charles_agustus_milverton.txt

HTK应用程序

<s> IT IS YEARS SINCE THE INCIDENTS OF WHICH I SPEAK TOOK PLACE AND YET IT IS WITH DIFFIDENCE THAT I ALLUDE TO THEM </s>
<s> FOR A LONG TIME EVEN WITH THE UTMOST DISCRETION AND RETICENCE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE THE FACTS PUBLIC BUT NOW THE PRINCIPAL PERSON CONCERNED IS BEYOND THE REACH OF HUMAN LAW AND WITH DUE SUPPRESSION THE STORY MAY BE TOLD IN SUCH FASHION AS TO INJURE NO ONE </s>
<s> IT RECORDS AN ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN THE CAREER BOTH OF MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES AND OF MYSELF </s>
<s> THE READER WILL EXCUSE ME IF I CONCEAL THE DATE OR ANY OTHER FACT BY WHICH HE MIGHT TRACE THE ACTUAL OCCURRENCE </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> AS HOLMES TURNED UP THE LAMP THE LIGHT FELL UPON A CARD ON THE TABLE </s>
<s> HE GLANCED AT IT AND THEN WITH AN EJACULATION OF DISGUST THREW IT ON THE FLOOR </s>
<s> I PICKED IT UP AND READ CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON APPLEDORE TOWERS HAMPSTEAD </s>
<s> AGENT </s>
<s> QUOTE WHO IS HE QUOTE </s>
<s> I ASKED </s>
<s> THE WORST MAN IN LONDON HOLMES ANSWERED AS HE SAT DOWN AND STRETCHED HIS LEGS BEFORE THE FIRE </s>
<s> IS ANYTHING ON THE BACK OF THE CARD </s>
<s> I TURNED IT OVER </s>
<s> WILL CALL AT SIX THIRTY C. A. M. I READ </s>
<s> HUM </s>
<s> HE'S ABOUT DUE </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> WELL THAT'S HOW MILVERTON IMPRESSES ME </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> AND YET I CAN'T GET OUT OF DOING BUSINESS WITH HIM INDEED HE IS HERE AT MY INVITATION </s>
<s> QUOTE BUT WHO IS HE QUOTE </s>
<s> I'LL TELL YOU WATSON </s>
<s> HE IS THE KING OF ALL THE BLACKMAILERS </s>
<s> HEAVEN HELP THE MAN AND STILL MORE THE WOMAN WHOSE SECRET AND REPUTATION COME INTO THE POWER OF MILVERTON </s>
<s> WITH A SMILING FACE AND A HEART OF MARBLE HE WILL SQUEEZE AND SQUEEZE UNTIL HE HAS DRAINED THEM DRY </s>
<s> THE FELLOW IS A GENIUS IN HIS WAY AND WOULD HAVE MADE HIS MARK IN SOME MORE SAVOURY TRADE </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> HE RECEIVES THESE WARES NOT ONLY FROM TREACHEROUS VALETS OR MAIDS BUT FREQUENTLY FROM GENTEEL RUFFIANS WHO HAVE GAINED THE CONFIDENCE AND AFFECTION OF TRUSTING WOMEN </s>
<s> HE DEALS WITH NO NIGGARD HAND </s>
<s> I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT HE PAID SEVEN HUNDRED POUNDS TO A FOOTMAN FOR A NOTE TWO LINES IN LENGTH AND THAT THE RUIN OF A NOBLE FAMILY WAS THE RESULT </s>
<s> EVERYTHING WHICH IS IN THE MARKET GOES TO MILVERTON AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS IN THIS GREAT CITY WHO TURN WHITE AT HIS NAME </s>
<s> NO ONE KNOWS WHERE HIS GRIP MAY FALL FOR HE IS FAR TOO RICH AND FAR TOO CUNNING TO WORK FROM HAND TO MOUTH </s>
<s> HE WILL HOLD A CARD BACK FOR YEARS IN ORDER TO PLAY IT AT THE MOMENT WHEN THE STAKE IS BEST WORTH WINNING </s>
