 Part 1 of The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milvorton from The Return of Sherlock Holmes This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Gesina The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milvorton Part 1 It is years since the incidents of which I speak took place and yet it is with diffidence that I allude to them. 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 was an ejaculation of disgust threw it on the floor. I picked it up and read Charles Augustus Milvorton, Appledore Tower's 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. We'll call at 6.30, C.A.M. I read. Hmm, 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 Milvorton 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's here at my invitation. But who is he? I'll tell you, Watson, he is the king of all the blackmailers. Heaven helped the man and still more the woman, whose secret and reputation come into the power of Milvorton. With a smiling face and a heart of marble, he would squeeze and squeeze until he has drained them dry. The fellow's a genius in his way, and would have made his mark on 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 vallets or maids, but frequently from genteel ruffians who have gained the confidence and affection of trusting women. He deals with no-niggered hand. I happen to know that he paid £700 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 Milvorton and there are hundreds in this great city who had turned 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 bludges his mate with this man who methodically and at his leisure tortures the soul and rings the nerves in order to add to his already swollen money-bags. I had seldom heard my friends 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 the 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 impicunious young squire in the country. They would suffice to break off the match. Milburton will send the letters to the Earl unless a large sum of money has 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 hauntress 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 Milburton was a man of fifty, with a large intellectual head, a round plump hairless face, a perpetual frozen smile, and two keen grey 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. Milburton'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 was 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 our clients' 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? £7,000. And the alternative? My dear sir, it is painful for me to discuss it, but if the money is not paid on the fourteenth, there certainly will be no marriage on the eighteenth. 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 cancel her to tell her future husband the whole story and to trust to his generosity. Milburton chuckled. He evidently do not know the earl, said he. From the buffered look upon Holmes' face I could clearly see that he did. What harm is there in the letters? he asked. They are sprightly, very sprightly. Milburton 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 grey 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. Milburton 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. Milburton's smile broadened and his eyes twinkled humorously. I am aware that what he says 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 to our bro and butter dishes in London. It is impossible, said Holmes. Dear me, dear me, how unfortunate! cried Milburton, taking out a bulky pocket-book. I cannot help thinking that Lady's 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 say until tomorrow 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 Dawking? Only two days before the wedding there was a paragraph and a morning post to say that it was all off. But 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 make a 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 at 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. Milvinton 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, use the position that I would bring the letters here in a notebook is entirely mistaken. I would do nothing so foolish. And now, gentlemen, I have won two little interviews this evening 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 Holmes shook his head and I laid it down again. With a bower's smile and a twinkle, Milvinton was out of the room and a few minutes after, we heard the slam of the carriage 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 a gesture of a man who has taken his decision, he sprang to his feet and passed into his bedroom. A little later, a rakish young workman with a pretty beard and a swagger lit his clay pipe at the lamp before descending into the street. I'll be back some time, Watson, said he, and vanished into the night. I understood that he had opened his campaign against Charles Augustus Milvinton, but a little dreamed the strange shape which that campaign was destined to take. For some days Holmes came and went at all hours in his attire, but beyond a remark that his time was spent at Hampstead and that it was not wasted, I knew nothing of what he was doing. At last, however, on a wild tempestuous evening when the winds screamed and rattled against the windows, he returned from his last expedition and, having removed his disguise, he sat before the fire and laughed heartily in his silent inward fashion. You would not call me a marrying man, Watson? No, indeed. You'll be interested to hear that I'm engaged. My dear fellow, I congratulate to Milvinton's housemaid. Good heavens, Holmes! I wanted information, Watson. Surely you have gone too far. It was a most necessary step. I am a plumber with a rising business, escut by name. I have walked out with her each evening and I have talked with her. Good heavens, those talks! However, I have got all I wanted. I know Milvinton's house as I know the palm of my hand. But the girl, Holmes, he shrugged his shoulders. You can't help it, my dear Watson. You must play your cards as best you can when such a stake is on the table. However, I rejoice to say that I have a hated rival who will certainly cut me out the instant my back has turned. What a splendid night it is. You like this weather? It suits my purpose. Watson, I mean to burgle Milvinton's house tonight. I had a catching of the breath and my skin went cold at the words, which were slowly uttered in a tone of concentrated resolution. As a flash of lightning the light shows up in an instant every detail of a wild landscape. So at one glance I seemed to see every possible result of such an action. The detection, the capture, the honoured career ending in irreparable failure and disgrace, my friend himself lying at the mercy of the odious Milvinton. For heavens' sake, Holmes, think what you are doing! I cried. My dear fellow, I have given it every consideration. I am never precipitated in my actions, nor would I adopt so energetic and indeed so dangerous a course if any other were possible. Let us look at the matter clearly and fairly. I suppose that you will admit that the action is morally justifiable, so technically criminal. To burgle his house is no more than to forcibly take his pocketbook, an action in which you were prepared to aid me. I turned it over in my mind. Yes, I said. It is morally justifiable so long as your object is to take no articles save those which are used for an illegal purpose. Exactly. Since it is morally justifiable I have only to consider the question of personal risk. Surely a gentleman should not lay much stress upon this when a lady is in most desperate need of his help. You will be in such a false position. Well, that is part of the risk. There is no other possible way of regaining these letters. The unfortunate lady has not the money and there are none of her people in whom she could confide. Tomorrow is the last day of grace and unless we can get the letters tonight this villain will be as good as his word and will bring about her ruin. I must therefore abandon my client to her fate or I must play this last card. Between ourselves, Watson, it is a sporting duel between this fellow Milverton and me. He had, as you saw, the best of the first exchanges but my self-respect and my reputation are concerned to fight it to a finish. Well, I do not like it but I suppose it must be, said I. When do we start? You are not coming. Then you are not going, said I. I give you my word of honour and I never broke it in my life so that I will take a cab straight to the police station and give you away unless you let me share this adventure with you. You can't help me. How do you know that? You can't tell what may happen. Anyway, my resolution is taken. Other people besides you have self-respect and even reputations. Holmes had looked annoyed but his brow cleared and he clapped me on the shoulder. Well, well, my dear fellow, be it so. We have shared this same room for some years and it would be amusing if we ended by sharing the same cell. You know, Watson, I don't mind confessing to you that I have always had an idea that I would have made a highly efficient criminal. This is the chance of my lifetime in that direction. See here. In a neat little leather case out of a drawer and opening it, he exhibited a number of shining instruments. This is a first-class up-to-date burgling kit with nickel-plated gemmy, diamond-tipped glass cutter, adaptable keys and every modern improvement which the March of Civilisation demands. Here, too, is my dark lantern. Everything is in order. Have you a pair of silent shoes? I have rubber-soled tennis shoes. Excellent. And a mask? I can make a couple out of black silk. I can see that you have a strong natural turn for this sort of thing. Very good. Do you make the masks? We shall have some cold supper before we start. It is now 9.30. At 11, we shall drive as far as Church Row. It is a quarter of an hour's walk from there to Appledore Towers. This is the first work before midnight. Milvleton is a heavy sleeper and retires punctually at 10.30. With any luck we should be back here by 2 with the Lady Eva's letters in my pocket. Holmes and I put on our dress clothes so that we might appear to be two theatre-goers homeward bound. In Oxford Street, we picked up a handsome and drove through an address in Hampstead. Here, we paid off our cab and with our great coats buttoned up for it was bitterly cold and the wind seemed to blow through us. We walked along the edge of the heath. It is a business that needs delicate treatment, said Holmes. These documents are contained in a safe in the fellow's study and the study is the anti-room of his bed-jamber. On the