“Ah，you？Yes，youknowher。Shetookmywifefromme，Mr。Acton。
HeavenonlyknowswhattheholdwasthatshehadoverpoorMira。
Sheencouragedhertosetmeatdefianceandeventuallytoleaveme。ShewasanswerableforallthescandalousfollyandextravaganceofpoorMira’slifeinParis——sparemethetellingofthestory。Sheleftheratlasttodiealoneanduncaredfor。I
reachedmywifetofindherdyingofafeverfromwhichLadyCarwitchetandhercrewhadfled。Shewasravingindelirium，anddiedwithoutrecognizingme。SometroubleshehadbeeninwhichI
mustneverknowoppressedher。Attheverylastsherousedfromalongstuporandspoketothenurse。’Tellhimtogetthesapphireback——shestoleit。Shehasrobbedmychild。’Thosewereherlastwords。ThenurseunderstoodnoEnglish，andtreatedthemaswandering；butIheardthem，andknewshewassanewhenshespoke。“
“Whatdidyoudo？“
“WhatcouldI？IsawLadyCarwitchet，wholaughedatme，anddefiedmetomakeherconfessordisgorge。Itookthependanttomorethanoneeminentjeweleronpretenseofhavingthesettingseento，andallhaveexaminedandadmiredwithoutgivingahintoftherebeinganythingwrong。Iallowedacelebratedmineralogisttoseeit；hegavenosign——“
“Perhapstheyarerightandwearewrong。“
“No，no。Listen。IheardofanoldDutchmancelebratedforhisimitations。Iwenttohim，andhetoldmeatoncethathehadbeenallowedbyMontanarotocopytheValdez——settingandall——fortheParisExhibition。Ishowedhimthis，andheclaimeditforhisownworkatonce，andpointedouthisprivatemarkuponit。Youmusttakeyourmagnifiertofindit；aGreekBeta。HealsotoldmethathehadsoldittoLadyCarwitchetmorethanayearago。
“Itisaterribleposition。“
“Itis。Myco-trusteediedlately。Ihaveneverdaredtohaveanotherappointed。Iamboundtohandoverthesapphiretomydaughteronhermarriage，ifherhusbandconsentstotakethenameofMontanaro。“
Thebishop’sfacewasghastlypale，andthemoisturestartedonhisbrow。Irackedmybrainforsomewordofcomfort。
“MissPantonmaynevermarry。“
“Butshewill！“heshouted。“Thatistheblowthathasbeendealtmeto-day。Mychaplain——actually，mychaplain——tellsmethatheisgoingoutasatemperancemissionarytoequatorialAfrica，andhastheassurancetoaddthathebelievesmydaughterisnotindisposedtoaccompanyhim！“Hisconsummatingwrathactedasamomentarystimulant。Hesatupright，hiseyesflashingandhisbrowthunderous。Ifeltforthatchaplain。Thenhecollapsedmiserably。“Thesapphireswillhavetobeproduced，identified，revalued。HowshallIcomeoutofit？Thinkofthedisgrace，therippingupofoldscandals！EvenifIweretocompoundwithLadyCarwitchet，thesumshehintedatwastoomonstrous。Shewantsmorethanmymoney。Helpme，Mr。Acton！Forthesakeofyourownfamilyinterests，helpme！“
“Ibegyourpardon——familyinterests？Idon’tunderstand。“
“Ifmydaughterischildless，hernextofkinispoorMarmadukePanton，whoisdyingatCannes，notmarried，orlikelytomarry；
andfailinghim，yournephew，SirThomasActon，succeeds。“
MynephewTom！Leta，orLeta’sbaby，mightcometobethepossibleinheritorofthegreatValdezsapphire！ThebloodrushedtomyheadasIlookedatthegreatshiningswindlebeforeme。“Whatdiabolicjugglerywasatworkwhentheexchangewasmade？“I
demandedfiercely。
“ItmusthavebeenonthelastoccasionofherwearingthesapphiresinLondon。Ioughtnevertohaveletheroutofmysight“
“YoumustputastoptoMissPanton’smarriageinthefirstplace，“
Ipronouncedasautocraticallyashecouldhavedonehimself。
“Nottobethoughtof，“headmittedhelplessly。“Mirahasmyforceofcharacter。Sheknowsherrights，andshewillhaveherjewels。
Iwantyoutotakechargeofthe——thingforme。Ifit’sinthehouseshe’llmakemeproduceit。She’llinquireatthebanker’s。
IfYOUhaveitwecangaintime，ifbutforadayortwo。“Hebrokeoff。Carriagewheelswerecrashingonthegraveloutside。
