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ElapticAI-512

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Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau.
“It is a noiseless lock, said he. “It is no wonder that it did not
wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must have a
look at it. He opened the case, and taking out the diadem he laid it
upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the jeweller’s art,
and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I have ever seen. At one
side of the coronet was a cracked edge, where a corner holding three
gems had been torn away.
“Now, Mr. Holder, said Holmes, “here is the corner which corresponds
to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I beg that you will
break it off.
The banker recoiled in horror. “I should not dream of trying, said he.
“Then I will. Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but without
result. “I feel it give a little, said he; “but, though I am
exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my time to
break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do you think would
happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would be a noise like a
pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this happened within a few yards
of your bed and that you heard nothing of it?
“I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me.
“But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, Miss
Holder?
“I confess that I still share my uncle’s perplexity.
“Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?
“He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt.
“Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary luck
during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault if we do not
succeed in clearing the matter up. With your permission, Mr. Holder, I
shall now continue my investigations outside.
He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any
unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an hour
or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet heavy with snow
and his features as inscrutable as ever.
“I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Holder,
said he; “I can serve you best by returning to my rooms.
“But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?
“I cannot tell.
The banker wrung his hands. “I shall never see them again! he cried.
“And my son? You give me hopes?
“My opinion is in no way altered.
“Then, for God’s sake, what was this dark business which was acted in
my house last night?
“If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow morning
between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to make it
clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to act for you,
provided only that I get back the gems, and that you place no limit on
the sum I may draw.
“I would give my fortune to have them back.
“Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then.
Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here again
before evening.
It was obvious to me that my companion’s mind was now made up about the
case, although what his conclusions were was more than I could even
dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward journey I endeavoured
to sound him upon the point, but he always glided away to some other
topic, until at last I gave it over in despair. It was not yet three
when we found ourselves in our rooms once more. He hurried to his
chamber and was down again in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer.
With his collar turned up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and
his worn boots, he was a perfect sample of the class.
“I think that this should do, said he, glancing into the glass above
the fireplace. “I only wish that you could come with me, Watson, but I
fear that it won’t do. I may be on the trail in this matter, or I may
be following a will-o’-the-wisp, but I shall soon know which it is. I
hope that I may be back in a few hours. He cut a slice of beef from
the joint upon the sideboard, sandwiched it between two rounds of
bread, and thrusting this rude meal into his pocket he started off upon
his expedition.
I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in excellent
spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his hand. He chucked it
down into a corner and helped himself to a cup of tea.
“I only looked in as I passed, said he. “I am going right on.
“Where to?
“Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time before I