you, precisely, to have and to hold (as I shall give you myself in a
few hours), because this ring is more a trust than a possession.
Something may happen which will force me to ask you for it. But again, it
may _not_. And, anyhow, I want you to have the ring until that time
comes. I've bought a thin gold chain, and you can hang it round your
neck, unless--I almost think you're inclined to refuse?"

Another mystery! But the blue diamond in its scintillating frame was so
alluring that Annesley could not refuse. She knew that she would have
more pleasure in peeping surreptitiously at the secret blue diamond than
in seeing the "obvious" white one on her finger.

"I can't give it up!" she said, laughing. "But I hope it isn't one of
those dreadful historic stones which have had murders committed for it,
like famous jewels one reads of. I should hate anything that came from
_you_ to bring bad luck."

"So should I hate it. If there's any bad luck coming, I want it myself,"
Knight said, gravely.

"I wish I hadn't spoken of bad luck to-day!" the girl remorsefully
exclaimed. "But I am not afraid. Give me the ring."

He gave it, and pulled from his pocket the slight gold chain on which he
meant it to hang. He was leisurely threading the ring upon this when two
men looked in at the door of the reading room.

One of the pair was of more than middle age. He was tall, thin, and
slightly stooping. His respectable clothes seemed too loose for him. His
hair and straggling beard were gray, contrasting with the sallow darkness