第54章

Themanontheothersideglancedathim，Ithought，alittlecuriously。 “Ifyoucangivemereferences，orsatisfymeinanywayastoyourbonafides，Iampreparedtogiveyouforthisdiamondanopencheckfortenthousandpounds，orifyoupreferit，thecashinstead。“ Istared；Iwasnotaccustomedtoseebusinesstransactedonquitesuchlinesasthose。 “We’lltakeit，“murmuredPugh；Ibelievehewastoomuchovercomebyhisfeelingstodomorethanmurmur。Iinterposed。 “Mydearsir，youwillexcusemysayingthatyouarriveveryrapidlyatyourconclusions。Inthefirstplace，howcanyoumakesurethatitisadiamond？“ Themanbehindthecountersmiled。 “Ishouldbeveryill-fittedforthepositionwhichIholdifI couldnottelladiamonddirectlyIgetasightofit，especiallysuchastoneasthis。“ “Buthaveyounotestsyoucanapply？“ “Wehavetestswhichweapplyincasesinwhichdoubtexists，butinthiscasethereisnodoubtwhatever。IamassurethatthisisadiamondasIamsurethatitisairIbreathe。However，hereisatest。“ Therewasawheelclosebythespeaker。Itwasworkedbyatreadle。Itwasmorelikeasuperiorsortoftraveling-tinker’sgrindstonethananythingelse。Themanbehindthecounterputhisfootuponthetreadle。Thewheelbegantorevolve。Hebroughtthecrystalintocontactwiththeswiftlyrevolvingwheel。Therewasas——s——sh！And，inaninstant，hishandwasempty；thecrystalhadvanishedintoair。 “Goodheavens！“hegasped。Ineversawsuchalookofamazementonahumancountenancebefore。“It’ssplintered！“ POSTSCRIPT ItWASadiamond，althoughitHADsplintered。Inthatfactlaythepointofthejoke。Themanbehindthecounterhadnotbeenwrong； examinationofsuchdustascouldbecollectedprovedthatfactbeyondadoubt。Itwasdeclaredbyexpertsthatthediamond，atsomeperiodofitshistory，hadbeensubjectedtointenseandcontinuingheat。Theresulthadbeentomakeitasbrittleasglass。 Therecouldbenodoubtthatitsoriginalownerhadbeenanexperttoo。Heknewwherehegotitfrom，andheprobablyknewwhatithadendured。Hewasawarethat，fromamercantilepointofview，itwasworthless；itcouldneverhavebeencut。So，havingaturnforhumorofapeculiarkind，hehaddevoteddays，andweeks，andpossiblymonths，totheconstructionofthatpuzzle。Hehadplacedthediamondinside，andhehadenjoyed，inanticipationandinimagination，theAlnascharvisionsoftheluckyfinder。 Pughblamedmeforthecatastrophe。Hesaid，andstillsays，thatifIhadnot，inameasure，andquitegratuitously，insistedonatest，themanbehindthecounterwouldhavebeensatisfiedwiththeevidenceofhisorgansofvision，andweshouldhavebeenricherbytenthousandpounds。ButIsatisfymyconsciencewiththereflectionthatwhatIdidatanyratewashonest，though，atthesametime，IamperfectlywellawarethatsuchareflectiongivesPughnosortofsatisfaction。 TheGreatValdezSapphireIknowmoreaboutitthananyoneelseintheworld，itspresentownernotexcepted。Icangiveitswholehistory，fromtheCingalesewhofoundit，theSpanishadventurerwhostoleit，thecardinalwhoboughtit，thePopewhograciouslyacceptedit，thefavoredsonoftheChurchwhoreceivedit，thegayandgiddyduchesswhopawnedit，downtotheeminentprelatewhonowholdsitintrustasafamilyheirloom。 Itwilloccupyachaptertoitselfinmyforthcomingworkon“HistoricStones，“wherefulldetailsofitsweight，size，color，andvaluemaybefound。AtpresentIamgoingtorelateanincidentinitshistorywhich，forobviousreasons，willnotbepublished——which，infact，Itrustthereaderwillconsiderrelatedinstrictconfidence。 IhadneverseenthestoneitselfwhenIbegantowriteaboutit，anditwasnottilloneeveninglastspring，whilestayingwithmynephew，SirThomasActon，thatIcamewithinmeasurabledistanceofit。Adinnerpartywasimpending，and，atmyinstigation，theBishopofNorthchurchandMissPanton，hisdaughterandheiress，wereamongtheinvitedguests。 Thedinnerwasaparticularlygoodone，Irememberthatdistinctly。 Infact，Ifeltmyselfpartlyresponsibleforit，havingengagedthenewcook——atalentedyoungItalian，pupiloftheadmirableoldchefatmyclub。