the adventure of the beryl coronet-第3章

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else；　I　think。〃

　　〃Do　you　go　out　much　in　society？〃

　　〃Arthur　does。　Mary　and　I　stay　at　home。　We　neither　of　us　care　for

it。〃

　　〃That　is　unusual　in　a　young　girl。〃

　　〃She　is　of　a　quiet　nature。　Besides；　she　is　not　so　very　young。　She　is

four…and　twenty。〃

　　〃This　matter；　from　what　you　say；　seems　to　have　been　a　shock　to　her

also。〃

　　〃Terrible！　She　is　even　more　affected　than　I。〃

　　〃You　have　neither　of　you　any　doubt　as　to　your　son's　guilt？〃

　　〃How　can　we　have　when　I　saw　him　with　my　own　eyes　with　the　coronet　in

his　hands。〃

　　〃I　hardly　consider　that　a　conclusive　proof。　Was　the　remainder　of　the

coronet　at　all　injured？〃

　　〃Yes；　it　was　twisted。〃

　　〃Do　you　not　think；　then；　that　he　might　have　been　trying　to

straighten　it？〃

　　〃God　bless　you！　You　are　doing　what　you　can　for　him　and　for　me。　But

it　is　too　heavy　a　task。　What　was　he　doing　there　at　all？　If　his　purpose

were　innocent；　why　did　he　not　say　so？〃

　　〃Precisely。　And　if　it　were　guilty；　why　did　he　not　invent　a　lie？

His　silence　appears　to　me　to　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　by　Arthur's　closing　his

bedroom　door。〃

　　〃A　likely　story！　As　if　a　man　bent　on　felony　would　slam　his　door　so

as　to　wake　a　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　of　finding　them。〃

　　〃Have　they　thought　of　looking　outside　the　house？〃

　　〃Yes；　they　have　shown　extraordinary　energy。　The　whole　garden　has

already　been　minutely　examined。〃

　　〃Now；　my　dear　sir；〃　said　Holmes；　〃is　it　not　obvious　to　you　now

that　this　matter　really　strikes　very　much　deeper　than　either　you　or

the　police　were　at　first　inclined　to　think？　It　appeared　to　you　to　be　a

simple　case；　to　me　it　seems　exceedingly　complex。　Consider　what　is

involved　by　your　theory。　You　suppose　that　your　son　came　down　from

his　bed；　went；　at　great　risk；　to　your　dressing…room；　opened　your

bureau；　took　out　your　coronet；　broke　off　by　main　force　a　small　portion

of　it；　went　off　to　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　he　exposed

himself　to　the　greatest　danger　of　being　discovered。　I　ask　you　now；

is　such　a　theory　tenable？〃

　　〃But　what　other　is　there？〃　cried　the　banker　with　a　gesture　of

despair。　〃If　his　motives　were　innocent；　why　does　he　not　explain　them？〃

　　〃It　is　our　task　to　find　that　out；〃　replied　Holmes；　〃so　now；　if　you

please；　Mr。　Holder；　we　will　set　off　for　Streatham　together；　and　devote

an　hour　to　glancing　a　little　more　closely　into　details。〃

　　My　friend　insisted　upon　my　accompanying　them　in　their　expedition；

which　I　was　eager　enough　to　do；　for　my　curiosity　and　sympathy　were

deeply　stirred　by　the　story　to　which　we　had　listened。　I　confess　that

the　guilt　of　the　banker's　son　appeared　to　me　to　be　as　obvious　as　it

did　to　his　unhappy　father；　but　still　I　had　such　faith　in　Holmes's

judgment　that　I　felt　that　there　must　be　some　grounds　for　hope　as

long　as　he　was　dissatisfied　with　the　accepted　explanation。　He　hardly

spoke　a　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　of　hope　which　had　been　presented　to　him；　and

