Приключения Шерлока Холмса
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet
"‘Ishouldbehappytoadvanceitwithoutfurtherparleyfrommyownprivatepurse,’saidI,‘wereitnotthatthestrainwouldberathermorethanitcouldbear. If,ontheotherhand,Iamtodoitinthenameofthefirm,theninjusticetomypartnerImustinsistthat,eveninyourcase,everybusinesslikeprecautionshouldbetaken.’
"‘Ishouldmuchprefertohaveitso,’saidhe,raisingupasquare,blackmoroccocasewhichhehadlaidbesidehischair. ‘YouhavedoubtlessheardoftheBerylCoronet?’
"‘Oneofthemostpreciouspublicpossessionsoftheempire,’saidI.
"‘Precisely.’Heopenedthecase,andthere,imbeddedinsoft,flesh-colouredvelvet,laythemagnificentpieceofjewellerywhichhehadnamed. ‘Therearethirty-nineenormousberyls,’saidhe,‘andthepriceofthegoldchasingisincalculable. ThelowestestimatewouldputtheworthofthecoronetatdoublethesumwhichIhaveasked. Iampreparedtoleaveitwithyouasmysecurity.’
"Itookthepreciouscaseintomyhandsandlookedinsomeperplexityfromittomyillustriousclient.
"‘Youdoubtitsvalue?’heasked.
"‘Notatall.Ionlydoubt—’
"‘Theproprietyofmyleavingit. Youmaysetyourmindatrestaboutthat. IshouldnotdreamofdoingsowereitnotabsolutelycertainthatIshouldbeableinfourdaystoreclaimit. Itisapurematterofform. Isthesecuritysufficient?’
"‘Ample.‘
