inconsiderable, I--well, they would have made certain things easier
for me. I should then have been in a better position to do what I
want to do."

"Oh! You had some definite plan which hinged upon your finding
them?"

He was silent for a space, as if considering within himself just how
far he could admit me into his confidence.

"At first, it was a matter of family pride with me to clear up this
mystery. Later--I wanted to have the Hynds jewels in my possession,
that I might ask the woman I love to marry me." His voice vibrated
like a violin string.

I took the blow standing. I did not wince, though it had come
unexpectedly. Of course I had known all along that there must be
some lady whom he loved, a woman of that world to which he himself
belonged. But I couldn't for the life of me imagine how the finding
or the not finding of the Hynds jewels could have any bearing upon
the case. I couldn't understand how any woman, any real woman, could
let such a thing come between her and Nicholas Jelnik.

When we had walked a little farther: "Doesn't she know you care for
her?"

"Who knows what any woman knows or thinks? She may really care for
another man."

"There is another man?"

"There is always another man. Her feeling for me may be nothing but
pure kindness, for she is kindness itself."

"Still, I think you should tell her," I said, with such a heavy
heart!

He shook his head. "There are reasons why my faith might be
questioned, my motives doubted; and I couldn't bear that."

"But if you are perfectly sure of your own feelings, if there is
absolutely no doubt in your mind that you love her--"

"Love her? I never thought," he said, "that any woman could mean so
much to a man! I never dreamed that just one woman could be in
herself all that a man needs to hold fast to! Love her? I have been
all over the world and I have seen many women in many lands, but
never any woman of them all, save that one, for me! It was a
revelation to me, that I could care so much. Ah! I wish I could make
it plain just how much I do care!"

I had not known until that moment how much the heart can bear of
anguish and not break.

"I hope she loves you just as much in return, Mr. Jelnik. I hope
with all my heart you will be happy, both of you."

"I hope she does! I hope we shall!" he cried, with ardor. "Why, if
I could be sure she cares for me, like that, if I could know that
all other men counted as little with her as all other