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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1907)
10 THE SUNDAY OKKUUMAX. jVOKTLAKD. OCTOBER '41, - 1907. 1 HE- THE DIAMOND LINKS (Copyright. 1907. by W. G. Chapman.) ETT US take a trip ot Swltzer I land." said Lady Vandrift. And any one who knows Amelia will not be surprised to' learn that we did take a trip to Switzerland, accordingly. Nobody can drive Sir Charles, except hla wife. And nobody at all can drive Amelia. There were difficulties at the outset, be cause we had not ordered rooms at the hotels beforehand, and It was well on in the season. But they were overcome at last by the usual application of a golden key; and we found ourselves In due time pleasantly quartered in Lucerne, at that most comfortable of European hostelries, the Schweltzerhof. We were a square party of four Sir Charles and Amelia, mypelf and Isabel. We had nice big rooms on the first floor, overlooking the- lake; and as none of us was possessed with the faintest symptom of that incipient mania which shows it self in the form of an insane desire to climb mountain heights of disagreeable steepness and unnecessary snowlness, I will venture to assert we all enjoyed our selves. We spent most of our time sensi bly in lounging about the lake on the Jolly little steamers; and when we did a moun tain climb, it was on the Rigi or Pilatus where an engine undertook all the mus cular work for us. As usual, at the hotel, a great many mlcsellaneous people showed a burning desire to be specially nice to us. If you wish to see how friendly and charming humanity is. Just try being: a well-known millionaire for a week, and you'll learn a thing or two. Wherever Sir Charles goes he is surrounded by charming and disinterested people, all eager to make his distinguished acquaintance, and all fa miliar with several excellent Investments or several deserving objects of Christian charity. It Is my business in life, as his brother-in-law and secretary, to decline with thanks the excellent investments and to throw Judicious cold water on the objects of charity. Even I myself, as the great man's almoner, am very much fought after, .'eople casually allude be fore me to artless stories of "poor curates In Cumberland, you know, Mr. Went worth," or widows In Cornwall, penniless poets with epics in their desks, and young painters who need but the breath of a patron to open to them the doors of an admiring academy. I smile and look wise, while I administer cold water In minute doses; but I never report one of these cases to Sir Charles, except In the rare or almost unheard-of event where I think there is really something in them. Ever since our little adventure with the Seer at Nice. Sir Charles, who Is consti tutionally cautious, had been even more careful than usual about possible sharp ers. And, as chance would have It, there sat Jurt opposite us at table d'hote at the Schweltzerhof 'tis a fad of Amelia's to dine at table d'hote; she says she can't bear to.be boxed up all day In private rooms with "too much family" a sinister-looking man with dark hair and eyes, conspicuous by his bushy, overhanging eyebrows. My attention was first called to the eyebrows in question by a nice little parson who sat at our side, and who observed that they were made up of cer tain large and bristly hairs, which (he told us) had been traced by Darwin to our monkey ancestors. Very pleasant little fellow, this fresh-faced young parson, on his honeymoon tour with a nice wee wife, a bonnle Scotch lassie with a charming accent. I looked at the eyebrows closely. Then a sudden thought struck me. "Do you believe they're his own?" I asked of the curate: "or are they only stuck on a make-up disguise? . They, really almost look like it." "You don't suppose " Charles began, and checked himself suddenly. "Yes. I do." I answered: "the Seer!" Then I recollected my blunder, and looked down sheepishly. For, to say the truth, Vandrift had etraightly enjoined on me long before to say nothing of our pain ful little episode at Nice to Amelia; he was afraid If she once heard of it he would hear of It forever after. "What Seer?" the little parson inquired, with parsonlcal curiosity. I noticed the man with the overhanging eyebrows give a queer sort ,of start. Charles' glance was fixed upon me. I hardly knew what to answer. "Oh, a man who was at Nice with us last year," I stammered out, trying hard to look unconcerned. "A fellow they talked about, that's all." And I turned the subject. But the curate, like a donkey, wouldn't let me turn it. "Had he eyebrows like that?" he In quired In an undertone. I was really an gry. If this was Colonel Clay, the curate was obviously giving him the cue and making it much more difficult for us to catch him, now we might possibly have lighted on the chance of doing so. "No, he hadn't," I answered testily; "It was a passing expression. But this 1 not the man. I was mistaken, no