“ ‘You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strongproof of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all thatI have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and torefrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to preservethis coronet with every possible precaution because I need not saythat a great public scandal would be caused if any harm were tobefall it. Any injury to it would be almost as serious as its completeloss, for there are no beryls in the world to match these, and itwould be impossible to replace them. I leave it with you, however,with every confidence, and I shall call for it in person on Mondaymorning.’
“Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no morebut, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty ￡1000notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the preciouscase lying upon the table in front of me, I could not but thinkwith some misgivings of the immense responsibility which itentailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it was a nationalpossession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any misfortune shouldoccur to it. I already regretted having ever consented to take chargeof it. However, it was too late to alter the matter now, so I locked itup in my private safe and turned once more to my work.
“When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence toleave so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers’ safeshad been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so,how terrible would be the position in which I should find myself!
I determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would alwayscarry the case backward and forward with me, so that it mightnever be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called acab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewelwith me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs andlocked it in the bureau of my dressing-room.
“And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wishyou to thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and mypage sleep out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. Ihave three maid-servants who have been with me a number ofyears and whose absolute reliability is quite above suspicion.
Another, Lucy Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been inmy service a few months. She came with an excellent character,however, and has always given me satisfaction. She is a very prettygirl and has attracted admirers who have occasionally hung aboutthe place. That is the only drawback which we have found to her,but we believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way.
“So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it willnot take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an onlyson, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Holmes—agrievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am myself toblame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very likely I have.
When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I had to love. I couldnot bear to see the smile fade even for a moment from his face. Ihave never denied him a wish. Perhaps it would have been betterfor both of us had I been sterner, but I meant it for the best.
“It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in mybusiness, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, wayward,and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the handling oflarge sums of money. When he was young he became a memberof an aristocratic club, and there, having charming manners,he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long pursesand expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards and tosquander money on the turf, until he had again and again to cometo me and implore me to give him an advance upon his allowance,that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried more than onceto break away from the dangerous company which he was keeping,but each time the influence of his friend, Sir George Burnwell, wasenough to draw him back again.
“And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir GeorgeBurnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequentlybrought him to my house, and I have found myself that I couldhardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older thanArthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had beeneverywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of greatpersonal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far awayfrom the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his cynicalspeech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that he is onewho should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, too, thinksmy little Mary, who has a woman’s quick insight into character.
“And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece;but when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in theworld I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as mydaughter. She is a sunbeam in my house—sweet, loving, beautiful,a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet andgentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not knowwhat I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever goneagainst my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, forhe loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I thinkthat if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it wouldhave been she, and that his marriage might have changed hiswhole life; but now, alas! it is too late—forever too late!
“Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under myroof, and I shall continue with my miserable story.
“When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that nightafter dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of theprecious treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing onlythe name of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee,had, I am sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the doorwas closed. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished tosee the famous coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it.
“ ‘Where have you put it?’ asked Arthur.
“ ‘In my own bureau.’