"'Quite sure, dad.'
"'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroomagain, where I was soon asleep.
"I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which mayhave any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will questionme 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 beparticularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxietyin 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 inthe house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left animpression behind it as though a window had gently closedsomewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to myhorror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly inthe next room. I slipped out of b
ed, all palpitating with fear,and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door.
"'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare youtouch 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 thelight, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to bewrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cryhe dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. Isnatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, withthree of the beryls in it, was missing.
"'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You havedestroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are thejewels which you have stolen?'
"'Stolen!' he cried.
"'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder.
"'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he.
"'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must Icall you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying totear off another piece?'
"'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand itany longer. I shall not say another word about this business,since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house inthe morning and make my own way in the world.'
"'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I criedhalf-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed tothe bottom.'
"'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion suchas I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose tocall the police, let the police find what they can.'
"By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised myvoice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and,at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read thewhole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on theground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put theinvestigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and aconstable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly withhis arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to chargehim with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a privatematter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet wasnational property. I was determined that the law should have itsway in everything.
"'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. Itwould be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave thehouse for five minutes.'
"'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what youhave stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful positionin which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not onlymy honour but that of one who was far greater than I was atstake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which wouldconvulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tellme what he had done with the three missing stones.
"'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caughtin the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous.If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by tellingus where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.'
"'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered,turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardenedfor any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way forit. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A searchwas made at once not only of his person but of his room and ofevery portion of the house where he could possibly have concealedthe gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would thewretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and ourthreats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, aftergoing through all the police formalities, have hurried round toyou to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter.The police have openly confessed that they can at present makenothing of it. You may go to any expense which you thinknecessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. MyGod, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my sonin one night. Oh, what shall I do!"
He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself toand fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has gotbeyond words.
Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his browsknitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire.
"Do you receive much company?" he asked.
"None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend ofArthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. Noone else, I think."
"Do you go out much in society?"
"Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care forit."
"That is unusual in a young girl."
"She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. Sheis four-and-twenty."
"This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock toher also."