history of their wonderful diamonds,
pearls, emeralds, and rubies. It was too bad that he wouldn't, for there
was not a famous jewel in England or Europe of which Ruthven Smith had
not every ancient scandal in connection with it at his tongue's end.

But on his tongue's end it stayed, even when, for the sake of his own
pleasure if nothing else, his hosts and hostesses tried to draw him out.

Nevertheless, he was not sorry that he had come. There was an element of
joy in seeing, met together, and sparkling together, those exquisite,
historic beauties of which he had read.

It had been a bother to Lady Annesley-Seton and her cousin Anne to decide
how Ruthven Smith should be put at table. In a way, he was an outsider,
the only one among the guests without a title or military rank which
mechanically indicated his place in relation to others. Besides, no woman
would want to have him to scream at.

Fortunately, however, there were two women asked on account of their
husbands, and so--according to Connie's code--of no importance in
themselves. Providence meant them to be pushed here and there like pawns
on a chessboard; and they were pushed to either side of Ruthven Smith at
the dinner-table on Saturday night.

Both had been placated by being told beforehand what a wonderful man he
was, with frightfully exciting things to say, if he could tactfully be
made to say them. But only one of the two had courage or spirit to rise
to the occasion--the woman he was given to take in, a Lady Cartwright,
married to Major Sir Elmer Cartwright, who was always asked to every
house whenever the Duchess of Peebles was invited.

Lady Cartwright was Irish, wrote plays, had a sense of humour, and was
not jealous of the Duchess. Because she wrote plays, she was continually
in search of material, digging it up, even when it looked unpromising.

"I have heard such charming things about you," she began.

"I _beg_ your pardon!" said Ruthven Smith, unable to believe his ears.
And because he was somewhat deaf himself, he could not gauge the
inflections of his own voice. Sometimes he spoke almost in a whisper,
sometimes very loudly. This time he spoke loudly, and several people,
surprised at the sound rising above other sounds like spray from a
flowing river, paused for an instant to listen.

"What a wonderful expert in jewels you are," Lady Cartwright replied in
a higher tone, realizing that she had a deaf man to deal with. "And that
you have be