unlockedmybureau,madesurethatmytreasurewassafe,andlockeditagain.ThenIstartedtogoroundthehousetoseethatallwassecure—adutywhichIusuallyleavetoMarybutwhichIthoughtitwelltoperformmyselfthatnight.AsIcamedownthestairsIsawMaryherselfatthesidewindowofthehall,whichsheclosedandfastenedasIapproached.
“‘Tellme,dad,’saidshe,looking,Ithought,alittledisturbed,‘didyougiveLucy,themaid,leavetogooutto-night?’
“‘Certainlynot.’
“‘Shecameinjustnowbythebackdoor.Ihavenodoubtthatshehasonlybeentothesidegatetoseesomeone,butIthinkthatitishardlysafeandshouldbestopped.’
“‘Youmustspeaktoherinthemorning,orIwillifyoupreferit.Areyousurethateverythingisfastened?’
“‘Quitesure,dad.’
“‘Then,good-night.’Ikissedherandwentuptomybedroomagain,whereIwassoonasleep.
“Iamendeavouringtotellyoueverything,Mr.Holmes,whichmayhaveanybearinguponthecase,butIbegthatyouwillquestionmeuponanypointwhichIdonotmakeclear.”
“Onthecontrary,yourstatementissingularlylucid.”
“IcometoapartofmystorynowinwhichIshouldwishtobeparticularlyso.Iamnotaveryheavysleeper,andtheanxietyinmymindtended,nodoubt,tomakemeevenlesssothanusual.Abouttwointhemorning,then,Iwasawakenedbysomesoundinthehouse.IthadceasedereIwaswideawake,butithadleftanimpressionbehinditasthoughawindowhadgentlyclosedsomewhere.Ilaylisteningwithallmyears.Suddenly,tomyhorror,therewasadistinctsoundoffootstepsmovingsoftlyinthenextroom.Islippedoutofbed,allpalpitatingwithfear,andpeepedroundthecornerofmydressing-roomdoor.
“‘Arthur!’Iscreamed,‘youvillain!youthief!Howdareyoutouchthatcoronet?’
“Thegaswashalfup,asIhadleftit,andmyunhappyboy,dressedonlyinhisshirtandtrousers,wasstandingbesidethelight,holdingthecoronetinhishands.Heappearedtobewrenchingatit,orbendingitwithallhisstrength.Atmycryhedroppeditfromhisgraspandturnedaspaleasdeath.Isnatcheditupandexaminedit.Oneofthegoldcorners,withthreeoftheberylsinit,wasmissing.
“‘Youblackguard!’Ishouted,besidemyselfwithrage.‘Youhavedestroyedit!Youhavedishonouredmeforever!Wherearethejewelswhichyouhavestolen?’
“‘Stolen!’hecried.
“‘Yes,thief!’Iroared,shakinghimbytheshoulder.
“‘Therearenonemissing.Therecannotbeanymissing,’saidhe.
“‘Therearethreemissing.Andyouknowwheretheyare.MustIcallyoualiaraswellasathief?DidInotseeyoutryingtotearoffanotherpiece?’
“‘Youhavecalledmenamesenough,’saidhe,‘Iwillnotstanditanylonger.Ishallnotsayanotherwordaboutthisbusiness,sinceyouhavechosentoinsultme.Iwillleaveyourhouseinthemorningandmakemyownwayintheworld.’
“‘Youshallleaveitinthehandsofthepolice!’Icriedhalf-madwithgriefandrage.‘Ishallhavethismatterprobedtothebottom.’
“‘Youshalllearnnothingfromme,’saidhewithapassionsuchasIshouldnothavethoughtwasinhisnature.‘Ifyouchoosetocallthepolice,letthepolicefindwhattheycan.’
“Bythistimethewholehousewasastir,forIhadraisedmyvoiceinmyanger.Marywasthefirsttorushintomyroom,and,atthesightofthecoronetandofArthur’sface,shereadthewholestoryand,withascream,felldownsenselessontheground.Isentthehousemaidforthepoliceandputtheinvestigationintotheirhandsatonce.Whentheinspectorandaconstableenteredthehouse,Arthur,whohadstoodsullenlywithhisarmsfolded,askedmewhetheritwasmyintentiontochargehimwiththeft.Iansweredthatithadceasedtobeaprivatematter,buthadbecomeapublicone,sincetheruinedcoronetwasnationalproperty.Iwasdeterminedthatthelawshouldhaveitswayineverything.
“‘Atleast,’saidhe,‘youwillnothavemearrestedatonce.ItwouldbetoyouradvantageaswellasmineifImightleavethehouseforfiveminutes.’
“‘Thatyoumaygetaway,orperhapsthatyoumayconcealwhatyouhavestolen,’saidI.Andthen,realisingthedreadfulpositioninwhichIwasplaced,IimploredhimtorememberthatnotonlymyhonourbutthatofonewhowasfargreaterthanIwasatstakeandthathethreatenedtoraiseascandalwhichwouldconvulsethenation.Hemightavertitallifhewouldbuttellmewhathehaddonewiththethreemissingstones.
“‘Youmayaswellfacethematter,’saidI‘youhavebeencaughtintheact,andnoconfessioncouldmakeyourguiltmoreheinous.Ifyoubutmakesuchreparationasisinyourpower,bytellinguswheretheberylsare,allshallbeforgivenandforgotten.’
“‘Keepyourforgivenessforthosewhoaskforit,’heanswered,turningawayfrommewithasneer.Isawthathewastoohardenedforanywordsofminetoinfluencehim.Therewasbutonewayforit.Icalledintheinspectorandgavehimintocustody.Asearchwas