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too。 He knew where he got it from； and he probably knew what it
had endured。 He was aware that； from a mercantile point of view；
it was worthless； it could never have been cut。 So； having a turn
for humor of a peculiar kind； he had devoted days； and weeks； and
possibly months； to the construction of that puzzle。 He had placed
the diamond inside； and he had enjoyed； in anticipation and in
imagination； the Alnaschar visions of the lucky finder。
Pugh blamed me for the catastrophe。 He said； and still says； that
if I had not； in a measure； and quite gratuitously； insisted on a
test； the man behind the counter would have been satisfied with the
evidence of his organs of vision； and we should have been richer by
ten thousand pounds。 But I satisfy my conscience with the
reflection that what I did at any rate was honest； though； at the
same time； I am perfectly well aware that such a reflection gives
Pugh no sort of satisfaction。
The Great Valdez Sapphire
I know more about it than anyone else in the world； its present
owner not excepted。 I can give its whole history； from the
Cingalese who found it； the Spanish adventurer who stole it； the
cardinal who bought it； the Pope who graciously accepted it； the
favored son of the Church who received it； the gay and giddy
duchess who pawned it； down to the eminent prelate who now holds it
in trust as a family heirloom。
It will occupy a chapter to itself in my forthcoming work on
〃Historic Stones；〃 where full details of its weight； size； color；
and value may be found。 At present I am going to relate an
incident in its history which； for obvious reasons； will not be
publishedwhich； in fact； I trust the reader will consider related
in strict confidence。
I had never seen the stone itself when I began to write about it；
and it was not till one evening last spring； while staying with my
nephew； Sir Thomas Acton； that I came within measurable distance of
it。 A dinner party was impending； and； at my instigation； the
Bishop of Northchurch and Miss Panton； his daughter and heiress；
were among the invited guests。
The dinner was a particularly good one； I remember that distinctly。
In fact； I felt myself partly responsible for it； having engaged
the new cooka talented young Italian； pupil of the admirable old
chef at my club。 We had gone over the menu carefully together；
with a result refreshing in its novelty； but not so daring as to
disturb the minds of the innocent country guests who were bidden
thereto。
The first spoonful of soup was reassuring； and I looked to the end
of the table to exchange a congratulatory glance with Leta。 What
was amiss？ No response。 Her pretty face was flushed； her smile
constrained； she was talking with quite unnecessary empressement to
her neighbor； Sir Harry Landor； though Leta is one of those few
women who understand the importance of letting a man settle down
tranquilly and with an undisturbed mind to the business of dining；
allowing no topic of serious interest to come on before the
releves； and reserving mere conversational brilliancy for the
entremets。
Guests all right？ No disappointments？ I had gone through the list
with her； selecting just the right people to be asked to meet the
Landors； our new neighbors。 Not a mere cumbrous county gathering；
nor yet a showy imported party from town； but a skillful blending
of both。 Had anything happened already？ I had been late for
dinner and missed the arrivals in the drawing…room。 It was Leta's
fault。 She has got into a way of coming into my room and putting
the last touches to my toilet。 I let her； for I am doubtful of
myself nowadays after many years' dependence on the best of valets。
Her taste is generally beyond dispute； but to…day she had indulged
in a feminine vagary that provoked me and made me late for dinner。
〃Are you going to wear your sapphire； Uncle Paul！〃 she cried in a
tone of dismay。 〃Oh； why not the ruby？〃
〃You WOULD have your way about the table decorations；〃 I gently
reminded her。 〃with that service of Crown Derby repousse and
orchids； the ruby would look absolutely barbaric。 Now if you would
have had the Limoges set； white candles； and a yellow silk center〃
〃Oh； butI'm SO disappointedI wanted the bishop to see your
rubyor one of your engraved gems〃
〃My dear； it is on the bishop's account I put this on。 You know
his daughter is heiress of the great Valdez sapphire〃
〃Of course she is； and when he has the charge of a stone three
times as big as yours； what's the use of wearing it？ The ruby；
dear Uncle Paul； PLEASE！〃
She was desperately in earnest I could see； and considering the
obligations which I am supposed to be under to her and Tom； it was
but a little matter to yield； but it involved a good deal of extra
trouble。 Studs； sleeve…links； watch…guard； all carefully selected
to go with the sapphire； had to be changed； the emerald which I
chose as a compromise requiring more florid accompaniments of a
deeper tone of gold； and the dinner hour struck as I replaced my
jewel case； the one relic left me of a once handsome fortune； in my
fireproof safe。
The emerald looked very well that evening； however。 I kept my eyes
upon it for comfort when Miss Panton proved trying。
She was a lean； yellow； dictatorial young person with no
conversation。 I spoke of her father's celebrated sapphires。 〃MY
sapphires；〃 she amended sourly； 〃though I am legally debarred from
making any profitable use of them。〃 She furthermore informed me
that she viewed them as useless gauds； which ought to be disposed
of for the benefit of the heathen。 I gave the subject up； and
while she discoursed of the work of the Blue Ribbon Army among the
Bosjesmans I tried to understand a certain dislocation in the
arrangement of the table。 Surely we were more or less in number
than we should be？ Opposite side all right。 Who was extra on
ours？ I leaned forward。 Lady Landor on one side of Tom； on the
other who？ I caught glimpses of plumes pink and green nodding over
a dinner plate； and beneath them a pink nose in a green visage with
a nutcracker chin altogether unknown to me。 A sharp gray eye shot
a sideway glance down the table and caught me peeping； and I
retreated； having only marked in addition two clawlike hands； with
pointed ruffles and a mass of brilliant rings； making good play
with a knife and fork。 Who was she？ At intervals a high acid
voice could be heard addressing Tom； and a laugh that made me
shudder； it had the quality of the scream of a bird of prey or the
yell of a jackal。 I had heard that sort of laugh before； and it
always made me feel like a defenseless rabbit。
Every time it sounded I saw Leta's fan flutter more furiously and
her manner grow more nervously animated。 Poor dear girl！ I never
in all my recollection wished a dinner at an end so earnestly so as
to assure her of my support and sympathy； tho