your niece wear a ring?"

"Yes, a mourning ring."

"Do you know the ring? Could you identify it?"

"Certainly," replied Jaspar, who remembered having seen an ornament of
this description on the finger of Emily.

"Will you describe it to me, if you please?"

But Jaspar had reckoned without his host. The details of a piece of
jewelry were matters entirely foreign to his taste. However, he
succeeded in giving a description, which, from its general terms, might
have applied to one mourning ring as well as another.

"Is this the one?" asked Dalhousie, with an anxiety which he could
scarcely conceal, as he produced a ring.

"That _is_ it," replied Jaspar, confidently; and the jewel did bear some
resemblance to that worn by Emily.

"But where did you obtain this?"

"I must insist on the most inviolable secrecy."

"Certainly, certainly," said Jaspar, eagerly.

"I will disclose the particulars only on the condition that you pledge
yourself never to reveal my agency in the matter; for it would
compromise my character."

"Very well. I pledge you my honor," replied Jaspar, impatiently. "You
took it from the corpse of the lady in black."

"I did, and you must be aware that such an act would subject me to
inconvenience, if known."

"Don't be alarmed; your secret is safe."

"But are you sure this is the ring worn by your niece?"

"It looks like it;" but Jaspar was perplexed with a doubt. He bethought
himself that it was only in a casual glance he had observed Emily's
ring. He had never examined it, and, after all, this might not be the
one. There was certainly nothing strange in any lady dressed in black
wearing a mourning ring. Again he turned the ring over and over, and
scrutinized it closely. His finger touched a spring, and the plate flew
up, disclosing a small lock of gray hair, twined around the single
letter D.

"I will swear to it now," exclaimed Jaspar, in a tone which betrayed the
malicious joy he felt at the discovery. He was perfectly satisfied now
of the identity of the ring. It never occurred to him that D stood for
any other name than Dumont.

"This appears to be decisive evidence," replied Dalhousie. "Your
_niece_, then, must be the person brought down by the Dragon."

"Without doubt."

"As this matter, then, is settled to your satisfaction--"

"Sir!" exclaimed Jaspar.

"I beg your pardon," resumed Dalhousie, with a supercilious air; "I only
meant that your mind was satisfied--relieved from