om that of engraving gems, Mr Severn. The Greeks and Romans
really excelled in the extremely difficult art, and I have seen in
museums very beautifully engraved heads of Grecian monarchs and Roman
emperors and empresses, and also signet-rings and other ornaments. Dear
me," he continued, with a smile from one to the other, "I am much
surprised to find that such a specimen of the engraver's work has been
lying here in my establishment, and my curiosity is greatly excited.
But really, from what you say, such a thing as this ought not to be kept
in a schoolboy's box, but in an iron safe along with plate, or lying at
a banker's. Mr Singh, really I should like to see this--er--article
of--er--er--this ornamental belt. Will you show it to me?"

"I can't, sir," said the boy half-spitefully, and he flashed a look at
Glyn. "Severn said, sir, that I was not to talk about it or show it to
anybody."

"As I have before said," continued the Doctor, "I quite approve of your
friend's anxiety respecting your position. It was very wise, and I will
not press to see it, feeling as I do that no parade should be made of
such an object as this. Why, every pupil in the establishment would be
wanting to see it, and--There, it is much better not."

"But I didn't mean, sir," said Glyn, "that Singh should refuse to show
it to you. It was only to guard against such a thing as you have
suggested.--Go and fetch it, Singh, at once."

Singh hurried eagerly out of the room; and as soon as he was gone Glyn
said, "Singh is getting more and more English, sir, every day; but he
used to be very fond of talking about being an Indian prince, and was
weak enough to be proud of that belt and ready to show it to any one who
asked."

"Not to his fellow-pupils, I hope?" said the Doctor.

"No, sir," replied Glyn, who began to feel that he was treading upon
dangerous ground, and he hastened to add, "that's why I gave him such
strict orders, sir."

"Quite right, Mr Severn; quite right," said the Doctor. "I highly
approve of what you have done. But between ourselves--I say it because
you are a very sensible lad, and I trust that you will see that it is
something not to be repeated, for I speak with the best intentions--I am
a little surprised that your father the Colonel, Mr Singh's guardian,
should have placed at a mere boy's disposal what I presume to be a very
valuable and unique portion of an Indian regalia."

"Well, sir, it was like this," said G