surprised to find it icy cold and trembling, but he attributed it to
emotion caused by the parting with him.

"Then I shall only say _au revoir_," she responded, smiling.

She looked so lovely that he longed to draw her within his arms and take
a more tender leave of her, but again putting a curb upon himself, he
simply bowed, and left her, when with a quick, elastic step, she swept
up stairs to her own apartments.

Justin Cutler was very busy all the morning, and did not find time to go
to the jeweler's until the afternoon.

He had no intention of disposing of the crescents--he simply wished to
tell him that he had himself concluded to purchase them, and then ask the
privilege of depositing them in Mr. Arnold's safe for a few days; for
they were to be his gift to the woman he loved, if she received his suit
with favor.

The gentleman was in, and his eyes lighted as his glance fell upon the
case which Mr. Cutler laid upon the show-case, for he believed that, in
purchasing the crescents, he was going to get an unusually good bargain.

"Ah," he remarked, "the lady has decided to dispose of the stones?"

"Yes; but--" Mr. Cutler began, when he suddenly stopped, and gazed,
astonished, at the man.

He had taken the case, opened it, and started in dismay as he saw what
were within, while a look of blank consternation overspread his face.