Music Welcome to snoozecast. The podcast is designed to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by all the Candelabra and Butterdishes in London. Tonight we'll read the second half to the adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as part of 1903's The Return of Sherlock Holmes, the first half aired last week. In the first half, Holmes was hired by the debutante Lady Ava Blackwell to retrieve compromising letters from a blackmailer named Melverton. The accused was known as the King of the blackmailers, where he would demand great sums in exchange for avoiding the release of

letters. The accused was known as the King of the Black Mellers, where he would demand great sums in exchange for avoiding the release of letters that would cause great scandals. Holmes, intrigued by the challenge and the injustice of Milvertin's actions, agrees to take on the case. He sees it as an opportunity to thwart a master black mailer and bring him to justice. As Holmes delves into the matter, he learns more about Milvertin's methods and reputation. Milvertin is known for his ruthlessness and lack of scruples. He prays on the secrets and vulnerabilities of others for his own profit. Let's get cozy. Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. It's a sporting duel between this fellow Milvertin 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 don't like it, but I suppose it must be said. Said I. When do we start? You are not coming. Then you are not going. Said I. I give you my word of honor, and I never broke it in my life, and 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. 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 the same room for some years, and it would be amusing if we ended up 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, he took a neat little other 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, adaptable keys, and every modern improvement which the march of civilization demands. Here too is my dark lantern. Everything is in order. Have you a pair of silent shoes? I have rubber-sold ten new 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 Churchill row. It is a quarter of an hour's walk from there to Abledor Towers. We shall be at work before midnight. Milverton is a heavy slipper. With any luck, we should be back here by two. With the ladies letters in my pocket.

Homes and I put on our dress clothes so that we might appear to be two theater goers homeward bound. In Oxford Street we picked up a handsome and drove to an address in Hamstead. Here we paid off our cab and 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's a business that needs delicate treatment, said Holmes. These documents are contained in a safe in the fellow study,

and the study is in the anti-room off his bed chamber. On the other hand, like all these stout little men who do themselves well, he is quite a sleeper. Agatha, that's my fiance, says it is a joke in the Serfant's hall that it's impossible to wake the master. He has a secretary who is devoted to his interests and never budges from the 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 brood 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. our black silk face coverings, which turned us into two of the most truckulent 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 opened straight into the study. It would suit us best, but it is bolted as well as locked. And we shouldn't make too much noise getting in. Come round here. There's a greenhouse which opens into the drawing room. The place was locked, but homes 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 fragrance 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 a 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 I understood that I was in a passage. We passed along it, and homes very gently opened a door upon the right hand side. Something rushed out, and my heart spring into my mouth, but I could have laughed when I realized 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 Milvertons' study. Further down the hall was the entrance to his bedroom. 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 outside. On the other side was the door which communicated with the veranda. A desk stood in the center, with a turning chair of shining red leather. Opposite was a large bookcase, with a marble bust on the top in the the corner, between the bookcase and the wall, there stood a tall, green safe, the firelight flashing back from the polished brass knobs upon its face, home stole across and looked at it. Then he crept 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 homes on the arm, and he turned 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. Anyhow, 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 get 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 that 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 homes on rolling his case of instruments and choosing his tool with the 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 mall, the reputations of many fair ladies. Turning up the cuffs of his dresscoat, he had placed his overcoat on a chair. Holmes laid out two drills, a gemmy, and several skeleton keys. I stood at the center door with my eyes glancing at each of the others. Ready for an emergency, though. Indeed, my plans for 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 heard a click. The bronze 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 as hard to read by the flickering fire, and he drew out his little dark lantern. Ferd was too dangerous, with Milvertin in the next room, to switch on the electric light. Suddenly, I saw him hold.

Listen intently, and then, in an instant, he had swung the door of the safe to, picked up his coat, stuffed his tools into the pockets, and darted behind the window curtain, motioning me to do the same. It was only when I had joined him 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 thought 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 snake as 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, within a few yards of us. Finally, there was a creek from a chair and the footsteps ceased. Then a key clicked in a lock and I heard the rustle of papers. so far I had not dared to look out, but now I gently parted the division of the curtains in front of me and peeped through. From the pressure of Holmes' shoulder against mine, I knew that he was sharing my observations. in front of us, and almost within our reach, was the broad, rounded back of Milverton. It was evident that we had entirely miscalculated his movements, that he had never been to his bedroom, but that he had been sitting up in some smoking or billiard room in the farther wing of the house, the windows of which we had not seen. His broad, grizzled head, with its shining patch of baldness, was in the immediate foreground of our vision. He was leaning far back in the red leather chair. His legs outstretched, a long black cigar projecting at an angle from his mouth. He wore a semi-military smoking jacket, claret-colored with a black velvet color.

