DarqueDante/test2 · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 74
"So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it will
not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an only son,
Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Holmes--a grievous
disappointment. I have no doubt that I am myself to blame. People
tell me that I have spoiled him. Very likely I have. When my dear
wife died I felt that he was all I had to love. I could not bear to
see the smile fade even for a moment from his face. I have never
denied him 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 he should succeed me in my
business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, wayward,
and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the handling of
large sums of money. When he was young he became a member of an
aristocratic club, and there, having charming manners, he was soon
the intimate of a number of men with long purses and expensive
habits. He learned to play heavily at cards and to squander money on
the turf, until he had again and again to come to me and implore me
to give him an advance upon his allowance, that he might settle his
debts of honour. He tried more than once to break away from the
dangerous company which he was keeping, but each time the influence
of his friend, Sir George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back
again.

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

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

"Now, Mr. 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 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 £200?'

"'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,' I 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

"So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it will

not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an only son,

Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Holmes--a grievous

disappointment. I have no doubt that I am myself to blame. People

tell me that I have spoiled him. Very likely I have. When my dear

wife died I felt that he was all I had to love. I could not bear to

see the smile fade even for a moment from his face. I have never

denied him 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 he should succeed me in my

business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, wayward,

and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the handling of

large sums of money. When he was young he became a member of an

aristocratic club, and there, having charming manners, he was soon

the intimate of a number of men with long purses and expensive

habits. He learned to play heavily at cards and to squander money on

the turf, until he had again and again to come to me and implore me

to give him an advance upon his allowance, that he might settle his

debts of honour. He tried more than once to break away from the

dangerous company which he was keeping, but each time the influence

of his friend, Sir George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back

again.

"And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George

Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently

brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could hardly

resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Arthur, a man

of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been everywhere, seen

everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of great personal beauty.

Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far away from the glamour of

his presence, I am convinced from his cynical speech and the look

which I have caught in his eyes that he is one who should be deeply

distrusted. So I think, and so, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a

woman's quick insight into character.

"And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but when

my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the world I

adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my daughter. She

is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, a wonderful

manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and gentle as a

woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know what I could do

without her. In only one matter has she ever gone against my wishes.

Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for he loves her devotedly,

but each time she has refused him. I think that if anyone could have

drawn him into the right path it would have been she, and that his

marriage might have changed his whole life; but now, alas! it is too

late--forever too late!

"Now, Mr. 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 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 £200?'

"'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,' I 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