The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Regendered

by L. E. Smart

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

  "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 woman whose character has never yet borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every woman; 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, madam," 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 Alexis 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 she braced herself to tell her story.

  "I feel that time is of value," said she; "that is why I hastened here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure your co-operation. 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 woman 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 she entered, to say so, but she plunged at once into business with the air of a woman who wishes to hurry quickly through a disagreeable task.

  "'Ms. Holder,' said she, '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 she, '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 she, raising up a square, black morocco case which she had laid beside her chair. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?'

  "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' said I.

  "'Precisely.' She opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which she had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said she, '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?' she 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, Ms. 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 her 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, Ms. 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 manservants who have been with me a number of years and whose absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Luke Parr, the second manservant, has only been in my service a few months. He came with an excellent character, however, and has always given me satisfaction. He is a very pretty boy and has attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. That is the only drawback which we have found to him, but we believe him to be a thoroughly good boy 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 widow and have an only daughter, Arielle. She has been a disappointment to me, Ms. Holmes -- a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled her. Very likely I have. When my dear husband died I felt that she was all I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a moment from her face. I have never denied her 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 she should succeed me in my business, but she was not of a business turn. She was wild, wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust her in the handling of large sums of money. When she was young she became a member of
an aristocratic club, and there, having charming manners, she was soon the intimate of a number of women with long purses and expensive habits. She learned to play heavily at cards and to squander money on the turf, until she had again and again to come to me and implore me to give her an advance upon her allowance, that she might settle her debts of honour. She tried more than once to break away from the dangerous company which she was keeping, but each time the influence of her friend, Madam Georgina Burnwell, was enough to draw her back again.

  "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a woman as Madam Georgina Burnwell should gain an influence over her, for she has frequently brought her to my house, and I have found myself that I could hardly resist the fascination of her manner. She is older than Arielle, a woman of the world to her finger-tips, one who had been everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a woman of great personal beauty. Yet when I think of her in cold blood, far away from the glamour of her presence, I am convinced from her cynical speech and the look which I have caught in her eyes that she is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, too, thinks my little Mark, who has a man's quick insight into character.

  "And now there is only he to be described. He is my nephew; but when my sister died five years ago and left him alone in the world I adopted him, and have looked upon him ever since as my son. He is a sunbeam in my house -- sweet, loving, beautiful, a wonderful manager and butler, yet as tender and quiet and gentle as a man could be. He is my right hand. I do not know what I could do without him. In only one matter has he ever gone against my wishes. Twice my girl has asked him to marry her, for she loves him devotedly, but each time he has refused her. I think that if anyone could have drawn her into the right path it would have been he, and that her marriage might have changed her whole life; but now, alas! it is too late -- forever too late!

  "Now, Ms. 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 Arielle and Mark my experience, and of the precious treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name of my client. Luke Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Mark and Arielle 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 Arielle.

  "'In my own bureau.'

  "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the night.' said she.

  "'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.'

  "She often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of what she said. She followed me to my room, however, that night with a very grave face.

  "'Look here, mum,' said she with her 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 she, '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 woman,' said she. '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 she bowed and left the room without another word.

  "When she 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 Mark but which I thought it well to perform myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mark himself at the side window of the hall, which he closed and fastened as I approached.

  "'Tell me, mum,' said he, looking, I thought, a little disturbed, 'did you give Luke, the manservant, leave to go out tonight?'

  "'Certainly not.'

  "'He came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that he 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 him in the morning, or I will if you prefer it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?'

  "'Quite sure, mum.'

  "'Then, good-night.' I kissed him and went up to my bedroom again, where I was soon asleep.

  "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Ms. 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 corner of my dressing-room door.

  "'Arielle!' 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 girl, dressed only in her shirt and trousers, was standing beside the light, holding the coronet in her hands. She appeared to be wrenching at it, or bending it with all her strength. At my cry she dropped it from her 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!' she cried.

  "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking her by the shoulder.

  "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said she.

  "'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 she, '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 she with a passion such as I should not have thought was in her 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. Mark was the first to rush into my room, and, at the sight of the coronet and of Arielle's face, he read the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the ground. I sent the house-servant for the police and put the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a constable entered the house, Arielle, who had stood sullenly with her arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge her 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 she, '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, realising the dreadful position in which I was placed, I implored her to remember that not only my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at stake; and that she threatened to raise a scandal which would convulse the na
tion. She might avert it all if she would but tell me what she 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,' she answered, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that she was too hardened for any words of mine to influence her. There was but one way for it. I called in the inspector and gave her into custody. A search was made at once not only of her person but of her room and of every portion of the house where she could possibly have concealed the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the wretched girl open her mouth for all our persuasions and our threats. This morning she 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 honour, my gems, and my daughter in one night. Oh, what shall I do!"

  She put a hand on either side of her head and rocked herself to and fro, droning to herself like a child whose grief has got beyond words.

  Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with her brows knitted and her eyes fixed upon the fire.

  "Do you receive much company?" she asked.

  "None save my partner with her family and an occasional friend of Arielle's. Madam Georgina Burnwell has been several times lately. No one else, I think."

  "Do you go out much in society?"

  "Arielle does. Mark and I stay at home. We neither of us care for it."

  "That is unusual in a young boy."

  "He is of a quiet nature. Besides, he is not so very young. He is four-and-twenty."

  "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to him also."

  "Terrible! He is even more affected than I."