
”You'll be interested to hear that I'rat----”
”To Milverton's housemaid”
”Good heavens, Holmes!”