Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a `
` constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with `
` his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge `
` him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private `
` matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was `
` national property. I was determined that the law should have its `
` way in everything. `
` `
` "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It `
` would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the `
` house for five minutes.' `
` `
` "'That you may get away, or 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 to remember that not only `
` my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at `
` stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would `
` convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell `
` me what he had done with the three missing stones. `
` `
` "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught `
` in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. `
` If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling `
` us 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 hardened `
` for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for `
` it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search `
` was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of `
` every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed `
` the gems; but no 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 to a cell, and I, after `
` going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to `
` you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. `
` The police have openly confessed that they can at present make `
` nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think `
` necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My `
` God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son `
` in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" `
` `
` He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to `
` and fro, droning to himself like a 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?" he asked. `
` `
` "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of `
` Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No `
` one 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' 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 `
`
` constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with `
` his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge `
` him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private `
` matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was `
` national property. I was determined that the law should have its `
` way in everything. `
` `
` "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It `
` would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the `
` house for five minutes.' `
` `
` "'That you may get away, or 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 to remember that not only `
` my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at `
` stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would `
` convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell `
` me what he had done with the three missing stones. `
` `
` "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught `
` in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. `
` If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling `
` us 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 hardened `
` for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for `
` it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search `
` was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of `
` every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed `
` the gems; but no 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 to a cell, and I, after `
` going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to `
` you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. `
` The police have openly confessed that they can at present make `
` nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think `
` necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My `
` God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son `
` in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" `
` `
` He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to `
` and fro, droning to himself like a 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?" he asked. `
` `
` "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of `
` Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No `
` one 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' 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 `
`