“They are not real diamonds,” said I, laughing, and rather pleased for the moment at his mistake. “They are only paste.” He raised his eyebrows. “Then allow me to congratulate you, Miss Christie, on possessing the very best imitation of the real thing that I have ever seen. I know something of diamonds, and I never was deceived before.” I was looking at him curiously, for he seemed to speak as if he did not quite believe me. “Look! I will go to the door,” said I, for the light was fading, “and then, as you are such a good judge, you will be able to tell.” I walked to the door, and he bent his face down close to mine and examined my pendant carefully. Presently he gave a slight start. “Am I taking too great a liberty in asking if there are initials on the other side of that?” “Yes, there are,” said I, surprised. “And will you tell me what they are?” I hesitated. If this gentleman persisted in thinking the ornament was made of diamonds, he would think it a very strange thing if he found out that it was Mr. Rayner who had given such a costly present to his child’s governess; so I said quietly-- “I would rather not tell you.” “I beg your pardon. Will you forgive my curiosity? I have seen only one ornament set exactly like that before; but it was in real diamonds”--and again he looked at me. “I was wondering if it had been exactly imitated in paste by the jeweller who set it, and if the sham twin-brother had, by some curious coincidence, come into your possession.” “How lovely the real one must be!” “No lovelier than yours, I assure you.” “Then doesn’t it seem a pity to spend so much money on real ones?” said I. “What do you think the real one was worth?” “About fifteen hundred pounds, I believe.” “And you thought I had on an ornament worth fifteen hundred pounds!” said I, laughing heartily. “Oh, if the person who gave it me could know, how he would laugh!” He caught at my words. “He would laugh, would he?” I was annoyed with myself, for I had not meant to let out even the sex of the giver of my pendant. He continued-- “He would be pleased, I should think, to have his paste taken for diamonds.” I did not answer, but only laughed again. “Have any of the ladies seen it yet, Miss Christie?” “No; and, for fear they should make the same mistake that you have made, I shall not let them,” said I. And I had raised my hands to take it off when Mrs. Cunningham and another lady came into the conservatory. The elder lady’s eyes fell upon the unlucky trinket at once. “What are you taking that off for, my dear? It is just what you want round the throat.” “Because I have been teased about wearing diamonds, and they are only sham ones; and I don’t want to be teased any more,” said I rather tremulously. “Never mind Tom, my dear. Don’t take off your pretty pendant for him. They are certainly very like, though,” said she, looking first at them and then into my face. “Here, put them on again and snap your fingers at Tom.”