he　even　broke　into　a　desultory　chat　with　me　over　his　business　affairs。

A　short　railway　journey　and　a　shorter　walk　brought　us　to　Fairbank；　the

modest　residence　of　the　great　financier。

　　Fairbank　was　a　good…sized　square　house　of　white　stone；　standing　back

a　little　from　the　road。　A　double　carriage…sweep；　with　a　snow…clad

lawn；　stretched　down　in　front　to　two　large　iron　gates　which　closed　the

entrance。　On　the　right　side　was　a　small　wooden　thicket；　which　led　into

a　narrow　path　between　two　neat　hedges　stretching　from　the　road　to

the　kitchen　door；　and　forming　the　tradesmen's　entrance。　On　the　left

ran　a　lane　which　led　to　the　stables；　and　was　not　itself　within　the

grounds　at　all；　being　a　public；　though　little　used；　thoroughfare。

Holmes　left　us　standing　at　the　door　and　walked　slowly　all　round　the

house；　across　the　front；　down　the　tradesmen's　path；　and　so　round　by

the　garden　behind　into　the　stable　lane。　So　long　was　he　that　Mr。　Holder

and　I　went　into　the　dining…room　and　waited　by　the　fire　until　he　should

return。　We　were　sitting　there　in　silence　when　the　door　opened　and　a

young　lady　came　in。　She　was　rather　above　the　middle　height；　slim；　with

dark　hair　and　eyes；　which　seemed　the　darker　against　the　absolute

pallor　of　her　skin。　I　do　not　think　that　I　have　ever　seen　such　deadly

paleness　in　a　woman's　face。　Her　lips；　too；　were　bloodless；　but　her

eyes　were　flushed　with　crying。　As　she　swept　silently　into　the　room　she

impressed　me　with　a　greater　sense　of　grief　than　the　banker　had　done　in

the　morning；　and　it　was　the　more　striking　in　her　as　she　was

evidently　a　woman　of　strong　character；　with　immense　capacity　for

self…restraint。　Disregarding　my　presence；　she　went　straight　to　her

uncle　and　passed　her　hand　over　his　head　with　a　sweet　womanly　caress。

　　〃You　have　given　orders　that　Arthur　should　be　liberated；　have　you

not；　dad？〃　she　asked。

　　〃No；　no；　my　girl；　the　matter　must　be　probed　to　the　bottom。〃

　　〃But　I　am　so　sure　that　he　is　innocent。　You　know　what　woman's

instincts　are。　I　know　that　he　has　done　no　harm　and　that　you　will　be

sorry　for　having　acted　so　harshly。〃

　　〃Why　is　he　silent；　then；　if　he　is　innocent？〃

　　〃Who　knows？　Perhaps　because　he　was　so　angry　that　you　should

suspect　him。〃

　　〃How　could　I　help　suspecting　him；　when　I　actually　saw　him　with　the

coronet　in　his　hand？〃

　　〃Oh；　but　he　had　only　picked　it　up　to　look　at　it。　Oh；　do；　do　take

my　word　for　it　that　he　is　innocent。　Let　the　matter　drop　and　say　no

more。　It　is　so　dreadful　to　think　of　our　dear　Arthur　in　prison！〃

　　〃I　shall　never　let　it　drop　until　the　gems　are　found…never；　Mary！

Your　affection　for　Arthur　blinds　you　as　to　the　awful　consequences　to

me。　Far　from　hushing　the　thing　up；　I　have　brought　a　gentleman　down

from　London　to　inquire　more　deeply　into　it。〃

　　〃This　gentleman？〃　she　asked；　facing　round　to　me。

　　〃No；　his　friend。　He　wished　us　to　leave　him　alone。　He　is　round　in　the

stable　lane　now。〃

　　〃The　stable　lane？〃　She　raised　her　dark　eyebrows。　〃What　can　he　hope

to　find　there？　Ah！　this；　I　suppose；　is　he。　I　trust；　sir；　that　you　will

succeed　in　proving；　what　I　feel　sure　is　the　truth。　that　my　cousin

Arthur　is　innocent　of　this　crime。〃

　　〃I　fully　share　your　opinion；　and　I　trust；　with　you；　that　we　may

prove　it；〃　returned　Holmes；　going　back　to　the　mat　to　knock　the　snow

from　his　shoes。　〃I　believe　I　have　the　honour　of　addressing　Miss　Mary

Holder。　Might　I　ask　you　a　question　or　two？〃

　　〃Pray　do；　sir；　if　it　may　help　to　clear　this　horrible　affair　up。〃

　　〃You　heard　nothing　yourself　last　night？〃

　　〃Nothing；　until　my　uncle　here　began　to　speak　loudly。　I　heard　that；

and　I　came　down。〃

　　〃You　shut　up　the　windows　and　doors　the　night　before。　Did　you

fasten　all　the　windows？〃

　　〃Yes。〃

　　〃Were　they　all　fastened　this　morning？〃

　　〃Yes。〃

　　〃You　have　a　maid　who　has　a　sweetheart？　I　think　that　you　remarked