<s> I HAVE SAID THAT HE IS THE WORST MAN IN LONDON AND I WOULD ASK YOU HOW COULD ONE COMPARE THE RUFFIAN WHO IN HOT BLOOD BLUDGEONS HIS MATE WITH THIS MAN WHO METHODICALLY AND AT HIS LEISURE TORTURES THE SOUL AND WRINGS THE NERVES IN ORDER TO ADD TO HIS ALREADY SWOLLEN MONEY BAGS </s>
<s> I HAD SELDOM HEARD MY FRIEND SPEAK WITH SUCH INTENSITY OF FEELING </s>
<s> BUT SURELY SAID I THE FELLOW MUST BE WITHIN THE GRASP OF THE LAW </s>
<s> TECHNICALLY NO DOUBT BUT PRACTICALLY NOT </s>
<s> WHAT WOULD IT PROFIT A WOMAN FOR EXAMPLE TO GET HIM A FEW MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT IF HER OWN RUIN MUST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW </s>
<s> HIS VICTIMS DARE NOT HIT BACK </s>
<s> IF EVER HE BLACKMAILED AN INNOCENT PERSON THEN INDEED WE SHOULD HAVE HIM BUT HE IS AS CUNNING AS THE EVIL ONE </s>
<s> NO NO WE MUST FIND OTHER WAYS TO FIGHT HIM </s>
<s> QUOTE AND WHY IS HE HERE QUOTE </s>
<s> BECAUSE AN ILLUSTRIOUS CLIENT HAS PLACED HER PITEOUS CASE IN MY HANDS </s>
<s> IT IS THE LADY EVA BLACKWELL THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DEBUTANTE OF LAST SEASON </s>
<s> SHE IS TO BE MARRIED IN A FORTNIGHT TO THE EARL OF DOVERCOURT </s>
<s> THIS FIEND HAS SEVERAL IMPRUDENT LETTERS IMPRUDENT WATSON NOTHING WORSE WHICH WERE WRITTEN TO AN IMPECUNIOUS YOUNG SQUIRE IN THE COUNTRY </s>
<s> THEY WOULD SUFFICE TO BREAK OFF THE MATCH </s>
<s> MILVERTON WILL SEND THE LETTERS TO THE EARL UNLESS A LARGE SUM OF MONEY IS PAID HIM </s>
<s> I HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED TO MEET HIM AND TO MAKE THE BEST TERMS I CAN </s>
<s> AT THAT INSTANT THERE WAS A CLATTER AND A RATTLE IN THE STREET BELOW </s>
<s> LOOKING DOWN I SAW A STATELY CARRIAGE AND PAIR THE BRILLIANT LAMPS GLEAMING ON THE GLOSSY HAUNCHES OF THE NOBLE CHESTNUTS </s>
<s> A FOOTMAN OPENED THE DOOR AND A SMALL STOUT MAN IN A SHAGGY ASTRAKHAN OVERCOAT DESCENDED </s>
<s> A MINUTE LATER HE WAS IN THE ROOM </s>
<s> CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON WAS A MAN OF FIFTY WITH A LARGE INTELLECTUAL HEAD A ROUND PLUMP HAIRLESS FACE A PERPETUAL FROZEN SMILE AND TWO KEEN GRAY EYES WHICH GLEAMED BRIGHTLY FROM BEHIND BROAD GOLD RIMMED GLASSES </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> HOLMES DISREGARDED THE OUTSTRETCHED HAND AND LOOKED AT HIM WITH A FACE OF GRANITE </s>
<s> MILVERTON'S SMILE BROADENED HE SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS REMOVED HIS OVERCOAT FOLDED IT WITH GREAT DELIBERATION OVER THE BACK OF A CHAIR AND THEN TOOK A SEAT </s>
<s> THIS GENTLEMAN SAID HE WITH A WAVE IN MY DIRECTION </s>
<s> IS IT DISCREET </s>
<s> IS IT RIGHT </s>
<s> QUOTE DOCTOR WATSON IS MY FRIEND AND PARTNER QUOTE </s>
<s> VERY GOOD MR. HOLMES </s>
<s> IT IS ONLY IN YOUR CLIENT'S INTERESTS THAT I PROTESTED </s>
<s> THE MATTER IS SO VERY DELICATE </s>
<s> DOCTOR WATSON HAS ALREADY HEARD OF IT </s>
<s> THEN WE CAN PROCEED TO BUSINESS </s>
