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1"It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the
2coronet. We must have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem he laid it upon the table. It was a
3magnificent specimen of the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I have ever seen. At one side
4of the coronet was a cracked edge, where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes,
5"here is the corner which corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I beg that you will break it
6off." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," said he. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his
7strength upon it, but without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though I am exceptionally strong in the
8fingers, it would take me all my time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do you think would happen
9if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this happened within a
10few yards of your bed and that you heard nothing of it?" "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "But
11perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Miss Holder?" "I confess that I still share my uncle's
12perplexity." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and
13shirt." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely
14our own fault if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my
15investigations outside." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any unnecessary footmarks might make
16his task more difficult. For an hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet heavy with snow and his
17features as inscrutable as ever. "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Holder," said he; "I can
18serve you best by returning to my rooms." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "I cannot tell." The banker wrung
19his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "My opinion is in no way altered."
20"Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was acted in my house last night?" "If you can call upon me at
21my Baker Street rooms to-morrow morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to make it clearer. I
22understand that you give me carte blanche to act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you place no
23limit on the sum I may draw." "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Very good. I shall look into the matter
24between this and then. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here again before evening." It was
25obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than
26I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he
27always glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in despair. It was not yet three when we found
28ourselves in our rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in a few minutes dressed as a common
29loafer. With his collar turned up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he was a perfect sample of
30the class. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass above the fireplace. "I only wish that you
31could come with me, Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in this matter, or I may be following a
32will-o'-the-wisp, but I shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few hours." He cut a slice of beef
33from the joint upon the sideboard, sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this rude meal into his
34pocket he started off upon his expedition. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in excellent spirits,
35swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a cup of tea. "I
36only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Where to?" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may
37be some time before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be late." "How are you getting on?" "Oh, so so.
38Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a very
39sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must
40get these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly respectable self." I could see by his manner that he had
41stronger reasons for satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, and there was even a touch of
42colour upon his sallow cheeks. He hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the hall door, which
43told me that he was off once more upon his congenial hunt. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return,
44so I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a
45scent, so that his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he came in, but when I came down to
46breakfast in the morning there he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the other, as fresh and trim as
47possible. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but you remember that our client has rather an
48early appointment this morning." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be surprised if that were he. I
49thought I heard a ring." It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the change which had come over him,
50for his face which was naturally of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, while his hair seemed to
51me at least a shade whiter. He entered with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than his violence of
52the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "I do not know what I have
53done to be so severely tried," said he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without a care in the
54world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, Mary,
55has deserted me." "Deserted you?" "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was empty, and a note for
56me lay upon the hall table. I had said to her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had married my boy all
57might have been well with him. Perhaps it was thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers in this
58note: "'MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, and that if I had acted differently this
59terrible misfortune might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my mind, ever again be happy under your
60roof, and I feel that I must leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is provided for; and, above all,
61do not search for me, for it will be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in death, I am ever your
62loving, "'MARY.' "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it points to suicide?" "No, no, nothing of
63the kind. It is perhaps the best possible solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of your troubles."
64"Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have learned something! Where are the gems?" "You would not
65think £ 1000 apiece an excessive sum for them?" "I would pay ten."
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