to　your　uncle　last　night　that　she　had　been　out　to　see　him？〃

　　〃Yes；　and　she　was　the　girl　who　waited　in　the　drawing…room；　and　who

may　have　heard　uncle's　remarks　about　the　coronet。〃

　　〃I　see。　You　infer　that　she　may　have　gone　out　to　tell　her　sweetheart；

and　that　the　two　may　have　planned　the　robbery。〃

　　〃But　what　is　the　good　of　all　these　vague　theories；〃　cried　the　banker

impatiently；　〃When　I　have　told　you　that　I　saw　Arthur　with　the

coronet　in　his　hands？〃

　　〃Wait　a　little；　Mr。　Holder。　We　must　come　back　to　that。　About　this

girl；　Miss　Holder。　You　saw　her　return　by　the　kitchen　door；　I　presume？〃

　　〃Yes；　when　I　went　to　see　if　the　door　was　fastened　for　the　night　I

met　her　slipping　in。　I　saw　the　man；　too；　in　the　gloom。〃

　　〃Do　you　know　him？〃

　　〃Oh；　yes！　he　is　the　green…grocer　who　brings　our　vegetables　round。

His　name　is　Francis　Prosper。〃

　　〃He　stood；〃　said　Holmes；　〃to　the　left　of　the　door…that　is　to　say；

farther　up　the　path　than　is　necessary　to　reach　the　door？〃

　　〃Yes；　he　did。〃

　　〃And　he　is　a　man　with　a　wooden　leg？〃

　　Something　like　fear　sprang　up　in　the　young　lady's　expressive　black

eyes。　〃Why；　you　are　like　a　magician；〃　said　she。　〃How　do　you　know

that？〃　She　smiled；　but　there　was　no　answering　smile　in　Holmes's

thin；　eager　face。

　　〃I　should　be　very　glad　now　to　go　upstairs；〃　said　he。　〃I　shall

probably　wish　to　go　over　the　outside　of　the　house　again。　Perhaps　I　had

better　take　a　look　at　the　lower　windows　before　I　go　up。〃

　　He　walked　swiftly　round　from　one　to　the　other；　pausing　only　at　the

large　one　which　looked　from　the　hall　onto　the　stable　lane。　This　he

opened　and　made　a　very　careful　examination　of　the　sill　with　his

powerful　magnifying　lens。　〃Now　we　shall　go　upstairs；〃　said　he　at　last。

　　The　banker's　dressing…room　was　a　plainly　furnished　little　chamber；

with　a　gray　carpet；　a　large　bureau；　and　a　long　mirror。　Holmes　went

to　the　bureau　first　and　looked　hard　at　the　lock。

　　〃Which　key　was　used　to　open　it？〃　he　asked。

　　〃That　which　my　son　himself　indicated…that　of　the　cupboard　of　the

lumber　room。〃

　　〃Have　you　it　here？〃

　　〃That　is　it　on　the　dressing…table。〃

　　Sherlock　Holmes　took　it　up　and　opened　the　bureau。

　　〃It　is　a　noiseless　lock；〃　said　he。　〃It　is　no　wonder　that　it　did

not　wake　you。　This　case；　I　presume；　contains　the　coronet。　We　must　have

a　look　at　it。〃　He　opened　the　case；　and　taking　out　the　diadem　he　laid

it　upon　the　table。　It　was　a　magnificent　specimen　of　the　jeweller's

art；　and　the　thirty…six　stones　were　the　finest　that　I　have　ever

seen。　At　one　side　of　the　coronet　was　a　cracked　edge；　where　a　corner

holding　three　gems　had　been　torn　away。

　　〃Now；　Mr。　Holder；〃　said　Holmes；　〃here　is　the　corner　which

corresponds　to　that　which　has　been　so　unfortunately　lost。　Might　I

beg　that　you　will　break　it　off。〃

　　The　banker　recoiled　in　horror。　〃I　should　not　dream　of　trying；〃

said　he。

　　〃Then　I　will。〃　Holmes　suddenly　bent　his　strength　upon　it；　but

without　result。　〃I　feel　it　give　a　little；〃　said　he；　〃but；　though　I

am　exceptionally　strong　in　the　fingers；　it　would　take　me　all　my　time

to　break　it。　An　ordinary　man　could　not　do　it。　Now；　what　do　you　think

would　happen　if　I　did　break　it；　Mr。　Holder？　There　would　be　a　noise

like　a　pistol　shot。　Do　you　tell　me　that　all　this　happened　within　a　few

yards　of　your　bed　and　that　you　heard　nothing　of　it？〃

　　〃I　do　not　know　what　to　think。　It　is　all　dark　to　me。〃

　　〃But　perhaps　it　may　grow　lighter　as　we　go。　What　do　you　think；　Miss

Holder？〃

　　〃I　confess　that　I　still　share　my　uncle's　perplexity。〃

　　〃Your　son　had　no　shoes　or　slippers　on　when　you　saw　him？〃

　　〃He　had　nothing　on　save　only　his　trousers　and　shirt。〃

　　〃Thank　you。　We　have　certainly　been　favoured　with　extraordinary

luck　during　this　inquiry；　and　it　will　be　entirely　our　own　fault　if

we　do　not　succeed　in　clearing　the　matter　up。　With　your　permis