Nothingincomparisonwithyourowncollection。“
Thebishopclaspedhishandoverhisheart。Hisbreathcameshortandquick。
“Areturnofthatdizziness，“heexplainedwithafaintsmile。
“YouarethinkingoftheValdezsapphire，areyounot？Someday，“
hewentonwithforcedcomposure，“Imayhavethepleasureofshowingittoyou。Itisatmybanker’sjustnow。“
MissPanton’sstepswereheardintheball。“Youarewellknownasaconnoisseur，Mr。Acton，“hewentonhurriedly。“Isyourcollectionvaluable？Ifso，keepitsafe；don’ttrustaringoffyourhand，orthekeyofyourjewelcaseoutofyourpockettillthehouseisclearagain。“Thewordsrushedfromhislipsinanimpetuouswhisper，hegavemeameaningglance，anddepartedwithhisdaughter。Iwentbacktothedrawing-room，myheadswimmingwithbewilderment。
“What！Thedearbishopgone！“screamedLadyCarwitchetfromthecentralottomanwhereshesat，surroundedbymostofthegentlemen，allapparentlywellentertainedbyherconversation。“AndIwantedtotalkoveroldtimeswithhimsobadly。Hispoorwifewasmygreatestfriend。MiraMontanaro，daughterofthegreatbanker，youknow。It’snotpossiblethatthatmiserablelittleprigismypoorMira’sgirl。TheheiressofalltheMontanarosinablacklacegownworthtwopence！WhenIthinkofhermother’sbeautyandhertoilets！Doessheeverwearthesapphires？Hasanyoneeverseenherinthem？Elevenlargestonesinalovelyantiquesetting，andthegreatValdezsapphire——worththousandsandthousands——forthependant。“Noonereplied。“Iwantedtogetariseoutofthebishopto-night。ItusedtomakehimsomadwhenIworethis。“
Shefumbledamongthelacesatherthroat，andclawedoutapendantthathungtoavelvetbandaroundherneck。Ifairlygaspedwhensheremovedherhand。Asapphireofirregularshapeflashedoutitsbluelightningonus。Suchastone！Atrue，rich，cornflowerblueevenbythatwretchedartificiallight，withsoftvelvetydepthsofcoloranddazzlingclearnessoftintinitslightsandshades——astonetoremember！Istretchedoutmyhandinvoluntarily，butLadyCarwitchetdrewbackwithacoquettishsqueal。“No！no！Youmustn’tlookanycloser。Tellmewhatyouthinkofitnow。Isn’titpretty？“
“Superb！“wasallIcouldejaculate，staringattheazuresplendorofthatmiraculousjewelinasortoftrance。
Shegaveashrillcacklinglaughofmockery。
“ThegreatMr。ActontakeninbyabitofPalaisRoyalgimcrackery！
WhatanadvertisementforBogaertsetCie！Theyareperfectartistsinfrauds。Don’tyouremembertheirstandatthefirstParisExhibition？Theyhadimitationsthereofeverycelebratedstone；butIneverexpectedanythingmadebymancoulddeludeMr。
Acton，never！“Andshewentoffintoanothermockingcackle，andalltheidiotsroundherhaw-hawedknowingly，asiftheyhadseenthejokeallalong。Iwastoobewilderedtoreply，whichwasonthewholelucky。“IsupposeImustn’ttellwhyIcametogivequiteabigsuminfrancsforthis？“shewenton，tappingherclosedlipswithherclosedfan，andcockinghereyeatusalllikeaparrotwantingtobecoaxedtotalk。“It’saqueerstory。“
Ididn’twanttohearheranecdote，especiallyasIsawshewantedtotellit。WhatIDIDwantwastoseethatpendantagain。Shehadthrustitbackamongherlaces，onlytheloopwhichheldittothevelvetbeingvisible。Itwassetwiththreesmallsapphires，andevenfromadistanceIclearlymadethemouttobeimitations，andpoorones。Ifeltaqueerthrillofself-mistrust。Wasthelargestonenobetter？CouldI，evenforaninstant，havebeendazzledbyasham，andashamofthatquality？Theeventsoftheeveninghadflurriedandconfusedme。Iwishedtothinkthemoverinquiet。Iwouldgotobed。
MyroomsattheManorarethebestinthehouse。Letawillhaveitso。Imustexplaintheirpositionforareasontobeunderstoodlater。Mybedroomisinthesoutheastangleofthehouse；itopensononesideintoasitting-roomintheeastcorridor，therestofwhichistakenupbythesuiteofroomsoccupiedbyTomandLeta；
