“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