The Opposite House: A Novel — page 89: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

84 The Opposite House. “Lord Langbury °” he repeated. “Such a Croesus might well make presents.” Heloise carelessly threw back the lid and let the precious stones sparkle in the light. They were magnificent gems, set 1n the shape of a star, whose brilliancy made him involuntarily shield his eyes. Heloise, with a smile, raised the diadem and placed it on her dark curls. ‘The mirror reflected a queenly vision. Doctor Brand silently took ornament after orna- ment to scan them with covetous eyes. He seemed to be scrutinizing them closely, and the calculation made in his nimble brain reached a large amount. The stones lay sparkling on the table, and cast vivid rays upon the white hand of the woman who was impatiently gathering them up to return to the case, as careless and indifferent totheir beauty as though the shining gems were pebbles collected on the highway. “Well?” she asked, mischievously, shutting the lid. ‘Was the exhibition worth the fee?” ‘Gossip says that your ornaments are priceless,” replied Brand, with a strange smile: “ but I think they are a royal gift which deserve to adorn your beauty. Don’t be ignoble, Heloise, and repay the prince’s generous kindness with base ingratitude. I earnestly entreat you to send him a pleasant answer.” cComiclbookxs.conn