<s> YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE ACTING FOR LADY EVA </s>
<s> HAS SHE EMPOWERED YOU TO ACCEPT MY TERMS </s>
<s> QUOTE WHAT ARE YOUR TERMS QUOTE </s>
<s> SEVEN THOUSAND POUNDS </s>
<s> AND THE ALTERNATIVE </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> HIS INSUFFERABLE SMILE WAS MORE COMPLACENT THAN EVER </s>
<s> HOLMES THOUGHT FOR A LITTLE </s>
<s> YOU APPEAR TO ME HE SAID AT LAST TO BE TAKING MATTERS TOO MUCH FOR GRANTED </s>
<s> I AM OF COURSE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONTENTS OF THESE LETTERS </s>
<s> MY CLIENT WILL CERTAINLY DO WHAT I MAY ADVISE </s>
<s> I SHALL COUNSEL HER TO TELL HER FUTURE HUSBAND THE WHOLE STORY AND TO TRUST TO HIS GENEROSITY </s>
<s> MILVERTON CHUCKLED </s>
<s> QUOTE YOU EVIDENTLY DO NOT KNOW THE EARL QUOTE SAID HE </s>
<s> FROM THE BAFFLED LOOK UPON HOLMES'S FACE I COULD SEE CLEARLY THAT HE DID </s>
<s> WHAT HARM IS THERE IN THE LETTERS HE ASKED </s>
<s> THEY ARE SPRIGHTLY VERY SPRIGHTLY MILVERTON ANSWERED </s>
<s> THE LADY WAS A CHARMING CORRESPONDENT </s>
<s> BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE EARL OF DOVERCOURT WOULD FAIL TO APPRECIATE THEM </s>
<s> HOWEVER SINCE YOU THINK OTHERWISE WE WILL LET IT REST AT THAT </s>
<s> IT IS PURELY A MATTER OF BUSINESS </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> HE ROSE AND SEIZED HIS ASTRAKHAN COAT </s>
<s> HOLMES WAS GRAY WITH ANGER AND MORTIFICATION </s>
<s> WAIT A LITTLE HE SAID </s>
<s> QUOTE YOU GO TOO FAST </s>
<s> WE SHOULD CERTAINLY MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO AVOID SCANDAL IN SO DELICATE A MATTER </s>
<s> MILVERTON RELAPSED INTO HIS CHAIR </s>
<s> I WAS SURE THAT YOU WOULD SEE IT IN THAT LIGHT HE PURRED </s>
<s> AT THE SAME TIME HOLMES CONTINUED LADY EVA IS NOT A WEALTHY WOMAN </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> MILVERTON'S SMILE BROADENED AND HIS EYES TWINKLED HUMOROUSLY </s>
<s> I AM AWARE THAT WHAT YOU SAY IS TRUE ABOUT THE LADY'S RESOURCES SAID HE </s>
<s> QUOTE 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 </s>
<s> THEY MAY HESITATE AS TO AN ACCEPTABLE WEDDING PRESENT </s>
<s> LET ME ASSURE THEM THAT THIS LITTLE BUNDLE OF LETTERS WOULD GIVE MORE JOY THAN ALL THE CANDELABRA AND BUTTER DISHES IN LONDON </s>
<s> IT IS IMPOSSIBLE SAID HOLMES </s>
<s> DEAR ME DEAR ME HOW UNFORTUNATE CRIED MILVERTON TAKING OUT A BULKY POCKETBOOK </s>
<s> I CANNOT HELP THINKING THAT LADIES ARE ILL ADVISED IN NOT MAKING AN EFFORT </s>
<s> LOOK AT THIS </s>
<s> HE HELD UP A LITTLE NOTE WITH A COAT OF ARMS UPON THE ENVELOPE </s>
<s> QUOTE THAT BELONGS TO WELL PERHAPS IT IS HARDLY FAIR TO TELL THE NAME UNTIL TO MORROW MORNING </s>
<s> BUT AT THAT TIME IT WILL BE IN THE HANDS OF THE LADY'S HUSBAND </s>
<s> AND ALL BECAUSE SHE WILL NOT FIND A BEGGARLY SUM WHICH SHE COULD GET BY TURNING HER DIAMONDS INTO PASTE </s>
<s> IT IS SUCH A PITY </s>
<s> NOW YOU REMEMBER THE SUDDEN END OF THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE HONOURABLE MISS MILES AND COLONEL DORKING </s>
