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sherlock60This week we are reading The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton. It carries the theme of crimes for wrong and right.
This week's story opens right to the case with Watson's words that this one was late to be published to save one who could have been arrested. On those ominous words, we quickly meet the criminal within a few paragraphs. He has not committed murder or theft, nothing that would be too sensational for the Victorian era, but his trade is blackmail. Holmes has been retained by a debutante who will be married within the next few weeks. When she was younger, she wrote some letters and if they were to come out, she'd loose her future marriage. A man, Milverton, had come into possession of the letters and unless she pays him, the letters will be released. The woman in question retained Holmes to act as an agent, to negotiate a smaller price.
Milverton will not agree. The matter is left as the woman pays in full or the letters are released.
Holmes makes up a disguise and disappears, for the most part, for a few days. Watson waits anxiously. When Holmes reappears, he announces he's engaged -- on his part as a ruse so he could gain information about Milverton's home. His plan is to break in and steal back the papers, assured of the smallest details -- the layout of the house, any alarms, and Milverton's sleeping habits. Watson announces he'll go with and won't hear another word on the matter; Holmes relents and agrees.
At first look, it all goes the way Holmes had expected. The house is dark and shut up for the night. They easily gain entrance to Milverton's study and are undisturbed for half an hour. Holmes does manage to open the safe where Milverton keeps all of the papers for his business, but just as he starts to try to sort through the papers, a door opens and closes somewhere in the house. Hidden behind a curtain, they see Milverton enter the room, deviating from his usual schedule. We find out in due time that it was for good reason -- he was expecting yet more papers for blackmail. Only the "maid" in question turns out to be a former victim who hadn't paid up and paid instead by loosing her husband. Her mission is simple: she kills Milverton without hesitation and leaves swiftly.
Though the alarm is raised, Watson bolts the door and Holmes throws the papers into the fire. They escape through the back yard, nearly getting caught, but they escape. In the morning, Lestrade pays them a visit asking Holmes for help in finding the blamed murderers. Holmes refuses, of course, on the grounds that Milverton's death was for the good of all.
A quick thrilling story. I've little to say about it though I wonder if it could've been longer though I suspect any more of it and Watson would've been including details he couldn't have. Thoughts?
This week's story opens right to the case with Watson's words that this one was late to be published to save one who could have been arrested. On those ominous words, we quickly meet the criminal within a few paragraphs. He has not committed murder or theft, nothing that would be too sensational for the Victorian era, but his trade is blackmail. Holmes has been retained by a debutante who will be married within the next few weeks. When she was younger, she wrote some letters and if they were to come out, she'd loose her future marriage. A man, Milverton, had come into possession of the letters and unless she pays him, the letters will be released. The woman in question retained Holmes to act as an agent, to negotiate a smaller price.
Milverton will not agree. The matter is left as the woman pays in full or the letters are released.
Holmes makes up a disguise and disappears, for the most part, for a few days. Watson waits anxiously. When Holmes reappears, he announces he's engaged -- on his part as a ruse so he could gain information about Milverton's home. His plan is to break in and steal back the papers, assured of the smallest details -- the layout of the house, any alarms, and Milverton's sleeping habits. Watson announces he'll go with and won't hear another word on the matter; Holmes relents and agrees.
At first look, it all goes the way Holmes had expected. The house is dark and shut up for the night. They easily gain entrance to Milverton's study and are undisturbed for half an hour. Holmes does manage to open the safe where Milverton keeps all of the papers for his business, but just as he starts to try to sort through the papers, a door opens and closes somewhere in the house. Hidden behind a curtain, they see Milverton enter the room, deviating from his usual schedule. We find out in due time that it was for good reason -- he was expecting yet more papers for blackmail. Only the "maid" in question turns out to be a former victim who hadn't paid up and paid instead by loosing her husband. Her mission is simple: she kills Milverton without hesitation and leaves swiftly.
Though the alarm is raised, Watson bolts the door and Holmes throws the papers into the fire. They escape through the back yard, nearly getting caught, but they escape. In the morning, Lestrade pays them a visit asking Holmes for help in finding the blamed murderers. Holmes refuses, of course, on the grounds that Milverton's death was for the good of all.
A quick thrilling story. I've little to say about it though I wonder if it could've been longer though I suspect any more of it and Watson would've been including details he couldn't have. Thoughts?
