’Take your chain, Countess. And now for you, you ill-conditioned cur, I warn you. Touch her again, and I will fling you over the wall. Offer her another insult, and you shall suffer for it. If I spare you this time it is because this is your father’s house, and I have been his guest. But I will not eat at his table again, that I may reserve my liberty of action, and have my hands free to chastise you should you again in any way offend the Countess Mirelle Garcia.’ He turned to Mirelle. ’I once before offered you what help and protection it was possible to me to render, and now I renew the offer.’ ’Oh, Mr. Herring,’ said she, ’before, I refused your offer very ungraciously. I said then that I was able to help myself. I did not then know the rude elements with which I should have to contend, and I was unaware of my own weakness. Now, with my better knowledge, I accept your offer.’ ’Thank you,’ he replied: ’you make me this night a very proud man.’ ’Mr. Herring,’ she pursued, ’I will give you at once the only token I have that I rely upon you. This person who snatched the jewels from my neck, if capable of such an act as that, is capable of another.’ Her voice came quick, her bosom heaved, the angry blood was hammering at her temples. ’I do not believe that these diamonds are secure in this house. If he could wrench them from my throat, he would take them from my trunk. Voyez! je vous donne toutes les preuves possibles que j’ai de la confiance en vous.’ She disengaged the tiara from her hair. ’There, there!’ she said hastily, ’take both the crown and the necklace. I intrust them to you to keep for me. I know that I can rely upon you; I do not know in whom else I can place trust. All are false except you: you are true.’ ’Countess! I cannot do this.’ ’Why not? Do you shrink already from exercising the trust you offered?’ ’Not so, but——’ ’But I entreat you,’ she interrupted with a trembling voice. ’Ces diamants-ci appartenaient à ma mère—à ma chère, chère mère; c’est pour ça qu’ils ont tant de valeur pour moi.’ She forced a smile and made a slight curtsey, and turned to go. Young Sampson Tramplara was standing near, scowling. Mirelle’s eyes rested on him. ’Mr. Herring,’ she said, ’should I need your help at any time, may I write?’ ’Certainly, and I place myself entirely at your service.’ Young Tramplara burst into a rude laugh. ’The guardianship of the orphan was committed to Tramplara, then it passed to Tramplara and Herring, and now, finally, it is vested in Herring alone.’ To what extent the guardianship of that frail white girl had passed to Herring, to what an extent also he had become trustee for her fortune, neither she nor Sampson Tramplara guessed. He had uttered his sneer, but the words were full of truth.