the adventure of charles augustus milverton-第4章
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switch on the electric light。 Suddenly I saw him halt； listen
intently； and then in an instant he had swung the door of the safe to；
picked up his coat； stuffed his tools into the pockets； and darted
behind the window curtain； motioning me to do the same。
It was only when I had joined him there that I heard what had
alarmed his quicker senses。 There was a noise somewhere within the
house。 A door slammed in the distance。 Then a confused； dull murmur
broke itself into the measured thud of heavy footsteps rapidly
approaching。 They were in the passage outside the room。 They paused at
the door。 The door opened。 There was a sharp snick as the electric
light was turned on。 The door closed once more； and the pungent reek
of a strong cigar was home to our nostrils。 Then the footsteps
continued backward and forward； backward and forward； within a few
yards of us。 Finally there was a creak from a chair； and the footsteps
ceased。 Then a key clicked in a lock； and I heard the rustle of
papers。
So far I had not dared to look out； but now I gently parted the
division of the curtains in front of me and peeped through。 From the
pressure of Holmes's shoulder against mine； I knew that he was sharing
my observations。 Right in front of us； and almost within our reach；
was the broad； rounded back of Milverton。 It was evident that we had
entirely miscalculated his movements； that he had never been to his
bedroom； but that he had been sitting up in some smoking or billiard
room in the farther wing of the house； the windows of which we had not
seen。 His broad； grizzled head； with its shining patch of baldness；
was in the immediate foreground of our vision。 He was leaning far back
in the red leather chair； his legs outstretched； a long； black cigar
projecting at an angle from his mouth。 He wore a semi…military smoking
jacket； claret…coloured； with a black velvet collar。 In his hand he
held a long； legal document which he was reading in an indolent
fashion； blowing rings of tobacco smoke from his lips as he did so。
There was no promise of a speedy departure in his composed bearing and
his comfortable attitude。
I felt Holmes's hand steal into mine and give me a reassuring shake；
as if to say that the situation was within his powers； and that he was
easy in his mind。 I was not sure whether he had seen what was only too
obvious from my position； that the door of the safe was imperfectly
closed； and that Milverton might at any moment observe it。 In my own
mind I had determined that if I were sure； from the rigidity of his
gaze； that it had caught his eye； I would at once spring out； throw my
great coat over his head； pinion him； and leave the rest to Holmes。
But Milverton never looked up。 He was languidly interested by the
papers in his hand； and page after page was turned as he followed
the argument of the lawyer。 At least； I thought； when he has
finished the document and the cigar he will go to his room； but before
he had reached the end of either； there came a remarkable development；
which turned our thoughts into quite another channel。
Several times I had observed that Milverton looked at his watch； and
once he had risen and sat down again； with a gesture of impatience。
The idea； however； that he might have an appointment at so strange
an hour never occurred to me until a faint sound reached my ears
from the veranda outside。 Milverton dropped his papers and sat rigid
in his chair。 The sound was repeated； and then there came a gentle tap
at the door。 Milverton rose and opened it。
〃Well；〃 said he； curtly； 〃you are nearly half an hour late。〃
So this was the explanation of the unlocked door and of the
nocturnal vigil of Milverton。 There was the gentle rustle of a woman's
dress。 I had closed the slit between the curtains as Milverton's
face had turned in our direction； but now I ventured very carefully to
open it once more。 He had resumed his seat； the cigar still projecting
at an insolent angle from the corner of his mouth。 In front of him； in
the full glare of the electric light； there stood a tall； slim； dark
woman； a veil over her face； a mantle drawn round her chin。 Her breath
came quick and fast； and every inch of the lithe figure was
quivering with strong emotion。
〃Well；〃 said Milverton； 〃you made me lose a good night's rest； my
dear。 I hope you'll prove worth it。 You couldn't come any other
time… eh？〃
The woman shook her head。
〃Well； if you couldn't you couldn't。 If the Countess is a hard
mistress； you have your chance to get level with her now。 Bless the
girl； what are you shivering about？ That's right。 Pull yourself
together。 Now； let us get down to business。〃 He took a notebook from
the drawer of his desk。 〃You say that you have five letters which
compromise the Countess d'Albert。 You want to sell them。 I want to buy
them。 So far so good。 It only remains to fix a price。 I should want to
inspect the letters； of course。 If they are really good specimens…
Great heavens； is it you？〃
The woman； without a word； had raised her veil and dropped the
mantle from her chin。 It was a dark； handsome； clear…cut face which
confronted Milverton… a face with a curved nose； strong； dark eyebrows
shading hard； glittering eyes； and a straight； thin…lipped mouth set
in a dangerous smile。
〃It is I；〃 she said； 〃the woman whose life you have ruined。〃
Milverton laughed； but fear vibrated in his voice。 〃You were so very
obstinate；〃 said he。 〃Why did you drive me to such extremities？ I
assure you I wouldn't hurt a fly of my own accord； but every man has
his business； and what was I to do？ I put the price well within your
means。 You would not pay。〃
〃So you sent the letters to my husband； and he… the noblest
gentleman that ever lived； a man whose boots I was never worthy to
lace… he broke his gallant heart and died。 You remember that last
night； when I came through that door； I begged and prayed you for
mercy； and you laughed in my face as you are trying to laugh now； only
your coward heart cannot keep your lips from twitching。 Yes； you never
thought to see me here again； but it was that night which taught me
how I could meet you face to face； and alone。 Well； Charles Milverton；
what have you to say？〃
〃Don't imagine that you can bully me；〃 said he； rising to his
feet。 〃I have only to raise my voice and I could call my servants
and have you arrested。 But I will make allowance for your natural
anger。 Leave the room at once as you came； and I will say no more。〃
The woman stood with her hand buried in her bosom； and the same
deadly smile on her thin lips。
〃You will ruin no more lives as you have ruined mine。 You will wring
no more hearts as you wrung mine。 I will free the world of a poisonous
thing。 Take that； you hound… and that！… and that！… and that！〃
She had drawn a little gleaming revolver； and emptied barrel after
barrel into Milverton's body； the muzzle within two feet of his
shirt front。 He shrank away and then fell forward upon the table；
coughing furiously and clawing among the papers。 Then he staggered
to his feet； received another shot； and rolled upon the floor。 〃You've
done me；〃 he cried； and lay still。 The woman looked at him intently；
and ground her heel into his upturned face。 She looked again； but
there was no sound or movement。 I heard a sharp rustle； the night
air blew into the heated room； and the avenger was gone。
No interference upon our part could have saved the man from his
fate； but； as the woman poured bullet after bullet into Milverton's
shrinking body I was about to spring out； when I felt Holmes's cold；
strong grasp upon my wrist。 I understood the whole argument of that
firm； restraining grip… that it was no affair of ours； that justice
had overtaken a villain； that we had our own duties and our own
objects； which were not to be lost sight of。 But hardly had the
woman rushed from the room when Holmes； with swift； silent steps；
was over at the other door。 He turned the key in the lock。 At the same
instant we heard voices in the house and the sound of hurrying feet。
The revolver
