Themanontheothersideglancedathim，Ithought，alittlecuriously。
“Ifyoucangivemereferences，orsatisfymeinanywayastoyourbonafides，Iampreparedtogiveyouforthisdiamondanopencheckfortenthousandpounds，orifyoupreferit，thecashinstead。“
Istared；Iwasnotaccustomedtoseebusinesstransactedonquitesuchlinesasthose。
“We’lltakeit，“murmuredPugh；Ibelievehewastoomuchovercomebyhisfeelingstodomorethanmurmur。Iinterposed。
“Mydearsir，youwillexcusemysayingthatyouarriveveryrapidlyatyourconclusions。Inthefirstplace，howcanyoumakesurethatitisadiamond？“
Themanbehindthecountersmiled。
“Ishouldbeveryill-fittedforthepositionwhichIholdifI
couldnottelladiamonddirectlyIgetasightofit，especiallysuchastoneasthis。“
“Buthaveyounotestsyoucanapply？“
“Wehavetestswhichweapplyincasesinwhichdoubtexists，butinthiscasethereisnodoubtwhatever。IamassurethatthisisadiamondasIamsurethatitisairIbreathe。However，hereisatest。“
Therewasawheelclosebythespeaker。Itwasworkedbyatreadle。Itwasmorelikeasuperiorsortoftraveling-tinker’sgrindstonethananythingelse。Themanbehindthecounterputhisfootuponthetreadle。Thewheelbegantorevolve。Hebroughtthecrystalintocontactwiththeswiftlyrevolvingwheel。Therewasas——s——sh！And，inaninstant，hishandwasempty；thecrystalhadvanishedintoair。
“Goodheavens！“hegasped。Ineversawsuchalookofamazementonahumancountenancebefore。“It’ssplintered！“
POSTSCRIPT
ItWASadiamond，althoughitHADsplintered。Inthatfactlaythepointofthejoke。Themanbehindthecounterhadnotbeenwrong；
examinationofsuchdustascouldbecollectedprovedthatfactbeyondadoubt。Itwasdeclaredbyexpertsthatthediamond，atsomeperiodofitshistory，hadbeensubjectedtointenseandcontinuingheat。Theresulthadbeentomakeitasbrittleasglass。
Therecouldbenodoubtthatitsoriginalownerhadbeenanexperttoo。Heknewwherehegotitfrom，andheprobablyknewwhatithadendured。Hewasawarethat，fromamercantilepointofview，itwasworthless；itcouldneverhavebeencut。So，havingaturnforhumorofapeculiarkind，hehaddevoteddays，andweeks，andpossiblymonths，totheconstructionofthatpuzzle。Hehadplacedthediamondinside，andhehadenjoyed，inanticipationandinimagination，theAlnascharvisionsoftheluckyfinder。
Pughblamedmeforthecatastrophe。Hesaid，andstillsays，thatifIhadnot，inameasure，andquitegratuitously，insistedonatest，themanbehindthecounterwouldhavebeensatisfiedwiththeevidenceofhisorgansofvision，andweshouldhavebeenricherbytenthousandpounds。ButIsatisfymyconsciencewiththereflectionthatwhatIdidatanyratewashonest，though，atthesametime，IamperfectlywellawarethatsuchareflectiongivesPughnosortofsatisfaction。
TheGreatValdezSapphireIknowmoreaboutitthananyoneelseintheworld，itspresentownernotexcepted。Icangiveitswholehistory，fromtheCingalesewhofoundit，theSpanishadventurerwhostoleit，thecardinalwhoboughtit，thePopewhograciouslyacceptedit，thefavoredsonoftheChurchwhoreceivedit，thegayandgiddyduchesswhopawnedit，downtotheeminentprelatewhonowholdsitintrustasafamilyheirloom。
Itwilloccupyachaptertoitselfinmyforthcomingworkon“HistoricStones，“wherefulldetailsofitsweight，size，color，andvaluemaybefound。AtpresentIamgoingtorelateanincidentinitshistorywhich，forobviousreasons，willnotbepublished——which，infact，Itrustthereaderwillconsiderrelatedinstrictconfidence。
IhadneverseenthestoneitselfwhenIbegantowriteaboutit，anditwasnottilloneeveninglastspring，whilestayingwithmynephew，SirThomasActon，thatIcamewithinmeasurabledistanceofit。Adinnerpartywasimpending，and，atmyinstigation，theBishopofNorthchurchandMissPanton，hisdaughterandheiress，wereamongtheinvitedguests。
Thedinnerwasaparticularlygoodone，Irememberthatdistinctly。
Infact，Ifeltmyselfpartlyresponsibleforit，havingengagedthenewcook——atalentedyoungItalian，pupiloftheadmirableoldchefatmyclub。Wehadgoneoverthemenucarefullytogether，witharesultrefreshinginitsnovelty，butnotsodaringastodisturbthemindsoftheinnocentcountryguestswhowerebiddenthereto。
