est the
impassive tellers handle immense sums of money with an impersonality
which it was impossible for his avarice to comprehend.

The thievery of his thoughts and the ravin of his envy would have
provided interesting bases of speculation for the reflective magistrate,
since, if, according to the metaphysician, thoughts are things, he
committed crimes daily.

Had the Sepoy, by entrusting the gem to the custody of this strange
being, intended to harass his shriveled soul, he could not have adopted
a more effective plan.

The certainty of the sharp bargain which Raikes could drive with such a
commodity in certain localities, affected him with the exasperation
which disturbs the lover who discovers in the eyes of his sweetheart the
embrace to which he is welcome but from which he is restrained by the
presence of her parent.

The many forms of value to which it could be transformed by the alchemy
of intelligent barter made distracting appeals.

The facets danced their vivid vertigos into his brain.

At last, starting to his feet with impatient resolution, he hurried to
a button in the wall, which controlled the radiator valves.

After a series of complicated movements, he succeeded in swinging aside
the entire iron framework beneath it, revealing, directly in the rear, a
considerable recess.

In the center of this space a knob protruded surrounded by a combination
lock, which, under Raikes' familiar manipulation, disclosed a further
cavity.

With an expression not unsuggestive of the mien of the disconsolate
relict who has just made her melancholy deposit in the vault, Raikes
placed the sapphire in this second recess, closed the combination door,
replaced the swinging radiator, and prepared to retire for the remainder
of the night.

When sleep, if that unrestful and populous trance to which he finally
succumbed can be so designated, came to him, the disorders of his
wakeful hours were emphasized in his dreams.

He had been haled to court; convicted without defense; sent headless to
Charon, and was obliged, on that account, to make a ventriloquial
request for a passage across the Styx; so that, in the morning, it was
with genuine relief he returned the jewel to its owner and resumed his
wonted meagerness of visage and useless deprivations.

As the Sepoy pocketed the gem he looked at Raikes with a glance at once
searching and derisive as he asked:

"Was I not right in calling it a marvel?"

"Aye!" returne