No. 11 The Adventure of Beryl Coronet by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 11 The Adventure of Beryl Coronet by Arthur Conan Doyle
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wishes

loves

;

" now , Mr Holmes, you_know the people who live under roof , and I_shall continue with miserable story

" when were taking coffee in_the drawing- room that night after dinner , i_told Arthur and Mary experience , and of_the precious treasure which 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 better not disturb

"' where have_you put ? ' asked Arthur

"' own bureau '

"' well , I_hope goodness the house won 't burgled during the night ' said

"' it_is locked ,' I answered

"'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau when i_was youngster I_have opened myself with_the key of_the box - room cupboard '

" often had wild way talking, so_that i_thought little what he_said followed room , however , that night with very grave face

"' look here , dad,' said with_his eyes cast down , ' can_you let have 200 pounds ? '

"' , I_cannot ! ' I answered sharply ' I_have_been far too generous with_you money matters '

"' you_have_been very kind ,' said , ' but I_must_have this money , else I_can never show face inside the club again '

"' and very_good thing , too ! ' I cried

"' yes , but you_would_not_have leave dishonoured man ,' said ' I_could_not bear the disgrace I_must raise the money some way , and you_will_not let have , then I_must try other means '

" i_was very angry , for_this was_the third demand during the month ' you shall_not_have farthing from ,' I cried , on_which bowed and left the room without another word Josef Friedrich, 1906

" when he_was gone I unlocked bureau , made sure that treasure was safe , and locked again then I started to_go round the house to_see that all was secure --a duty which I usually leave Mary but which i_thought well perform myself that night I_came down the stairs I_saw Mary herself at_the side window of_the hall , which she closed and fastened I approached

"' tell , dad,' said she , looking , i_thought , little disturbed , ' did you give Lucy, the maid , leave to_go out - night ? '

"' certainly not '

"' she came 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 her in_the morning , i_will if_you prefer are_you sure that everything fastened ? '

"' quite_sure , dad '

"' then good - night ' I kissed her and went up_to 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 upon any point which I_do_not make clear "

" on_the contrary , your statement singularly lucid "

"I come part of_my story now in_which i_should wish to_be particularly I_am not very heavy sleeper , and_the anxiety mind tended , no_doubt , to_make even less than usual about two in_the morning , then , i_was awakened some sound in_the house had ceased ere i_was wide awake , but had left impression behind as_though window had gently closed somewhere I lay listening with all ears suddenly , horror , there_was distinct sound footsteps moving softly in_the next room I slipped out bed , all palpitating with fear , and peeped round the comer of_my dressing- room door

"' Arthur ! ' I screamed , ' you villain ! you thief ! how dare you touch that coronet ? '

" the gas was half , I had left , and unhappy boy , dressed only in_his shirt and trousers , was standing beside the light , holding the coronet in_his hands appeared to_be wrenching , bending with all his strength cry dropped from_his grasp and turned pale death I snatched and examined 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 ! dishonoured forever ! where are the jewels which stolen ? '

"' stolen ! ' cried

"' yes , thief ! ' I roared , shaking him by_the shoulder

"' there_are none missing there cannot_be any missing,' said

"' there_are three missing and you_know where they_are must I call you liar as_well thief ? did I not see you trying tear off another piece ? '

"' you_have called names enough ,' said , ' i_will_not stand any longer I_shall_not say another word about_this business , since chosen insult i_will leave your house in_the morning and make own way in_the_world '

"' you shall leave in_the hands of_the police ! ' I cried half - mad with grief and rage ' I_shall_have this_matter probed to_the bottom '

"' you shall learn nothing from ,' said with passion such I should_not have thought was in_his nature ' if_you choose to_call the police , let the police find what they_can '

" by_this_time the whole house was astir, for I had raised voice anger Mary was_the first rush into room , and , at_the sight of_the coronet and Arthur 's face , she read the whole story and , with scream , fell down senseless on_the ground I_sent the house - maid for_the police and put the investigation into their hands once when_the inspector and constable entered the house , Arthur , who had stood sullenly with_his arms folded , asked whether it_was intention to_charge him with theft I answered that_it had ceased to_be private matter , but had become public one , since_the ruined coronet was national property i_was determined that_the law should_have its way everything

"' at_least ,' said , ' you_will_not_have arrested once would_be your advantage as_well mine I_might leave the house for five minutes '

"' that you_may get away , perhaps that you_may conceal what you_have stolen ,' said I and then , realising the dreadful position in_which i_was placed, I implored him remember that not_only honour but that one who was far greater than i_was stake ; and_that threatened raise scandal which would convulse the nation might avert all he_would but tell what had done with_the three missing stones

