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1"'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon
2all that I have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to refrain from all gossip upon the matter
3but, above all, to preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I need not say that a great public
4scandal would be caused if any harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as serious as its complete loss,
5for there are no beryls in the world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. I leave it with you,
6however, with every confidence, and I shall call for it in person on Monday morning.' "Seeing that my client was anxious
7to leave, I said no more but, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty £ 1000 notes. When I was alone
8once more, however, with the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not but think with some
9misgivings of the immense responsibility which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it was a national
10possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever
11consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe
12and turned once more to my work. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave so precious a thing
13in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how terrible
14would be the position in which I should find myself! I determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always
15carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I
16called a cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel with me. I did not breathe freely until I had
17taken it upstairs and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I
18wish you to thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep out of the house, and may be set aside
19altogether. I have three maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose absolute reliability is quite
20above suspicion. Another, Lucy Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few months. She came with an
21excellent character, however, and has always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has attracted admirers
22who have occasionally hung about the place. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we believe her to
23be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it will not take me
24long to describe it. I am a widower and have an only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Holmes--a
25grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very likely
26I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a
27moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it would have been better for both of us had I been
28sterner, but I meant it for the best. "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my business, but he
29was not of a business turn. He was wild, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the handling of
30large sums of money. When he was young he became a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming manners,
31he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards
32and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon
33his allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried more than once to break away from the dangerous
34company which he was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir George Burnwell, was enough to draw him
35back again. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Burnwell should gain an influence over him,
36for he has frequently brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could hardly resist the fascination of his
37manner. He is older than Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been everywhere, seen everything, a
38brilliant talker, and a man of great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far away from the glamour
39of his presence, I am convinced from his cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that he is one who
40should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into
41character. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but when my brother died five years ago and left
42her alone in the world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my daughter. She is a sunbeam in my
43house--sweet, loving, beautiful, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and gentle as a woman
44could be. She is my right hand. I do not know what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone against
45my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I
46think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it would have been she, and that his marriage might have
47changed his whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live
48under my roof, and I shall continue with my miserable story. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night
49after dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious treasure which we had under our roof,
50suppressing only the name of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am sure, left the room; but I
51cannot swear that the door was closed. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous coronet, but I
52thought it better not to disturb it. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "'In my own bureau.' "'Well, I hope to
53goodness the house won't be burgled during the night.' said he. "'It is locked up,' I answered. "'Oh, any old key will
54fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "He often had a
55wild way of talking, so that I thought little of what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with a
56very grave face. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let me have £ 200?' "'No, I cannot!' I
57answered sharply. 'I have been far too generous with you in money matters.' "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I
58must have this money, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried.
59"'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the
60money in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try other means.' "I was very angry, for this was the
61third demand during the month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which he bowed and left the room
62without another word. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my treasure was safe, and locked it again.
63Then I started to go round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I usually leave to Mary but which I
64thought it well to perform myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself at the side window of the
65hall, which she closed and fastened as I approached. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little disturbed,
66'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to-night?' "'Certainly not.'
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