I already regretted having ever consented to take charge of it.

However, it was too late to alter the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned once more to my work.
"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.