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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 L200？'
〃'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 dishonoured 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；' 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 hail； 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 endeavouring 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； an palpitating with fear； and peeped round the
corner 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 dishonoured 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 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 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 honour
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 al