A man comes to Sherlock's office in a state of total panic. He fears to have lost both his honor and his only son. This wealthy client is no less than one of the most famous banker, Alexander Holder. On the previous day, he granted a important loan to a high noble man -whose name he will not say, even to Sherlock Holmes- and received, as a guaranty, the beryl coronet.
This extraordinary jewel is one of the most precious possession of the empire. Terrified that anything could happen to the coronet, Mr Holder resolves not to leave it in a safe box, but better keep it with him. He brings it back to his home in the evening.
There lives his son, Arthur, and his niece, Mary, with a servant, Lucy Parr.
Arthur has proved to be a constant disappointment to his father, gambling and losing money all the time. He is under influence of a disreputable friend, George Burnwell. Mary, on the contrary, is a sweet girl, Mr Holder's sunbeam. As for the servant, she has some suitors, but can be trusted.
The banker locked the precious jewel in his bureau and went to sleep. But he was woken up by a sound, and to his horror, found his son with holding in his hands the coronet, broken! Mr Holder had no other choice than calling the police and having Arthur arrested. But the missing piece of the jewel could not be found.
* see source below
The story begins with an exciting issue: a fabulous jewel has been lost! That tickles the treasure hunter hidden in any of us.
But of adventure, there is not; barely a common hunt of a man, told by Holmes. No, the conclusion is disappointing in more than a way. Too predictable, first. And difficult to understand for a modern reader. We have a young lady who totally loses her wits for a lover, and annihilates the life of a father she deeply loves. Normal. But the behavior of the banker, a perfect git, is also shown as normal. He doesn't trust the bank safe box, OK. And keeping the jewel with him is better? Leaving it in another room before going to sleep? And the most unbelievable: he tells the whole story to his family, instead of simply keeping his mouth shut! I say the guy deserves the award of moron of the year... A pity Doyle doesn't seem to notice it.
But of adventure, there is not; barely a common hunt of a man, told by Holmes. No, the conclusion is disappointing in more than a way. Too predictable, first. And difficult to understand for a modern reader. We have a young lady who totally loses her wits for a lover, and annihilates the life of a father she deeply loves. Normal. But the behavior of the banker, a perfect git, is also shown as normal. He doesn't trust the bank safe box, OK. And keeping the jewel with him is better? Leaving it in another room before going to sleep? And the most unbelievable: he tells the whole story to his family, instead of simply keeping his mouth shut! I say the guy deserves the award of moron of the year... A pity Doyle doesn't seem to notice it.
* source : http://www.gemstoneslist.com (emerald, a type of beryl)
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