"Yes, she was a poor gambler; for it was a game between us. She was playing for a title, I for a fortune; well, she won the title and I won the fortune. Or rather you may call it purchase and sale. She bought a title and paid a fortune for it. For the moment the marriage ring encircled her finger she became the Viscountess Vincent and I became the possessor of her three millions of pounds sterling." "Ah, that marriage ring! There is another broken oath! You swore to me, once, that no living woman should ever wear a marriage ring of your putting on, except myself!" complained Faustina. "And I have kept that oath, my angel. If ever you see Lady Vincent without her gloves, look on the third finger of her left hand and see if there is any wedding ring to be found there." "But you yourself, just now, spoke of the ring on her finger, saying that as soon as it was placed there, you became the possessor of her three millions of pounds sterling." "I will explain. Listen! I remembered my vow to you. I got the ring purposely too large for her finger; consequently, soon after it was placed on, it dropped off and rolled away. When the ceremony was over the gentlemen searched for it. I found it and concealed it. She never saw it again. Here it is. I give it to you." Claudia from her hiding place stooped forward until she got a glimpse of the two traitors. She saw the viscount open his pocketbook and take from an inner compartment her own wedding ring, and place it upon the finger of his companion, saying: "There, my angel, wear it; it will fit your fat finger, though it was too large for her slender one." "What will she say when she sees it?" inquired the woman, contemplating the golden circle with a triumphant smile. "She will not recognize it. All wedding rings are alike. This one has no mark to distinguish it from all other wedding rings." "And so I have got it!" said the woman, clapping her hands gleefully. "Yes, my sweet, and you shall have everything else; the three millions of pounds sterling and the title of viscountess included." "Ah! but how got you all the fortune in money so easily?" "I sold everything, bank stock, railway shares, city houses, tobacco plantations, lead mines, foundries, gorillas, and all! And I have transferred the whole in simple cash to this country." "And it is three millions?" "Three millions." "Ciel! Now, then, I can have my villa at Torquay, and my yacht, and my--" "You can have everything you want now, and the rank and position of viscountess as soon as I can get rid of her." "Ah, yes! but when will that be?" "Very, very soon, I hope. Just as soon as I can mature my plans." "But what are they?" "Scarcely to be breathed even here. The very walls have ears, you know." "Tell me; what does the earl think of this marriage of yours?"