the adventure of the beryl coronet-第4章

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

we　do　not　succeed　in　clearing　the　matter　up。　With　your　permission；　Mr。

Holder；　I　shall　now　continue　my　investigations　outside。〃

　　He　went　alone；　at　his　own　request；　for　he　explained　that　any

unnecessary　footmarks　might　make　his　task　more　difficult。　For　an

hour　or　more　he　was　at　work；　returning　at　last　with　his　feet　heavy

with　snow　and　his　features　as　inscrutable　as　ever。

　　〃I　think　that　I　have　seen　now　all　that　there　is　to　see；　Mr。　Holder；〃

said　he；　〃I　can　serve　you　best　by　returning　to　my　rooms。〃

　　〃But　the　gems；　Mr。　Holmes。　Where　are　they？〃

　　〃I　cannot　tell。〃

　　The　banker　wrung　his　hands。　〃I　shall　never　see　them　again！〃　he

cried。　〃And　my　son？　You　give　me　hopes？〃

　　〃My　opinion　is　in　no　way　altered。〃

　　〃Then；　for　God's　sake；　what　was　this　dark　business　which　was　acted

in　my　house　last　night？〃

　　〃If　you　can　call　upon　me　at　my　Baker　Street　rooms　to…morrow

morning　between　nine　and　ten　I　shall　be　happy　to　do　what　I　can　to　make

it　clearer。　I　understand　that　you　give　me　carte　blanche　to　act　for

you；　provided　only　that　I　get　back　the　gems；　and　that　you　place　no

limit　on　the　sum　I　may　draw。〃

　　〃I　would　give　my　fortune　to　have　them　back。〃

　　〃Very　good。　I　shall　look　into　the　matter　between　this　and　then。

Good…bye；　it　is　just　possible　that　I　may　have　to　come　over　here

again　before　evening。〃

　　It　was　obvious　to　me　that　my　companion's　mind　was　now　made　up

about　the　case；　although　what　his　conclusions　were　was　more　than　I

could　even　dimly　imagine。　Several　times　during　our　homeward　journey

I　endeavoured　to　sound　him　upon　the　point；　but　he　always　glided　away

to　some　other　topic；　until　at　last　I　gave　it　over　in　despair。　It　was

not　yet　three　when　we　found　ourselves　in　our　room　once　more。　He

hurried　to　his　chamber；　and　was　down　again　in　a　few　minutes　dressed　as

a　common　loafer。　With　his　collar　turned　up；　his　shiny；　seedy　coat；　his

red　cravat；　and　his　worn　boots；　he　was　a　perfect　sample　of　the　class。

　　〃I　think　that　this　should　do；〃　said　he；　glancing　into　the　glass

above　the　fireplace。　〃I　only　wish　that　you　could　come　with　me；　Watson；

but　I　fear　that　it　won't　do。　I　may　be　on　the　trail　in　this　matter；

or　I　may　be　following　a　will…o'…the…wisp；　but　I　shall　soon　know

which　it　is。　I　hope　that　I　may　be　back　in　a　few　hours。〃　He　cut　a　slice

of　beef　from　the　joint　upon　the　sideboard；　sandwiched　it　between　two

rounds　of　bread；　and　thrusting　this　rude　meal　into　his　pocket　he

started　off　upon　his　expedition。

　　I　had　just　finished　my　tea　when　he　returned；　evidently　in

excellent　spirits；　swinging　an　old　elastic…sided　boot　in　his　hand。

He　chucked　it　down　into　a　corner　and　helped　himself　to　a　cup　of　tea。

　　〃I　only　looked　in　as　I　passed；〃　said　he。　〃I　am　going　right　on。〃

　　〃Where　to？〃

　　〃Oh；　to　the　other　side　of　the　West　End。　It　may　be　some　time　before　I

get　back。　Don't　wait　up　for　me　in　case　I　should　be　late。〃

　　〃How　are　you　getting　on？〃

　　〃Oh；　so　so。　Nothing　to　complain　of。　I　have　been　out　to　Streatham

since　I　saw　you　last；　but　I　did　not　call　at　the　house。　It　is　a　very

sweet　little　problem；　and　I　would　not　have　missed　it　for　a　good

deal。　However；　I　must　not　sit　gossiping　here；　but　must　get　these

disreputable　clothes　off　and　return　to　my　highly　respectable　self。〃

　　I　could　see　by　his　manner　that　he　had　stronger　reasons　for

satisfaction　than　his　words　alone　would　imply。　His　eyes　twinkled；

and　there　was　even　a　touch　of　colour　upon　his　sallow　cheeks。　He

hastened　upstairs；　and　a　few　minutes　later　I　heard　the　slam　of　the

hall　door；　which　told　me　that　he　was　off　once　more　upon　his

congenial　hunt。

　　I　waited　until　midnight；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　his　return；　so　I