andontheothersideintomybathroom，thefirstroominthesouthcorridor，wheretheprincipalguestchambersare，tooneofwhichitwasoriginallythedressing-room。PassingthisroomInoticedacoupleofhousemaidspreparingitforthenight，anddiscoveredwithashiverthatLadyCarwitchetwastobemynext-doorneighbor。
Itgavemeaturn。
Thebishop’sstrangewarningmusthaveunnervedme。Iwasperfectlysafefromherladyship。Thedisuseddoorintoherroomwaslocked，andthekeysafeonthehousekeeper’sbunch。Itwasalsoundiscoverableonherside，therecessinwhichitstoodbeingcompletelyfilledbyalargewardrobe。Onmysidehungathicksound-proofportiere。Nevertheless，Iresolvednottousethatroomwhilesheinhabitedthenextone。Iremovedmypossessions，fastenedthedoorofcommunicationwithmybedroom，anddraggedaheavyottomanacrossit。
ThenIstowedawaymyemeraldinmystrong-box。Itisbuiltintothewallofmysitting-room，andmaskedbythelowerpartofanoldcarvedoakbureau。IputawayeventheringsIworehabitually，keepingoutonlyaninferiorcat’s-eyeforworkadaywear。IhadjustmadeallsafewhenLetatappedatthedoorandcameintowishmegoodnight。Shelookedflushedandharassedandreadytocry。
“UnclePaul，“shebegan，“Iwantyoutogouptotownatonce，andstayawaytillIsendforyou。“
“Mydear——！“Iwastooamazedtoexpostulate。
“We’vegota——apestilenceamongus，“shedeclared，herfoottappingthegroundangrily，“andtheleastwecandoistogointoquarantine。Oh，I’msosorryandsoashamed！Thepoorbishop！
I’lltakegoodcarethatnooneelseshallmeetthatwomanhere。
Youdidyourbestforme，UnclePaul，andmanagedadmirably，butitwasallnouse。Ihopedagainsthopethatwhatbetweentheduskofthedrawing-roombeforedinner，andbeingputatoppositeendsofthetable，wemightgetthroughwithoutameeting——“
“But，mydear，explain。Whyshouldn’tthebishopandLadyCarwitchetmeet？Whyisitworseforhimthananyoneelse？“
“Why？Ithoughteverybodyhadheardofthatdreadfulwifeofhiswhonearlybrokehisheart。Ifhemarriedherforhermoneyitservedhimright，butLadyLandorsaysshewasveryhandsomeandreallyinlovewithhimatfirst。ThenLadyCarwitchetgotholdofherandledherintoallsortsofmischief。Sheleftherhusband——
hewasonlyarectorwithacountrylivinginthosedays——andwenttoliveintown，gotintoahorridfastset，andmadeherselfnotorious。YouMUSThaveheardofher。“
“Iheardofhersapphires，mydear。ButIwasinBrazilatthetime。“
“Iwishyouhadbeenathome。Youmighthavefoundherout。ShewasfuriousbecauseherhusbandrefusedtoletherwearthegreatValdezsapphire。IthadbeenintheMontanarofamilyforsomegenerations，andherfathersettleditfirstonherandthenonherlittlegirl——thebishopbeingtrustee。Hefeltobligedtotakeawaythelittlegirl，andsendherofftobebroughtupbysomeoldauntsinthecountry，andhelockedupthesapphire。LadyCarwitchettellsasasplendidjokehowtheygotthecopymadeinParis，anditdidjustaswellforthepeopletostareat。Nowonderthebishophatestheverynameofthestone。“
“Howlongwillshestayhere？“Iaskeddismally。
“TillLordCarwitchetcancomeandescorthertoParistovisitsomeAmericanfriends。Goodnessknowswhenthatwillbe！Dogouptotown，UnclePaul！“
Irefusedindignantly。TheveryleastIcoulddowastostandbymypooryoungrelativesintheirtroublesandhelpthemthrough。I
didso。Iworethatinferiorcat’seyeforsixweeks！
ItisatimeIcannotthinkofevennowwithoutashudder。ThemoreIsawofthatterribleoldwomanthemoreIdetestedher，andwesawaverygreatdealofher。Letakeptherword，andneitheracceptednorgaveinvitationsallthattime。WewerecutofffromallsocietybutthatofoldGeneralFairford，whowouldgoanywhereandmeetanyonetogetarubberafterdinner；thedoctor，asportingwidower；andtheDuberlys，agiddy，ratherracketyyoungcouplewhohadtakentheDowerHouseforayear。LadyCarwitchetseemedperfectlycontent。ShereveledinthesoftlivingandgoodfareoftheManorHouse，thedrivesinLeta’sbigbarouche，andDomenico’sdinners，asonetowhomshortcommonswerenotunknown。
