Presently the lady customer left the shop in a considerable huff, and without the cup and saucer. "She'll come back fast enough, I've hooked her," said Sam. "The old 'un'll be pleased. I most times hook a couple of customers in the morning, and the old 'un is always delighted. Your pleasure, ladies? How do, Susan?" All the favourable opinion I had formed of Susan Ford was abundantly verified by her conduct during this interview. Sam examined the ruby ring from every possible point of view, he squinted frightfully over it. He turned on the gas, and caused its rays to pierce through the heart of the gems. They leaped up as if with living fire. Presently he said that it was his bounden duty to consult the old 'un. Before I could expostulate he had vanished with the ring into an inner sanctum. He came back in the course of ten minutes. "How will you take it, miss?" he said. "In notes or gold?" For a moment I felt too petrified to speak. "What do you mean?" I presently gasped. "I don't want to sell the ring." "Oh, come now, miss, that's a good 'un! You know better than that. Don't she, Miss Ford?" Susan bridled and got very red when she was addressed as Miss Ford. But, being my staunch friend, she came quickly to the rescue. "Miss Lindley knows her own mind, Sam," she said severely. "She don't want to sell the ring, only to value it." Sam, looking intensely mysterious and amused, darted once more into the back room. "I wish he would give me back my ring," I said to Susan. "Oh, it's all right, you let Sam manage it his own way," retorted Susan. After what seemed an interminable five minutes, Sam returned. His face was now quite pale, and his voice had an awe-struck sound about it. "I never knew anything like it," he said, "never in all my life, but it's true for all that. The old 'un'll give you one hundred and fifty pounds for the ring, miss." I was nineteen years old, and I had never in the whole course of my life possessed ten pounds at a time. The idea, therefore, of walking out of that shop with one hundred and fifty pounds in notes and gold, all my own, my very own, was something of a temptation. Nevertheless I stood firm. "I don't mean to sell the ring," I said, "whatever it is valued at. I know now that it is worth not only one hundred and fifty pounds, but a considerable sum more. I cannot, however, get the exact value out of your master, as he wants to become the purchaser. I will, therefore, say good-morning. Come, Susan." Susan, casting a somewhat withering glance at Sam, followed me into Hanway Street, and we presently found ourselves back again at the large house in Great Portland Street. "Good-bye, miss," said Susan. "I wish with all my heart I could ask you in, but I can't, and there's an end. I'd be delighted to help you in any other way, miss, about the ring, and if ever you do want to sell, I have no doubt Sam and his master will still hold to their offer."