“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.


“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.