In his hand, he held a long, legal document which he was reading in an indolent manner. Blowing rings of tobacco smoke from his lips as he did so. There was no promise of the speedy departure in his composed bearing and his comfortable attitude. I felt Holmes's hand steel into mine and give me a reassuring shake, as if to say this situation was within his powers, and that he was easy in his mind. I was not sure whether he had seen what was only too obvious from my position, that the door of this safe was imperfectly closed, and then 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, pin you name, and leave the rest homes. But Milfordton never looked up. He was languidly interested by the papers in his hand, and page after page was turned as he followed the argument of the lawyer. At least, I thought, when he was finished, the document in 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. Elverton dropped his papers and sat rigid in his chair.

The sound was repeated and then there came a gentle tap at the door. Milvertin rose and opened it. Well, said he, currently, you are nearly half an hour late. So this was the explanation of the unlocked door and of the nocturnal vigil of Milverton. There was the gentle rustle of a woman's dress. I had closed the slit between the curtains as Milvon'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 had an 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 man told drawn round her chin. Her breath came quick and fast, and every inch of the figure was quivering with strong emotion. Well, said Milvertin, you made me lose a good night's rest, my dear. I hope you'll prove worth it. You couldn't come any other time, hmm? The woman shook her head. Well, if you couldn't, you couldn't. If the Countess is a hard mistress, you have your chance to get level with her now.

Bless the girl. What are you shivering about? That's right. Pull yourself together. Now. Let us get down to business. He took a notebook from the drawer of his desk. You say that you have five letters which compromise the Countess, DeAlbert. You want to sell them. I want to buy them. So far so good. It only remains to fix a price. I should want to inspect the letters, of course, if they are really good specimens. Great heavens, is it you? The woman, without a word, had raised her veil and dropped the mantle from her chin. It was a handsome, clear cut face which confronted Milvertin, a face with a curved nose, strong, dark eyebrows, shading hard, glittering eyes, and a straight, thin-lipped mouth set in a dangerous smile.

It is I, she said, the woman whose life you have ruined. overton laughed, but fear vibrated in his voice.

Ah, you were so very obstinate, said he. but fear vibrated in his voice.

You were so very obstinate,

that he, why did you drive me to such extremities?

I assure you I wouldn't hurt a fly of my own accord,

but every man has his business.

And what was I to do? I put the price well within your means. You would not pay. So you sent the letters to my husband, and he, the noblest gentleman that ever lived, A man whose boots I was never worthy to lace.

He broke his gallant heart and died. You remember that last night when I came through that door? I begged and prayed you for mercy, and you laughed in my face as you are trying to laugh now. Only your coward heart cannot keep your lips from twitching. Yes, you never thought to see me here again, but it was that night which taught me how I could meet you face to face and alone. Well, Charles Milverton, what have you to say? Don't imagine that you could bully me, so 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. 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. She had drawn a little gleaming revolver. She looked again, but there was no sound or movement. I heard a sharp rustle. The night air blew into the heated room, and the Avenger was gone. No interference upon our part could have saved the man from his fate. But as the woman poured bullet after bullet until Milvertin shrinking body, I was about to spring out when I felt homes as calm, strong grass upon my wrist. I understood the whole argument of that firm restraining grip, that it was no affair of ours, that justice had overtaken a villain, that we had our own duties and our own objects which were not to be lost sight of. But hardly had the woman rushed from the room when Holmes, with swift silent steps, was over at the other door. turned turned the key in the lock. At the same instant we heard voices in the house and the sound of herring 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. Holmes looked around swiftly. The letter which had been the messenger of death for Milvertin lay upon the table. Holmes 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 when an alarm could have spread so swiftly. Looking back, the huge house was one blaze of light. The front door was open, and the figures were rushing down the drive. Holmes 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 path, but he sprang to the top and over. As I did the same, I felt the hand of the man behind me grab at my ankle, but I kicked myself free

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