dfjubt." And I nudged him gently. T"he little curate was too innocent for anything. "Oh, I see," he replied, nod ding hard and looking wise. Then he turned t4 his wife and-made an obvious face, which the man with the eyebrows couldn't fall to notice. Fortuantely, a political discussion going on a few places farther down the table spread up to us and diverted attention for a moment. The magical name of' Gladstone saved us. Sir Charles flar i up. I was truly pleased, for I could see Amelia was boiling over with imrloslty by this time. After dinner, In the billiard-room, however, the man with the big eye brows sidled up and began to talk to me. If he was Colonel Clay It was evident he bore us no grudge at all for the 5,0)0 he had done us out of. On the contrary, he seemed quite pre pared to do us out of 5,000 more when opportunity offered, for he introduced himself at once as Dr. Hector Macpher son. the exclusive grantee of extensive concessions from the Brazilian Govern ment Tn the Upper Amasons. He dived Into conversation with me at once as to tho splendid mineral resources of his Brazilian estate the ' silver, the platinum, the actual rubles, the possible diamonds. 1 listened and smiled; I knew what was coming. All he needed to develop this magnificent concession was a little, capital. It was sad to see thousands of pounds worth ot plati num and carloads of rubles just crum bling In the soli or carried away by the river for want 01 few hundred to work them with properly. If he knew of anybody now. with money to Invest, he could recommend him nay, offer him a unique opportunity of earning, say 43 per cent on his capital, on unimpeachable security. "I wouldn't do It for every man,". Dr. ' Hector Macpherson remarked, drawing himself up: "but If I took a fancy to a fellow who had command of ready cash, . I might choose to put htm In the way of feathering his nest with unexampled rapidity." 'Exceedingly disinterested of you," I answered dryly, fixing my eyes on his eve brows. The little curate, meanwhile, was playing billiards with Sir Charles. His glance followed mine as It rested for a 'moment on the monkey-like hairs. "False, obviously false," he remarked with his lips; and I'm bound to confess I ne'er , saw any man speakso well by movement alone; you could follow every word though not a sound es caped him. During the rest of that evening Dr. Hector Macpherson stuck to me as close as a mustard plaster. And he wai almost as irritating. I got heart ily sick of the Upper Amazons. I have positively waded In my time through ruby mines (in prospectuses, I mean) till the mere sight of a ruby absolutely sickens me. When Charles, in an un wonted fit of generosity, once gave his sister Isabel (whom I had the honor to marry) a ruby necklet ' (inferior stones), I made Isabel change it for sapphires and amethysts, on the Judi cious plea that they suited her com plexion better. (I scored once, inci dentally, for having considered Isabel's complexion.) By the time I went to bed I was prepared to sink the Up- per Amazons in the sea and to stab, shoot, poison or otherwise seriously damage the man with the concessions and the false eyebrows. For the next three days, at Intervals, he returned to the charge. He bored me to death with his platinum, and his rubles. He didn't want a capitalist who would personally exploit the thing; he would prefer to do it all on his own account, -jiving the capitalist prefer ence debentures of his bogus company and a lien on the concession. I list ened and smiled; I listened and yawned;' I listened and was rude; I ceased to listen at 'all; but still he droned on with it. I fell asleep on the steamer one day, and woke up in ten minutes to hear him droning yet: "And -the yield of platinum per ton was certi fied to be " I forget how many pounds or ounces, or pennyweights. These details of assays have ceased to interest me; like the man who "didn't believe in ghosts," I have seen too many of them, Tne fresh-faced little curate and his wife, however, were quite different peoi pie. .He was a cricketing Oxford man: he was a breezy Sco-ccn lass, with a wholesome breath of the Highlands about her. I called her "White Heath er." Their name was Brabazon. Mill ionaires are so accustomed to being beset by harpies of every description that- when they come across a young couple who are simple and natural they delight in the purely human relation. We picknicked and went on excursions a great deal with the honeymooners. They were so frank In their young love, and so proof against chaff that we all really liked them. But when ever I called the pretty girl "White Heather" she looked so shocked, and cried: "Oh. Mr. Went worth!" Still, we were the best of frienas. The curate offered to row us In a boat on the lake one day, while the Scotch lassie as sured us she could take an oar almost as well as he did. However, we did not accept their offer, as rowboats ex ert an