"Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking

down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather

sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone."

My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands

in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It

was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day

before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the

wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed

into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and

on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as

when it fell. The gray pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but

was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer

passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the

Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman

whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention.

He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a

massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was

dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining

hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-gray trousers. Yet

his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress

and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little

springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to

set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and

down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most

extraordinary contortions.

"What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is

looking up at the numbers of the houses."

"I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his

hands.

"Here?"

"Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I

think that I recognize the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As

he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and

pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the

clanging.

A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still

gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in

his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and

pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his

body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the

extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his

feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we

both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room.

Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting

beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy,

soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ.

"You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he.

"You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have

recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into

any little problem which you may submit to me."

The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting

against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his

brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us.

"No doubt you think me mad?" said he.

"I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes.

"God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my

reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might

have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet

borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man;

but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have

been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone.

The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found

out of this horrible affair."

"Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a

clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen

you."

"My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your

ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder &

Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street."

The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior

partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City

of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the

foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We

waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced

himself to tell his story.

"I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened

here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure

your cooperation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and

hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this

snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who

takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the

facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can.

"It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking

business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative

investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection

and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means

of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security

is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction

during the last few years, and there are many noble families to

whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their

pictures, libraries, or plate.

"Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a

card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I

saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps

even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name

which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest,

noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the

honor and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged

at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry

quickly through a disagreeable task.

"'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the

habit of advancing money.'

"'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered.

"'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have

50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a

sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it

a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my

position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place

one's self under obligations.'

"'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked.

"'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most

certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you

think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the

money should be paid at once.'

"'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my

own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be

rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do

it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must

insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution

should be taken.'

"'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a

square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair.

'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?'

"'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,'

said I.

"'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft,

flesh-colored velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery

which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said

he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The

lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the

sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my

security.'

"I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some

perplexity from it to my illustrious client.

"'You doubt its value?' he asked.

"'Not at all. I only doubt --'

"'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest

about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely

certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a

pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?'

"'Ample.'

"'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof

of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I

have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to

refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to

preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I

need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any

harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as

serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the

world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them.

I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall

call for it in person on Monday morning.'

"Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but,

calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000

pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the

precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not

but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility

which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it

was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any

misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever

consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter

the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned

once more to my work.

"When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave

so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had

been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how

terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I

determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always

carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might

never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a

cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel

with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs

and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room.

"And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to

thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep

out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three

maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose

absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy

Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few

months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has

always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has

attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place.

That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we

believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way.

"So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it

will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an

only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr.

Holmes-- a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am

myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very

likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I

had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a

moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it

would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I

meant it for the best.

"It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my

business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild,

wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the

handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a

member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming

manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long

purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards

and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again

to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his

allowance, that he might settle his debts of honor. He tried

more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he

was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir

George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again.

"And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George

Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently

brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could

hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than

Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been

everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of

great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far

away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his

cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that

he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so,

too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into

character.

"And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but

when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the

world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my

daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful,

a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and

gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know

what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone

against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for

he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I

think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it

would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his

whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late!

"Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and

I shall continue with my miserable story.

"When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after

dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious

treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name

of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am

sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed.

Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous

coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it.

"'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur.

"'In my own bureau.'

"'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the

night.' said he.

"'It is locked up,' I answered.

"'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I

have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.'

"He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of

what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with

a very grave face.

"'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let

me have 200 pounds?'

"'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too

generous 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 dishonored man,'

said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money

in some way, 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 the

month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which

he bowed and left the room without another word.

"When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my

treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go

round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I

usually leave to 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 window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as

I approached.

"'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little

disturbed, 'did you 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 that she

has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that

it is hardly safe and should be stopped.'

"'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer

it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?'

"'Quite sure, dad.'

"'Then. good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom

again, where I was soon asleep.

"I am endeavoring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may

have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question

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 be

particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety

in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual.

About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in

the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an

impression behind it as though a window had gently closed

somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my

horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in

the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear,

and peeped round the comer of my dressing-room door.

"'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you

touch 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 the

light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be

wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry

he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I

snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with

three of the beryls in it, was missing.

"'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have

destroyed it! You have dishonored me forever! Where are the

jewels 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,' said he.

"'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I

call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to

tear off another piece?'

"'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it

any longer. I shall not say another word about this business,

since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in

the morning and make my own way in the world.'

"'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried

half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to

the bottom.'

"'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such

as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to

call the police, let the police find what they can.'

"By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my

voice 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

whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the

ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the

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, realizing the dreadful position

in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only

my honor 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 honor, 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.