Welookedatoneanotherinconsternation。Flightwasimperative。
Ihurriedhimdownstairsandoutoftheconservatoryjustasthedoorbellrang。Ithinkwebothlostourheadsintheconfusion。
Heshovedthecaseintomyhands，andIpocketedit，withoutathoughtoftheawfulresponsibilityIwasincurring，andsawhimdisappearintotheshelterofthefriendlynight。
WhenIthinkofwhatmyfeelingswerethatevening——ofmymurderoushatredofthatsmirking，jestingJezebelwhosatoppositemeatdinner，mywrathfulindignationatthethoughtofthepoorlittleexpectedheirdefraudederehisbirth；ofthecrushingcontemptI
feltformyselfandthebishopasapairofwitlessidiotsunabletoseeourwayoutofthedilemma；allthisboilingandsurgingthroughmysoul，Icanonlywonder——Domenicohavinggivenhimselfaholiday，andthekitchenmaiddoingherworstandwickedest——thatgoutorjaundicedidnotputanendtothisstoryatonce。
“UnclePaul！“Letawaslookinghersweetestwhenshetrippedintomyroomnextmorning。“I’venewsforyou。She，“pointingadelicateforefingerinthedirectionofthecorridor，“isgoing！
HerBokumshavereachedParisatlast，andsentforhertojointhemattheGrandHotel。“
Iwasthunderstruck。Thelonged-fordeliverancehadbutcometoremovehopelesslyandforeveroutofmyreachLadyCarwitchetandthegreatValdezsapphire。
“Why，aren’tyouoverjoyed？Iam。Wearegoingtocelebratetheeventbyadinnerparty。Tom’shospitablesoulisvexedbythelackofentertainmentwehadprovidedher。WemustasktheBrownleyssomedayorother，andtheywillbedelightedtomeetanythinginthewayofaladyship，orsuchsmartfolksastheDuberly-Parkers。ThenwemayaswellhavetheBlomfields，andairthatawfulmodernSevresdessertserviceshegaveuswhenweweremarried。“Ihadnoobjectiontomake，andshewenton，rubbinghersoftcheekagainstmyshoulderlikethepurringlittlecatshewas:
“NowIwantyoutodosomethingtopleaseme——andMrs。Blomfield。
Shehassetherheartonseeingyourrubies，andthoughIknowyouhateheraboutasmuchasyoudothatSevreschina——“
“What！Wearmyrubieswiththat！Iwon’t。I’lltellyouwhatI
willdo，though。I’vegotsomecarbunclesasbigasprizegooseberries，awholeset。ThenyouhaveonlytoputthoseBohemianglassvasesandcandelabraonthetable，andletyourgardenerdohisworstwithhisgreatforced，scentless，vulgarblooms，andweshallallbeinkeeping。“Letapouted。Anideastruckme。“OrI’lldoasyouwish，ononecondition。YougetLadyCarwitchettowearherbigsapphire，anddon’ttellherIwishit。“
Ilivedthroughthenextfewdaysasoneinsomeevildream。Thesapphires，liketwinspecters，hauntedmedayandnight。Wasevermansotantalized？Toholdtheshadowandseethesubstancedangledtemptinglywithinreach。Thebishopmadenosignofriddingmeofmyunwelcomecharge，andthethoughtofwhatmighthappeninacaseofburglary——fire——earthquake——mademestartandtrembleatallsortsofinopportunemoments。
IkeptfaithwithLeta，andreluctantlyproducedmybeautifulrubiesonthenightofherdinnerparty。EmergingfrommyroomI
camefulluponLadyCarwitchetinthecorridor。Shewasdressedfordinner，andatherthroatIcaughtthebluegleamofthegreatsapphire。Letahadkeptfaithwithme。Idon’tknowwhatI
stammeredinreplytoherladyship’sremarks；mywholesoulwasabsorbedinthecontemplationoftheintoxicatinglovelinessofthegem。THATaPalaisRoyaldeception！Incredible！Myfingerstwitched，mybreathcameshortandfiercewiththelustofpossession。Shemusthaveseenthecovetousglareinmyeyes。A
lookofgratifiedspitefulcomplacencyoverspreadherfeatures，asshesweptonaheadanddescendedthestairsbeforeme。Ifollowedhertothedrawing-roomdoor。Shestoppedsuddenly，andmurmuringsomethingunintelligiblehurriedbackagain。
