“ ‘Well, I hope to goodness the house won’t be burgled duringthe night.’ said he.
“ ‘It is locked up,’ I answered.
“ ‘Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster Ihave opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.’
“He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little ofwhat he said. He followed me to my room, however, that nightwith a very grave face.
“ ‘Look here, dad,’ said he with his eyes cast down, ‘can you letme have ￡200?’
“ ‘No, I cannot!’ I answered sharply. ‘I have been far toogenerous with you in money matters.’
“ ‘You have been very kind,’ said he, ‘but I must have this money,or else I can never show my face inside the club again.’
“ ‘And a very good thing, too!’ I cried.
“ ‘Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,’
said he. ‘I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money in someway, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try other means.’
“I was very angry, for this was the third demand during themonth. ‘You shall not have a farthing from me,’ I cried, on whichhe bowed and left the room without another word.
“When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that mytreasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go roundthe house to see that all was secure—a duty which I usually leaveto Mary but which I thought it well to perform myself that night.
As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself at the side windowof the hall, which she closed and fastened as I approached.
“ ‘Tell me, dad,’ said she, looking, I thought, a little disturbed, ‘didyou give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out to-night?’
“ ‘Certainly not.’
“ ‘She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt thatshe has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think thatit is hardly safe and should be stopped.’
“ ‘You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you preferit. Are you sure that everything is fastened?’
“ ‘Quite sure, dad.’
“ ‘Then, good-night.’ I kissed her and went up to my bedroomagain, where I was soon asleep.
“I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, whichmay have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you willquestion me upon any point which I do not make clear.”
“On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid.”
“I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to beparticularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety inmy mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual.
About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some soundin the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had leftan impression behind it as though a window had gently closedsomewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my horror,there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in the nextroom. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, and peepedround the corner of my dressing-room door.
“ ‘Arthur!’ I screamed, ‘you villain! you thief! How dare youtouch that coronet?’
“The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy,dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside thelight, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to bewrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry hedropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I snatchedit up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with three of theberyls in it, was missing.
“ ‘You blackguard!’ I shouted, beside myself with rage. ‘You havedestroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are thejewels which you have stolen?’
“ ‘Stolen!’ he cried.
“ ‘Yes, thief!’ I roared, shaking him by the shoulder.
“ ‘There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,’ saidhe.
“ ‘There are three missing. And you know where they are. MustI call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to tearoff another piece?’
“ ‘You have called me names enough,’ said he, ‘I will not standit any longer. I shall not say another word about this business,since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in themorning and make my own way in the world.’
“ ‘You shall leave it in the hands of the police!’ I cried halfmadwith grief and rage. ‘I shall have this matter probed to thebottom.’
“ ‘You shall learn nothing from me,’ said he with a passion suchas I should not have thought was in his nature. ‘If you choose tocall the police, let the police find what they can.’
“By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised myvoice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and,at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur’s face, she read the wholestory and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the ground. Isent the house-maid for the police and put the investigation intotheir hands at once. When the inspector and a constable enteredthe house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with his arms folded,asked me whether it was my intention to charge him with theft. Ianswered that it had ceased to be a private matter, but had becomea public one, since the ruined coronet was national property. I wasdetermined that the law should have its way in everything.
“ ‘At least,’ said he, ‘you will not have me arrested at once. Itwould be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave thehouse for five minutes.’
“ ‘That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal whatyou have stolen,’ said I. And then, realising the dreadful positionin which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not onlymy honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at stake;and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would convulsethe nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell me what hehad done with the three missing stones.
“ ‘You may as well face the matter,’ said I; ‘you have been caughtin the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous.
If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling uswhere the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.’
