"A gentleman who wanted a gold ring. He asked me to give him the
name of a jeweller upon whom he could depend. The ring, he said,
must be solid, for a particular reason; and, as he was a stranger,
he did not know who was to be trusted. I told him I would guaranty
you for an honest man. That if you undertook to manufacture any
article for him, he might rely upon its being done according to
agreement."

While Harrison was uttering this undeserved compliment, it was with
the utmost difficulty that Mr. Grant. could keep the tell-tale blood
from rushing to his face.

"He showed me the ring," continued Mr. Harrison. "It is a very
handsome one."

"Was he satisfied with it?" asked Mr. Grant.

"Not fully."

"Why so?"

"He was afraid it might not be solid. In fact, so anxious was he on
this point, that he took the ring to your neighbour, over the way,
to get his opinion about it."

As Mr. Harrison said this, Grant was conscious that a betrayal of
the truth was on his countenance.

"And, of course, Martin said the ring was not solid."