EverybodywasassembledtherethatIexpectedtosee，withanaddition。NotawelcomeonebythelookonTom’sface。Hestoodonthehearthrugconversingwithagreathulking，high-shoulderedfellow，sallow-faced，withaheavymustacheanddroopingeyelids，fromthecornersofwhichflashedoutasuddensuspiciouslookasI
approached，whichlightedupintoagreedyoneasitrestedonmyrubies，andseemedunaccountablyfamiliartome，tillLadyCarwitchettrippingpastmeexclaimed:
“Hehascomeatlast！Mynaughty，naughtyboy！Mr。Acton，thisismyson，LordCarwitchet！“
Ibrokeoffshortinthemidstofmypoliteacknowledgmentstostareblanklyather。Thesapphirewasgone！Agreatgiltcross，withaScotchpebblelikeanaciddrop，washersoledecoration。
“Ihadtoputmypendantaway，“sheexplainedconfidentially；“theclasphadgotbrokensomehow。“Ididn’tbelieveaword。
LordCarwitchetcontributedlittletothegeneralentertainmentatdinner，butfellintoconfidentialtalkwithMrs。Duberly-Parker。
Icaughtafewunintelligibleremarksacrossthetable。Theyreferred，Isubsequentlydiscovered，tothelady’slittlebookonNorthchurchraces，andIrecollectedthattheSpringMeetingwason，andto-morrow“CupDay。“AfterdinnertherewasgreattalkaboutgettingupapartytogoonGeneralFairford’sdrag。LadyCarwitchetwasinecstasiesandtriedtocoaxmeintojoining。
Letadeclinedpositively。Tomacceptedsulkily。
ThelookinLordCarwitchet’seyereturnedtomymindasIlockedupmyrubiesthatnight。Itmadehimlooksolikehismother！I
wentroundmyfasteningswithunusualcare。Safeandclosetsanddeskanddoors，Itriedthemall。Comingatlasttothebathroom，itopenedatonce。Itwasthehousemaid’sdoing。Shehadevidentlytakenadvantageofmyhavingabandonedtheroomtogiveit“athoroughspringcleaning，“andIanathematizedher。Thefurniturewasallpiledtogetherandveiledwithsheets，thecarpetandfeltcurtainweregone，therewerenewbroomsabout。AsI
peeredaround，avoicecloseatmyearmademejump——LadyCarwitchet’s！
“ItellyouIhavenothing，notapenny！IshallhavetoborrowmytrainfarebeforeIcanleavethis。They’llbegladenoughtolendit。“
Notonlyhadtheportierebeenremoved，butthedoorbehindithadbeenunlockedandleftopenforconvenienceofdustingbehindthewardrobe。Imightaswellhavebeeninthebedroom。
“Don’ttellme，“IrecognizedCarwitchet’sgrowl。“You’venotbeenhereallthistimefornothing。You’vebeencollectingforaKilburncotorgettingsubscriptionsforthedistressedIrishlandlords。Iknowyou。NowI’mnotgoingtoseemyselfruinedforthewantofapaltryhundredorso。Itellyouthecoltisadeadcertainty。IfIcouldhavegotathousandortwoonhimlastweek，wemighthaveendedourdogdaysmillionaires。Handoverwhatyoucan。You’vemoney’sworth，ifnotmoney。Where’sthatsapphireyoustole？“
“Ididn’t。Icanshowyouthereceiptedbill。AllIpossessishonestlycomeby。Whatcouldyoudowithit，evenifIgaveityou？Youcouldn’tsellitastheValdez，andyoucan’tgetitcutupasyoumightifitwerereal。“
“Ifit’sonlybogus，whyareyoualwaysinsuchaflutteraboutit？
I’lldosomethingwithit，neverfear。Handover。“
“Ican’t。Ihaven’tgotit。IhadtoraisesomethingonitbeforeIlefttown。“
“Willyouswearit’snotinthatwardrobe？Idaresayyouwill。I
meantosee。Givemethosekeys。“
Iheardastruggleandajingle，thenthewardrobedoormusthavebeenflungopen，forastreakoflightstruckthroughacrackinthewoodoftheback。Creepingcloseandpeepingthrough，Icouldseeanawfulsight。LadyCarwitchetinaflannelwrapper，minushair，teeth，complexion，pointingaskinnyforefingerthatquiveredwithrageatherson，whowasoutoftherangeofmyvision。
“Stopthat，andthrowthosekeysdownheredirectly，orI’llrousethehouse。SirThomasisamagistrate，andwilllockyouupassoonaslookatyou。“Sheclutchedatthebellropeasshespoke。
