Holmes University: The Master Blackmailer Page #2

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from the rooms

of Colonel John Dorking

and delivered into the

hands of Doctor Watson

not twenty

minutes ago.

Do you have it?

Delivered, yes

but stolen?

It was a postal

note to me Lestrade.

It's police evidence.

The Colonel is dead.

Yes we know.

by his own hand.

Foul play is not

suspected is it?

How can you be

so sure it isn't?

Because the note

made it clear.

So,

why should he

write to you

if he's topping himself?

Did you know the man?

I had no knowledge of him.

Oh, answer my question

or better still

show me the letter.

It will tell you nothing.

So it seems to me

on the point

of engaging you

he must have

changed his mind.

And took a

soldier's way out.

What does he mean by...

We'll never

know Inspector.

But he was engaged to

be married damn it.

Yes.

Well wouldn't be

the first time

and it won't be the last.

So it was blackmail

you'd say?

Well done Lestrade.

No need for

sarcasm Mr. Holmes.

Your as much

in the dark,

as we are then

about who this

blackmailer might be.

You can be sure

of one thing

Colonel Dorking was

not his first victim

and will

not be his last.

Goodbye Lestrade.

You will let me know

if you hear of anything?

I made a hideous

mistake.

I need your services.

The only pity is

he didn't name

the blackmailer.

He did.

This came with the letter.

Charles Augustus

Milverton,

Appledore Towers,

Hampstead, Art Dealer.

Camouflage.

C-A-M,

C.A.M. Devil!

I've had to deal with

fifty murderers

in my career,

but the worst of

them never gave me

this sense of revulsion

which at this moment

I feel towards

Mr. Charles

Augustus Milverton.

Milverton's lair.

It's a fortress.

Are you surprised?

Charles Augustus

Is he a foreigner,

Roman?

He's built his own prison.

He's a man who loathes

the human race.

What circumstances

might bring him to that?

Well boy brought up

in lonely isolation,

starved of affection.

Probably in one of

London's outer suburbs.

Outer, why not Soho

or Leicester Square?

Cause, my dear

Holmes, those places

with all their vices

team with warmth,

generosity of spirit

and humanity.

That's interesting.

Milverton.

Tonight I have an

assignment for you

if you're willing

to visit

an art gallery.

What will you be doing?

Don't you think that

the honorable Miss Miles

might be more

worth a visit

since Dorking

wrote to you?

That is past Watson.

What we must do now

is fasten ourselves

onto his next victim.

So this evening

I'm to discover

all I can about

Milverton?

His reputation.

His background.

And how those

perceive him.

Do I engage him

in conversation?

Yes but with caution.

His lordship has taken

ill at lunch my lady.

It is feared he may

have suffered a stroke.

Oh poor Uncle Charles.

Her ladyship is

with him now.

He should be pleased

that you're back.

Oh Diana.

May I see him?

He's sleeping.

Wait a little.

How bad is it?

Doctor Bainey's

not optimistic.

If he lives

he'll be paralyzed.

Eva there's a ceremony

that I have to

attend this evening.

The unveiling

of my portrait

by a young artist.

Just a brief appearance

but I promised him

that I'd be there.

Will you come

and take care of me?

Of course.

Wait.

Yes?

Here's a maid.

Come about the job sir.

Well come in then.

So what have you got

to sell me my dear?

What is your name?

Lillie sir.

Awe, Lady Eva Blackwell.

It occurs to me

that I might

not have been

invited to this

viewing Holmes.

What if I'm not

admitted huh?

Holmes?

Is that Mr. Holmes

just going out?

Not that I

recognize Doctor.

Without more ado

ladies and gentlemen

I shall perform

the ceremony

for which we are gathered.

I think she's gentler

and more beautiful

than that.

I should insist on

Whistler painting you.

Formidable!

It was a great honour.

I would like to go soon.

The boy has caught you to

perfection Lady Swinstead.

I don't believe we've

been introduced.

Charles Augustus

Milverton

at your service.

Excuse me,

Lady Diana,

I'm afraid.

My husband?

Eva.

Forgive me.

A most beautiful lady.

What?

Lady Swinstead.

I wonder though

if he's quite got

her mouth right.

Disaster.

Do I know you?

Yeah.

You work for

Milverton don't you?

Is he good to work for?

He would be if weren't

for the bloody plumbing.

Plumbing?

Always drippin

off the spout

and it's always

my fault.

Look what you've done.

That's my pint is it?

Now give us a kiss.

Get off.

Get off Robert.

Get off.

We never sent

for the plumber.

Oh hello.

It was Stokes.

Oh was it?

Robert this

is... what's your name?

Escott.

We plumb the depths,

it's my firms motto.

He says you sent for him.

Where's the trouble?

Awe, I see.

What's going on here?

I asked you what's

going on here?

He's come about the

plumbing Mr. Hebworth.

I took the liberty

of asking him

to come and look at it.

Didn't I Aggie?

You have no right

to take liberties.

I'm in charge here.

But we do need it

done Mr. Hebworth.

I mean, Mr. Milverton

was only saying yesterday

that there was a

very, ugly smell

coming from the piping.

Very well.

Carry on then.

He came in late

and went out early.

Thank you Mrs. Hudson.

Shame isn't it?

He was a fine

statesmen Watson.

It was his

diplomacy, I'm told,

which eased Anglo-French

relationships

at a most delicate

time some year's back.

To think that

I was there

with his widow when the

news was broken to her.

Milverton.

I exchanged a

word with him.

A more calculatingly

insincere smile

I never hope to see.

Charles Augustus.

And described to

me as a connoisseur

in art matters.

A businessman who

can make or raise

the fortunes

of any artist

to whom he

devotes himself.

Stems of hell!

He's a member of a

number of London clubs.

On the basis, I suppose,

that there are those

who do not oppose him.

Not the Diogenes.

I heard my

brother Microft

that he presented himself

and was turned away

with a flea in his ear.

You're gentleman

blackmailer

was born in Balum.

The only son of a

glazer and his wife.

Your source of

information?

Oh a variety of sources.

I applied your methods.

How have you faired?

I've entered the fortress

I'm a plumber with a

rising business,

Escott by name.

The butler, who goes under

the name of Hebworth,

is none other than

Veitch the footman,

who was shot in the face.

I'm certain of it.

Perhaps he was

employed by Milverton

as a reward for

keeping his silence

during the Kroft scandal.

I wonder.

You got air compression

in your cell pipes

Mr. Hebworth.

That's the cause of the

evil smell in this house.

What this warrants is

a save all below it

so the dirty water

don't get clogged up.

What the devil are

you doing here?

It's the plumber sir.

There's no need of a

plumber in this room.

Get out.

This is master's

special room.

and you stay out now.

Aggie?

I'll see you later

it's my plumber.

Aggie?

I don't care if I

do make him jealous.

His ideas are...

I don't like your

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