other hand, like all these start-little men who do themselves well, he is a plethoric sleeper. Agatha, that's my fiancée, says it is a joke in the servants' hall that it's impossible to wake the master. He has a secretary who is devoted to his interests and never budges from this study all day. That's why we are going at night. Then he has a beast of a dog which roams the garden. I met Agatha late the last two evenings and she locks the brute up so as to give me a clear run. This is the house, this big one in its own grounds, through the gate, now to the right among the laurels. We might put on our masks here, I think. You see, there is not a glimmer of light in any of the windows and everything is working splendidly. With our black silk face coverings, which turned us into two of the most truculent figures in London, we stole up to the silent gloomy house. A sort of tiled veranda extended along one side of it, lined by several windows and two doors. That's his bedroom, Holmes whispered. This door opens straight into the study. It would suit us best but it is bolted as well as locked and we should make too much noise getting in. Come round here, there's a greenhouse which opens into the drawing room. The place was locked but Holmes removed a circle of glass and turned the key from the inside. An instant afterwards he had closed the door behind us and we had become felons in the eyes of the law. The thick warm air of the conservatory and the rich choking fragments of exotic plants took us by the throat. He seized my hand in the darkness and led me swiftly past banks of shrubs which brushed against our faces. Holmes had remarkable powers carefully cultivated of seeing in the dark. Still holding my hand in one of his he opened the door and I was vaguely conscious that we had entered a large room in which a cigar had been smoked not long before. He felt his way among the furniture opened another door and closed it behind us. Putting out my hand I felt several coats hanging from the wall and understood that I was in a passage. We passed along it Holmes very gently opened the door upon the right hand side. Something rushed out at us and my heart sprang into my mouth but I could have laughed when I realised that it was the cat. A fire was burning in this new room and again the air was heavy with tobacco smoke. Holmes entered on tiptoe waited for me to follow and then very gently closed the door. We were in Milvorton's study and a portier at the farther side showed the entrance to his bedroom and of the Adventure of Charles Augustus Milvorton Part 1 Recorded by Gazine in August 2007 Part 2 of the Adventure of Charles Augustus Milvorton This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Gazine The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milvorton Part 2 It was a good fire and the room was illuminated by it Near the door I saw the gleam of an electric switch but it was unnecessary even if it had been safe to turn it on. At one side of the fireplace was a heavy curtain which covered the bay window we had seen from the outside. On the other side was the door which communicated with the veranda. A desk stood in the centre with a turning chair of shining red leather. Opposite was a large bookcase with a marble bust of athene on the top. In the corner between the bookcase and the wall there stood a tall green safe the firelight flashing back from the polished grass knobs upon its face. Holmes stole across and looked at it. Then he crept to the door of the bedroom and stood with slanting head listening intently. No sound came from within. Meanwhile it had struck me that it would be wise to secure our retreat through the outer door so I examined it. To my amazement it was neither locked nor bolted. I touched Holmes on the arm his masked face in that direction. I saw him start and he was evidently as surprised as I. I don't like it he whispered putting his lips to my very ear. I can't quite make it out anyway we have no time to lose. Can I do anything? Yes, stand by the door. If you hear anyone come bolt it on the inside and we can get away as we came. If they come the other way we can go through the door if our job is done or hide behind these window curtains if it is not. Do you understand? I nodded and stood by the door. My first feeling of fear had passed away and I thrilled now with a keener zest than I had ever enjoyed when we were the defenders of the law instead of its defiers. The high object of our mission the consciousness that it was unselfish the villainous character of our opponent all added to the sporting interest of the adventure. Far from feeling guilty I rejoiced and exalted in our dangers. With a glow of admiration I watched Holmes unrolling his case of instruments and choosing his tool with a calm scientific accuracy of a surgeon who performs delicate operation. I knew that the opening of safes was a particular hobby with him and I understood the joy which it gave him to be confronted with this green and gold monster the dragon which held in its maw the reputations of many fair ladies. Turning up the cuffs of his dress coat he had placed his overcoat on a chair. Holmes laid out two drills a gemmy and several skeleton keys. I stood at the centre door with my eyes glancing at each of the others ready for an emergency though indeed my plans were somewhat vague as to what I should do if we were interrupted. For half an hour Holmes worked with concentrated energy laying down one tool picking up another handling each with the strength and delicacy of the trained mechanic. Finally I had a click the broad green door swung open and inside I had a glimpse of a number of paper packets each tied sealed and inscribed. Holmes picked one out but it was hard to read by the flickering fire and he drew out his little dark lantern for it was too dangerous with Milverton in the next room to 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 too, 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 side 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 sneak the electric light was turned on the door closed once more and the pungent reek of a strong cigar was born to our nostrils then the footsteps continued backward and forward, backward and forward was in a few yards of us finally there was a creak from a chair and the footsteps ceased then a click 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' 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 in his bedroom but that he had been sitting up in some smoking or billiard room in the father-wing of the house the windows of which we had not seen his broad grizzled head with its shining patch of boldness 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 a promise of a speedy departure on his composed bearing and his comfortable attitude I felt Holmes' hand steal into mine and gave me a reassuring shake as if to say that the situation was within his powers that he was easy in his mind I was not sure of the hard scene 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 tanned 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 a 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 he made me lose a good night's rest my dear I hope you will prove worth it he couldn't come any other time 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 a 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 he say that you have five letters which compromise the Countess's dull bear he 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 good 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 curved nose strong dark eyebrows shading hard 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 he was a very obstinate said he why did he drive me to such extremities I assure you I wouldn't hurt a fly of my own accord but every man has this 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 at my face as you are trying to laugh now only a 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 ring no more hearts as you rung 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 he have 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 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 homes as 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 homes 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 shots had roused the household with perfect coolness homes slipped across to the safe filled his two arms with bundles of letters and poured them all into the fire again and again he did it until the safe was empty someone turned the handle and beat upon the outside of the door the letter which had been the messenger of death for Milverton lay all mottled with his blood upon the table homes tossed it in among the blazing papers then he drew the key from the outer door passed through after me and locked it on the outside this way Watson said he we can scale the garden wall in this direction I could not have believed that an alarm could have spread so swiftly looking back the huge house was one blaze of light the front door was open and figures were rushing down the drive the whole garden was alive with people and one fellow raised a view as we emerged from the veranda and followed hard at our heels homes seemed to know the grounds perfectly and he threaded his way swiftly among a plantation of small trees I closed at his heels and our foremost pursuer panting behind us it was a six foot wall which barred our paths but he sprang to the top and over as I did the same I felt the hand of the man behind me graved my ankle but I kicked myself free and scrambled over a grassed strewn coping I fell upon my face among some bushes in an instant and together we dashed away across the huge expanse of Hampstead Heath we had run two miles I suppose before homes had last halted and listened intently all was absolute silence behind us we had taken off our pursuers and were safe we had breakfasted and were smoking our morning pipe on the day after the remarkable experience which I have recorded when Mr Lestrade very solemn and impressive was ushered into our modest sitting-room good morning Mr Holmes said he, good morning may I ask if you are very busy just now not too busy to listen to you I thought that perhaps if you had nothing particular on hand you might care to assist us in the most remarkable case which occurred only last night at Hampstead dear me said Holmes what was that a murder, a most dramatic and remarkable murder I know how keen you are upon these things and I would take it as a great favour if you would step down to Appledore Towers and give us the benefit of your advice it is no ordinary crime we have had our eyes upon this Mr