As he is speaking, the woman raises her veil and Milverton lets out a shocked exclaimation: she is not the Countess d'Albert's maid, and he obviously recognizes her.
The next day, Holmes and Watson are eating a hearty breakfast at Baker Street when Inspector Lestrade arrives, asking if Holmes will help with a murder case in Hampstead. Holmes innocently asks what has happened and Lestrade says that Charles Augustus Milverton- a blackmailer- has been killed and all of his papers burned by his two murderers. Holmes asks how Lestrade knows that there were two and the inspector says that they were seen escaping over the back wall and the gardener had a bit of a struggle with one before they got away. He says the gardener described the one he grabbed as a strongly built man of average height, with a moustache; he couldn't see any other features because the man was wearing a mask. Holmes scoffs at this description, saying it could be anyone- even Watson. Lesrade finds this remark amusing. Holmes then tells Lestrade that he will not take the case. He says that he knew Milverton by his evil reputation and that his sympathies are entirely with the criminals, whoever they are.