Wehadgoneoverthemenucarefullytogether，witharesultrefreshinginitsnovelty，butnotsodaringastodisturbthemindsoftheinnocentcountryguestswhowerebiddenthereto。 Thefirstspoonfulofsoupwasreassuring，andIlookedtotheendofthetabletoexchangeacongratulatoryglancewithLeta。Whatwasamiss？Noresponse。Herprettyfacewasflushed，hersmileconstrained，shewastalkingwithquiteunnecessaryempressementtoherneighbor，SirHarryLandor，thoughLetaisoneofthosefewwomenwhounderstandtheimportanceoflettingamansettledowntranquillyandwithanundisturbedmindtothebusinessofdining，allowingnotopicofseriousinteresttocomeonbeforethereleves，andreservingmereconversationalbrilliancyfortheentremets。 Guestsallright？Nodisappointments？Ihadgonethroughthelistwithher，selectingjusttherightpeopletobeaskedtomeettheLandors，ournewneighbors。Notamerecumbrouscountygathering，noryetashowyimportedpartyfromtown，butaskillfulblendingofboth。Hadanythinghappenedalready？Ihadbeenlatefordinnerandmissedthearrivalsinthedrawing-room。ItwasLeta’sfault。Shehasgotintoawayofcomingintomyroomandputtingthelasttouchestomytoilet。Ilether，forIamdoubtfulofmyselfnowadaysaftermanyyears’dependenceonthebestofvalets。 Hertasteisgenerallybeyonddispute，butto-dayshehadindulgedinafemininevagarythatprovokedmeandmademelatefordinner。 “Areyougoingtowearyoursapphire，UnclePaul！“shecriedinatoneofdismay。“Oh，whynottheruby？“ “YouWOULDhaveyourwayaboutthetabledecorations，“Igentlyremindedher。“withthatserviceofCrownDerbyrepousseandorchids，therubywouldlookabsolutelybarbaric。NowifyouwouldhavehadtheLimogesset，whitecandles，andayellowsilkcenter——“ “Oh，but——I’mSOdisappointed——Iwantedthebishoptoseeyourruby——oroneofyourengravedgems——“ “Mydear，itisonthebishop’saccountIputthison。YouknowhisdaughterisheiressofthegreatValdezsapphire——“ “Ofcoursesheis，andwhenhehasthechargeofastonethreetimesasbigasyours，what’stheuseofwearingit？Theruby，dearUnclePaul，PLEASE！“ ShewasdesperatelyinearnestIcouldsee，andconsideringtheobligationswhichIamsupposedtobeundertoherandTom，itwasbutalittlemattertoyield，butitinvolvedagooddealofextratrouble。Studs，sleeve-links，watch-guard，allcarefullyselectedtogowiththesapphire，hadtobechanged，theemeraldwhichI choseasacompromiserequiringmorefloridaccompanimentsofadeepertoneofgold；andthedinnerhourstruckasIreplacedmyjewelcase，theonerelicleftmeofaoncehandsomefortune，inmyfireproofsafe。 Theemeraldlookedverywellthatevening，however。IkeptmyeyesuponitforcomfortwhenMissPantonprovedtrying。 Shewasalean，yellow，dictatorialyoungpersonwithnoconversation。Ispokeofherfather’scelebratedsapphires。“MY sapphires，“sheamendedsourly；“thoughIamlegallydebarredfrommakinganyprofitableuseofthem。“Shefurthermoreinformedmethatsheviewedthemasuselessgauds，whichoughttobedisposedofforthebenefitoftheheathen。Igavethesubjectup，andwhileshediscoursedoftheworkoftheBlueRibbonArmyamongtheBosjesmansItriedtounderstandacertaindislocationinthearrangementofthetable。Surelyweweremoreorlessinnumberthanweshouldbe？Oppositesideallright。Whowasextraonours？Ileanedforward。LadyLandorononesideofTom，ontheotherwho？Icaughtglimpsesofplumespinkandgreennoddingoveradinnerplate，andbeneaththemapinknoseinagreenvisagewithanutcrackerchinaltogetherunknowntome。Asharpgrayeyeshotasidewayglancedownthetableandcaughtmepeeping，andI retreated，havingonlymarkedinadditiontwoclawlikehands，withpointedrufflesandamassofbrilliantrings，makinggoodplaywithaknifeandfork。Whowasshe？AtintervalsahighacidvoicecouldbeheardaddressingTom，andalaughthatmademeshudder；ithadthequalityofthescreamofabirdofpreyortheyellofajackal。Ihadheardthatsortoflaughbefore，anditalwaysmademefeellikeadefenselessrabbit。 EverytimeitsoundedIsawLeta’sfanfluttermorefuriouslyandhermannergrowmorenervouslyanimated。Poordeargirl！