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SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET
by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet。
〃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 honour 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
L50；000 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