reemaid-servantswhohavebeenwithmeanumberofyearsandwhoseabsolutereliabilityisquiteabovesuspicion.Another,LucyParr,thesecondwaiting-maid,hasonlybeeninmyserviceafewmonths.Shecamewithanexcellentcharacter,however,andhasalwaysgivenmesatisfaction.Sheisaveryprettygirlandhasattractedadmirerswhohaveoccasionallyhungabouttheplace.Thatistheonlydrawbackwhichwehavefoundtoher,butwebelievehertobeathoroughlygoodgirlineveryway.
“Somuchfortheservants.Myfamilyitselfissosmallthatitwillnottakemelongtodescribeit.Iamawidowerandhaveanonlyson,Arthur.Hehasbeenadisappointmenttome,Mr.Holmes—agrievousdisappointment.IhavenodoubtthatIammyselftoblame.PeopletellmethatIhavespoiledhim.VerylikelyIhave.WhenmydearwifediedIfeltthathewasallIhadtolove.Icouldnotbeartoseethesmilefadeevenforamomentfromhisface.Ihaveneverdeniedhimawish.PerhapsitwouldhavebeenbetterforbothofushadIbeensterner,butImeantitforthebest.
“Itwasnaturallymyintentionthatheshouldsucceedmeinmybusiness,buthewasnotofabusinessturn.Hewaswild,wayward,and,tospeakthetruth,Icouldnottrusthiminthehandlingoflargesumsofmoney.Whenhewasyounghebecameamemberofanaristocraticclub,andthere,havingcharmingmanners,hewassoontheintimateofanumberofmenwithlongpursesandexpensivehabits.Helearnedtoplayheavilyatcardsandtosquandermoneyontheturf,untilhehadagainandagaintocometomeandimploremetogivehimanadvanceuponhisallowance,thathemightsettlehisdebtsofhonour.Hetriedmorethanoncetobreakawayfromthedangerouscompanywhichhewaskeeping,buteachtimetheinfluenceofhisfriend,SirGeorgeBurnwell,wasenoughtodrawhimbackagain.
“And,indeed,IcouldnotwonderthatsuchamanasSirGeorgeBurnwellshouldgainaninfluenceoverhim,forhehasfrequentlybroughthimtomyhouse,andIhavefoundmyselfthatIcouldhardlyresistthefascinationofhismanner.HeisolderthanArthur,amanoftheworldtohisfinger-tips,onewhohadbeeneverywhere,seeneverything,abrillianttalker,andamanofgreatpersonalbeauty.YetwhenIthinkofhimincoldblood,farawayfromtheglamourofhispresence,IamconvincedfromhiscynicalspeechandthelookwhichIhavecaughtinhiseyesthatheisonewhoshouldbedeeplydistrusted.SoIthink,andso,too,thinksmylittleMary,whohasawoman’squickinsightintocharacter.
“Andnowthereisonlyshetobedescribed.SheismyniecebutwhenmybrotherdiedfiveyearsagoandleftheraloneintheworldIadoptedher,andhavelookeduponhereversinceasmydaughter.Sheisasunbeaminmyhouse—sweet,loving,beautiful,awonderfulmanagerandhousekeeper,yetastenderandquietandgentleasawomancouldbe.Sheismyrighthand.IdonotknowwhatIcoulddowithouther.Inonlyonematterhassheevergoneagainstmywishes.Twicemyboyhasaskedhertomarryhim,forhelovesherdevotedly,buteachtimeshehasrefusedhim.Ithinkthatifanyonecouldhavedrawnhimintotherightpathitwouldhavebeenshe,andthathismarriagemighthavechangedhiswholelifebutnow,alas!itistoolate—forevertoolate!
“Now,Mr.Holmes,youknowthepeoplewholiveundermyroof,andIshallcontinuewithmymiserablestory.
“Whenweweretakingcoffeeinthedrawing-roomthatnightafterdinner,ItoldArthurandMarymyexperience,andoftheprecioustreasurewhichwehadunderourroof,suppressingonlythenameofmyclient.LucyParr,whohadbroughtinthecoffee,had,Iamsure,lefttheroombutIcannotswearthatthedoorwasclosed.MaryandArthurweremuchinterestedandwishedtoseethefamouscoronet,butIthoughtitbetternottodisturbit.
“‘Wherehaveyouputit?’askedArthur.
“‘Inmyownbureau.’
“‘Well,Ihopetogoodnessthehousewon’tbeburgledduringthenight.’saidhe.
“‘Itislockedup,’Ianswered.
“‘Oh,anyoldkeywillfitthatbureau.WhenIwasayoungsterIhaveopeneditmyselfwiththekeyofthebox-roomcupboard.’
“Heoftenhadawildwayoftalking,sothatIthoughtlittleofwhathesaid.Hefollowedmetomyroom,however,thatnightwithaverygraveface.
“‘Lookhere,dad,’saidhewithhiseyescastdown,‘canyouletmehave￡200?’
“‘No,Icannot!’Iansweredsharply.‘Ihavebeenfartoogenerouswithyouinmoneymatters.’
“‘Youhavebeenverykind,’saidhe,‘butImusthavethismoney,orelseIcannevershowmyfaceinsidetheclubagain.’
“‘Andaverygoodthing,too!’Icried.
“‘Yes,butyouwouldnothavemeleaveitadishonouredman,’saidhe.‘Icouldnotbearthedisgrace.Imustraisethemoneyinsomeway,andifyouwillnotletmehaveit,thenImusttryothermeans.’
“Iwasveryangry,forthiswasthethirddemandduringthemonth.‘Youshallnothaveafarthingfromme,’Icried,onwhichhebowedandlefttheroomwithoutanotherword.
“WhenhewasgoneI