the adventure of charles augustus milverton-第1章
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SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE ADVENTURE OF CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
THE ADVENTURE OF CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON
It is years since the incidents of which I speak took place； and yet
it is with diffidence that I allude to them。 For a long time； even
with the utmost discretion and reticence； it would have been
impossible to make the facts public； but now the principal person
concerned is beyond the reach of human law； and with due suppression
the story may be told in such fashion as to injure no one。 It
records an absolutely unique experience in the career both of Mr。
Sherlock Holmes and of myself。 The reader will excuse me if I
conceal the date or any other fact by which he might trace the
actual occurrence。
We had been out for one of our evening rambles； Holmes and I； and
had returned about six o'clock on a cold； frosty winter's evening。
As Holmes turned up the lamp the light fell upon a card on the
table。 He glanced at it； and then； with an ejaculation of disgust；
threw it on the floor。 I picked it up and read：
CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON；
Appledore Towers；
Hampstead。
Agent。
〃Who is he？〃 I asked。
〃The worst man in London；〃 Holmes answered； as he sat down and
stretched his legs before the fire。 〃Is anything on the back of the
card？〃
I turned it over。
〃Will call at 6：30… C。A。M。；〃 I read。
〃Hum！ He's about due。 Do you feel a creeping； shrinking sensation；
Watson； when you stand before the serpents in the Zoo； and see the
slithery； gliding； venomous creatures； with their deadly eyes and
wicked； flattened faces？ Well； that's how Milverton impresses me。 I've
had to do with fifty murderers in my career； but the worst of them
never gave me the repulsion which I have for this fellow。 And yet I
can't get out of doing business with him… indeed； he is here at my
invitation。〃
〃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 come into the power of Milverton！ With a smiling face and a
heart of marble； he will squeeze and squeeze until he has drained them
dry。 The fellow is a genius 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 from treacherous valets or maids； but frequently from
genteel ruffians； who have gained the confidence and affection of
trusting women。 He deals with no niggard hand。 I happen to know that
he paid seven hundred pounds to a footman for a note two lines in
length； and that the ruin of a noble family was the result。 Everything
which is in the market goes to Milverton； and there are hundreds in
this great city who turn white at his name。 No one knows where his
grip may fall； for he is far too rich and far too cunning to work from
hand to mouth。 He will hold a card back for years in order to play
it at the moment when the stake is best worth winning。 I have said
that he is the worst man in London； and I would ask you how could
one compare the ruffian； who in hot blood bludgeons his mate； with
this man； who methodically and at his leisure tortures the soul and
wrings the nerves in order to add to his already swollen money…bags？〃
I had seldom heard my friend speak with such intensity of feeling。
〃But surely；〃 said I； 〃the fellow must be within the grasp of the
law？〃
〃Technically； no doubt； but practically not。 What would it profit
a woman； for example； to get 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 him； but
he is as cunning as the Evil One。 No； no； we must find other ways to
fight 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 married in a fortnight to the Earl of
Dovercourt。 This fiend has several imprudent letters… imprudent；
Watson； nothing worse… which were written to an impecunious young
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
lamps gleaming on the glossy haunches of the noble chestnuts。 A
footman opened the door； and a small； stout man in a shaggy
astrakhan overcoat descended。 A minute later he was in the room。
Charles Augustus Milverton was a man of fifty； with a large；
intellectual head； a round； plump； hairless face； a perpetual frozen
smile； and two keen gray eyes； which gleamed brightly from behind
broad； gold…rimmed glasses。 There was something of Mr。 Pickwick's
benevolence in his appearance； marred only by the insincerity of the
fixed smile and by the hard glitter of those restless and
penetrating eyes。 His voice was as smooth and suave as his
countenance； as he advanced with a plump little hand extended；
murmuring his regret for having missed us at his first visit。 Holmes
disregarded the outstretched hand and looked at him with a face of
granite。 Milverton's smile broadened； he shrugged his shoulders
removed his overcoat； folded it with great deliberation over the
back of a chair； and then took a seat。
〃This gentleman？〃 said he； with a wave in my direction。 〃Is it
discreet？ Is it right？〃
〃Dr。 Watson is my friend and partner。〃
〃Very good； 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 marriage on the
18th。〃 His insufferable smile was more complacent than ever。
Holmes thought for a little。
〃You appear to me；〃 he said； at last； 〃to be taking matters too much
for granted。 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 harm is there in the letters？〃 he asked。
〃They are sprightly… very sprightly；〃 Milverton answered。 〃The
lady was a charming correspondent。 But I can assure you that the
Earl of Dovercourt would fail to appreciate them。 However； since you
think otherwise； we will 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 sum of money to regain
them。〃 He rose and seized his astrakhan coat。
Holmes was gray with anger and mortification。
〃Wait a little；〃 he said。 〃You go 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 sum you name is utterly beyond her power。 I
beg； therefore； that you will moderate your demands；
