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inheritor of the great Valdez sapphire！ The blood rushed to my
head as I looked at the great shining swindle before me。 〃What
diabolic jugglery was at work when the exchange was made？〃 I
demanded fiercely。
〃It must have been on the last occasion of her wearing the
sapphires in London。 I ought never to have let her out of my
sight〃
〃You must put a stop to Miss Panton's marriage in the first place；〃
I pronounced as autocratically as he could have done himself。
〃Not to be thought of；〃 he admitted helplessly。 〃Mira has my force
of character。 She knows her rights； and she will have her jewels。
I want you to take charge of thething for me。 If it's in the
house she'll make me produce it。 She'll inquire at the banker's。
If YOU have it we can gain time； if but for a day or two。〃 He
broke off。 Carriage wheels were crashing on the gravel outside。
We looked at one another in consternation。 Flight was imperative。
I hurried him downstairs and out of the conservatory just as the
door bell rang。 I think we both lost our heads in the confusion。
He shoved the case into my hands； and I pocketed it； without a
thought of the awful responsibility I was incurring； and saw him
disappear into the shelter of the friendly night。
When I think of what my feelings were that eveningof my murderous
hatred of that smirking； jesting Jezebel who sat opposite me at
dinner； my wrathful indignation at the thought of the poor little
expected heir defrauded ere his birth； of the crushing contempt I
felt for myself and the bishop as a pair of witless idiots unable
to see our way out of the dilemma； all this boiling and surging
through my soul； I can only wonderDomenico having given himself a
holiday； and the kitchen maid doing her worst and wickedestthat
gout or jaundice did not put an end to this story at once。
〃Uncle Paul！〃 Leta was looking her sweetest when she tripped into
my room next morning。 〃I've news for you。 She；〃 pointing a
delicate forefinger in the direction of the corridor； 〃is going！
Her Bokums have reached Paris at last； and sent for her to join
them at the Grand Hotel。〃
I was thunderstruck。 The longed…for deliverance had but come to
remove hopelessly and forever out of my reach Lady Carwitchet and
the great Valdez sapphire。
〃Why； aren't you overjoyed？ I am。 We are going to celebrate the
event by a dinner party。 Tom's hospitable soul is vexed by the
lack of entertainment we had provided her。 We must ask the
Brownleys some day or other； and they will be delighted to meet
anything in the way of a ladyship； or such smart folks as the
Duberly…Parkers。 Then we may as well have the Blomfields； and air
that awful modern Sevres dessert service she gave us when we were
married。〃 I had no objection to make； and she went on； rubbing her
soft cheek against my shoulder like the purring little cat she was：
〃Now I want you to do something to please meand Mrs。 Blomfield。
She has set her heart on seeing your rubies； and though I know you
hate her about as much as you do that Sevres china〃
〃What！ Wear my rubies with that！ I won't。 I'll tell you what I
will do； though。 I've got some carbuncles as big as prize
gooseberries； a whole set。 Then you have only to put those
Bohemian glass vases and candelabra on the table； and let your
gardener do his worst with his great forced； scentless； vulgar
blooms； and we shall all be in keeping。〃 Leta pouted。 An idea
struck me。 〃Or I'll do as you wish； on one condition。 You get
Lady Carwitchet to wear her big sapphire； and don't tell her I wish
it。〃
I lived through the next few days as one in some evil dream。 The
sapphires； like twin specters； haunted me day and night。 Was ever
man so tantalized？ To hold the shadow and see the substance
dangled temptingly within reach。 The bishop made no sign of
ridding me of my unwelcome charge； and the thought of what might
happen in a case of burglaryfireearthquakemade me start and
tremble at all sorts of inopportune moments。
I kept faith with Leta； and reluctantly produced my beautiful
rubies on the night of her dinner party。 Emerging from my room I
came full upon Lady Carwitchet in the corridor。 She was dressed
for dinner； and at her throat I caught the blue gleam of the great
sapphire。 Leta had kept faith with me。 I don't know what I
stammered in reply to her ladyship's remarks； my whole soul was
absorbed in the contemplation of the intoxicating loveliness of the
gem。 THAT a Palais Royal deception！ Incredible！ My fingers
twitched； my breath came short and fierce with the lust of
possession。 She must have seen the covetous glare in my eyes。 A
look of gratified spiteful complacency overspread her features； as
she swept on ahead and descended the stairs before me。 I followed
her to the drawing…room door。 She stopped suddenly； and murmuring
something unintelligible hurried back again。
Everybody was assembled there that I expected to see； with an
addition。 Not a welcome one by the look on Tom's face。 He stood
on the hearthrug conversing with a great hulking； high…shouldered
fellow； sallow…faced； with a heavy mustache and drooping eyelids；
from the corners of which flashed out a sudden suspicious look as I
approached； which lighted up into a greedy one as it rested on my
rubies； and seemed unaccountably familiar to me； till Lady
Carwitchet tripping past me exclaimed：
〃He has come at last！ My naughty； naughty boy！ Mr。 Acton； this is
my son； Lord Carwitchet！〃
I broke off short in the midst of my polite acknowledgments to
stare blankly at her。 The sapphire was gone！ A great gilt cross；
with a Scotch pebble like an acid drop； was her sole decoration。
〃I had to put my pendant away；〃 she explained confidentially； 〃the
clasp had got broken somehow。〃 I didn't believe a word。
Lord Carwitchet contributed little to the general entertainment at
dinner； but fell into confidential talk with Mrs。 Duberly…Parker。
I caught a few unintelligible remarks across the table。 They
referred； I subsequently discovered； to the lady's little book on
Northchurch races； and I recollected that the Spring Meeting was
on； and to…morrow 〃Cup Day。〃 After dinner there was great talk
about getting up a party to go on General Fairford's drag。 Lady
Carwitchet was in ecstasies and tried to coax me into joining。
Leta declined positively。 Tom accepted sulkily。
The look in Lord Carwitchet's eye returned to my mind as I locked
up my rubies that night。 It made him look so like his mother！ I
went round my fastenings with unusual care。 Safe and closets and
desk and doors； I tried them all。 Coming at last to the bathroom；
it opened at once。 It was the housemaid's doing。 She had
evidently taken advantage of my having abandoned the room to give
it 〃a thorough spring cleaning；〃 and I anathematized her。 The
furniture was all piled together and veiled with sheets； the carpet
and felt curtain were gon