unfavorable . Influence upon Amelia's digestive organs. "Nice young fellow, that man Barba xon," Sir Charles said to me one day, as we lounged together along the quay; "never tal- advowsons or next pre sentations. Says he's quite content In his country curacy; enough to live upon and needs no more; and his wife has a little, very little, money. I asked him , about his poor today, on purpose to' test him. These parsons are always trying to swrew something out of one for their poor; men in my position know the truth of the saying that we have that class of the popula tion always with us. Would you be lieve it. he says he hasn't any poor at all in his parish? They're all well-to-do1 farmers or else able-bodied la- borers, and his one terror Is that some body will come and ' try to pauperize them. "If a philanthropist were to give me 50 today for use at Empingham, he said, .'I assure you. Sir Charles, I shouldn't know what to do with it. I think I should buy new dresses for Jessie, who wants them about as much as anybody else In the village that Is to say, not at all.' There's a par son for you, Sey, my boy. Only wish we had one of his' sort at Seldon." "He certainly doesn't want to get anything out of you," I answered. That evening at dinner a queer little epi sode happened. The man with the eye brows began talking to me across the table in his usual fashion, full of Ills' wearisome concession on the Upper Ama zons. I was trying to squash him as po litely as possible, when I caught Amelia's eye. Her look amused me. She was en gaged in making signals to Charles at her side to observe the little curate's curious sleeve links. I glanced at them, and saw at once they were a singular pos session for so unobtrusive a person. They t consisted each of a short gold bar for one arm of the link, fastened by a tiny .chain of the same material to what seemed to my tolerably experienced eye a first-rate diamond. . Pretty big dia monds, too, and of remarkable shape, brilliancy and cutting. In a moment I knew what Amelia meant." She owned a diamond riviere, said to be of Indian origin, but short by two stones for the circumstance .of her "tolerably ample neck. Now. she had long been wanting two diamonds like these - to match the set; but, owing to the unusual shape and antiquated cutting of her own gems, she bad never been able to complete the necklace, at least without removing an extravagant amount from a much larger stone of the first water. The Scotch lassie's eyes caught Amelia's at the same time, and she broke into a pretty smile of good-humored amusement. "Taken in another person, Dick, dear!" she exclaimed, in her breezy way, turn ing to her husband. "Lady Vandrift is observing your diamond sleeve links." ' "They're very fine gems," Amelia ob served Incautiously. (A most unwise ad mission if she desired to buy them.) But the pleasant little curate was too transparently simple a soul to take ad vantage of her slip of Judgment. "They are good stones.'1 he replied; "very good stonas considering. They're not dia monds at all, to tell you the truth. They are best old-fashioned paste. My great grandfather bought them, after the siege of Seringapatam, for a few rupees, from a Sepoy who had looted them from Tip poo Sultan's palace.- He thought, like you, he had got a good thing. But It turned out, when they came to be ex amined by experts, they were only paste very wonderful paste; it is supposed they had even Imposed upon Tippoo him self, so fine Is the imitation. But they are worth well, say, 50 shillings at the utmost." While he spoke, Charles looked at Amelia and Amelia looked at Charles. Their eyes spoke volumes. The riviere was also supposed to have come from Tlppoo's collection. Both drew at once an identical conclusion. There were two of the same stones, very likely torn apart and disengaged from the rest in the melea at the capture of the Indian palace. "Can you take them oft?"' Sir Charles asked blandly. He spoke In the tone that indicates business. "Certainly,'" the little curate answered. BEJjNG BPI30DB5 IN 'THE: I1F& OTA m5TDU ROGUE? smiling. "I'u accustomed to taking them off. They're always noticed. Th've been kept In the family ever since the siege as a soft of valueless heirloom, for the sake of the ptcturesqueness of the story, you know; and nobody ever sees them without asking, as you do, to ex amine them closely. They deceive even experts at first. But they are paste, all the same; unmitigated Oriental paste, for all that. He took them both off and handed them to Charles. No man in England is a finer Judge of gems than my brother-in-iaw. I watched him narrowly. He examined them closely, first with the naked eye. then with the little pocket lens which he al ways carries. "Admirable Imitations." he muttered, passing them on to Amelia. "I'm not surprised they should impose upon inexperienced observers." ' But from the tone In which he said It I could see at once he had