"You appear to me," he said, at last, "to be taking matters too
much for granted. I am, of course, familiar with the contents
of these letters. My client will certainly do what I may
advise. I shall counsel her to tell her future husband the
whole story and to trust to his generosity."
Milverton chuckled.
"You evidently do not know the Earl," said he.
From the baffled look upon Holmes's face I could see clearly
that he did.
"What harm is there in the letters?" he asked.
"They are sprightly -- very sprightly," Milverton answered.
"The lady was a charming correspondent. But I can assure you
that the Earl of Dovercourt would fail to appreciate them.
However, since you think otherwise, we will let it rest at that.
It is purely a matter of business. 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."
He rose and seized his astrachan coat.
Holmes was grey with anger and mortification.
"Wait a little," he said. "You go too fast. We would certainly
make every effort to avoid scandal in so delicate a matter.
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