"'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at restabout that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutelycertain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is apure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?'
"'Ample.'
"'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proofof the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that Ihave heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and torefrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, topreserve this coronet with every possible precaution because Ineed not say that a great public scandal would be caused if anyharm were to befa
ll it. Any injury to it would be almost asserious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in theworld to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them.I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shallcall 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 1000pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with theprecious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could notbut think with some misgivings of the immense responsibilitywhich it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as itwas a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if anymisfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having everconsented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alterthe matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turnedonce more to my work.
"When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leaveso precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes hadbeen forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, howterrible would be the position in which I should find myself! Idetermined, 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 upstairsand locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room.
"And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you tothoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleepout of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have threemaid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whoseabsolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, LucyParr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a fewmonths. She came with an excellent character, however, and hasalways given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and hasattracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place.That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but webelieve her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way.
"So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that itwill not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have anonly son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr.Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I ammyself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Verylikely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all Ihad to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for amoment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps itwould have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but Imeant 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 thehandling of large sums of money. When he was young he became amember of an aristocratic club, and there, having charmingmanners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with longpurses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cardsand to squander money on the turf, until he had again and againto come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon hisallowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He triedmore than once to break away from the dangerous company which hewas keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, SirGeorge Burnwell, was enough 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 ofgreat personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, faraway from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from hiscynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes thathe is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so,too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight intocharacter.
"And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; butwhen 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. Ithink that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path itwould have 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 my roof, andI shall continue with my miserable story.
"When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night afterdinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precioustreasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the nameof my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I amsure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed.Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famouscoronet, 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 thenight.' said he.
"'It is locked up,' I answered.
"'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster Ihave opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.'
"He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little ofwhat he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night witha very grave face.
"'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you letme have 200 pounds?'
"'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far toogenerous 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 moneyin some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must tryother means.'
"I was very angry, for this was the third demand during themonth. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on whichhe bowed and left the room without another word.
"When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that mytreasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to goround the house to see that all was secure--a duty which Iusually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to performmyself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herselfat the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened asI approached.
"'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a littledisturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go outto-night?'
"'Certainly not.'
"'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that shehas only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think thatit is hardly safe and should be stopped.'
"'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you preferit. Are you sure that everything is fastened?'