“I’llswearI’mindangerofmylifefromyouandgiveyouincharge。Yes，andwhenyou’reinprisonI’llkeepyoutheretillyoudie。I’veoftenthoughtI’ddoit。HowaboutthehotelrobberieslastsummeratCowes，eh？Mightn’tthepolicebegratefulforahintortwo？Andhowabout——“
Thekeysfellwithacrashonthebed，accompaniedbysomebadlanguageinanapologetictone，andthedoorslammedto。Icrepttremblingtobed。
Thisnewandhorriblecomplicationofthesituationfilledmewithdismay。LordCarwitchet’swolfishglanceatmyrubiestookanewmeaning。Theyweresafeenough，Ibelieved——butthesapphire！Ifhedisbelievedhismother，howlongwouldshebeabletokeepitfromhisclutches？ThatshehadsomeplotofherownofwhichthebishopwouldeventuallybethevictimIdidnotdoubt，orwhyhadshenotmadeherbargainwithhimlongago？Butsupposingshetookfright，lostherhead，allowedhersontowrestthejewelfromher，orgaveconsenttoitsbeingmutilated，divided！Ilayinacoldperspirationtillmorning。
Myterrorshauntedmeallday。TheywerewithmeatbreakfasttimewhenLadyCarwitchet，trippinginsmiling，madealastattempttoinducemetoaccompanyherandkeepher“bad，badboy“fromgettingamong“thosehorridbettingmen。“
TheyhauntedmethroughthelongpeacefuldaywithLetaandthetete-a-tetedinner，buttheyswarmedaroundandbesetmesorestwhen，sittingaloneovermysitting-roomfire，Ilistenedforthereturnofthedragparty。Ireadmynewspaperandbrewedmyselfsomehotstrongdrink，buttherecomesatimeofnightwhennofirecanwarmandnodrinkcancheer。Thebishop’sdespairingfacekeptmecompany，andhistroublesandthewrongsofthefutureheirtookpossessionofme。Thentheuncannynoisesthatmakealloldhousesghostlyduringthesmallhoursbegantomakethemselvesheard。
Muffledfootstepstrodthecorridor，stoppingtolistenateverydoor，doorlatchesgentlyclicked，boardscreakedunreasonably，soundsofstealthymovementscamefromthelocked-upbathroom。Thewelcomecrashofwheelsatlast，andthesoundofthefront-doorbell。IcouldhearLadyCarwitchetmakinghershrilladieuxtoherfriendsandherstepsinthecorridor。Shewassoftlyhummingalittlesongassheapproached。Iheardherunlockherbedroomdoorbeforesheentered——anoddthingtodo。Tomcamesleepilystumblingtohisroomlater。Iputmyheadout。“WhereisLordCarwitchet？“
“Haven’tyouseenhim？Heleftushoursago。Notcomehome，eh？
Well，he’swelcometostayaway。Idon’twanttoseemoreofhim。“
Tom’sbrowwasdarkandhisvoicesurly。“Igavehimtounderstandasmuch。“Whateverhadhappened，Tomwasevidentlytoodisgustedtoexplainjustthen。
Iwentbacktomyfireunaccountablyrelieved，andbrewedmyselfanotherandastrongerbrew。Itwarmedmethistime，butexcitedmefoolishly。Theremustbesomewayoutofthedifficulty。I
feltnowasifIcouldalmostseeitifIgavemymindtoit。Why——
suppose——theremightbenodifficultyafterall！Thebishopwasanervousoldgentleman。Hemighthavebeenmistakenallthrough，Bogaertsmighthavebeenmistaken，Imight——no。Icouldnothavebeenmistaken——orIthoughtnot。IfidgetedandfumedandarguedwithmyselftillIfoundIshouldhavenopeaceofmindwithoutalookatthestoneinmypossession，andIactuallywenttothesafeandtookthecaseout。
Thesapphirecertainlylookeddifferentbylamplight。Isatandstared，andallbutover-persuadedmybetterjudgmentintogivingitaverdict。Bogaerts’smark——Isuddenlyrememberedit。Itookmymagnifierandheldthependanttothelight。There，scratcheduponthestone，wastheGreekBeta！Therecameataponmydoor，andbeforeIcouldanswer，thehandleturnedsoftlyandLordCarwitchetstoodbeforeme。Iwhippedthecaseintomydressing-
gownpocketandstaredathim。Hewasnotpleasanttolookat，especiallyatthattimeofnight。Hehadadisheveled，desperateair，hisvoicewashoarse，hisred-rimmedeyeswild。