satisfied himself they were gems of unusual value. I knew Charles' way of doing business so well. His glance to Amelia meant, "These are the' very, stones you have so long, been in search of." The Scotch lassie laughed a merry laugh. "He sees through them now. Dick," she cried. " I felt sure Sir Charles would be a judge of diamonds." Amelia turned them ovfer. I know Amelia, too; and I knew from the way Amelia looked at them that she meant to have them. And when Amelia meant to have anything people who stand in the way may just as well spare themselves the trouble of opposing her. They were beautiful diamonds. We found out afterward the little curate's account was quite correct; these stones had come from the same necklace as Amelia's riviere, made for a favorite wife of .Tlppoo's who had presumably as ex pansive personal charms as our beloved sister-in-law's. . More perfect diamonds have seldom been seen. They have ex cited the universal admiration of thieves and connoisseurs. Amelia told me after ward that, according to legend, a Sepoy stole a necklet at the sack of the palace, and then fought with another for it. It was believed that two stones got split in the scuffle and were picked up and sold be a third person a looker-on who had no idea of the value of the booty. Amelia had been hunting for them for several years to complete her necklet. "Tlitey are excellent paste," Sir Charles observed, handing them back. "It takes a first-class judge to detect them from the reality. Lady Vandrift has a necklet much the same character, but composed of genuine stones: and, as these are so much like them, and would complete her set. to all outer appearance, I wouldn't mind giving you, say 10 for the pair of them.", Mrs. Brallazon looked delighted. "Oh, sell to him, Dick," she cried, "and buy me a brooch with the money! A pair of common links would do for you Just as well. Ten pounds'for two paste stones! It's quite a lot of money." She said It so sweetly, with her pretty Scotch accent, that I couldn't imagine how Dick had the heart to refuse her. But he did, all the same. "No, .Jess, darling," he. answered. "They're worthless. I know; but they have for me a certain sentimental value, as I've often told you. My dear ! I III Flt.1 fTT- ".T I iTrr 1 them It mother wore them, while she lived, as ear-rings, and as soon as she died I had them set as links In order that I might keep them about me. Besides, they have historical and family Inter est. Even a worthless heirloom, after all, is an- heirloom." Dr. Hector Macpherson looked across and Intervened. "There is a part of my concession." he said, "where we have reason to believe a perfect new Klm berley will goon be discovered. If at any time you would care. Sir Charles, to look at my diamonds when I get irould afford me the greatest pleasure In life to submit them to your consideration." . Sir Charles could stand it no longer. "Sir," he said, gazing; across at him with his sternest air, "if your conces sions were as lull of diamonds as Sin bad the Sailor's valley I wolud not care to turn my head to look at them. I am acquainted with the nature and practice of salting." And he glared at the man with the overhanging eye brows as if he would devour him raw. Poor Dr. Hector Macpherson subsided instantly. We learned a little later that he was a harmless lunatic, who went about the world with successive concessions for ruby mines and plati num reefs, because he had been ruined and driven mad by speculations in the two, and now recouped himself by im aginary grants in Burmah and Brazil, or anywhere else that turned up handy. And his eyebrows, after all, were of Nature's handicraft. We were sorry for the incident, but a man in Sir Charles' position is such a mark for rogues that. If he did not take means to protect himself promptly he would be forever overrun by them. When we went up to our salon that evening Amelia flung herself on the sofa. "Charles." she broke out In a voice or a tragedy queen, "those are Teal diamonds, and I shal never be happy again until I get them." "They are real diamonds," Charles echoed, "and you shall have them, Amelia. They're worth not less than 3000 pounds. But I shall bid them up gently." So next day Charles set to work to higgle with the curate. Brabazon, however, didn't care to part with them. He was no money-grubber, he said. He cared more for his mother's gift and a family tradition than for a hundred pounds, if Sir Charles were to offer It. . Charles' eyes gleamed. "But if I give you two hundred!" he said Insin uatingly. "What opportunities for good! You could build a new wing to your village schoolhouse!" "We have ample accommodations," the curate answered. "No, I don't think I'll sell them." Still his voice faltered somewhat, and he looked down at them Inquiringly. Charles was too precipitate. "A hundred pounds more loss mat ters little to me," he said, "and my wife has set her heart on them. It's every