Milverton for some time and between ourselves he was a bit of a villain he is known to have held papers which he used for blackmailing purposes these papers have all been burned by the murderers no article of value was taken as disprobable that the criminals were men of good position whose sole object was to prevent social exposure criminals said Holmes plural yes there were two of them they were as nearly as possible captured red-handed we have their footmarks we have their description it is ten to one that we trace them the first fellow was a bit too active but the second was caught by the under gardener and only got away after a struggle he was a middle sized strongly built man square jaw, sick neck moustache, a mask over his eyes that's rather vague said Sherlock Holmes why it might be a description of Watson it's true said the inspector with amusement it might be a description of Watson well I'm afraid I can't help you this time said Holmes the fact is that I knew this fellow Milverton that I considered him one of the most dangerous men in London I don't think there are certain crimes which the law cannot touch and which therefore to some extent justify private revenge no it's no use arguing I have made up my mind my sympathies are with the criminals rather than with the victim and I will not handle this case Holmes had not said one word to me about the tragedy which we had witnessed but I observed all the morning that he was in his most thoughtful mood and he gave me the impression with his vacant eyes and his abstracted manner of a man who is striving to recall something to his memory we were in the middle of our lunch when he suddenly sprang to his feet by Jove Watson I've got it he cried take your hat come with me he hurried at his top speed Down Baker Street and along Oxford Street until we had almost reached Regent's Circus here on the left hand there stands a shop window for celebrities and beauties of the day Holmes's eyes fixed themselves upon one of them and following his gaze I saw the picture of a regal and stately lady in court dress with a high diamond tiara upon her noble head I looked at that delicately curved nose at the marked eyebrows at the straight mouth and the strong little chin beneath it then I caught my breath as I read the time-honoured title of the great nobleman and statesman the life she had been my eyes met those of Holmes and he put his finger to his lips as we turned away from the window end of the adventure of Charles Augustus Milburton part 2 of 2 recorded by Gazine in August 2007 Part A of the adventure of the six Napoleons from the return of Sherlock Holmes this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Christine MacKinn the return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adventure of the six Napoleons Part A it was no very unusual thing for Mr. Lestrade of Scotland Yard to look in upon us of an evening and his visits were welcomed to Sherlock Holmes for they enabled him to keep in touch with all that was going on at the police headquarters in return for the news which Lestrade would bring Holmes was always ready to listen with attention to the details of any case upon which the detective was engaged and was able occasionally without any active interference to give some hint or suggestion drawn from his own vast knowledge and experience on this particular evening Lestrade had spoken of the weather and the newspapers then he had fallen silent puffing thoughtfully at his cigar Holmes looked keenly at him anything remarkable on hand he asked oh no Mr. Holmes nothing very particular then tell me about it Lestrade laughed well Mr. Holmes there is no use denying that there is something on my mind and yet it is such an absurd business that I hesitated to bother you about it on the other hand although it is trivial it is undoubtedly queer and I know that you have a taste for all that is out of the common but in my opinion it comes more than Dr. Watson's line than ours disease said I madness anyhow and a queer madness too you wouldn't think there was anyone living at this time of day who had such a hatred of Napoleon I that he would break any image of him that he could see Holmes sank back in his chair that's no business of mine said he exactly that's what I said but then when the man commits burglary in order to break images not his own that brings it away from the doctor and on to the policeman Holmes sat up again burglary this is more interesting let me hear the details Lestrade took out his official notebook and refreshed his memory from its pages the first case was reported four days ago said he it was at the shop of Morse Hudson who has a place for the sale of pictures and statues in the Kennington Road the assistant had left the front shop for an instant when he heard a crash and hurrying in he found a plaster bust of Napoleon which stood with several other works of art upon the counter lying shivered into fragments he rushed down to the road but although several passers by declared that they had noticed a man run out of the shop he could neither see anyone nor could he find any means of identifying the rascal it seemed to be one of those senseless acts of hooliganism which occur from time to time and it was reported to the constable on the beat as such the plaster cast was not worth more than a few shillings and the whole affair appeared to be too childish for any particular investigation the second case, however, was more serious and also more singular it occurred only last night in Kennington Road and within a few hundred guards of Morse Hudson's shop there lives a well-known medical practitioner named Dr. Barnacott who has one of the largest practices upon the south side of the Thames his residence and principal consulting room is at Kennington Road but he has a branch surgery and dispensary at Lower Brixton Road two miles away this Dr. Barnacott is an enthusiastic admirer of Napoleon and his house is full of books, pictures and relics of the French Emperor some little time ago he purchased from Morse Hudson two duplicate plaster casts of the famous head of Napoleon by the French sculptor Devine one of these he placed in his hall in the house at Kennington Road and the other on the mantle piece of the surgery at Lower Brixton well, when Dr. Barnacott came down this morning he was astonished to find that his house had been burgled during the night but that nothing had been taken saved the plaster head from the hall it had been carried out and had been dashed savagely against the garden wall under which its splintered fragments were discovered Holmes rubbed his hands this is certainly very novel said he please you but I have not got to the end yet Dr. Barnacott was due at his surgery at 12 o'clock and you can imagine his amazement when on arriving there he found that the window had been opened in the night and that the broken pieces of his second bust were strewn all over the room it had been smashed to atoms where it stood in neither case were there any signs which could give us a clue as to the criminal or lunatic who had done the mischief now Mr. Holmes you have got the facts they are singular not to say grotesque said Holmes may I ask whether the two busts smashed in Dr. Barnacott's rooms were the exact duplicates of the one which was destroyed in Morse Hudson's shop they were taken from the same mold such effect must tell against the theory that the man who breaks them is influenced by any general hatred of Napoleon considering how many hundreds of statues of the great emperor must exist in London it is too much to suppose such a coincidence is that a promiscuous iconoclast should chance to begin upon three specimens of the same bust well I thought as you do said Lestrade on the other hand this Morse Hudson is the purveyor of busts in that part of London and these three were the only ones which had been in his shop for years so although as you say there are many hundreds of statues in London it is very probable that these three were the only ones in that district therefore a local fanatic would begin with them what do you think Dr. Watson there are no limits to the possibilities of monomania I answered there is the condition which the modern French psychologists have called the itty fix which may be trifling in character and accompanied by complete sanity in every other way a man who had read deeply about Napoleon or who had possibly received some hereditary through the Great War might conceivably form such an itty fix and under its influence be capable of any fantastic outrage that won't do my dear Watson said Holmes shaking his head for no amount of itty fix would enable your interesting monomaniac to find out where these busts were situated well how do you explain it I don't attempt to do so I would only observe that there is a certain method in Dr. Watson's eccentric proceedings for example in Dr. Barnacott's hall where a sound might arouse the family the bust was taken outside before being broken whereas in the surgery where there was less danger of an alarm it was smashed where it stood the affair seems absurdly trifling and yet I dare call nothing trivial when I reflect that some of my most classic cases have had the least promising commencement you will remember Watson the bust of the family was first brought to my notice by the depth which the parsley had sunk into the butter upon a hot day I can't afford therefore to smile at your three broken busts Lestrade and I shall be very much obliged to you if you will let me hear of any fresh developments of so singular a chain of events the development for which my friend had asked came in a quicker and an infinitely more tragic form than he could have imagined the bedroom next morning when there was a tap at the door and Holmes entered a telegram in his hand he read it aloud come instantly 131 Pitt Street Kensington the stride what is it then I asked don't know maybe anything but I suspect it is the sequel of the story of the statues in that case our friend the image breaker has begun operations in another quarter of London there's coffee on the table Watson the door in half an hour we had reached Pitt Street a quiet little backwater just beside one of the briskest currents of London life number 131 was one of a row all flat-chested, respectable and most unromantic dwellings as we drove up we found the railings in front of the house line by a curious crowd Holmes whistled by George it's attempted murder at the least nothing lest will hold the London sausage boy there's a deed of violence indicated in that fellow's round shoulders and outstretched neck what's this Watson the top steps