ago, because it hadn't enough money to spend, or something?"

"Quite so," replied Ruthven Smith, adding with pride: "But the Van Vrecks
had enough money. They always have when a unique thing is for sale; and
they are rich enough to wait for years, with their money locked up, till
somebody comes along who wants the thing. That happened in the case of
the Malindore diamond. The Van Vrecks hoped to sell it to Mr. Pierpont
Morgan. But he died, and it was left on their hands till this last
autumn."

"Ah, then that lovely blue diamond was sold with the other things the Van
Vreck agent lost on the _Monarchic_?"

"_Was_ to be sold if the prospective buyer liked it. He had married a
white wife, you know, and----"

"Oh, yes, of course. It was Lady Eve Cassenden. That marriage made a big
sensation among us. _Horrid_, I call it! But she hadn't a penny, and they
say he's the richest Maharajah in India."

"The Malindore diamond was once in his family, I understand, about five
hundred years ago, when we first begin to get at its history," Ruthven
Smith went on, ignoring the Maharajah as he had ignored the Countess de
Santiago. "It was then the central jewel of a crown. But later, Louis
XIV, on obtaining possession of it, had it set in a ring, and surrounded
with small white brilliants. It still remains in that form, or did so
remain until it was stolen from our agent on the _Monarchic_. What form
it is in and where it is now, only those who know can say."

So strong was the call from Ruthven Smith's eyes to Annesley's eyes that
she was forced to look up. She had been sure that she would meet his gaze
fixed upon her, and so it was. He was staring across the table at her,
with a curious expression on his long, hatchet face.

CHAPTER XVII

RUTHVEN SMITH'S EYEGLASSES

Annesley could not read the look. Yet she felt that it might be read, if
her soul and body had not been wrenched apart, and hastily flung together
again, upside down, it seemed, with her brain where her heart had been,
and vice versa.

Why had Ruthven Smith looked at her, as he spoke in his loud voice of the
stolen Malindore diamond--a blue diamond set with small brilliants, in a
ring? Had he found out that she--did he believe--but she could not finish
the thought. It seemed as though the ring Knight had given her--_and told
her to hide_--was burning her flesh!

Could _her_ blue diamond be the famous diamond, about which the jewel
expert was telling Lad