went over
all the extraordinary particulars of his uncle producing the ruby and
promising to give it to him to convey to Mr. Fluette, I saw the jurors
exchange questioning glances with one another; and then, as the enmity
and ill feeling between the two men became more and more apparent, the
six faces gradually came to assume expressions of open incredulity.

If the young lawyer remarked the effect of his testimony, which he
could scarcely help doing, the circumstance seemed not to dismay him in
the least. But the worst was yet to come: plainly, whatever doubts may
have lingered in the minds of the jury during this stage of his
examination, they were definitely dispelled when the witness frankly
admitted that according to the best of his belief he was Felix Page's
sole heir.

But to me Maillot's testimony was scarcely more than a running
accompaniment to Alfred Fluette's strange behavior. It was impossible
to interpret the seething conflict of thought and emotion which his
haggard visage hid only indifferently; he stared at the young man,
fascinated; but dominating every influence, gripping his very heart and
biting like acid, I could discern the evidence of a horror which must
inevitably drive him, sooner or later, to some violent outburst. It
was manifestly more than human nature could endure.

Why?--I asked myself--why? Why should he be so profoundly stirred by
the experience of one against whom he entertained such a strong
antipathy? And so promptly that it took me by surprise, he supplied
the potential answer to my unspoken question.

With a sudden movement, as if to sit longer inactive had become an
unendurable torment, he stood upright, flung off his heavy overcoat and
then whipped off his gloves.

_On the middle finger of his right hand gleamed a broad band of gold!_

I glanced at the sweet, concerned face of Genevieve Cooper. From the
intentness with which she hung upon my every action and change of
expression, I knew that she was trying to plumb the farther depths and
learn the trend of the hidden currents of this drama, which was of such
vital moment to her. I was glad that I could still offer her the
encouragement of a smile.

My attention was directed to Maillot when one of the jurors began
interrogating him.

"While Mr. Burke was absent," inquired the juror, "did you see the
ruby?" His reference was to Burke's absence when he went to notify the
police of the crime.

"I did not," was the