retired　to　my　room。　It　was　no　uncommon　thing　for　him　to　be　away　for

days　and　nights　on　end　when　he　was　hot　upon　a　scent；　so　that　his

lateness　caused　me　no　surprise。　I　do　not　know　at　what　hour　he　came　in；

but　when　I　came　down　to　breakfast　in　the　morning　there　he　was　with　a

cup　of　coffee　in　one　hand　and　the　paper　in　the　other；　as　fresh　and

trim　as　possible。

　　〃You　will　excuse　my　beginning　without　you；　Watson；〃　said　he；　〃but

you　remember　that　our　client　has　rather　an　early　appointment　this

morning。〃

　　〃Why；　it　is　after　nine　now；〃　answered。　〃I　should　not　be　surprised　if

that　were　he。　I　thought　I　heard　a　ring。〃

　　It　was；　indeed；　our　friend　the　financier。　I　was　shocked　by　the

change　which　had　come　over　him；　for　his　face　which　was　naturally　of

a　broad　and　massive　mould；　was　now　pinched　and　fallen　in；　while　his

hair　seemed　to　me　at　least　a　shade　whiter。　He　entered　with　a　weariness

and　lethargy　which　was　even　more　painful　than　his　violence　of　the

morning　before；　and　he　dropped　heavily　into　the　armchair　which　I

pushed　forward　for　him。

　　〃I　do　not　know　what　I　have　done　to　be　so　severely　tried；〃　said　he。

〃Only　two　days　ago　I　was　a　happy　and　prosperous　man；　without　a　care　in

the　world。　Now　I　am　left　to　a　lonely　and　dishonoured　age。　One　sorrow

comes　close　upon　the　heels　of　another。　My　niece；　Mary；　has　deserted

me。〃

　　〃Deserted　you？〃

　　〃Yes。　Her　bed　this　morning　had　not　been　slept　in；　her　room　was

empty；　and　a　note　for　me　lay　upon　the　hall　table。　I　had　said　to　her

last　night；　in　sorrow　and　not　in　anger；　that　if　she　had　married　my　boy

all　might　have　been　well　with　him。　Perhaps　it　was　thoughtless　of　me　to

say　so。　It　is　to　that　remark　that　she　refers　in　this　note：



　　'MY　DEAREST　UNCLE：

　　'I　feel　that　I　have　brought　trouble　upon　you；　and　that　if　I　had

acted　differently　this　terrible　misfortune　might　never　have

occurred。　I　cannot；　with　this　thought　in　my　mind；　ever　again　be

happy　under　your　roof；　and　I　feel　that　I　must　leave　you　forever。　Do

not　worry　about　my　future；　for　that　is　provided　for；　and；　above　all；

do　not　search　for　me；　for　it　will　be　fruitless　labour　and　an

ill…service　to　me。　In　life　or　in　death；　I　am　ever

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your　loving　〃MARY。



　　〃What　could　she　mean　by　that　note；　Mr。　Holmes？　Do　you　think　it

points　to　suicide？〃

　　〃No；　no；　nothing　of　the　kind。　It　is　perhaps　the　best　possible

solution。　I　trust　Mr。　Holder；　that　you　are　nearing　the　end　of　your

troubles。〃

　　〃Ha！　You　say　so！　You　have　heard　something；　Mr。　Holmes；　you　have

learned　something！　Where　are　the　gems？〃

　　〃You　would　not　think　L1000　apiece　an　excessive　sum　for　them？〃

　　〃I　would　pay　ten。〃

　　〃That　would　be　unnecessary。　Three　thousand　will　cover　the　matter。

And　there　is　a　little　reward；　I　fancy。　Have　you　your　check…book？

Here　is　a　pen。　Better　make　it　out　for　L4000。〃

　　With　a　dazed　face　the　banker　made　out　the　required　check。　Holmes

walked　over　to　his　desk；　took　out　a　little　triangular　piece　of　gold

with　three　gems　in　it；　and　threw　it　down　upon　the　table。

　　With　a　shriek　of　joy　our　client　clutched　it　up。

　　〃You　have　it！〃　he　gasped。　〃I　am　saved！　I　am　saved！〃

　　The　reaction　of　joy　was　as　passionate　as　his　grief　had　been；　and

he　hugged　his　recovered　gems　to　his　bosom。

　　〃There　is　one　other　thing　you　owe；　Mr。　Holder；〃　said　Sherlock　Holmes

rather　sternly。

　　〃Owe！〃　He　caught　up　a　pen。　〃Name　the　sum；　and　I　will　pay　it。〃

　　〃No；　the　debt　is　not　to　me。　You　owe　a　very　humble　apology　to　that

noble　lad；　your　son；　who　has　carried　himself　in　this　matter　as　I

should　be　proud　to　see　my　own　son　do；　should　I　ever　chance　to　have

one。〃

　　〃Then　it　was　not　Arthur　who　took　them？〃

　　〃I　told　you　yesterday；　and　I　repeat　to…day；　that　it　was　not。〃

