my ears. Suddenly, to my horror, there was a distinct sound of
footsteps moving softly in the next room. I slipped out of bed, all
palpitating with fear, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room
door.
Arthur! I screamed, you villain! you thief! How dare you touch that
coronet?
The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, dressed
only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the light, holding
the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be wrenching at it, or bending
it with all his strength. At my cry he dropped it from his grasp and
turned as pale as death. I snatched it up and examined it. One of the
gold corners, with three of the beryls in it, was missing.
You blackguard! I shouted, beside myself with rage. You have
destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the jewels
which you have stolen?
Stolen! he cried.
Yes, thief! I roared, shaking him by the shoulder.
There are none missing. There cannot be any missing, said he.
There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I call you
a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to tear off another
piece?
You have called me names enough, said he, I will not stand it any
longer. I shall not say another word about this business, since you
have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the morning and
make my own way in the world.
You shall leave it in the hands of the police! I cried half-mad with
grief and rage. I shall have this matter probed to the bottom.
You shall learn nothing from me, said he with a passion such as I
should not have thought was in his nature. If you choose to call the
police, let the police find what they can.
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