No. 11 The Adventure of Beryl Coronet by Arthur Conan Doyle
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the adventure of_the beryl coronet

by Arthur Conan Doyle

"Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in_our bow- window looking down the street, " here_is a madman coming along . it seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to_come out alone ."

my friend rose lazily from_his armchair and stood with_his hands in_the pockets of_his dressing- gown, looking over my shoulder . it_was a bright, crisp February morning, and_the snow of_the day before still lay deep upon_the ground, shimmering brightly in_the wintry sun . down the centre of baker street it had_been ploughed into a brown crumbly band by_the traffic, but at either side and on_the heaped- up edges of_the foot-paths it still lay as white as when it fell . the grey pavement had_been cleaned and scraped, but was still dangerously slippery, so_that there were fewer passengers than usual . indeed, from_the direction of_the metropolitan station no one was coming save the single gentleman whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention .

he_was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a massive, strongly marked face and acommanding figure . he_was dressed in asombre yet rich style, in black frock- coat, shining hat, neat brown gaiters, and well- cut pearl- gray trousers . yet his actions were in absurd contrast to_the dignity of_his dress and features, for he_was running hard, with occasional little springs, such as a weary man gives who_is little accustomed to set any tax upon his legs . as he ran he jerked his hands up and down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into_the most extraordinary contortions .

" what on earth can_be the matter with_him ? " I asked ." he_is looking up at_the numbers of_the houses ."

"I believe that he_is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his hands .

" here ? "

" yes; I rather think he_is coming to consult me professionally . i_think that I recognise the symptoms .Ha ! did I not tell you ? " as he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with_the clanging .

a few_moments later he_was in_our room, still puffing, still gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in_his eyes that_our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and pity . for a while he_could_not get his words out, but swayed his body and plucked at his hair like one who has_been driven to_the extreme limits of_his reason . then, suddenly springing to_his feet, he beat his head against the wall with_such force that we both rushed upon him and tore him away to_the centre of_the room .Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into_the easy- chair and, sitting beside him, patted his hand and chatted with_him in_the easy, soothing tones which he_knew so_well how to employ .

" you_have come to_me to_tell your story, have_you not ? " said he ." you_are fatigued with your haste . pray wait until you_have recovered yourself, and then I_shall_be most happy to look into any little problem which you_may submit to_me ."

the man sat for a minute or more with aheaving chest, fighting against his emotion . then he passed his handkerchief over his brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us .

" no_doubt you_think me mad ? " said he .

" I_see that you_have_had some great trouble," responded Holmes .

" god knows I_have ! --a trouble which_is enough to unseat my reason, so sudden and so terrible is_it . public disgrace I_might_have faced, although I_am a man whose character has never yet borne a stain . private affliction also is_the lot of every man; but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have_been enough to shake my very soul . besides, it_is_not I alone . the very noblest in_the land may suffer unless some way be found out of_this horrible affair ."

" pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, " and let me have a clear account of who you_are and what it is_that has befallen you ."

" my name," answered our visitor, " is probably familiar to your ears . I_am Alexander holder, of_the banking firm of holder & Stevenson, of Threadneedle street ."

the name was indeed well known to_us as belonging to_the senior partner in_the second largest private banking concern in_the city of London . what could_have happened, then, to bring one_of_the foremost citizens of London to_this most pitiable pass ? we waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced himself to_tell his story .

" I_feel that_time is of value," said he; " that_is why I hastened here when_the police inspector suggested that i_should secure your co-operation . I_came to baker street by_the underground and hurried from there on foot, for_the cabs go slowly through_this snow . that_is why i_was so out of breath, for I_am a man who takes very little exercise . I_feel better now, and_I_will put the facts before_you as shortly and yet as clearly as I_can .

" it_is, of_course, well known to_you that in a successful banking business as_much depends upon our being able to_find remunerative investments for_our funds as upon our increasing our connection and_the number of_our depositors . one_of_our most lucrative means of laying out money is in_the shape of loans, where the security is unimpeachable . we_have_done a good_deal in_this direction during_the_last few years, and there_are many noble families to_whom we_have advanced large sums upon_the security of_their pictures, libraries, or plate .

" yesterday morning i_was seated in my office at_the bank when a card was brought in to_me by one_of_the clerks .I started when I_saw the name, for_it was_that of none other_than-- well, perhaps even to_you I had better say no more than that_it_was a name which_is a household word all over the earth-- one_of_the highest, noblest, most exalted names in England . i_was overwhelmed by_the honour and attempted, when he entered, to_say so, but he plunged at once into business with_the air of a man who wishes to hurry quickly through a disagreeable task .

"' Mr holder,' said he, ' I_have_been informed that you_are in_the habit of advancing money .'

"' the firm does so when_the security is good .' I answered .

"' it_is absolutely essential to_me,' said he, ' that i_should_have 50,000 pounds at once . I_could, of_course, borrow so trifling a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to_make it a matter of business and to carry out that business myself . in my position you_can readily understand that_it_is unwise to_place one's self under obligations .'

"' for how long, may I ask, do_you_want this sum ? ' I asked .

"' next Monday I_have a large sum due to_me, and I_shall then most certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you_think it right to_charge . but it_is very essential to_me that_the money should_be paid at once .'

"' i_should_be happy to advance it without further parley from my own private purse,' said I, ' were it not that_the strain would_be rather more than it could bear . if, on_the other hand, I_am to_do_it in_the name of_the firm, then in justice to my partner I_must insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution should_be taken .'

"' i_should much prefer to_have it so,' said he, raising up a square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair .' you_have doubtless heard of_the beryl coronet ? '

"' one_of_the_most precious public possessions of_the empire,' said I .

"' precisely .' he opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which he had named .' there_are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said he, ' and_the price of_the gold chasing is incalculable . the lowest estimate would put the worth of_the coronet at double the sum which I_have asked . I_am prepared to leave it with_you as my security .'

" i_took the precious case into my hands and looked in some perplexity from_it to my illustrious client .

"' you doubt its value ? ' he asked .

"' not at all .I only doubt --'

"' the propriety of_my leaving it . you_may set your mind at rest about_that .I should_not dream of doing_so were it not absolutely certain that i_should_be able in four days to reclaim it . it_is a pure matter of form . is_the security sufficient ? '

"' ample .'

"' you understand, Mr holder, that I_am giving you a strong proof of_the confidence which I_have in you, founded upon all that I_have heard of you .I rely upon you not_only to_be discreet and to refrain from all gossip upon_the matter but, above all, to preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I_need not say that a great public scandal would_be caused if any harm were to befall it . any injury to_it would_be almost as serious as its complete loss, for there_are no beryls in_the_world to match these, and it would_be impossible to replace them .I leave it with_you, however, with every 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 1000 pound 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

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