DarqueDante/test2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 74
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
£50,000 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 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 he, raising up a square,
black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. 'You have
doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?'

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

"'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft,
flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which
he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said he, '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?' he 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, Mr. 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 him to pay over fifty £1000 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, Mr. 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
maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose
absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Parr,
the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few months.
She came with an excellent character, however, and has always given
me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has attracted admirers
who have occasionally hung about the place. That is the only drawback
which we have found to her, but we believe her to be a thoroughly
good girl in every way.

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

£50,000 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 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 he, raising up a square,

black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. 'You have

doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?'

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

"'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft,

flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery which

he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said he, '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?' he 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, Mr. 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 him to pay over fifty £1000 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, Mr. 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

maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose

absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Parr,

the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few months.

She came with an excellent character, however, and has always given

me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has attracted admirers

who have occasionally hung about the place. That is the only drawback

which we have found to her, but we believe her to be a thoroughly

good girl in every way.