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in all my recollection wished a dinner at an end so earnestly so as
to assure her of my support and sympathy； though without the
faintest conception why either should be required。
The ices at last。 A menu card folded in two was laid beside me。 I
read it unobserved。 〃Keep the B。 from joining us in the drawing…
room。〃 The B。？ The bishop； of course。 With pleasure。 But why？
And how？ THAT'S the question； never mind 〃why。〃 Could I lure him
into the librarythe billiard roomthe conservatory？ I doubted
it； and I doubted still more what I should do with him when I got
him there。
The bishop is a grand and stately ecclesiastic of the mediaeval
type； broad…chested； deep…voiced； martial of bearing。 I could
picture him charging mace in hand at the head of his vassals； or
delivering over a dissenter of the period to the rack and
thumbscrew； but not pottering among rare editions； tall copies and
Grolier bindings； nor condescending to a quiet cigar among the tree
ferns and orchids。 Leta must and should be obeyed； I swore；
nevertheless； even if I were driven to lock the door in the
fearless old fashion of a bygone day； and declare I'd shoot any man
who left while a drop remained in the bottles。
The ladies were rising。 The lady at the head of the line smirked
and nodded her pink plumes coquettishly at Tom； while her hawk's
eyes roved keen and predatory over us all。 She stopped suddenly；
creating a block and confusion。
〃Ah； the dear bishop！ YOU there； and I never saw you！ You must
come and have a nice long chat presently。 By…by！〃 She shook her
fan at him over my shoulder and tripped off。 Leta； passing me
last； gave me a look of profound despair。
〃Lady Carwitchet！〃 somebody exclaimed。 〃I couldn't believe my
eyes。〃
〃Thought she was dead or in penal servitude。 Never should have
expected to see her HERE；〃 said some one else behind me
confidentially。
〃What Carwitchet？ Not the mother of the Carwitchet who〃
〃Just so。 The Carwitchet who…〃 Tom assented with a shrug。 〃We
needn't go farther； as she's my guest。 Just my luck。 I met them
at Buxton； thought them uncommonly good companyin fact；
Carwitchet laid me under a great obligation about a horse I was
nearly let in for buyingand gave them a general invitation here；
as one does； you know。 Never expected her to turn up with her
luggage this afternoon just before dinner； to stay a week； or a
fortnight if Carwitchet can join her。〃 A groan of sympathy ran
round the table。 〃It can't be helped。 I've told you this just to
show that I shouldn't have asked you here to meet this sort of
people of my own free will； but； as it is； please say no more about
them。〃 The subject was not dropped by any means； and I took care
that it should not be。 At our end of the table one story after
another went buzzing roundsotto voce； out of deference to Tom
but perfectly audible。
〃Carwitchet？ Ah； yes。 Mixed up in that Rawlings divorce case；
wasn't he？ A bad lot。 Turned out of the Dragoon Guards for
cheating at cards； or picking pockets； or somethingremember the
row at the Cerulean Club？ Scandalous exposureand that forged
letter businessoh； that was the motherprosecution hushed up
somehow。 Ought to be serving her fourteen yearsand that business
of poor Farrars； the bankergot hold of some of his secrets and
blackmailed him till he blew his brains out〃
It was so exciting that I clean forgot the bishop； till a low gasp
at my elbow startled me。 He was lying back in his chair； his
mighty shaven jowl a ghastly white； his fierce imperious eyebrows
drooping limp over his fishlike eyes； his splendid figure shrunk
and contracted。 He was trying with a shaken hand to pour out wine。
The decanter clattered against the glass and the wine spilled on
the cloth。
〃I'm afraid you find the room too warm。 Shall we go into the
library？〃
He rose hastily and followed me like a lamb。
He recovered himself once we got into the hall； and affably
rejected all my proffers of brandy and sodamedical advice
everything else my limited experience could suggest。 He only
demanded his carriage 〃directly〃 and that Miss Panton should be
summoned forthwith。
I made the best use I could of the time left me。
〃I'm uncommonly sorry you do not feel equal to staying a little
longer； my lord。 I counted on showing you my few trifles of
precious stones； the salvage from the wreck of my possessions。
Nothing in comparison with your own collection。〃
The bishop clasped his hand over his heart。 His breath came short
and quick。
〃A return of that dizziness；〃 he explained with a faint smile。
〃You are thinking of the Valdez sapphire； are you not？ Some day；〃
he went on with forced composure； 〃I may have the pleasure of
showing it to you。 It is at my banker's just now。〃
Miss Panton's steps were heard in the ball。 〃You are well known as
a connoisseur； Mr。 Acton；〃 he went on hurriedly。 〃Is your
collection valuable？ If so； keep it safe； don't trust a ring off
your hand； or the key of your jewel case out of your pocket till
the house is clear again。〃 The words rushed from his lips in an
impetuous whisper； he gave me a meaning glance； and departed with
his daughter。 I went back to the drawing…room； my head swimming
with bewilderment。
〃What！ The dear bishop gone！〃 screamed Lady Carwitchet from the
central ottoman where she sat； surrounded by most of the gentlemen；
all apparently well entertained by her conversation。 〃And I wanted
to talk over old times with him so badly。 His poor wife was my
greatest friend。 Mira Montanaro； daughter of the great banker； you
know。 It's not possible that that miserable little prig is my poor
Mira's girl。 The heiress of all the Montanaros in a black lace
gown worth twopence！ When I think of her mother's beauty and her
toilets！ Does she ever wear the sapphires？ Has anyone ever seen
her in them？ Eleven large stones in a lovely antique setting； and
the great Valdez sapphireworth thousands and thousandsfor the
pendant。〃 No one replied。 〃I wanted to get a rise out of the
bishop to…night。 It used to make him so mad when I wore this。〃
She fumbled among the laces at her throat； and clawed out a pendant
that hung to a velvet band around her neck。 I fairly gasped when
she removed her hand。 A sapphire of irregular shape flashed out
its blue lightning on us。 Such a stone！ A true； rich； cornflower
blue even by that wretched artificial light； with soft velvety
depths of color and dazzling clearness of tint in its lights and
shadesa stone to remember！ I stretched out my hand
involuntarily； but Lady Carwitchet drew back with a coquettish
squeal。 〃No！ no！ You mustn't look any closer。 Tell me what you
think of it now。 Isn't it pretty？〃
〃Superb！〃 was all I could ejaculate； staring at the azure splendor
of that miraculous jewel in a sort of trance。
She gave a shrill cackling laugh of mockery。