swill down and the other ones dry footsteps enough anyhow well well there's the stride at the front window and we shall soon know all about it the official received us with a very grave face and showed us into a sitting room where an exceedingly unkempt and agitated elderly man in a flannel dressing-gown was pacing up and down he was introduced to us as the owner of the house Mr. Horace Harker of the Central Press Syndicate it's the Napoleon bust business again said the stride you seemed interested last night Mr. Holmes so I thought perhaps you would be glad to be present now that the affair has taken a very much grave return what has it turned to then to murder Mr. Harker will you tell these gentlemen exactly what has occurred the man in the dressing-gown turned upon us with the most melancholy face it's an extraordinary thing Cindy that all my life I have been collecting other people's news and now that a real piece of news have come my own way I am so confused and bothered that I can't put two words together if I had come in here as a journalist I should have interviewed myself and had two columns never evening paper I am giving away valuable copy by telling my story over and over to a string of different people and I can make no use of it myself however I have heard your name Mr. Sherlock Holmes and if you will only explain this queer business I shall be paid for my trouble in telling you the story Holmes sat down and listened it all seems to center around that bust of Napoleon which I bought for this very room about four months ago I picked it up cheap from Harding Brothers two doors from the high street station a great deal of my journalistic work is done at night and I often write until the early morning so it was today I was sitting in my den which is at the back of the top of the house about three o'clock when I was convinced that I heard some sounds downstairs I listened but they were not repeated and I concluded that they came from outside then suddenly about five minutes later I almost horrible yell the most dreadful sound Mr. Holmes that ever I heard it will ring in my ears as long as I live I sat frozen with horror for a minute or two then I seized the poker and went downstairs when I entered this room I found the window wide open and I had once observed that the bust was gone from the mantelpiece why any burglar should take such a thing passes my understanding for it was only a plaster cast you can see for yourself that anyone going out that open window could reach the front door step by taking a long stride this was clearly what the burglar had done so I went round and opened the door stepping out into the dark I nearly fell over a dead man who was lying there I ran back for a light and there was the poor fellow the great gash in his throat and the whole place swimming in blood he lay on his back his knees drawn up and his mouth horribly open I shall see him in my dreams I just had time to blow on my police whistle and then I must have fainted for I knew nothing more until I found the policeman standing over me in the hall well, who was the murdered man, asked Holmes there's nothing to show who he was, said Lestrade you shall see the body at the mortuary but we have made nothing of it up to now he is a tall man, sunburned very powerful, not more than thirty he is poorly dressed and yet does not appear to be a labourer a horn-handled clasp-knife was lying in a pool of blood beside him whether it was the weapon which did the deed or whether it belonged to the dead man I do not know there was no name on his clothing and nothing in his pocket save an apple some string, a shilling map of London and a photograph, here it is it was evidently taken by snapshot from a small camera it represented an alert sharp-featured simian man with thick eyebrows and a very peculiar projection of the lower part of the face like the muzzle of a baboon and what became of the bus asked Holmes after a very careful study of this picture we had news of it just before you came it has been found in the front garden of an empty house in Camden House Road it was broken into fragments I am going round now to see it will you come certainly I must just take one look around examined the carpet and the window the fellow had either very long legs or was a most active man said he with an area beneath it was no mean feat to reach that window ledge and open that window getting back was comparatively simple are you coming with us to see the remains of your bus, Mr. Harker the disconsolate journalist had seen him himself at a writing-table I must try and make something of it said he though I have no doubt that the first edition of the evening papers are out already with full details it's like my luck you remember when the stand fell at Don Caster well I was the only journalist in the stand and my journal the only one that had no account of it for I was too shaken to write it and now I'll be too late with a murder done on my own doorstep as we left the room we heard his pen traveling shrilly over the fool's cap the spot where the fragments of the bust had been found 200 yards away for the first time our eyes rested upon the presentiment of the great emperor which seemed to raise such frantic and destructive hatred in the mind of the unknown it laced gathered and splintered shards upon the grass Holmes picked up several of them and examined them carefully I was convinced from his intent face in his purposeful manner that at last he was upon a clue well, asked Lestrade Holmes shrugged his shoulders we have a long way to go yet, said he and yet and yet, well, we have some suggestive facts to act upon the possession of this trifling bust was worth more in the eyes of this strange criminal than a human life that is one point then there is the singular fact that he did not break it in the house or immediately outside the house if to break it was his sole object he was rattled and bustled by meeting this other fellow he hardly knew what he was doing well, that's likely enough but I wish to call your attention very particularly to the position of this house in the garden of which the bust was destroyed Lestrade looked about him it was an empty house and so he knew that he would not be disturbed in the garden yes, but there is another empty house farther up the street which he must have passed before he came to this one why did he not break it there since it is evident that every yard that he carried it increased the risk of someone meeting him I give it up, said Lestrade Holmes pointed to the street lamp above our heads he could see what he was doing here and he could not there that was his reason by jope, that's true, said the detective now that I come to think of it Dr. Barnacud's bust was broken not far from his red lamp well, Mr. Holmes what are we to do with that fact to remember it, to docket it we may come upon something later which will bear upon it what steps do you propose to take now, Lestrade the most practical way of getting at it, in my opinion is to identify the dead man there should be no difficulty about that when we have found who he is and who his associates are we should have a good start in learning what he was doing in pit street last night and who it was who met him and killed him on the doorstep of Mr. Horace Harker don't you think so and it is not quite the way in which I should approach the case what would you do then oh, you must not let me influence you in any way I suggest you go on your line and I on mine we can compare notes afterwards and each will supplement the other very good, said Lestrade if you are going back to pit street you might see Mr. Horace Harker tell him from me that I have quite made up my mind and that it is certain that a dangerous homicidal lunatic with Napoleonic delusions was in his house last night it will be useful for his article Lestrade stared you don't seriously believe that home smiled don't I well perhaps I don't but I am sure that it will interest Mr. Horace Harker and the subscribers of the Central Press Syndicate now Watson I think that we shall find that we have a long and rather complex days work before us I should be glad Lestrade if you can make it convenient to meet us at Baker Street at six o'clock this evening until then I should like to keep this photograph found in the dead man's pocket it is possible that I may have to ask your company and assistance upon a small expedition which will have to be undertaken tonight if my chain of reasoning should prove to be correct until then, goodbye and good luck end of the adventure of the six Napoleons, Part A courted by Christine Macken Carlton College, Northfield, Minnesota Part B of the adventure of the six Napoleons from the return of Sherlock Holmes this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recorded by Christine Macken the return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the adventure of the six Napoleons Part B Sherlock Holmes and I walked together to the high street where he stopped at the shop of Harding Brothers once the bust had been purchased a young assistant informed us that Mr. Harding would be absent until afternoon and that he himself was a newcomer who could give us no information Holmes' face showed his disappointment and annoyance well, well, we can't expect to have it all our own way, Watson, he said at last we must come back in the afternoon we must come back in the afternoon if Mr. Harding will not be here until then I am, as you have no doubt surmised endeavoring to trace these busts to their source in order to find if there is not something peculiar which may account for their remarkable fate let us make for Mr. Morse Hudson of the Kennington Road and see if he can throw any light upon the problem a drive of an hour brought us to the picture dealers establishment he was a small stout man in a peppery manner yes, sir, on my very counter, sir, said he what we pay rates and taxes for I don't know when any Ruffian can come in and break one's goods yes, sir, it was I who sold Dr. Bernanke his two statues, disgraceful, sir an eyeless plot, that's what I make it no one but an anarchist would go about breaking statues red Republicans, that's what I call them who did I get the statues from I don't see what that has to do with it well, if you really want to know I got them from Gelder and Company they're a well-known house in the trade and have been this twenty years how many had I? Three two and one are three, two of Dr. Bernanke and one smash in broad daylight on my own counter do I know that photograph? No, I don't yes, I do, though why? It's Beppo he was a kind of Italian piecework