Chapter: 15. The Crown Of Diamonds
Comprehension
A. Answer these questions.
Describe the initial state of the Crown of Diamonds when Mr. Holder first received it. What was Arthur Holder’s relationship with Mary, and how did it influence his actions on the night of the theft? Why did Mr. Holder initially refuse Arthur’s plea for five minutes alone before his arrest? How did Holmes know that the sound Mr. Holder heard was not Arthur closing his bedroom door? What was the immediate consequence of Mary’s disappearance for Mr. Holder, as perceived by Holmes? Explain the significance of the “bare feet” clue in Holmes’s investigation. B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“It is a good thing she has gone away. I think your troubles might be at an end, sir.”
a. Who said this?
b. To whom was this said?
c. What “troubles” was the speaker referring to, and how would her departure end them? “You only owe one thing—an apology to your son.”
a. Who said this, and to whom?
b. What was the context of this statement?
c. Why did the speaker believe this was the only debt owed? C. Think and answer.
Imagine you are Arthur. Write a short paragraph explaining why you didn’t tell your father the truth about what happened that night, considering your feelings for Mary and your pride. If you were Dr. Watson, what questions might you have wanted to ask Holmes when he returned disguised as a beggar, and how do you think Holmes might have responded? The Crown of Diamonds was described as “one of England’s most precious possessions.” Discuss the impact the theft (if it had remained unsolved and public) could have had on England’s reputation and Mr. Holder’s career. 
Comprehension