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When would that be？ Not till the arrival in Paris of her
distinguished American friends； of whom we heard a great deal。
〃Charming people； the Bokums of Chicago； the American branch of the
English Beauchamps； you know！〃 They seemed to be taking an
unconscionable time to get there。 She would have insisted on being
driven over to Northchurch to call at the palace； but that the
bishop was understood to be holding confirmations at the other end
of the diocese。
I was alone in the house one afternoon sitting by my window； toying
with the key of my safe； and wondering whether I dare treat myself
to a peep at my treasures； when a suspicious movement in the park
below caught my attention。 A black figure certainly dodged from
behind one tree to the next； and then into the shadow of the park
paling instead of keeping to the footpath。 It looked queer。 I
caught up my field glass and marked him at one point where he was
bound to come into the open for a few steps。 He crossed the strip
of turf with giant strides and got into cover again； but not quick
enough to prevent me recognizing him。 It wasgreat heavens！the
bishop！ In a soft hat pulled over his forehead； with a long cloak
and a big stick； he looked like a poacher。
Guided by some mysterious instinct I hurried to meet him。 I opened
the conservatory door； and in he rushed like a hunted rabbit。
Without explanation I led him up the wide staircase to my room；
where he dropped into a chair and wiped his face。
〃You are astonished； Mr。 Acton；〃 he panted。 〃I will explain
directly。 Thanks。〃 He tossed off the glass of brandy I had poured
out without waiting for the qualifying soda； and looked better。
〃I am in serious trouble。 You can help me。 I've had a shock to…
daya grievous shock。〃 He stopped and tried to pull himself
together。 〃I must trust you implicitly； Mr。 Acton； I have no
choice。 Tell me what you think of this。〃 He drew a case from his
breast pocket and opened it。 〃I promised you should see the Valdez
sapphire。 Look there！〃
The Valdez sapphire！ A great big shining lump of blue crystal
flawless and of perfect colorthat was all。 I took it up；
breathed on it； drew out my magnifier； looked at it in one light
and another。 What was wrong with it？ I could not say。 Nine
experts out of ten would undoubtedly have pronounced the stone
genuine。 I； by virtue of some mysterious instinct that has
hitherto always guided me aright； was the unlucky tenth。 I looked
at the bishop。 His eyes met mine。 There was no need of spoken
word between us。
〃Has Lady Carwitchet shown you her sapphire？〃 was his most
unexpected question。 〃She has？ Now； Mr。 Acton； on your honor as a
connoisseur and a gentleman； which of the two is the Valdez？〃
〃Not this one。〃 I could say naught else。
〃You were my last hope。〃 He broke off； and dropped his face on his
folded arms with a groan that shook the table on which he rested；
while I stood dismayed at myself for having let so hasty a judgment
escape me。 He lifted a ghastly countenance to me。 〃She vowed she
would see me ruined and disgraced。 I made her my enemy by crossing
some of her schemes once； and she never forgives。 She will keep
her word。 I shall appear before the world as a fraudulent trustee。
I can neither produce the valuable confided to my charge nor make
the loss good。 I have only an incredible story to tell；〃 be
dropped his head and groaned again。 〃Who will believe me？〃
〃I will； for one。〃
〃Ah； you？ Yes； you know her。 She took my wife from me； Mr。 Acton。
Heaven only knows what the hold was that she had over poor Mira。
She encouraged her to set me at defiance and eventually to leave
me。 She was answerable for all the scandalous folly and
extravagance of poor Mira's life in Parisspare me the telling of
the story。 She left her at last to die alone and uncared for。 I
reached my wife to find her dying of a fever from which Lady
Carwitchet and her crew had fled。 She was raving in delirium； and
died without recognizing me。 Some trouble she had been in which I
must never know oppressed her。 At the very last she roused from a
long stupor and spoke to the nurse。 'Tell him to get the sapphire
backshe stole it。 She has robbed my child。' Those were her last
words。 The nurse understood no English； and treated them as
wandering； but I heard them； and knew she was sane when she spoke。〃
〃What did you do？〃
〃What could I？ I saw Lady Carwitchet； who laughed at me； and
defied me to make her confess or disgorge。 I took the pendant to
more than one eminent jeweler on pretense of having the setting
seen to； and all have examined and admired without giving a hint of
there being anything wrong。 I allowed a celebrated mineralogist to
see it； he gave no sign〃
〃Perhaps they are right and we are wrong。〃
〃No； no。 Listen。 I heard of an old Dutchman celebrated for his
imitations。 I went to him； and he told me at once that he had been
allowed by Montanaro to copy the Valdezsetting and allfor the
Paris Exhibition。 I showed him this； and he claimed it for his own
work at once； and pointed out his private mark upon it。 You must
take your magnifier to find it； a Greek Beta。 He also told me that
he had sold it to Lady Carwitchet more than a year ago。
〃It is a terrible position。〃
〃It is。 My co…trustee died lately。 I have never dared to have
another appointed。 I am bound to hand over the sapphire to my
daughter on her marriage； if her husband consents to take the name
of Montanaro。〃
The bishop's face was ghastly pale； and the moisture started on his
brow。 I racked my brain for some word of comfort。
〃Miss Panton may never marry。〃
〃But she will！〃 he shouted。 〃That is the blow that has been dealt
me to…day。 My chaplainactually； my chaplaintells me that he is
going out as a temperance missionary to equatorial Africa； and has
the assurance to add that he believes my daughter is not indisposed
to accompany him！〃 His consummating wrath acted as a momentary
stimulant。 He sat upright； his eyes flashing and his brow
thunderous。 I felt for that chaplain。 Then he collapsed
miserably。 〃The sapphires will have to be produced； identified；
revalued。 How shall I come out of it？ Think of the disgrace； the
ripping up of old scandals！ Even if I were to compound with Lady
Carwitchet； the sum she hinted at was too monstrous。 She wants
more than my money。 Help me； Mr。 Acton！ For the sake of your own
family interests； help me！〃
〃I beg your pardonfamily interests？ I don't understand。〃
〃If my daughter is childless； her next of kin is poor Marmaduke
Panton； who is dying at Cannes； not married； or likely to marry；
and failing him； your nephew； Sir Thomas Acton； succeeds。〃
My nephew Tom！ Leta； or Leta's baby； might come to be the possible
inheritor of the great Valdez sapphire！ The blood rushed to my
head as I looked at the great shining swindle bef