The Argosy — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

The Missing Rubies. 275 He was nearly opposite to the Arch, when he caught sight of the man whom he sought, coming slowly along the pavement to meet him. If Beatrice had changed, so also had Godwin Earle. The sun- shine fell on the hollows of his cheeks and the dark shades under his sad eyes. He was looking dreamily before him, seeing nothing. Vordenberg stopped and spoke. ‘‘T have been to your lodging,” he said. ‘“‘It is fortunate that we have met. I want to have a long talk with you.” “A long talk,” said Godwin, in languid wonder. ‘Shall we turn into the park and find a seat? We can’t do better, I think.” They had some difficulty in finding a bench that suited them. But at last, coming across a seat that had two happy and pre-occupied lovers at one end of it, Vordenberg proposed that they should sit there. The young couple had ears only for each other, and a private conversation might be carried on in safety near them. “Mr. Earle,” Vordenberg began, somewhat ceremoniously, ‘ I must, first of all, apologise for meddling in your affairs. But Miss Ward has told me, to-day, the whole story of the loss of the neck- lace ; and, strange as it may seem, I think I can throw some light on the matter. You are under the impression, of course, that the missing necklace was the same which once belonged to Count Gliska, and had been valued at three thousand pounds ?” “Tt was the very same,” Godwin answered, without hesitation. “The Countess Gradizoff received it from her husband. Poor Gliska belonged, it seems, to the long list of plundered Poles ; and Gradizoff, a man of great influence in his own country, appropriated some of his jewels. ‘There can be no mistake in the case.” “Pardon me; there is either a mistake, or something far uglier. Gradizoff was, as you have said, a man of great influence in his own country ; but he was also a needy man, whose means were insuffi- cient for his wants. He never gave his wife the necklace. But he did give her something which passed exceedingly well for the reai thing.” ‘Are you sure of this?” Godwin’s eyes opened incredulously. ‘Perfectly sure. And certain, too, of something else that will surprise you greatly. But before I go any further, there is a question that I want to ask you. Was there a woman, called Paulina Lorenski, in the house when the necklace disappeared ? ” ‘There was a Miss Lorenski living with the Gradizoffs at that time. She came with them from Russia, as my cousin Olga’s governess.” “Thank you,” said ee ld with a bright look. “TI shall get on now, I believe.” ‘But why do you ask these questions?” enquired Godwin eagerly. ‘‘ How is it that you are possessed of secret information about the necklace? Do you know where it is now ?” “I know where the real necklace is,” Vordenberg replied calmly. CORINELMO© <S (S©)