Ineverinallmyrecollectionwishedadinneratanendsoearnestlysoastoassureherofmysupportandsympathy，thoughwithoutthefaintestconceptionwhyeithershouldberequired。 Theicesatlast。Amenucardfoldedintwowaslaidbesideme。I readitunobserved。“KeeptheB。fromjoiningusinthedrawing- room。“TheB。？Thebishop，ofcourse。Withpleasure。Butwhy？ Andhow？THAT’Sthequestion，nevermind“why。“CouldIlurehimintothelibrary——thebilliardroom——theconservatory？Idoubtedit，andIdoubtedstillmorewhatIshoulddowithhimwhenIgothimthere。 Thebishopisagrandandstatelyecclesiasticofthemediaevaltype，broad-chested，deep-voiced，martialofbearing。Icouldpicturehimchargingmaceinhandattheheadofhisvassals，ordeliveringoveradissenteroftheperiodtotherackandthumbscrew，butnotpotteringamongrareeditions，tallcopiesandGrolierbindings，norcondescendingtoaquietcigaramongthetreefernsandorchids。Letamustandshouldbeobeyed，Iswore，nevertheless，evenifIweredriventolockthedoorinthefearlessoldfashionofabygoneday，anddeclareI’dshootanymanwholeftwhileadropremainedinthebottles。 Theladieswererising。TheladyattheheadofthelinesmirkedandnoddedherpinkplumescoquettishlyatTom，whileherhawk’seyesrovedkeenandpredatoryoverusall。Shestoppedsuddenly，creatingablockandconfusion。 “Ah，thedearbishop！YOUthere，andIneversawyou！Youmustcomeandhaveanicelongchatpresently。By-by——！“Sheshookherfanathimovermyshoulderandtrippedoff。Leta，passingmelast，gavemealookofprofounddespair。 “LadyCarwitchet！“somebodyexclaimed。“Icouldn’tbelievemyeyes。“ “Thoughtshewasdeadorinpenalservitude。NevershouldhaveexpectedtoseeherHERE，“saidsomeoneelsebehindmeconfidentially。 “WhatCarwitchet？NotthemotheroftheCarwitchetwho——“ “Justso。TheCarwitchetwho——“Tomassentedwithashrug。“Weneedn’tgofarther，asshe’smyguest。Justmyluck。ImetthematBuxton，thoughtthemuncommonlygoodcompany——infact，CarwitchetlaidmeunderagreatobligationaboutahorseIwasnearlyletinforbuying——andgavethemageneralinvitationhere，asonedoes，youknow。Neverexpectedhertoturnupwithherluggagethisafternoonjustbeforedinner，tostayaweek，orafortnightifCarwitchetcanjoinher。“Agroanofsympathyranroundthetable。“Itcan’tbehelped。I’vetoldyouthisjusttoshowthatIshouldn’thaveaskedyouheretomeetthissortofpeopleofmyownfreewill；but，asitis，pleasesaynomoreaboutthem。“Thesubjectwasnotdroppedbyanymeans，andItookcarethatitshouldnotbe。Atourendofthetableonestoryafteranotherwentbuzzinground——sottovoce，outofdeferencetoTom—— butperfectlyaudible。 “Carwitchet？Ah，yes。MixedupinthatRawlingsdivorcecase，wasn’the？Abadlot。TurnedoutoftheDragoonGuardsforcheatingatcards，orpickingpockets，orsomething——remembertherowattheCeruleanClub？Scandalousexposure——andthatforgedletterbusiness——oh，thatwasthemother——prosecutionhushedupsomehow。Oughttobeservingherfourteenyears——andthatbusinessofpoorFarrars，thebanker——gotholdofsomeofhissecretsandblackmailedhimtillheblewhisbrainsout——“ ItwassoexcitingthatIcleanforgotthebishop，tillalowgaspatmyelbowstartledme。Hewaslyingbackinhischair，hismightyshavenjowlaghastlywhite，hisfierceimperiouseyebrowsdroopinglimpoverhisfishlikeeyes，hissplendidfigureshrunkandcontracted。Hewastryingwithashakenhandtopouroutwine。 Thedecanterclatteredagainsttheglassandthewinespilledonthecloth。 “I’mafraidyoufindtheroomtoowarm。Shallwegointothelibrary？“ Herosehastilyandfollowedmelikealamb。 Herecoveredhimselfoncewegotintothehall，andaffablyrejectedallmyproffersofbrandyandsoda——medicaladvice—— everythingelsemylimitedexperiencecouldsuggest。Heonlydemandedhiscarriage“directly“andthatMissPantonshouldbesummonedforthwith。 ImadethebestuseIcouldofthetimeleftme。 “I’muncommonlysorryyoudonotfeelequaltostayingalittlelonger，mylord。Icountedonshowingyoumyfewtriflesofpreciousstones，thesalvagefromthewreckofmypossessions。