Thefirstspoonfulofsoupwasreassuring，andIlookedtotheendofthetabletoexchangeacongratulatoryglancewithLeta。Whatwasamiss？Noresponse。Herprettyfacewasflushed，hersmileconstrained，shewastalkingwithquiteunnecessaryempressementtoherneighbor，SirHarryLandor，thoughLetaisoneofthosefewwomenwhounderstandtheimportanceoflettingamansettledowntranquillyandwithanundisturbedmindtothebusinessofdining，allowingnotopicofseriousinteresttocomeonbeforethereleves，andreservingmereconversationalbrilliancyfortheentremets。
Guestsallright？Nodisappointments？Ihadgonethroughthelistwithher，selectingjusttherightpeopletobeaskedtomeettheLandors，ournewneighbors。Notamerecumbrouscountygathering，noryetashowyimportedpartyfromtown，butaskillfulblendingofboth。Hadanythinghappenedalready？Ihadbeenlatefordinnerandmissedthearrivalsinthedrawing-room。ItwasLeta’sfault。Shehasgotintoawayofcomingintomyroomandputtingthelasttouchestomytoilet。Ilether，forIamdoubtfulofmyselfnowadaysaftermanyyears’dependenceonthebestofvalets。
Hertasteisgenerallybeyonddispute，butto-dayshehadindulgedinafemininevagarythatprovokedmeandmademelatefordinner。
“Areyougoingtowearyoursapphire，UnclePaul！“shecriedinatoneofdismay。“Oh，whynottheruby？“
“YouWOULDhaveyourwayaboutthetabledecorations，“Igentlyremindedher。“withthatserviceofCrownDerbyrepousseandorchids，therubywouldlookabsolutelybarbaric。NowifyouwouldhavehadtheLimogesset，whitecandles，andayellowsilkcenter——“
“Oh，but——I’mSOdisappointed——Iwantedthebishoptoseeyourruby——oroneofyourengravedgems——“
“Mydear，itisonthebishop’saccountIputthison。YouknowhisdaughterisheiressofthegreatValdezsapphire——“
“Ofcoursesheis，andwhenhehasthechargeofastonethreetimesasbigasyours，what’stheuseofwearingit？Theruby，dearUnclePaul，PLEASE！“
ShewasdesperatelyinearnestIcouldsee，andconsideringtheobligationswhichIamsupposedtobeundertoherandTom，itwasbutalittlemattertoyield，butitinvolvedagooddealofextratrouble。Studs，sleeve-links，watch-guard，allcarefullyselectedtogowiththesapphire，hadtobechanged，theemeraldwhichI
choseasacompromiserequiringmorefloridaccompanimentsofadeepertoneofgold；andthedinnerhourstruckasIreplacedmyjewelcase，theonerelicleftmeofaoncehandsomefortune，inmyfireproofsafe。
Theemeraldlookedverywellthatevening，however。IkeptmyeyesuponitforcomfortwhenMissPantonprovedtrying。
Shewasalean，yellow，dictatorialyoungpersonwithnoconversation。Ispokeofherfather’scelebratedsapphires。“MY
sapphires，“sheamendedsourly；“thoughIamlegallydebarredfrommakinganyprofitableuseofthem。“Shefurthermoreinformedmethatsheviewedthemasuselessgauds，whichoughttobedisposedofforthebenefitoftheheathen。Igavethesubjectup，andwhileshediscoursedoftheworkoftheBlueRibbonArmyamongtheBosjesmansItriedtounderstandacertaindislocationinthearrangementofthetable。Surelyweweremoreorlessinnumberthanweshouldbe？Oppositesideallright。Whowasextraonours？Ileanedforward。LadyLandorononesideofTom，ontheotherwho？Icaughtglimpsesofplumespinkandgreennoddingoveradinnerplate，andbeneaththemapinknoseinagreenvisagewithanutcrackerchinaltogetherunknowntome。Asharpgrayeyeshotasidewayglancedownthetableandcaughtmepeeping，andI
retreated，havingonlymarkedinadditiontwoclawlikehands，withpointedrufflesandamassofbrilliantrings，makinggoodplaywithaknifeandfork。Whowasshe？AtintervalsahighacidvoicecouldbeheardaddressingTom，andalaughthatmademeshudder；ithadthequalityofthescreamofabirdofpreyortheyellofajackal。Ihadheardthatsortoflaughbefore，anditalwaysmademefeellikeadefenselessrabbit。