　　〃You　are　sure　of　it！　Then　let　us　hurry　to　him　at　once　to　let　him

know　that　the　truth　is　known。〃

　　〃He　knows　it　already。　When　I　had　cleared　it　all　up　I　had　an

interview　with　him；　and　finding　that　he　would　not　tell　me　the　story；　I

told　it　to　him；　on　which　he　had　to　confess　that　I　was　right　and　to　add

the　very　few　details　which　were　not　yet　quite　clear　to　me。　Your　news

of　this　morning；　however；　may　open　his　lips。〃

　　〃For　heaven's　sake；　tell　me；　then；　what　is　this　extraordinary

mystery！〃

　　〃I　will　do　so；　and　I　will　show　the　steps　by　which　I　reached　it。

And　let　me　to　you；　first；　that　which　it　is　hardest　for　me　to　say　and

for　you　to　hear：　there　has　been　an　understanding　between　Sir　George

Burnwell　and　your　niece　Mary。　They　have　now　fled　together。〃

　　〃My　Mary？　Impossible！〃

　　〃It　is　unfortunately　more　than　possible；　it　is　certain。　Neither

you　nor　your　son　knew　the　true　character　of　this　man　when　you　admitted

him　into　your　family　circle。　He　is　one　of　the　most　dangerous　men　in

England…a　ruined　gambler；　an　absolutely　desperate　villain；　a　man

without　heart　or　conscience。　Your　niece　knew　nothing　of　such　men。　When

he　breathed　his　vows　to　her；　as　he　had　done　to　a　hundred　before　her；

she　flattered　herself　that　she　alone　had　touched　his　heart。　The

devil　knows　best　what　he　said；　but　at　least　she　became　his　tool　and

was　in　the　habit　of　seeing　him　nearly　every　evening。〃

　　〃I　cannot；　and　I　will　not；　believe　it！〃　cried　the　banker　with　an

ashen　face。

　　〃I　will　tell　you；　then；　what　occurred　in　your　house　last　night。　Your

niece；　when　you　had；　as　she　thought；　gone　to　your　room；　slipped　down

and　talked　to　her　lover　through　the　window　which　leads　into　the　stable

lane。　His　footmarks　had　pressed　right　through　the　snow；　so　long　had　he

stood　there。　She　told　him　of　the　coronet。　His　wicked　lust　for　gold

kindled　at　the　news；　and　he　bent　her　to　his　will。　I　have　no　doubt　that

she　loved　you；　but　there　are　women　in　whom　the　love　of　a　lover

extinguishes　all　other　loves；　and　I　think　that　she　must　have　been　one。

She　had　hardly　listened　to　his　instructions　when　she　saw　you　coming

downstairs；　on　which　she　closed　the　window　rapidly　and　told　you

about　one　of　the　servants'　escapade　with　her　wooden…legged　lover；

which　was　all　perfectly　true。

　　〃Your　boy；　Arthur；　went　to　bed　after　his　interview　with　you；　but

he　slept　badly　on　account　of　his　uneasiness　about　his　club　debts。　In

the　middle　of　the　night　he　heard　a　soft　tread　pass　his　door；　so　he

rose　and；　looking　out；　was　surprised　to　see　his　cousin　walking　very

stealthily　along　the　passage　until　she　disappeared　into　your

dressing…room。　Petrified　with　astonishment；　the　lad　slipped　on　some

clothes　and　waited　there　in　the　dark　to　see　what　would　come　of　this

strange　affair。　Presently　she　emerged　from　the　room　again；　and　in

the　light　of　the　passage…lamp　your　son　saw　that　she　carried　the

precious　coronet　in　her　hands。　She　passed　down　the　stairs；　and　he；

thrilling　with　horror；　ran　along　and　slipped　behind　the　curtain　near

your　door；　whence　he　could　see　what　passed　in　the　hall　beneath。　He　saw

her　stealthily　open　the　window；　hand　out　the　coronet　to　someone　in　the

gloom；　and　then　closing　it　once　more　hurry　back　to　her　room；　passing

quite　close　to　where　he　stood　hid　behind　the　curtain。

　　〃As　long　as　she　was　on　the　scene　he　could　not　take　any　action

without　a　horrible　exposure　of　the　woman　whom　he　loved。　But　the

instant　that　she　was　gone　he　realized　how　crushing　a　misfortune　this

would　be　for　you；　and　how　important　it　was　to　set　it　right。　He

rushed　down；　just　as　he　was；　in　his　bare　feet；　opened　the　window；

sprang　out　into　the　snow；　and　ran　down　the　lane；　where　he　could　see

a　dark　figure　in　the　moonlight。　Sir　George　Bu