<s> ONLY TWO DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING THERE WAS A PARAGRAPH IN THE MORNING POST TO SAY THAT IT WAS ALL OFF </s>
<s> AND WHY </s>
<s> IT IS ALMOST INCREDIBLE BUT THE ABSURD SUM OF TWELVE HUNDRED POUNDS WOULD HAVE SETTLED THE WHOLE QUESTION </s>
<s> IS IT NOT PITIFUL </s>
<s> AND HERE I FIND YOU A MAN OF SENSE BOGGLING ABOUT TERMS WHEN YOUR CLIENT'S FUTURE AND HONOUR ARE AT STAKE </s>
<s> YOU SURPRISE ME MR. HOLMES </s>
<s> WHAT I SAY IS TRUE HOLMES ANSWERED </s>
<s> THE MONEY CANNOT BE FOUND </s>
<s> SURELY IT IS BETTER FOR YOU TO TAKE THE SUBSTANTIAL SUM WHICH I OFFER THAN TO RUIN THIS WOMAN'S CAREER WHICH CAN PROFIT YOU IN NO WAY </s>
<s> THERE YOU MAKE A MISTAKE MR. HOLMES </s>
<s> AN EXPOSURE WOULD PROFIT ME INDIRECTLY TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT </s>
<s> I HAVE EIGHT OR TEN SIMILAR CASES MATURING </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> YOU SEE MY POINT QUOTE </s>
<s> HOLMES SPRANG FROM HIS CHAIR </s>
<s> GET BEHIND HIM WATSON </s>
<s> DON'T LET HIM OUT </s>
<s> NOW SIR LET US SEE THE CONTENTS OF THAT NOTEBOOK </s>
<s> MILVERTON HAD GLIDED AS QUICK AS A RAT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROOM AND STOOD WITH HIS BACK AGAINST THE WALL </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> I HAVE BEEN EXPECTING YOU TO DO SOMETHING ORIGINAL </s>
<s> THIS HAS BEEN DONE SO OFTEN AND WHAT GOOD HAS EVER COME FROM IT </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> BESIDES YOUR SUPPOSITION THAT I WOULD BRING THE LETTERS HERE IN A NOTEBOOK IS ENTIRELY MISTAKEN </s>
<s> I WOULD DO NOTHING SO FOOLISH </s>
<s> AND NOW GENTLEMEN I HAVE ONE OR TWO LITTLE INTERVIEWS THIS EVENING AND IT IS A LONG DRIVE TO HAMPSTEAD </s>
<s> HE STEPPED FORWARD TOOK UP HIS COAT LAID HIS HAND ON HIS REVOLVER AND TURNED TO THE DOOR </s>
<s> I PICKED UP A CHAIR BUT HOLMES SHOOK HIS HEAD AND I LAID IT DOWN AGAIN </s>
<s> WITH A BOW A SMILE AND A TWINKLE MILVERTON WAS OUT OF THE ROOM AND A FEW MOMENTS AFTER WE HEARD THE SLAM OF THE CARRIAGE DOOR AND THE RATTLE OF THE WHEELS AS HE DROVE AWAY </s>
<s> 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 </s>
<s> FOR HALF AN HOUR HE WAS SILENT AND STILL </s>
<s> THEN WITH THE GESTURE OF A MAN WHO HAS TAKEN HIS DECISION HE SPRANG TO HIS FEET AND PASSED INTO HIS BEDROOM </s>
<s> A LITTLE LATER A RAKISH YOUNG WORKMAN WITH A GOATEE BEARD AND A SWAGGER LIT HIS CLAY PIPE AT THE LAMP BEFORE DESCENDING INTO THE STREET </s>
<s> QUOTE I'LL BE BACK SOME TIME WATSON QUOTE SAID HE AND VANISHED INTO THE NIGHT </s>
<s> I UNDERSTOOD THAT HE HAD OPENED HIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHARLES AUGUSTUS MILVERTON BUT I LITTLE DREAMED THE STRANGE SHAPE WHICH THAT CAMPAIGN WAS DESTINED TO TAKE </s>
<s> FOR SOME DAYS HOLMES CAME AND WENT AT ALL HOURS IN THIS 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 </s>