EverytimeitsoundedIsawLeta’sfanfluttermorefuriouslyandhermannergrowmorenervouslyanimated。Poordeargirl！Ineverinallmyrecollectionwishedadinneratanendsoearnestlysoastoassureherofmysupportandsympathy，thoughwithoutthefaintestconceptionwhyeithershouldberequired。
Theicesatlast。Amenucardfoldedintwowaslaidbesideme。I
readitunobserved。“KeeptheB。fromjoiningusinthedrawing-
room。“TheB。？Thebishop，ofcourse。Withpleasure。Butwhy？
Andhow？THAT’Sthequestion，nevermind“why。“CouldIlurehimintothelibrary——thebilliardroom——theconservatory？Idoubtedit，andIdoubtedstillmorewhatIshoulddowithhimwhenIgothimthere。
Thebishopisagrandandstatelyecclesiasticofthemediaevaltype，broad-chested，deep-voiced，martialofbearing。Icouldpicturehimchargingmaceinhandattheheadofhisvassals，ordeliveringoveradissenteroftheperiodtotherackandthumbscrew，butnotpotteringamongrareeditions，tallcopiesandGrolierbindings，norcondescendingtoaquietcigaramongthetreefernsandorchids。Letamustandshouldbeobeyed，Iswore，nevertheless，evenifIweredriventolockthedoorinthefearlessoldfashionofabygoneday，anddeclareI’dshootanymanwholeftwhileadropremainedinthebottles。
Theladieswererising。TheladyattheheadofthelinesmirkedandnoddedherpinkplumescoquettishlyatTom，whileherhawk’seyesrovedkeenandpredatoryoverusall。Shestoppedsuddenly，creatingablockandconfusion。
“Ah，thedearbishop！YOUthere，andIneversawyou！Youmustcomeandhaveanicelongchatpresently。By-by——！“Sheshookherfanathimovermyshoulderandtrippedoff。Leta，passingmelast，gavemealookofprofounddespair。
“LadyCarwitchet！“somebodyexclaimed。“Icouldn’tbelievemyeyes。“
“Thoughtshewasdeadorinpenalservitude。NevershouldhaveexpectedtoseeherHERE，“saidsomeoneelsebehindmeconfidentially。
“WhatCarwitchet？NotthemotheroftheCarwitchetwho——“
“Justso。TheCarwitchetwho——“Tomassentedwithashrug。“Weneedn’tgofarther，asshe’smyguest。Justmyluck。ImetthematBuxton，thoughtthemuncommonlygoodcompany——infact，CarwitchetlaidmeunderagreatobligationaboutahorseIwasnearlyletinforbuying——andgavethemageneralinvitationhere，asonedoes，youknow。Neverexpectedhertoturnupwithherluggagethisafternoonjustbeforedinner，tostayaweek，orafortnightifCarwitchetcanjoinher。“Agroanofsympathyranroundthetable。“Itcan’tbehelped。I’vetoldyouthisjusttoshowthatIshouldn’thaveaskedyouheretomeetthissortofpeopleofmyownfreewill；but，asitis，pleasesaynomoreaboutthem。“Thesubjectwasnotdroppedbyanymeans，andItookcarethatitshouldnotbe。Atourendofthetableonestoryafteranotherwentbuzzinground——sottovoce，outofdeferencetoTom——
butperfectlyaudible。
“Carwitchet？Ah，yes。MixedupinthatRawlingsdivorcecase，wasn’the？Abadlot。TurnedoutoftheDragoonGuardsforcheatingatcards，orpickingpockets，orsomething——remembertherowattheCeruleanClub？Scandalousexposure——andthatforgedletterbusiness——oh，thatwasthemother——prosecutionhushedupsomehow。Oughttobeservingherfourteenyears——andthatbusinessofpoorFarrars，thebanker——gotholdofsomeofhissecretsandblackmailedhimtillheblewhisbrainsout——“
ItwassoexcitingthatIcleanforgotthebishop，tillalowgaspatmyelbowstartledme。Hewaslyingbackinhischair，hismightyshavenjowlaghastlywhite，hisfierceimperiouseyebrowsdroopinglimpoverhisfishlikeeyes，hissplendidfigureshrunkandcontracted。Hewastryingwithashakenhandtopouroutwine。
Thedecanterclatteredagainsttheglassandthewinespilledonthecloth。
“I’mafraidyoufindtheroomtoowarm。Shallwegointothelibrary？“
Herosehastilyandfollowedmelikealamb。
Herecoveredhimselfoncewegotintothehall，andaffablyrejectedallmyproffersofbrandyandsoda——medicaladvice——
everythingelsemylimitedexperiencecouldsuggest。Heonlydemandedhiscarriage“directly“andthatMissPantonshouldbesummonedforthwith。
ImadethebestuseIcouldofthetimeleftme。
“I’muncommonlysorryyoudonotfeelequaltostayingalittlelonger，mylord。Icountedonshowingyoumyfewtriflesofpreciousstones，thesalvagefromthewreckofmypossessions。