man who made himself useful in the shop he could carve a bit and gild and frame and do odd jobs the fellow left me last week and I've heard nothing of him since no, I don't know where he came from nor where he went to I have nothing against him while he was here he was gone two days before the bust was smashed well that's all we could reasonably expect to get from Morse Hudson said Holmes as we emerge from the shop we have this Beppo as a common factor both in Kennington and in Kensington so that is worth a ten mile drive now Watson let us make for Gelder and Company of Stepney the source and origin of the busts I shall be surprised if we don't get some help down there in rapid succession we passed through the fringe of fashionable London hotel London theatrical London literary London, commercial London and finally maritime London till we came to a riverside city of a hundred thousand souls where the tenement houses swelter and reek with the outcasts of Europe here in a broad thoroughfare once the abode of wealthiest city merchants we found the sculpture works for which we searched outside was a considerable yard full of monumental masonry inside was a large room in which fifty workers were carving or molding the manager, a big blond German received a civilly and gave a clear answer to all Holmes questions a reference to his books showed that hundreds of casts had been taken from a marble copy of Ndivine's head of Napoleon but that the three which had been sent to Morse Hudson a year or so before had been half of a batch of six the other three being sent to Hardingbrothers of Kensington there was no reason why those six should be different to any of the other casts he could suggest no possible cause why anyone should wish to destroy them in fact he laughed at the idea the wholesale price was six shillings but the retailer got twelve or more the cast was taken in two molds from each side of the face and then these two profiles of plaster of Paris were joined together to make the complete bust the work was usually done by Italians in the room we were in when finished the busts were put on a table in the passage to dry and afterwards stored that was all he could tell us but the production of the photograph had a remarkable effect upon the manager his face flushed with anger and his brows nodded over his blue teutonic eyes ah the rascal he cried yes indeed I know him very well this has always been a respectable establishment and the only time that we have ever had the police and it was over this very fellow it was more than a year ago now he knifed another Italian in the street and then he came into the works with the police on his heels and he was taken here Beppo was his name his second name I never knew served me right for engaging a man with such a face but he was a good workman one of the best what did he get the man lived and he got off with a year I have no doubt he is out now but he is not dead to show his nose here we have a cousin of his here and I dare say he could tell you where he is no no cried Holmes not a word to the cousin not a word I beg you the matter is very important and the farther I go with it the more important it seems to grow when you referred in your ledger to those casts I observed that the date was June 3rd of last year could you give me the date when Beppo was arrested I could tell you roughly by the pay list the manager answered yes he continued after some turning over of pages he was paid last on May 20th thank you said Holmes I don't think that I need intrude upon your time and patience anymore with the last word of caution that he should say nothing as to our research we turned our faces westward once more the afternoon was far advanced before we were able to snatch a hasty luncheon at a restaurant a news bill at the entrance denounced Kensington Outrage murder by a madman and the contents of the paper showed that Mr. Horace Harker had got his account into print after all two columns were occupied with a highly sensational and flowery rendering of the whole incident Holmes prompted against the crew at stand while he ate once or twice he chuckled this is alright Watson said he listen to this it is satisfactory to know that there can be no difference of opinion upon this case since Mr. Lestrade one of the most experienced members of the official force and Mr. Sherlock Holmes the well-known consulting expert have each come to the conclusion that the grotesque series of incidents which have ended in so tragic a fashion deliberate crime no explanation to save mental aberration can cover the facts the press Watson is the most valuable institution if you only know how to use it and now if you have quite finished we will hark back to Kensington and see what the manager of Harding Brothers has to say to the matter the founder of that great Emporium proved to be a brisk crisp little person very dapper and quick with a clear head and ready tongue yes sir I've already read the account in the evening papers Mr. Horace Harker is a customer we supplied him with the bust some months ago we ordered three busts of that sort from Gelder and Company of Stepney they are all sold now to whom oh I dare say by consulting our sales book we could very easily tell you yes we have the entries here one to Mr. Harker you see and one to Mr. Josiah Brown of Labernum Lodge, Labernum Vale Chiswick and one to Mr. Sandford of Lower Grove Road Reading no I have never seen this face which you show me in the photograph you would hardly forget it would you sir for I've seldom seen an uglier have we any Italians on the staff yes sir we have several among our work people and cleaners I dare say they might get a peep at that sales book if they wanted to there is no particular reason for keeping a watch upon that book well well it's a very strange business and I hope that you let me know if anything comes of your inquiries Holmes had taken several notes during Mr. Harding's evidence and I could see that he was thoroughly satisfied by the turn which affairs were taking he made no remark however save that unless we hurried we should be late for our appointment with Lestrade sure enough when we reached Baker Street the detective was already there and we found him pacing up and down in a fever of impatience his look of importance showed that his day's work had not been in vain well he asked what luck Mr. Holmes we have had a very busy day and not entirely a wasted one my friend explained we have seen both the retailers and also the wholesale manufacturers I can trace each of the busts now from the beginning the busts cried Lestrade well well you have your own methods Mr. Sherlock Holmes and it is not for me to say a word against them but I think I have done a better day's work than you I have identified the dead man you don't say so and found a cause for the crime splendid we have an inspector who makes a speciality of Saffron Hill in the Italian quarter well this dead man had some Catholic emblem around his neck and that along with his color made me think he was from the south Inspector Hill knew him the moment he caught sight of him his name is Pietro Venucci from Naples and he is one of the greatest cutthroats in London he is connected with the mafia which as you know is a secret political society enforcing its degrees by murder now you see how the affair begins to clear up the other fellow is probably an Italian also and a member of the mafia he has broken the rules in some fashion Pietro is set upon his track probably the photograph we found in his pocket is the man himself so that he may not make the wrong person he dogs the fellow he sees him enter our house he waits outside for him and in the scuffle he receives his own death wound how is that Mr. Sherlock Holmes Holmes clapped his hands approvingly excellent Lestrade excellent he cried but I don't quite follow your explanation of the destruction of the busts the busts you can never get those busts out of your head after all that is nothing petty larceny six months the most it is the murder that we are really investigating and I tell you that I am gathering all the threads into my hands and the next stage it is a very simple one I shall go down with Hill to the Italian quarter find the man whose photograph we have got and arrest him on the charge of murder will you come with us I think not I can't see we can attain our end in a simpler way I can't say for certain because it all depends well it all depends upon a factor which is completely outside our control but I have great hopes in fact the betting is exactly two to one that if you will come with us tonight I shall be able to help you lay him by the heels in the Italian quarter no I fancy Chiswick is an address which is more likely to find him if you will come meet a Chiswick tonight Lestrade I'll promise to go to the Italian quarter with you tomorrow and no harm will be done by the delay and now I think that a few hours sleep would do us all good for I do not propose to leave before 11 o'clock and it is unlikely that we shall be back before morning you'll dine with us Lestrade and then you are welcome to the sofa until it is time for us to start in the meantime Watson I should be glad if you would ring for an express messenger for I have a letter to send it is important that it should go at once home spent the evening in rummaging among the files of the old daily papers with which one of our lumber rooms was packed when at last he descended it was with triumph in his eyes but he said nothing to either of us as to the result of his researches for my own part I had followed step by step the methods by which he had traced the various windings of this complex case and though I could not yet perceive the goal which we would reach I understood clearly that Holmes expected this grotesque criminal to make an attempt upon the two remaining busts one of which I remembered was at Chiswick no doubt the object of our journey was to catch him in the very act and I could not but admire the cunning with which my friend had inserted a wrong clue in the evening paper so as to give the fellow the idea that he could continue his scheme with impunity I was not surprised when Holmes suggested that I should take my revolver with me he had himself picked up the loaded hunting crop which was his favorite weapon a four-wheeler was at the door at 11 and in it we drove to a spot at the other side of Hammersmith bridge here the cabman was directed to wait a short walk brought us to a secluded road fringed with pleasant houses each standing in its own grounds in the light of a street lamp we read La Burnham Villa upon the gatepost