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and talked to her lover through the window which leads into the stable
lane。 His footmarks had pressed right through the snow； so long had he
stood there。 She told him of the coronet。 His wicked lust for gold
kindled at the news； and he bent her to his will。 I have no doubt that
she loved you； but there are women in whom the love of a lover
extinguishes all other loves； and I think that she must have been one。
She had hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming
downstairs； on which she closed the window rapidly and told you
about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden…legged lover；
which was all perfectly true。
〃Your boy； Arthur； went to bed after his interview with you； but
he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts。 In
the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door； so he
rose and； looking out； was surprised to see his cousin walking very
stealthily along the passage until she disappeared into your
dressing…room。 Petrified with astonishment； the lad slipped on some
clothes and waited there in the dark to see what would come of this
strange affair。 Presently she emerged from the room again； and in
the light of the passage…lamp your son saw that she carried the
precious coronet in her hands。 She passed down the stairs； and he；
thrilling with horror； ran along and slipped behind the curtain near
your door； whence he could see what passed in the hall beneath。 He saw
her stealthily open the window； hand out the coronet to someone in the
gloom； and then closing it once more hurry back to her room； passing
quite close to where he stood hid behind the curtain。
〃As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action
without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved。 But the
instant that she was gone he realized how crushing a misfortune this
would be for you； and how important it was to set it right。 He
rushed down； just as he was； in his bare feet； opened the window；
sprang out into the snow； and ran down the lane； where he could see
a dark figure in the moonlight。 Sir George Burnwell tried to get away；
but Arthur caught him； and there was a struggle between them； your lad
tugging at one side of the coronet and his opponent at the other。 In
the scuffle； your son struck Sir George and cut him over the eye。 Then
something suddenly snapped； and your son； finding that he had the
coronet in his hands； rushed back； closed the window； ascended to your
room； and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in the
struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you appeared
upon the scene。〃
〃Is it possible？〃 gasped the banker。
〃You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when
he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks。 He could not explain
the true state of affairs without betraying one who certainly deserved
little enough consideration at his hands。 He took the more
chivalrous view； however； and preserved her secret。〃
〃And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the
coronet；〃 cried Mr。 Holder。 〃Oh； my God！ what a blind fool I have
been！ And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes！ The
dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the scene of
the struggle。 How cruelly I have misjudged him！〃
〃When I arrived at the house；〃 continued Holmes； 〃I at once went
very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the
snow which might help me。 I knew that none had fallen since the
evening before； and also that there had been a strong frost to
preserve impressions。 I passed along the tradesmen's path； but found
it all trampled down and indistinguishable。 just beyond it； however；
at the far side of the kitchen door； a woman had stood and talked with
a man； whose round impressions on one side showed that he had a wooden
leg。 I could even tell that they had been disturbed； for the woman had
run back swiftly to the door； as was shown by the deep toe and light
heel marks； while Wooden…leg had waited a little； and then had gone
away。 I thought at the time that this might be the maid and her
sweetheart； of whom you had already spoken to me； and inquiry showed
it was so。 I passed round the garden without seeing anything more than
random tracks； which I took to be the police； but when I got into
the stable lane a very long and complex story was written in the
snow in front of me。
〃There was a double line of tracks of a booted man； and a second
double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked
feet。 I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the
latter was your son。 The first had walked both ways； but the other had
run swiftly； and as his tread was marked in places over the depression
of the boot； it was obvious that he had passed after the other。 I
followed them up and found they led to the hall window； where Boots
had worn all the snow away while waiting。 Then I walked to the other
end； which was a hundred yards or more down the lane。 I saw where
Boots had faced round； where the snow was cut up as though there had
been a struggle； and； finally； where a few drops of blood had
fallen； to show me that I was not mistaken。 Boots had then run down
the lane； and another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who
had been hurt。 When he came to the highroad at the other end； I
found that the pavement had been cleared； so there was an end to
that clue。
〃On entering the house； however； I examined； as you remember； the
sill and framework of the hall window with my lens； and I could at
once see that someone had passed out。 I could distinguish the
outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming
in。 I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what
had occurred。 A man had waited outside the window； someone had brought
the gems； the deed had been overseen by your son； he had pursued the
thief； had struggled with him； they had each tugged at the coronet；
their united strength causing injuries which neither alone could
have effected。 He had returned with the prize； but had left a fragment
in the grasp of his opponent。 So far I was clear。 The question now
was； who was the man and who was it brought him the coronet？
〃It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the
impossible； whatever remains； however improbable； must be the truth。
Now； I knew that it was not you who had brought it down； so there only
remained your niece and the maids。 But if it were the maids； why
should your son allow himself to be accused in their place？ There
could be no possible reason。 As he loved his cousin； however； there
was an excellent explanation why he should retain her secret…the
more so as the secret was a disgraceful one。 When I remembered that
you had seen her at that window； and how she had fainted on seeing the
coronet again； my conjecture became a certainty。
〃And who could it be who was her confederate？ A lover evidently； for
who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must feel
to you？ I knew that you went out little； and that your cir