“Ibegyourpardon，“hebegancivillyenough。“Isawyourlightburning，andthought，aswegobytheearlytrainto-morrow，youmightallowmetoconsultyounowonalittlebusinessofmymother’s。“Hiseyesrovedabouttheroom。Washetryingtofindthewhereaboutsofmysafe？“Youknowalotaboutpreciousstones，don’tyou？“
“Somyfriendsarekindenoughtosay。Won’tyousitdown？Ihaveunluckilylittlechanceofindulgingthetasteonmyownaccount，“
wasmycautiousreply。
“Butyou’vewrittenabookaboutthem，andknowthemwhenyouseethem，don’tyou？Nowmymotherhasgivenmesomething，andwouldlikeyoutogiveaguessatitsvalue。Perhapsyoucanputmeinthewayofdisposingofit？“
“Icertainlycandosoifitisworthanything。Isthatit？“I
wasinafeverofexcitement，forIguessedwhatwasclutchedinhispalm。HeheldouttometheValdezsapphire。
Howitshoneandsparkledlikeagreatbluestar！ImademyselfadeprecatingsmileasItookitfromhim，buthowdareIcallitfalsetoitsface？Aswellaccusethesuninheavenofbeingacheapimitation。Ifalteredandprevaricatedfeebly。Wherewasmymoralcourage，andwherewasthegood，honest，thumpingliethatshouldhaveaidedme？“IhavethebestauthorityforrecognizingthisasaverygoodcopyofafamousstoneinthepossessionoftheBishopofNorthchurch。“HisscowlgrewsoblackthatIsawhebelievedme，andIwentonmorecheerily:“ThiswasmanufacturedbyJohannesBogaerts——Icangiveyouhisaddress，andyoucanmakeinquiriesyourself——byspecialpermissionofthethenowner，thelateLeoneMontanaro。“
“Handitback！“heinterruptedhisotherremarkswereoutrageous，butsatisfactorytohear；butIwavedhimoff。Icouldn’tgiveitup。Itfascinatedme。Itoyedwithit，Icaressedit。Imadeitdisplayitsdifferenttonesofcolor。Imustseethetwostonestogether。Imustseeitoutshineitspaltryrival。Itwasawhimsicalfrenzythatseizedme——Icancallitbynoothername。
“Wouldyouliketoseetheoriginal？Curiouslyenough，Ihaveithere。Thebishophasleftitinmycharge。“
ThewolfishlightflamedupinCarwitchet’seyesasIdrewforththecase。HelaidtheValdezdownonasheetofpaper，andI
placedtheother，stillinitscase，besideit。Inthatmomenttheylookedidentical，exceptforthelittleloopofshamstones，replacedbyaplaingoldbandinthebishop’sjewel。Carwitchetleanedacrossthetableeagerly，thetablegavealurch，thelamptottered，crashedover，andwewereleftinsemidarkness。
“Don’tstir！“Carwitchetshouted。“Theparaffinisallovertheplace！“Heseizedmysofablanket，andflungitoverthetablewhileIstoodhelpless。“There，that’ssafenow。Haveyoucandlesonthechimney-piece？I’vegotmatches。“
Helookedverywhiteandexcitedashelitup。“Mighthavebeenanawkwardjobwithallthatburningparaffinrunningabout，“hesaidquitepleasantly。“Ihopenorealharmisdone。“Iwasliftingtherugwithshakinghands。ThetwostoneslayasIhadplacedthem。No！Inearlydroppeditbackagain。Itwasthestoneinthecasethathadtheloopwiththethreeshamsapphires！
Carwitchetpickedtheotheruphastily。“Soyousaythisisrubbish？“heasked，hiseyessparklingwickedly，andanattemptatmortificationinhistone。
“Utterrubbish！“Ipronounced，withtruthanddecision，snappingupthecaseandpocketingit。“LadyCarwitchetmusthaveknownit。“
“Ah，well，it’sdisappointing，isn’tit？Good-by，weshallnotmeetagain。“
Ishookhandswithhimmostcordially。“Good-by，LordCarwitchet。
SOgladtohavemetyouandyourmother。IthasbeenasourceoftheGREATESTpleasure，Iassureyou。“
IhaveneverseentheCarwitchetssince。Thebishopdroveovernextdayinratherbetterspirits。MissPantonhadrefusedthechaplain。
“Itdoesn’tmatter，mylord，“Isaidtohimheartily。“We’veallbeenundersomestrangemisconception。Thestoneinyourpossessionistheveritableone。Icouldsweartothatanywhere。
ThesapphireLadyCarwitchetwearsisonlyanexcellentimitation，and——Ihaveseenitwithmyowneyes——istheonebearingBogaerts’smark，theGreekBeta。“
End