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；　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　same　time　you　must　admit　that　the　occasion　of　a

lady's　marriage　is　a　very　suitable　time　for　her　friends　and

relatives　to　make　some　little　effort　upon　her　behalf。　They　may

hesitate　as　to　an　acceptable　wedding　present。　Let　me　assure　them

that　this　little　bundle　of　letters　would　give　more　joy　than　all　the

candelabra　and　butter…dishes　in　London。〃

　　〃It　is　impossible；〃　said　Holmes。

　　〃Dear　me；　dear　me；　how　unfortunate！〃　cried　Milverton；　taking　out　a

bulky　pocketbook。　〃I　cannot　help　thinking　that　ladies　are

ill…advised　in　not　making　an　effort。　Look　at　this！〃　He　held　up　a

little　note　with　a　coat…of…arms　upon　the　envelope。　〃That　belongs　to…

well；　perhaps　it　is　hardly　fair　to　tell　the　name　until　to…morrow

morning。　But　at　that　time　it　will　be　in　the　hands　of　the　lady's

husband。　And　all　because　she　will　not　find　a　beggarly　sum　which　she

could　get　by　turning　her　diamonds　into　paste。　It　is　such　a　pity！

Now；　you　remember　the　sudden　end　of　the　engagement　between　the

Honourable　Miss　Miles　and　Colonel　Dorking？　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；　a　man　of　sense；　boggling　about　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　me

indirectly　to　a　considerable　extent。　I　have　eight　or　ten　similar　cases

maturing。　If　it　was　circulated　among　them　that　I　had　made　a　severe

example　of　the　Lady　Eva；　I　should　find　all　of　them　much　more　open　to

reason。　You　see　my　point？〃

　　Holmes　sprang　from　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　room　and

stood　with　his　back　against　the　wall。

　　〃Mr。　Holmes；　Mr。　Holmes；〃　he　said；　turning　the　front　of　his　coat　and

exhibiting　the　butt　of　a　large　revolver；　which　projected　from　the

inside　pocket。　〃I　have　been　expecting　you　to　do　something　original。

This　has　been　done　so　often；　and　what　good　has　ever　come　from　it？　I

assure　you　that　I　am　armed　to　the　teeth；　and　I　am　perfectly　prepared

to　use　my　weapons；　knowing　that　the　law　will　support　me。　Besides；　your

supposition　that　I　would　bring　the　letters　here　in　a　notebook　is

entirely　mistaken。　I　would　do　nothing　so　foolish。　And　now；

gentlemen；　I　have　one　or　two　li