of one of them its occupants had evidently retired to rest for all was dark saved for a fanlight over the hall door which said a single blurred circle on to the garden path the wooden fence which separated the grounds from the road through a dense black shadow upon the inner side and here it was that we crouched I fear that you'll have a long wait Holmes whispered we may thank our stars that it is not raining I don't think we can even venture to smoke past the time however it's a two to one chance that we get something to pay us for our trouble it proved however that our vigil was not to be so long as Holmes had led us to fear and it ended in a very sudden and singular fashion in an instant without the least sound to warn us of his coming the garden gate swung open and a lithe dark figure as swift and active as an ape rushed up the garden path a whisk past the light thrown from over the door and disappear against the black shadow of the house there was a long pause during which we held our breath and then a very gentle creaking sound came to our ears the window was being opened the noise ceased and again there was a long silence the fellow was making his way into the house we saw the sudden flash of a dark lantern inside the room what he saw was evidently not there for again we saw the flash blind and then through another let us go to the open window we will nab him as he climbs out Lestrade whispered but before we could move the man had emerged again as he came out into the glimmering patch of light we saw that he carried something white under his arm he looked stealthily all around him the silence of the deserted street reassured him turning his back upon us he laid down his burden and the next instant there was the sound of a sharp tap followed by a clatter and rattle the man was so intent upon what he was doing that he never heard our steps as we stole across the grass plot with the bound of a tiger Holmes was on his back and an instant later Lestrade and I had him by either wrist and the handcuffs had been fastened as we turned him over I saw a hideous, sallow face with writhing furious features glaring up at us and I knew that it was indeed the man of the photograph whom we had secured but it was not our prisoner to whom Holmes was giving his attention squatted on the doorstep he was engaged in most carefully examining that which the man had brought from the house it was a bust of Napoleon like the one which we had seen that morning and it had been broken into similar fragments carefully Holmes held each separate shard to the light but in no way did it differ from any other shattered piece of plaster he had just completed his examination when the hall lights flew up the door opened and the owner of the house a jovial rotund thinker in shirt and trousers presented himself Mr. Josiah Brown I suppose said Holmes Yes sir and you no doubt are Mr. Sherlock Holmes I had the note which you sent by the express messenger and I did exactly what you told me we locked every door on the inside and awaited developments well I'm very glad to see that you have got the rascal I hope gentlemen that you will come in and have some refreshment however the straw was anxious to get his man into safe quarters and so within a few minutes our camp had been summoned and we were all four upon our way to London not a word would our captives say but he glared at us from the shadow of his matted hair and once when my hand seemed within his reach he snapped at it like a hungry wolf we stayed long enough at the police station to learn that a search of his clothing revealed nothing save a few shillings and a long sheath knife the handle of which bore copious traces of recent blood that's all right said the straw as we pardon he'll knows all these gentry and he will give a name to him you'll find that my theory of the mafia will work out all right but I'm sure I am exceedingly obliged to you Mr. Holmes for the workman-like way in which you laid hands upon him I don't quite understand it all yet I feared it was rather too late an hour for explanations at Holmes besides there are one or two details which are not finished off and it is one of those cases which are worth working out to the very end if you will come round once more to my rooms at six o'clock tomorrow I think I shall be able to show you that even now you have not grasped the entire meaning of this business which presents some features which make it absolutely original in the history of crime if ever I permit you to chronicle any more of my little problems Watson I foresee that you will enliven your pages by an account of the singular adventure of the Napoleonic busts when we met again next evening the strad was furnished with much information concerning a prisoner his name it appeared was Beppo second name unknown he was a well known ne'er-do-well among the Italian colony he had once been a skillful sculptor and had earned an honest living but he had taken to evil courses and had twice already been in jail once for a petty theft and once as we had already heard for stabbing a fellow countryman he could talk English perfectly well his reasons for destroying the busts were still unknown and he refused to answer any questions upon the subject but the police had discovered that these same busts might very well have been made by his own hands since he was engaged in this class of work at the establishment of Gelder and Company this information much of which we already knew Holmes listened with polite attention but I who knew him so well could clearly see that his thoughts were elsewhere and I detected a mixture of mingled uneasiness and expectation beneath that mask which he was want to assume at last he started in his chair and his eyes brightened there had been a ring at the bell a minute later we heard steps upon the stairs and an elderly red-faced man with grizzled side whiskers ushered in in his right hand he carried an old-fashioned carpet-bag which he placed upon the table is Mr. Sherlock Holmes here my friend bowed and smiled Mr. Sanford of Reading I suppose said he yes sir I fear that I am a little late but the trains were awkward you read to me about a bust that is in my possession exactly I have your letter here you said I desire to possess a copy of Deven's Napoleon and then prepared to pay you ten pounds for the one which is in your possession is that right certainly I was very much surprised at your letter for I could not imagine how you knew that I owned such a thing of course he must have been surprised but the explanation is very simple Mr. Harding of Harding Brothers said that they had sold you their last copy and he gave me your address oh that was it was it did he tell you what I paid for it no he did not well I am an honest man though not a very rich one I only gave 15 shillings for the bust and I think you ought to know that before I take ten pounds from you I am sure the scruple does you honor Mr. Sanford but I have named that price and so I intend to stick to it well it is very handsome of you Mr. Holmes he lost up with me as you asked me to do here it is he opened his bag and at last we saw placed upon our table a complete specimen of that bust which we had already seen more than once in fragments Holmes took a paper from his pocket and laid a ten pound note upon the table you will kindly sign that paper Mr. Sanford in the presence of these witnesses it is simply to say that you transfer every possible right that you ever had in the bust to me I am a methodical man you see and you never know what turned events might take afterwards thank you Mr. Sanford here is your money and I wish you a very good evening when our visitor had disappeared Sherlock Holmes' movements were such as to rivet our attention he began by taking a clean white cloth from a drawer and laying it over the table then he placed his newly acquired bust in the center of the cloth finally he picked up his hunting crop and struck Napoleon a sharp blow on the top of the head the figure broke into fragments and Holmes bent eagerly over the shattered remains next instant with a loud shout of triumph he held up one splinter in which a round dark object was fixed like a plum in a pudding gentlemen he cried let me introduce you to the famous black pearl of the Borges Lestrade and I sat silent for a moment and then a spontaneous impulse we both broke out clapping as at the well wrought crisis of a play a flush of color sprang to Holmes' pearl cheeks and he bound to us like the master dramatist who received the homage of his audience it was at such moments that for an instant he ceased to be a reasoning machine and betrayed his human love for admiration and applause the same singularly proud and reserved nature which turned away with disdain from popular notoriety was capable of being moved to its depths by a spontaneous wonder and praise from a friend yes gentlemen said he it is the most famous pearl now existing in the world and it has been my good fortune by a connected chain of inductive reasoning to trace it from the Prince of Cologne's Benjamin at the Dockra Hotel where it was lost to the interior of this the last of the six busts of Napoleon which were manufactured by Gelder and company of Stepney you will remember Lestrade the sensation caused by the disappearance of this valuable jewel in the vain efforts of the London police to recover it I was myself consultant upon the case but I was unable to throw any light upon it suspicion fell upon the maid of the princess who was an Italian and it was proved that she had a brother in London but we failed to trace any connection between them the maid's name was Lucretia and there is no doubt in my mind this Pietro who was murdered two nights ago was the brother I have been looking up the dates in the old files of the paper and I find that the disappearance of the pearl was exactly two days before the arrest of Beppo for some crime of violence an event which took place in the factory of Gelder and company at the very moment when these busts were being made now you clearly see the sequence of events though you see them of course in the inverse order to the way in which they presented themselves to me Beppo had the pearl in his possession he may have stolen it from Pietro he may have been Pietro's confederate he may have been the go-between of Pietro and his sister it is of no consequence to us which is the correct solution the main fact is that he had the pearl and at that moment when it was on his person he was pursued by the police he made for the factory in which he worked and he knew that he had only a few minutes in which to conceal