"But who is he?" "I’ll tell you, Watson. He is the king of all the blackmailers. Heaven help the man, and still more the woman, whose secret and reputation come into the power of Milverton! With a smiling face and a heart of marble, he will squeeze and squeeze until he has drained them dry."

Synopsis by Jim Hoy:

• LADY EVA BLACKWELL, soon to be married to...
• EARL OF DOVERCOURT, fiercely proud man with quick temper.
• CHARLES AGUSTUS MILVERTON, “King of the blackmailers...the worst man in London.”
• MISS MILES, Milverton broke up her marriage to...
• COLONEL DORKING
• ESCOTT, Holmes assumed name under which he became engaged to...
• AGATHA, Milverton’s maid.
• COUNTESS D’ALBERT, the anonymous noblewoman pretends to have letters compromising her.
• ANONYMOUS NOBLEWOMAN, she murdered Milverton because he had destroyed her husband’s reputation and caused him to die.

SUMMARY

Holmes has been retained by Eva to make the best terms he can with Milverton to purchase some “imprudent” letters she wrote to a country squire some time ago. The sum is far too high for the lady to raise and she is threatened with exposure.

Holmes disguises himself as Escott, a plumber, and becomes engaged to Milverton’s maid. He explains to Watson that he has a rival who will take his place after he disappears and relieve Agatha’s heartache.

Holmes and Watson break into Milverton’s house and have just cracked his safe (Holmes is an expert safe-cracker) when they hear someone coming. They hide behind the drapes and witness Milverton’s murder by an anonymous noble woman; she shoots him repeatedly with a small caliber revolver. She makes a speedy escape. Holmes dumps the contents of the safe into the fire and he and Watson escape over the wall and across the heath.

The next day, Lestrade comes and asks Holmes to help him solve the murder, but Holmes says he thinks Milverton got what he deserved and refuses to help.

Holmes shows Watson a picture of the noblewoman and her late husband in a photographer’s window and Watson is amazed to discover the high position she holds.

OTHER ADVENTURES MENTIONED
None

DISGUISES
Escott, a rakish young workman with a pipe, a goatee and a swagger.

UNUSUAL DEDUCTIONS & bits

• Holmes displays his talents as a safecracker and burglar.Milverton’s house has electric lights.
• Official Abbreviation: CHAS
• The Adventure Of Charles Augustus Milverton was first published in Collier's Weekly, March 26th, 1904

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