man's duty to please his wife isn't it. Mrs. Brabazon? I offer you three hundred." . The little Scotch girl clasped her hands. "Three .hundred pounds! Oh, Dick, just think what fun we could have, and what good we could do with It! Do let hUn have them!" Her accent was irresistible. But the curate shook his head. "Impossible!" he answered. "My dear mother's ear rings! Uncle Aubrey would be so an gry If he knew I'd sold them. I daren't face Uncle Aubrey!" "Has he expectations from Uncle Aubrey?" Sir Charles asked of "White Heather." Mrs. Brabazon laughed. "Uncle Au brey! Oh. dear, no. Poor, dear old Uncle Aubrey. Why. the darling old soul hasn't a penny to bless himself with, except his pension. He's a re tired post captain." And she laughed melodiously. She was a charming woman. "Then I should disregard Uncle Au brey's feelings," Sir Charles said de cisively. "No, no." the curate answered. "Poor, dear old Uncle - Aubrey! I wouldn't do anything for the world to annoy him. And he'd be sure to no tice It." We went back to Amelia. "Well, have you got them?" she asked. "No," Sir Charles answered; "not yet, but he's coming round, I think. He's hesitating now. Would rather like to sell them himself, but is afraid whit "Uncle Aubrey' would say about the matter. His wife will talk him out of his Heedless consideration for Uncle Aubrey's feelings, and tomorrow we'll flnallly . clinch the bargain." Next morning we stayed late In our salon, where we always breakfasted, and did not come down to the public rooms till Just before dejeuner. Sir Charles being busy with me over ar rears of correspondence. When we did come down the concierge stepped for ward with a twisted little feminine note for- Amelia. She took it and read it. Her countenance fell. "There, Chorles!" she cried, handing It to him. "You've let the chance slip. I shall never be happy now! They've gone off with the diamonds." Charles seized the note and read it. Then he passed is on to me. It was short, but final: "Thursday, 8 A. M. -Dear Lady Van drift: Will you kindly excuse our having gone off hurriedly, without bid ding you good-bye? We have Just had a horrid telegram to say that Dick's favorite sister is dangerously' III of fever In Paris. I wanted to shake hands with you' before we left you have all been so sweet to us but we go by the morning train, absurdly early, and I wouldn't for worlds disturb you.' Perhaps some day we may meet again; though, burled, as we are, In a north country village, it isn't likely; but in any case you have secured the grate ful recollection of yours very cordially "JESSIE BRABAZON." "P- S. Kindest regards to Sir Charles and those dear Wentworths and a kiss for yourself, if I may venture to send you "She doesn't even mention where they've gone," Amelia exclaimed, in a very bad humor. "The concierge may know," Isabel sug gested, looking over my shoulder. .We asked at his office. . Yes; the gentle man's address was the Rev. Richard Pep loe Brabazon, Holme Bush Cottage, Emp ingh&ra. Northumberland. Any address where letters might be sent at once in Paris? For the next 10 days, or till further notice. "Hotel des Deux Mondes, Avenue de l'Opera." Amelia's' mind, was made up at once. "Strike while the iron's hot." she cried. "This sudden illness, coming at the end of the honeymoon, and Involving 10 days more stay at an expensive hotel,, will probably upset the curate's budget. He'll be glad la sell now. You'll get them for three hundred. It was absurd of Charles to offer so much at first: but, offered once, of course, we must stick to it." "Whit do you propose to do?" Charles asked. "Write or telegraph?" "Oh. how silly men are!" Amelia cried. "Is this the sort of business to be ar ranged by letter still less by telegram? No; Seymour must start off at once, taking the night train to Paris; and the moment he gets there he must interview the curate or Mrs. Brabazon. Mrs. Brabazon's the best. She has none of this stupid, sentimental nonsense' about Uncle Aubrey." It is no part of a secretary's duties to act as a (jiamond broker; but when Amelia puts her foot down, she puts her foot down a fact which she Is unneces sarily fond of emphasizing in that iden tical proposition. So the selfsame even ing saw me safe in the train, on my way to Paris, and next morning I turned out of my comfortable sleeping car at the Gare de Strasbourg. -My orders were to bring back those diamonds, alive or dead, so to speak. In my pocket to Lucerne. 