Both were deeply troubled.

And now Miss Cooper, after a quick side-glance at me, spoke. Her voice
was remarkably sweet and soft, her whole attitude inexpressibly gentle.

"Royal," said she, "you are greatly wrought up; I think I know why; but
take your time, and keep nothing back. The truth is not going to hurt
you; lack of candor may be extremely harmful."

He responded to this appeal with a slight gesture and a rather wistful
smile; they reflected a certain hopelessness.

"Swift," he bluntly asked me, "have you ever heard of that confounded
ruby?"

I told him that I was pretty well acquainted with its history; but did
not tell him that I was cognizant of Alfred Fluette's association with
it. Neither did I say anything about my knowledge of the long-standing
enmity between the two men. I had already received more than one hint
that the causes of the tragedy were deep and powerful, whatever their
nature--I would have to find this out for myself--and I was extremely
curious to hear his story.

"Then you know of the contest several years ago in London for its
possession," Maillot pursued; "how Mr. Fluette coveted it for his
collection, and how my uncle thwarted his efforts to obtain it. Mr.
Fluette is very determined, and when his purpose is once set, it is not
an easy matter to change or sway it. He was bitterly disappointed,
though he never ceased hoping that some day he should acquire the
jewel; but knowing Mr. Page as he did, I believe he was in a measure
reconciled to a conviction that he would have to wait until the owner
died.

"As I have said, his failure to get the stone was a great blow--perhaps
more so than you can imagine; and, besides, my uncle stepping in in the
way he did and outbidding him seemed so like a bit of petty
spite-work--dog-in-the-manger, you know--that he could n't get over it.
The stone cost my uncle a cool five hundred thousand: a pretty big
price to pay for the indulgence of a personal grudge, is n't it?

"And now, Swift, knowing all this as I did--the strong aversion which
each felt for the other--if I should come to you and tell you that I
intended asking my uncle to give me his precious ruby for the purpose
of passing it on to Mr. Fluette, would n't you think I had become a fit
subject for a lunatic asylum?"

"Yet," returned I, calmly, "you say that you did this, and that your
uncle assured you he would give you the stone this morning--promised
after he had heard your r