estate," I pursued, "will be the Paternoster
ruby."

The young fellow interrupted me impulsively.

"By George, Swift! it's yours. Find it and keep it--or sell it and
keep the money. I 'll not have the ghastly thing--chuck it into the
lake first."

"That's no proper way to dispose of it; and later on you might regret
such a gift to me. This was what I was going to suggest.

"I believe the claim of the Burmese to be just, for I suppose they 're
honest according to their lights. They would have a pretty hard time
establishing it, though, if you are of a mind to contest the matter."

"Great Scott! Forget that cursed ruby; talk about something else. I
want to get the thing out of my mind and never think of it again."

"All right. I sha'n't mention it after to-day. But let me get
through. Here 's an easy way to settle the matter.

"Let the Burmese have it after reimbursing the estate for what your
uncle paid for it; it would be only fair--at least, in a measure.

"I want to hold Tshen and his entourage of mild-eyed cutthroats until I
put Burke through; they 're my best witnesses. We can't hang the
rascal, but we have an excellent ease against him for burglary,
attempted swindling, and attempted blackmail. After I find the ruby
you can do the bargaining."

He agreed to this. After a bit he favored me with a quizzical regard.

"I don't mind explaining that ring episode--now," he said, in response
to my look of inquiry. "When you first pointed out the true import of
the wax impression on the candlestick, it brought to my mind at once
Fluette's capricious notion of wearing a ring on the middle finger of
his right hand. I was keeping tab on you the day of the inquest. I
knew that he was going to attend, and that the circumstance would be of
considerable significance to you. I saw your look dart to his right
hand---saw you watching him--"

"And you thought you 'd confuse me, eh?"

"Exactly. When you saw the ring on his finger only, the circumstance
was pregnant--portentous. When you had _two_ rings on _two_ right
hands, why, you were puzzled, but the effect was scattering and weak."

I approached Mr. Fluette with an enthusiasm decidedly tempered, and so
I was not as disappointed as I might have been. My good news seemed to
produce not the slightest effect upon him. He appeared to have aged
twenty years; and from that day until his death, which occurred only
four months later, he remained melancho