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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；
andontheothe
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