That you may get away,

　　"By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my voicein my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, at thesight of the coronet and of and of Arthur's face, she read the wholestory and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the ground. I sentthe house-maid for the police and put the investigation into theirhands at once. When the inspector and a constable entered the house,Arthur, who had stood sullenly with his arms folded, asked mewhether it was my intention to charge him with theft. I answeredthat it had ceased to be a private matter, but had become a publicone, since the ruined coronet was national property. I wasdetermined that the law should have its way in everything."'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. Itwould be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave thehouse for five minutes.'

　　"'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what youhave stolen; said I. And then, realizing the dreadful position inwhich I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only my honourbut that of one who was far greater than I was at stake; and that hethreatened to raise a scandal which would convulse the nation. Hemight avert it all if he would but tell me what he had done with thethree missing stones.

　　"'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught inthe act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Ifyou but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling uswhere 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 hardenedfor any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way forit. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A searchwas made at once not only of his person but of his room and of everyportion of the house where he could possibly have concealed thegems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the wretchedboy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our threats. Thismorning he was removed to a cell, and I, after going through all thepolice formalities, have hurried round to you to implore you to useyour skill in unravelling the matter. The police have openly confessedthat they can at present make nothing of it. You may go to any expensewhich you think necessary. I have already offered a reward of L1000.My God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son inone night. Oh, what shall I do!"

　　He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to andfro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got beyond words.Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his browsknitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire.

　　"Do you receive much company?" he asked.

　　"None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend ofArthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No oneelse, I think."

　　"Do you go out much in society?"