'and to offer any needful sum up to 2ojO for their Immediate purchase. When I arrived at the Deux Mondes, I found the poor little curate and his wife both greatly agitated. They had sat up all night, they said, with their invalid sister; and the sleeplessness and sus pense had certainly told upon them after their long railway journey. They were pale and tired, Mrs. Brabazon, in par ticular, looking ill and worried too much like "White Heather." I was more than half ashamed of bothering them about the diamonds at such a moment, but It occurred to me that Amelia was probably right they would now "have reached the end of the sum set apart for their con tinental trip, and a little ready cash might be far from unwelcome. I broached the subject delicately. It was a fad of Lady Vandrlft's, I said. She had set her heart upon those useless . trinkets. And she wouldn't go without them. She must and would have them. But tho curate as obdurate. He threw Uncle Aubrey still in my teeth. Three hundred? no. never! A mother's present: Impossible, dear Jessie! Jessie begged and prayed; she had grown really at tached to Lady Vandrift, she said: but the curate wouldn't hear of it. I went up tentatively to 400. He shook his head gloomily. It wasn't a question ot money, he said It was a question of af fection. I saw it was no use trying that tack any longer. I struck out a new line. 'These stones," I said, "I think I ought to Inform you, are really diamonds. Sir Charles is certain of. It. Now. is it right for a man of your profession and position to be wearing a pair of big gems like those worth several hundred pounds, as ordinary sleeve links? A woman? yes, I grant you. But for a man, is it manly? And you a pricketer!" He looked at me and laughed. "Will nothing convince you?" he cried. "They have been examined and tested by half a dozen Jewelers, and we know them to be paste. It wouldn't be right of me to sell them to you under false pretenses,' how ever unwilling on my side. I couldn't do it." "Well, then." I said, going up a bit in my bids to meet him. "I'll put it like this. These gems are paste. But Laxly Vandrift has an unconquerable desire to possess them. Money doesn't matter to her. She is a friend of your wife's. As a personal favor, won't you sell them to her for a thousand?" He shook his head. "It would be wrong," - he said "I might even add, criminal." "But we take all risk," I cried. He was absolute adamant. "As s clergyman." he answered, "I feel I can not do it." "Will you try, Mrs. Brabazon?" I asked. The pretty little Scotchwoman leant over and whispered. She coaxed and ca joled him. Her ways were winsome. I couldn't hear what she said, but he seemed to give way at last. "I should love ' Lady Vandrift to have them." she murmured, turning to me. "She is such a dear!" And she took out the links from her husband's cuffs and handed them across to me. "How much?" I asked. "Two thousand?" she answered, inter rogatively. It was a big rise, all at once; but such are the ways of women. "Done!" I replied. "Do you consent?" The curate looked up as if ashamed ot himself. "I consent," he said slowly, "since Jessie wishes It. But as a clergyman, and to prevent any further misunder standing, I should like you to give ma a statement in writing that you buy them on my distinct and positive declaration that they are made of paste old Oriental paste not genuine stones, and that I do not claim any other qualities for them." I popped the gems into my purse, well pleased. "Certainly." I said, pulling out a paper. Charles, with his unerring business in stinct, had anticipated the request, and given me a signed agreement to that effect. "You will take a check?" I Inquired. He hesitated.- "Notes of the Bank of France- would suit me better," he ans wered. "Very well." I replied. "I will go out and get them." How very unsuspicious some people are! He allowed me to go off with the stones in my pocket! Sir Charles had given me a blank check, not exceeding 2500. I took it to our agents and cashed It for notes of the Bank of France. The curate clasped them with pleasure. And right glad I was to go back to Lucerne that night, feeling that I had got those diamonds into my hands for about 1000 under their real value! At Lucerne railway station Amelia met me. She was positively agitated. "Havi you bought them, Seymour?" she asked. "Yes," I answered, producing my spoil! , In triumph. . "Oh, how dreadful!" she cried, drawing back. "Do you think they're real? Ar you sure he hasn't cheated you?" "Certain of it," I rertied, ejaminlng them. "No one can take me In In th matter of diamonds. Why on eartb should you doubt them?" "Because I've been talking to Mrs. O'Hagan at the hotel and she says there'! a well-known trick Just like that she's read of It In a book. A swindler has two sets one real, one false, and lie makes you buy the false ones by showlna- yi the real and pretending he sells them as a special favor." "You needn't be alarmed," I answered, "I am a judge of diamonds." "I shan't be satisfied.;' Amelia mur mured, "till Charles has seen them." We went up to the hotel. For the first time In her life I saw Amelia really nervous as I handed the stones to Charles to examine. Her doubt was contagious. I half feared, myself, he might break out . into a deep monosyllabic Interjection, losing his temper In haste, as he often does when things go wrong. But he' (Concluded on Page 11.)