this enormously valuable prize which would otherwise be found on him when he was searched six plaster casts of Napoleon were drying in the passage one of them was still soft in an instant Beppo a skillful workman made a small hole in the wet plaster dropped in the pearl and with a few touches covered over the aperture once more it was an admirable hiding place no one could possibly find it but Beppo was condemned to a year's imprisonment and in the meanwhile his six busts were scattered over London he could not tell which contained his treasure only by breaking them could he see even shaking would tell him nothing for as the plaster was wet it was probable that the pearl would adhere to it as in fact it has done Beppo did not despair and he conducted his search with considerable ingenuity and perseverance through a cousin who works with Gelder he found out the retail firms who had bought the busts he managed to find employment with Morse Hudson and in that way tracked down three of them the pearl was not there then with the help of some Italian employee he succeeded in finding out where the other three busts had gone the first was at Harkers there he was dug by his confederate who held Beppo responsible for the loss of the pearl and he stabbed him in the scuffle which followed if he was his confederate why should he carry his photograph I asked as a means of tracking him if he wished to inquire about him for many third person that was the obvious reason well after the murder I calculated that Beppo would probably hurry rather than delay his movements he would fear that the police would read his secret and so he hastened on before they should get ahead of him of course I could not say that he had not found the pearl in Harkers bust I had not even concluded for certain that it was the pearl but it was evident to me that he was looking for something since he carried the bust past the other houses in order to break it in the garden which had a lamp overlooking it since Harkers bust was one in three the chances were exactly as I told you two to one against the pearl being inside it there remained two busts and it was obvious that he would go for the London one first I warned the inmates of the house so as to avoid a second tragedy and we went down with the happiest results by that time of course I knew for certain that it was the Borgia pearl that we were after the name of the murdered man linked the one event with the other there only remained a single bust the reading one and the pearl must be there I bought it in your presence from the owner and there it lies we sat in silence for a moment well said Lestrade I've seen you handle a good many cases Mr. Holmes but I don't know that I ever knew a more workman like one than that we're not jealous of you at Scotland Yard no sir we are very proud of you and if you come down tomorrow there's not a man from the oldest inspector to the youngest constable who wouldn't be glad to shake you by the hand thank you sent Holmes thank you and as he turned away it seemed to me that he was more nearly moved by the softer human emotions than I had ever seen him a moment later he was the cold and practical thinker once more put the pearl in the safe Watson said he and get out the papers of the conch singleton forgery case goodbye Lestrade any little problem comes your way I shall be happy if I can to give you a hint or two as to its solution and of the adventure of the six napoleons part B recorded by Christine Macken Carlton College Northfield Minnesota part one of the adventure of the three students from the return of Sherlock Holmes this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Zara the return of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle the adventure of the three students part one it was in the year 95 that a combination of events into which I need not enter caused Mr. Sherlock Holmes and myself to spend some weeks in one of our great university towns and it was during this time that the small but instructive adventure which I am about to relate with fellas it will be obvious that any details which would help the reader exactly to identify the college or the criminal would be injudicious and offensive so painful a scandal may well be allowed to die out with due discretion the incident itself may however be described since it serves to illustrate some of those qualities for which my friend was remarkable I will endeavor in my statement to avoid such terms as would serve to limit the events to any particular place or give a clue as to the people concerned we were residing at the time in furnished lodgings close to a library where Sherlock Holmes was pursuing some laborious researches in the early English Charters researches which led to results so striking that they may be the subject of one of my future narratives here it was that one evening we received a visit from an acquaintance Mr. Hilton Somes tutor and lecturer at the College of St. Luke's Mr. Somes was a tall spare man of a nervous and excitable temperament I had always known him to be restless in his manner but on this particular occasion he was in such a state of uncontrollable agitation that it was clear something very unusual had occurred I trust Mr. Holmes that you can spare me a few hours of your valuable time we have had a very painful incident at St. Luke's and really but for the happy chance of your being in town I should have been at a loss what to do I am very busy now and I desire no distractions my friend answered I should much prefer that you called in the aid of the police no no my dear sir such a course is utterly impossible when once the law is evoked it cannot be stayed again and this is just one of those cases where for the credit of the college it is most essential to avoid scandal your discretion is as well known as your powers and you are the one man in the world who can help me I beg you Mr. Holmes to do what you can my friend's temper had not improved since he had been deprived of the congenial surroundings of Baker Street without his scrapbooks his chemicals and his homely untidiness he was an uncomfortable man he shrugged his shoulders in ungracious acquiescence while our visitor in hurried words and with much excitable gesticulation poured forth his story I must explain to you Mr. Holmes that tomorrow is the first day of the examination for the Fortescue Scholarship I am one of the examiners my subject is Greek and the first of the papers consists of a large passage of Greek translation which the candidate has not seen the passage is printed on the examination paper and it would naturally be an immense advantage if the candidate could prepare it in advance for this reason great care is taken to keep the paper secret today about three o'clock the proofs of this paper arrive from the printers the exercise consists of half a chapter of Thucydides I had to read it over carefully as the text must be absolutely correct at four thirty my task was not yet completed I had however promised to take tea in a friend's rooms so I left the proof upon my desk I was absent rather more than an hour you are aware Mr. Holmes that our college doors are double a green bay's one within and a heavy ocho one without as I approached my outer door I was amazed to see a key in it for an instant I imagined that I had left my own there but on feeling in my pocket I found that it was alright the only duplicate which existed so far as I knew was that which belonged to my servant Bannister a man who has looked after my room for ten years and whose honesty is absolutely above suspicion I found that the key was indeed his that he had entered my room to know if I wanted tea and that he had very carelessly left the key in the door when he came out his visit to my room must have been within a very few minutes of my leaving it his forgetfulness about the key would have mattered little upon any other occasion but on this one day it has produced the most deplorable consequences the moment I looked at my table I was aware that someone had rummaged among my papers the proof was in three long slips I had left them all together now I found that one of them was lying on the floor one was on the side table near the window and the third was where I had left it Holmes stirred for the first time the first page on the floor the second in the window the third where you left it exactly Mr. Holmes you amaze me how could you possibly know that pray continue your very interesting statement for an instant I imagine that Bannister had taken the unpardonable liberty of examining my papers he denied it however with the utmost earnestness and I am convinced that he was speaking the truth the alternative was that someone passing had observed the key in the door had known that I was out and had entered to look at the papers a large sum of money is at stake for the scholarship is a very valuable one and an unscrupulous man might very well run a risk in order to gain an advantage over his fellows Bannister was very much upset by the incident he had nearly fainted when we found that the papers had undoubtedly tampered with I gave him a little brandy and left him collapsed in a chair while I made a most careful examination of the room the intruder had left other traces of his presence besides the rumpled papers on the table in the window were several shreds from a pencil which had been sharpened a broken tip of lead was lying there also evidently the rascal had copied the paper in a great hurry had broken his pencil and had been compelled to put a fresh point to it excellent, said Holmes who is recovering his good humor as his attention became more engrossed by the case fortune has been your friend well this was not all I have a new writing table with a fine surface of red leather I am prepared to swear and so has Bannister that it was smooth and unstained now I found a clean cut in it about three inches long not a mere scratch but a positive cut not only this but on the table I found a small ball of black dough or clay with specks of something which looks like sawdust in it I am convinced that these marks were left by the man who rifled the papers there were no foot marks and no other evidence as to his identity at its end when suddenly the happy thought occurred to me that you were in the town and I came straight round to put the matter into your hands do help me Mr. Holmes you see my dilemma either I must find the man or else the examination must be postponed until fresh papers are prepared and since this cannot be get done without explanation there will ensue a hideous scandal which will throw a cloud not only on the