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。“