Shehadahungrywayofgrabbingandgraspingateverythingshecould——theshillingsshewonatwhist，thebestfruitatdessert，thepostagestampsinthelibraryinkstand——thatwasinfinitelysuggestive。SometimesIcouldhavepitiedher，shewassogreedy，sospiteful，sofriendless。Shealwaysmademethinkofsomewickedoldpirateputtingintoapeacefulporttoprovisionandrepairhisbatteredoldhulk，obligedtoliveonfriendlytermswiththenatives，buthispiraticaloldnostrilsasniffforplunderandhispiraticaloldsoullongingtobeoffmaraudingoncemore。
Whenwouldthatbe？NottillthearrivalinParisofherdistinguishedAmericanfriends，ofwhomweheardagreatdeal。
“Charmingpeople，theBokumsofChicago，theAmericanbranchoftheEnglishBeauchamps，youknow！“Theyseemedtobetakinganunconscionabletimetogetthere。ShewouldhaveinsistedonbeingdrivenovertoNorthchurchtocallatthepalace，butthatthebishopwasunderstoodtobeholdingconfirmationsattheotherendofthediocese。
Iwasaloneinthehouseoneafternoonsittingbymywindow，toyingwiththekeyofmysafe，andwonderingwhetherIdaretreatmyselftoapeepatmytreasures，whenasuspiciousmovementintheparkbelowcaughtmyattention。Ablackfigurecertainlydodgedfrombehindonetreetothenext，andthenintotheshadowoftheparkpalinginsteadofkeepingtothefootpath。Itlookedqueer。I
caughtupmyfieldglassandmarkedhimatonepointwherehewasboundtocomeintotheopenforafewsteps。Hecrossedthestripofturfwithgiantstridesandgotintocoveragain，butnotquickenoughtopreventmerecognizinghim。Itwas——greatheavens！——thebishop！Inasofthatpulledoverhisforehead，withalongcloakandabigstick，helookedlikeapoacher。
GuidedbysomemysteriousinstinctIhurriedtomeethim。Iopenedtheconservatorydoor，andinherushedlikeahuntedrabbit。
WithoutexplanationIledhimupthewidestaircasetomyroom，wherehedroppedintoachairandwipedhisface。
“Youareastonished，Mr。Acton，“hepanted。“Iwillexplaindirectly。Thanks。“HetossedofftheglassofbrandyIhadpouredoutwithoutwaitingforthequalifyingsoda，andlookedbetter。
“Iaminserioustrouble。Youcanhelpme。I’vehadashockto-
day——agrievousshock。“Hestoppedandtriedtopullhimselftogether。“Imusttrustyouimplicitly，Mr。Acton，Ihavenochoice。Tellmewhatyouthinkofthis。“Hedrewacasefromhisbreastpocketandopenedit。“IpromisedyoushouldseetheValdezsapphire。Lookthere！“
TheValdezsapphire！Agreatbigshininglumpofbluecrystal——
flawlessandofperfectcolor——thatwasall。Itookitup，breathedonit，drewoutmymagnifier，lookedatitinonelightandanother。Whatwaswrongwithit？Icouldnotsay。Nineexpertsoutoftenwouldundoubtedlyhavepronouncedthestonegenuine。I，byvirtueofsomemysteriousinstinctthathashithertoalwaysguidedmearight，wastheunluckytenth。Ilookedatthebishop。Hiseyesmetmine。Therewasnoneedofspokenwordbetweenus。
“HasLadyCarwitchetshownyouhersapphire？“washismostunexpectedquestion。“Shehas？Now，Mr。Acton，onyourhonorasaconnoisseurandagentleman，whichofthetwoistheValdez？“
“Notthisone。“Icouldsaynaughtelse。
“Youweremylasthope。“Hebrokeoff，anddroppedhisfaceonhisfoldedarmswithagroanthatshookthetableonwhichherested，whileIstooddismayedatmyselfforhavingletsohastyajudgmentescapeme。Heliftedaghastlycountenancetome。“Shevowedshewouldseemeruinedanddisgraced。Imadehermyenemybycrossingsomeofherschemesonce，andsheneverforgives。Shewillkeepherword。Ishallappearbeforetheworldasafraudulenttrustee。
Icanneitherproducethevaluableconfidedtomychargenormakethelossgood。Ihaveonlyanincrediblestorytotell，“bedroppedhisheadandgroanedagain。“Whowillbelieveme？“
“Iwill，forone。“