lead the conversation
in the desired direction.

"I trust," said he, addressing Mitchel, "that you have entirely
recovered from that unfortunate illness that prevented you from
attending the affair at Rawlston's."

"Oh, yes," said Mitchel, "it was but a temporary matter. The only
serious result was that I was kept from the festival. I think I might
have saved Miss Remsen from the annoyance of losing her ruby."

"But, Mitchel," said Mr. Randolph, "whilst of course one does not like
to lose so valuable a gem, at the same time you can safely replace it."

"What makes you think so?"

"Why, you have so many jewels. Do you know I was saying only recently
that any one who, like you, would hoard up rare gems, keeping them
locked in a vault where no one can see them, is in a way insane. I was
glad when you gave that ruby to Miss Remsen, and took it as a symptom of
returning lucidity that you should unearth one of your hidden treasures.
I have no doubt that you have others like it buried in some corner of
your safe. Why not get one out and present it to the lady?"

"You are mistaken, Randolph. I cannot so easily produce a mate to that
ruby."

"Why not? Was there anything peculiar about it?"

"Yes, but we will not talk of it."

This curt way of dismissing the subject was a surprise to Mr. Randolph,
for, however little Mr. Mitchel cared to show his gems, he had never
before been unwilling to embrace any opportunity to talk about them. Mr.
Randolph started in a new direction, remembering the hints of the
detective.

"Mitchel," said he, "I would almost be willing to wager that you not
only can give Miss Remsen as good a ruby, but that you could actually
give her the same one."

"I hope to do so," was the quiet reply.

"You don't understand me. I mean that I half believe that your sickness
in Philadelphia was all a farce; that you came over, and yourself stole
the gem."

"Indeed? And what leads you to such a preposterous deduction?"

"I think that this is your way of endeavoring to win your wager. I
think that no one but yourself could have taken the pin from Miss
Remsen's hair, as for no one else would she have submitted."

"Randolph, your repeated allusions to Miss Remsen, in this connection,
and especially your insinuation that I would ask her to be an accomplice
in such a piece of duplicity, and that she would consent, are
distasteful to me in the extreme. If you will pardon my saying so, it is
a poor entertai