The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16
3Y
4. CONAN
DOYLE

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 practi-
cally not. What would it profit
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 black
mailed an innocent person. then in
deed we SHOULD have him, but he is as
cunning as the Evfl 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.
1t is the Lady Eva Blackwell, the most
beautiful debutante OF last season. She
is TO be married in a fortnight to the
Earl of DoYercourt. This fiend has
several imprudent letters-imprudent
Watson nothing worse-Ehich were
written 10 an impecunious young squire
in the country. They would suffice to
break eff the match. Milverton will
send the letters to the Earl unless a
large sum Of money is paid him. have
been commissioned to meet him. and
TO make the best terms 1 can.
At that instant there was a clatter
and a rattle in the street below. Look
ing down 1 saw a stately carriage and
pair, the brilliant lamps cleaning on
the glossy launches of the noble
chestnuts. A footman opened the door
and small. stout man in a shaggy
astrakhan overcoat descended. a min
ute later he was in the ROOM
Charles Augustus Milverton was a
man Of fifty, with large. intellectual
head, a round, plump, hairless face, a
perpetual, frozen smile. and two keen
gray eyes, which cleaned brightly
from behind broad, gold-rimmed
glasses. There was something OF Mr..
Pickwick's benevolence in his appear
ance. marred only by the insincerity of
the fixed smile and by the hard glitter
of those restless and penetrating eyes
His voice was a smooth and suave as
his countenance. as he advanced with
q plump little hand extended, murmur-
ing his regret for having missed us at
his first visit. Holmes disregarded the
outstretched hapd and looked at him
with a. face Of granite. Milverton's
smile broadened. he shrugged his
shoulders, removed his oyercoat, folded
it with great deliberation over the
back of. a chair and then took a seat
This gentleman" said he, with
wave in nv direction. Is it discreet?
Is it right?"
"Dr Watson is my friend and part
ner."
VERY good. Mr. Holmes. 1t is only
in your clients interests that 1 pro-
tested The matter is so very deli
cate"
"Dr Watson has already heard of
Then we can proceed to business.
You sav that you are acting for Lady
Eva. Has she empowered you TO ac-
cept my terlps?"
what are your terms?"
Seven thousand pounds"
And the alternative?'
MY dear sir, it is painful for me to
discuss 1t. but if.the money is not paid
on the 14th there certainly will be no
marriage on the 18th" His insuffer-
able smile was more complacent than
ever.
Holmes thought for little.
You appear to me" he said at last,
ito be taking matters too much for
granted. j am, Of course, familiar with
the contents Of these letters. My client
will certainly do what l may advise.
shall counsel her to tell her future
husband the whole story and to trust
10 his generosity
Milverton cfuckled.
You evidently do not know the
Earl, said he.
From the bafiied look upon Holmes
face could see clearly that he did.