Again he had been on the point of declaring himself, but told himself
that the moment was not a propitious one.

"I am afraid it is too late for that," she responded, with a sigh; "the
case is settled, and Mr. Bently's relatives have won. But, good-by--do
not let me detain you longer."

"I will see you again this evening," he returned, adding, as he passed
out of the room: "I will be very careful of your property, and hope to
bring you a good report."

Mrs. Bently shrugged her graceful shoulders indifferently, as if she had
no faith in his belief, and felt that it would be but a small loss if the
jewels were never returned. Then, with a smile and a bow, she went up
stairs to her own rooms.




CHAPTER II.

THE VICTIM OF A WOMAN'S WILES.


Justin Cutler, after leaving the hotel, went directly to one of the first
jewelers of the city, a well-known diamond expert, and submitted Mrs.
Bently's ornaments to his judgment.

"They are remarkably fine stones." Mr. Arnold remarked, after having
carefully examined them through a microscope; "very pure and clear, most