The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-03
A1YENTUkESoESHERLOCk HOLMES
THE RERYL CORONET.
BY Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

morning in our bow-window looking
down the street, here is a mailman
coming along 1t seems rather sad
that his relatives should allow him to
come out alone"
Ny friend rose lazily from his arm
chair and stood with his hands in the
pockets of his dreSSing-gown, looking
over my shoulder. 1t was a bright,
crisp February morning, and the snow
of the day before still lay deep upon
the ground, and shimmering brightly
in the wintry sun. Down the centre
of Baker Street it had been ploughed
into a brown crumbly band by the
traffic, but al either side and on the
heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it
still lay as white as when 1t fell. The
gray pavement had been cleaned and
was slippery. so that there were fewer
passengers than usual. Indeed, from
the direction of the Metropolitan Sta
ton no one was coming save the sim
gle gentleman whose eccentric con-
duct had drawn my attention.
He was a man about fifty, tall. port
ly, and imposing, with a massive,
strongly marked face and command
ing figure. He was dressed in a SOM
ibre yet rich style, in black frock-coat,
shining hat neat brown CATERS, and
well-cut pearl-gray trousers. Yet his
actions were in absurd contrast to the
dignity of his dress and features. for
he was running hard, with occasional
little springs, such as weary man
gives who is little accustomed to set
any tax on his legs. AS he ran he
jerked his hands up and down, wag
gled his head, and writhed his face
into the most extraordinary contor-
lions.
What on earth can be the matter
with him." / asked. HE is looking
up at the numbers OF the houses.
hi.
said Holmes. rubbing his hands.
''Here?"
Yes; I rather think he is coming
to consult me professionally. l think
that / recognize the symptoms. Ha!
did | not tell you?" AS he spoke, the
nan. putting and blowing rushed at
our door and pulled at the bell un-
til the whole house reSounded with
the changing.
A few moments later he was in our
room still putting, still gesticulatng
but with so fixed look of grief and
despair in his eyes that our smiles
were turned i'm an instant to horror
and pity. For while he could not
get his words, but swayed his body
and plucked at his hair like one who
has been driven to the extreme limits
of his reason. Then, suddenlv spring
ing to his feet, he beat his head
against the wall with such force that
we both rushed upon him and tore
him away to the centre of the room.
Sherlock Holmes pushed him down in
to an easy-chair, and. sitting beside
him, patted his hand and chatted with
him in the easy, soothing tones which
he knew so well how to employ.
You have come to tell your story
have you not?' said he. ''You are ia
tigued with your haste. Pray wait
until you 1Iave recovered yourself, and
then shall no f11nCt Tn look n
any little problem which you may
submit to me-
The man sat for a minute or more
with heaving chest, fighting against
his emotion. Then he passed his
handkerchief over his brow, set his
lips tight, and turned his face towards
NO doubt you think me mad"
said he.
II see that you have had some gree
trouble responded Holmes.
God knows 1 have,-a trouble
which is enough to unseat my reason
so sudden and so terrible is it. Public
disgrace / might have faced, although
am man whose character has never
yet borne a stain. Private affiiction
also is the lot of every man: but the
two coming together. and in so fright
full form, have been enough to shake
my soul. Besides, it is not | alone.
lie very IloUleSl IN the 1duu NY SUI
fer. unless some way be found out of
this horrible affair."
Pray compose yourself, sir" said
Holmes, 'and let me have a clear &C
count of who you are, and what it is
that has befallen you
MY name answered the visitor
lis probably familiar to your ears.
am Alexander Holder, of the banking
firm of Holder & Stevenson, of
Thereadneedle Street -
The name was well known to us as
belonging to the senior partner i'm the
second largest private banking con-
Germ in the city of London. What
could have happened, then, to bring
one Of the foremost citizens of Lon
don to this most pitiable pass? We
waited. all curiosity, until with anoth-
err effort he braced himself to tell his
story.
Il feel that time is of value" said
he; that is why l fastened here when
the police Inspector suggested that l
should secure your cooperation. /
came to Baker Street by the Under
ground. and hurrietd from there on
foot, for the cabs so slowly through
this snow. That is why | was so out
of breath. for l am a man who takes
very little exercise. l feel better now
and will put the facts before you as
shortly and yet as clearly as / can.
1T is. of course, well known to you
that in a successful business as much
depends upon our being able to find
remunerative investments for our
funds as upon our increasing our con-
nection and the number Of depositors
One of the most lucrative means of
laying out money is in the shape of
loans, where the security is unim-
peachable. We have done a good deal
in this direction during the last few
years, and there are many noble fam
lilies to whom we have advanced large
sums upon the security of their pic
lures. libraries, or plate.
Yesterday morning l was seated in
my office at my bank when a card was
brought in to me by one of the clerks
/ started when l saw the name. for it
was none other than well. perhaps
even to you / had better say no more
than that it was a name with is a
household word all over the earth
one of the highest. noblest. most ex-
allied names in England. / was over
whelmed by the honor, and attempted,
when he entered, to say so, but he
plunged at once into business with the
air of a man who wishes to hurry