按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
confidence； and I shall call for it in person on Monday morning。'
〃Seeing that my client was anxious to leave； I said no more； but；
calling for my cashier； I ordered him to pay over fifty L1000 notes。
When I was alone once more； however； with the precious case lying upon
the table in front of me； I could not but think with some misgivings
of the immense responsibility which it entailed upon me。 There could
be no doubt that； as it was a national possession； a horrible
scandal would ensue if any misfortune should occur to it。 I already
regretted having ever consented to take charge of it。 However； it
was too late to alter the matter now； so I locked it up in my
private safe and turned once more to my work。
〃When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave so
precious a thing in the office behind me。 Bankers' safes had 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 always carry the case
backward and forward with me； so that it might never be really out
of my reach。 With this intention； I called a cab and drove out to my
house at Streatham； carrying the jewel with me。 I did not breathe
freely until I had taken it upstairs and locked it in the bureau of my
dressing…room。
〃And now a word as to my household； Mr。 Holmes； for I wish you to
thoroughly understand the situation。 My groom and my page sleep out of
the house； and may be set aside altogether。 I have three maid…servants
who have been with me a number of years and whose absolute reliability
is quite above suspicion。 Another； Lucy Parr； the second waiting…maid；
has only been in my service a few months。 She came with an excellent
character； however； and has always given me satisfaction。 She is a
very pretty girl and has attracted admirers who have occasionally hung
about the 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 will
not take me long to describe it。 I am a widower and have an only
son； Arthur。 He has been a disappointment to me； Mr。 Holmes…a grievous
disappointment。 I have no doubt that I am myself to blame。 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 could not bear to see the
smile fade even for a moment from his face。 I have never denied him
a wish。 Perhaps it would have been better for 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 my
business； 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 of
large sums of money。 When he was young he became a member of an
aristocratic club； and there； having charming manners； he was soon the
intimate of a number of men with long purses and expensive habits。
He learned to play heavily at cards and 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 his allowance； that he might settle his debts of
honour。 He tried more than once to break away from the dangerous
company which he was keeping； but each time the influence of his
friend； Sir George Burnwell； was enough to draw him back again。
〃And； indeed； I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George
Burnwell should gain an influence over him； for he has frequently
brought him to my house； and I have found myself that I could hardly
resist the fascination of his manner。 He is older than Arthur； a man
of the world to his finger…tips； one who had been everywhere； seen
everything； a brilliant talker； and a man of great personal beauty。
Yet when I think of him in cold blood； far away from the glamour of
his presence； I am convinced from his cynical speech and the look
which I have caught in his eyes that he is one who should be deeply
distrusted。 So I think； and so； too； thinks my 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 the world
I adopted her； and have looked upon her ever since as my daughter。 She
is a sunbeam in my house sweet； loving； beautiful； a wonderful manager
and housekeeper； yet as tender and quiet and gentle as a woman could
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 my wishes。 Twice my boy
has asked her to marry him； for he loves her devotedly； but each
time she has refused him。 I think that if anyone could have drawn
him into the right path it would have been she； and that his
marriage might have changed his whole life； but now； alas！ it is too
late…forever too late！
〃Now； Mr。 Holmes； you know the people who live under my roof； and
I shall continue with my miserable story。
〃When we were taking coffee in the drawing…room that night after
dinner； I told Arthur and Mary my experience； and of the precious
treasure which we had under our roof； suppressing only the 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 door was closed。 Mary and
Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous coronet；
but I thought it better not to disturb it。
〃'Where have you put it？' asked Arthur。
〃'In my own bureau。'
〃'Well； I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the
night；' said he。
〃'It is locked up；' I answered。
〃'Oh； any old key will fit that bureau。 When I was a youngster I
have opened it myself with the key of the box…room cupboard。'
〃He often had a wild way of talking； so that I thought little of
what he said。 He followed me to my room； however； that night with a
very grave face。
〃'Look here； dad；' said he with his eyes cast down； 'can you let
me have L200？'
〃'No； I cannot！' I answered sharply。 'I have been far too generous
with you in money matters。'
〃'You have been very kind；' said he； 'but I must have this money； or
else I can never show my face inside the club again。'
〃'And a very good thing； too！' I cried。
〃'Yes； but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man；' said
he。 'I could not bear the disgrace。 I must raise the money 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 third demand during the month。
'You shall not have a farthing from me；' cried； on which he bowed
and left the room without another word。
〃When he was gone I unlocked my bureau； made sure that my treasure
was safe； and locked it again。 Then I started to go round the house to
see that all was secure…a duty which I usually leave to Mary but which
I thought it well to perform myself that night。 As I came down the
stairs I saw Mary herself at the side window of the hail； which she
closed and fastened as I approached。
〃'Tell me； dad；' said she； looking； I thought； a little disturbed；
'did you give Lucy； the maid； leave to go out to…night？'
〃'Certainly not。'
〃'She came in just now by the back door。 I have no doubt that she
has only been to the side gate to see someone； but I think that it
is hardly safe and should be stopped。'
〃'You must speak to her in the morning； or I will if you prefer
it。 Are you sure that everything is fastened？'
〃'Quite sure； dad。'
〃'Then； good…night。' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom again；
where I was soon asleep。
〃I am endeavouring to tell you everything； Mr。 Holmes； which may
have any bearing upon the case； but I beg that you will question me
upon any point which I do not make clear。〃
〃On the contrary； your statement is singularly lucid。〃
〃I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be
particularly so。 I am not a very heavy sleeper； and the anxiety in
my mind tended； no doubt； to make me even less so than usual。 About
two in the morning； then； I was awakened by some sound in the house。
It had ceased ere I was wide awake； but it had left an impression
behind it as though a window had gently closed somewhere。 I lay
listening with all my ears。 Suddenly； to my horror； there was a
distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in the next room。 I
slipped out of bed； an palpitating with fear； and peeped round the
corner of my dressing…room door。
〃'Arthur' I screamed； 'you villain！ you thief！ How dare you touch
that coronet？'
〃The gas was half up； as I had left it； and my unhappy boy；
dressed only in his shirt and trousers； was standing beside the light；
holding the coronet in his hands。 He appeared to be wrenching at it；
or bending it with all his strength。 At my cry he dropped it from
his grasp and turned as pale as death。 I snatched it up and examined
it。 One of the gold corners； with three of the beryls in it； was
missing。
〃'You blackguard！' I shouted； beside myself with rage。 'You have
destroyed it