college but on the university above all things I desire to settle the matter quietly and discreetly I shall be happy to look into it and give you such advice as I can at Holmes, rising and putting on his overcoat the case is not entirely devoid of interest had anyone visited you in your room after the papers came to you yes young Dalit Ross an Indian student who lives on the same stair came in to ask me some particulars about the examination for which he was entered yes and those papers were on your table to the best of my belief I was told up but might be recognized as proofs possibly no one else in your room no did anyone know that these proofs would be there no one saved the printer did this man barrister know no certainly not no one knew where is banister now he was very ill poor fellow I left him collapsed in the chair I was in such a hurry to come to you I locked up the papers first then it amounts to this that unless the Indian student recognized the role as being proofs the man who tampered with them came upon them accidentally without knowing that they were there so it seems to me Holmes gave an enigmatic smile well said he let us go round not one of your cases Watson mental not physical all right come if you want to proposal the sitting room of our client opened by a long low lattice window on the ancient lichen tinted court of the old college a gothic arch door led to a worn stone staircase on the ground floor was the tutors room above were three students one on each story it was already twilight when we reached the scene of our problem Holmes halted and looked earnestly at the window then he approached it and standing on tiptoe with his neck craned the room he must have entered through the door there is no opening except the one pane said our learned guide dear me said Holmes and smiled in a singular way as he glanced at our companion well if there is nothing to be learned here we had best go inside the lecturer unlocked the outer door and ushered us into his room we stood at the entrance while Holmes made an examination of the carpet I'm afraid there are no signs here said he one could hardly hope for any upon so dry a day your servant seems to have quite recovered you left him in a chair you say which chair? by the window there I see near this little table you can come in now I have finished with the carpet let us take the little table first of course what has happened is very clear the men entered and took the papers sheet by sheet from the central table he carried them over to the window table across the courtyard and so could effect an escape as a matter of fact he could not said Holmes for I entered by the side door ah that's good well anyhow that was in his mind let me see the three strips no finger impressions no well he carried over this one first and he copied it how long would it take him to do that using every possible contraction a quarter of an hour not less then he tossed it down and seized the next of that when your return caused him to make a very hurried retreat very hurried since he had not time to replace the papers which would tell you that he had been there you were not aware of any hurrying feet on the stairs you entered the outer door no I can't say I was well he wrote so furiously that he broke his pencil and had as you observed to sharpen it again this is of interest Watson the pencil was not an ordinary one it was above the usual size with a soft lead dark blue the maker's name printed in silver lettering and the piece remaining is only about an inch and a half long look for such a pencil Mr. Somes and you have got your man when I add that he possesses a very large and very blunt knife you have an additional aid Mr. Somes was somewhat overwhelmed by this flood of information I can follow the other point says he but really in this matter of the length Holmes held out a small chip with the letters NN and the space of clear wood after them you see no I fear that even now Watson I have always done you an injustice there are others what could this NN be it is at the end of a word you are aware that Johann Faber is the most common maker's name is it not clear that there is just as much of the pencil left as usually follows the Johann he held the small table sideways to the electric light I was hoping that if the paper on which he wrote was thin some trace of it might come through upon this polish surface no I see nothing I don't think there is anything more to be learned here now for the central table the small pellet is I presume the black doughy mass you spoke of roughly pyramidal in shape and hollowed out I perceive as you say there appear to be grains of sawdust in it dear me this is very interesting and the cut a positive tear I see it began with a thin scratch and ended in a jagged hole I am much indebted to you for directing my attention to this case Mr. Psalms where does that door lead to to my bedroom have you been in it since your adventure no I came straight away for you I should like to have a glance around what a charming old fashioned room oh perhaps you will kindly wait a minute until I've examined the floor no I see nothing what about this curtain you hang your clothes behind it if anyone were forced to conceal himself in this room he must do it there since the bed is too low and the wardrobe no one there I suppose as Holmes drew the curtain I was aware from some little rigidity and an alertness of his attitude that he was prepared for an emergency as a matter of fact the drawn curtain disclosed nothing but three or four suits of clothes hanging from a line of pegs Holmes turned away and stooped suddenly to the floor hello what is this says he it was a small pyramid of black putty like stuff exactly like the one upon the table of the study Holmes held it out his open palm in the glare of the electric light your visitor seems to have left traces in your bedroom as well as in your sitting room Mr. Somes what could he have wanted there I think it is clear enough you came back by an unexpected way and so he had no warning until you were at the very door what could he do he caught up everything which would betray him and he rushed into your bedroom to conceal himself good gracious Mr. Holmes do you mean to tell me that all the time I was talking to Bannister in the room we had the man prisoner if we had only known it so I read it surely there is another alternative Mr. Holmes I don't know whether you observed my bedroom window lattice paint lead framework three separate windows one swing on hinge and large enough to admit a man exactly and it looks out on an angle of the courtyard so as to be partly invisible the man might have affected his entrance there left traces as he passed through the bedroom and finally finding the door open have escaped Holmes shook his head impatiently let us be practical said he I understand you to say that there are three students who use this stair and are in the habit of passing your door yes there are and they are all in for this examination yes have you any reason to suspect any one of them more than the others Somes hesitated it is a very delicate question said he one hardly likes to throw suspicion where there are no proofs let us hear the suspicions I will look after the proofs I will tell you then in a few words the character of the three men who inhabit these rooms the lower of the three is Gilchrist a fine scholar and athlete plays in the rugby team and the cricket team for the college and got his blue for the hurdles and the long jump he is a fine manly fellow his father was the notorious Sir Jabez Gilchrist who ruined himself on the turf my scholar has been left very poor but he is hardworking and industrious he will do well the second floor is inhabited by Dalut Ras the Indian he is a quiet inscrutable fellow as most of those Indians are he is well up in his work though his Greek is his weak subject he is steady and methodical the top floor belongs to Miles McLaren he is a brilliant fellow when he chooses to work one of the brightest intellects of the university but he is wayward dissipated and unprincipled he was nearly expelled over a card scandal in his first year he has been idling all this term and he must look forward with dread to the examination then it is he whom you suspect I dare not go so far as that but of the three he is perhaps the least unlikely exactly now Mr. Psalms let us have a look at your servant Bannister he was a little white faced clean shaven grizzly-haired fellow of fifty he was still suffering from the sudden disturbance of the quiet routine of his life his plump face was twitching with his nervousness and his fingers could not keep still we are investigating this unhappy business Bannister said his master yes sir I understand said Holmes that you left your key in the door yes sir was it not very extraordinary that you should do this on the very day when there were those papers inside it was most unfortunate sir but I have occasionally done the same thing at other times then when did you enter the room it was about half past four that is Mr. Psalms tea time how long did you stay when I saw that he was absent I withdrew at once did you look at these papers on the table no sir certainly not how came you to leave the key in the door I had the tea-tray in my hand I thought I would come back for the key then I forgot has the outer door a spring lock no sir then it was open all the time yes sir anyone in the room could get out yes sir when Mr. Psalms returned and called for you you were very much disturbed yes sir such a thing has never happened during the many years I have been here I nearly fainted sir so I understand where were you when you began to feel bad where was I sir why here near the door that is singular because you sat down on that chair over yonder near the corner why did you pass these other chairs I don't know sir it didn't matter to me where I sat I really don't think he knew much about it Mr. Holmes he was looking very bad quite ghastly you stayed here when your master left only for a minute or so then I locked the door and went to my room whom do you suspect oh I would not venture to say sir I don't believe there is any gentleman in this university who is capable of profiting by such an action no sir I'll not believe it thank you that will do said Holmes oh one more word you have not mentioned to any of the three gentlemen whom you attended that anything is amiss no sir not a word you haven't seen any of them no sir very good now Mr. Holmes we will take a walk in the quadrangle if you please end of the adventure of the three students part one recording by Zara in June of 2007