"' you_may as_well face the matter ,' said I; ' you_have_been caught in_the act , and confession could make your guilt more heinous if_you but make such reparation your power , telling where the beryls are , all shall forgiven and forgotten '

"' keep your forgiveness for_those who ask for_it ,' answered , turning away from with sneer I_saw that he_was too hardened for any words of_mine influence him there_was but one_way for_it I called in_the inspector and gave him into custody was_made once not_only of_his person but of_his room and every portion of_the house where he_could possibly have concealed the gems; but trace of_them could_be found , nor would the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and_our threats this_morning he_was removed cell , and I, after going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to_you implore you use your skill unravelling the matter the police have openly confessed that_they can present make nothing you_may any expense which you_think necessary I_have already offered reward 1000 pounds god , what shall I_do ! I_have lost honour, gems, and son one night Oh, what shall I_do ! "

put hand either side of_his head and rocked himself and fro, droning himself like child whose grief has got beyond words

Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few_minutes , with_his brows knitted and_his eyes fixed upon_the fire

" do_you receive much company ? " asked

" none save partner with_his family and occasional friend Arthur 's sir George Burnwell has_been several_times lately one else , i_think "

" do_you out much society ? "

" Arthur does Mary and I stay home neither care for_it "

" that_is unusual young girl "

" she_is quiet nature besides , she_is_not very young she_is four- and -twenty "

" this_matter , from what you say , seems to_have_been shock her also "

" terrible ! she_is even more affected than I "

" you_have neither you any doubt as_to your son 's guilt ? "

" how can we_have when I_saw him with own eyes with_the coronet in_his hands "

"I hardly consider that conclusive proof was_the remainder of_the coronet all injured ? "

" yes , it_was twisted "

" do_you not think , then , that he_might_have_been trying straighten ? "

" god bless you ! you_are doing what you_can for him and for_me but it_is too heavy task what_was doing there all ? his purpose were innocent , why did not say ? "

" precisely and if_it were guilty , why did not invent lie ? his silence appears to_me cut both ways there_are several singular points about_the case what did the police think of_the noise which awoke you from your sleep ? "

" they considered that_it might_be caused Arthur 's closing his bedroom door "

"A likely story ! as_if man bent felony would slam his door as_to wake household what did they say , then , of_the disappearance of_these gems ? "

" they_are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture in_the hope finding them "

" have they thought looking outside the house ? "

" yes , they_have shown extraordinary energy the whole garden has already been minutely examined "

" now , dear_Sir ," said Holmes " is_it not obvious to_you now that this_matter really strikes very_much deeper than either you the police were first inclined to_think ? appeared to_you to_be simple case ; to_me seems exceedingly complex consider what_is involved your theory you suppose that your son came down from_his bed , went , great risk , your dressing- room , opened your bureau , took out your coronet , broke off main force small portion , went off some other place , concealed three gems out_of_the thirty-nine with_such skill that nobody can find them , and then returned with_the other thirty-six into_the room in_which exposed himself to_the greatest danger being discovered I ask_you now , such theory tenable ? "

" but what other is_there ? " cried the banker with gesture despair " his motives were innocent , why does not explain them ? "

" it_is our task to_find that out ," replied Holmes; " now , if_you please , Mr holder , we_will set off for Streatham together , and devote hour glancing little more closely into details "

friend insisted upon accompanying them their expedition , which i_was eager enough to_do , for_my curiosity and sympathy were deeply stirred by_the story to_which had listened I confess that_the guilt of_the banker 's son appeared to_me to_be obvious did to_his unhappy father , but still I had such faith Holmes's judgement that I_felt that there_must_be some grounds for hope long he_was dissatisfied with_the accepted explanation hardly spoke word the whole way out to_the southern suburb , but sat with_his chin upon his breast and_his hat drawn over his eyes , sunk in_the deepest thought our client appeared to_have taken fresh heart at_the little glimpse hope which had_been presented him , and even broke into desultory chat with over his business affairs short railway journey and shorter walk brought Fairbank, the modest residence of_the great financier

Fairbank was good - sized square house white stone , standing back little from_the road double carriage - sweep , with snow -clad lawn , stretched down front two large iron gates which closed the entrance on_the right side was small wooden thicket , which led into narrow path between two neat hedges stretching road to_the kitchen door , and forming the tradesmen's on_the left ran lane which led to_the stables, and was not itself within_the grounds all , being public , though little used , thoroughfare Holmes left standing at_the door and walked slowly all round the house , across the front , down the tradesmen's path , and

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