"'Does the honoured Herr remember what I said yesterday----?' "'That you wished me to give you my diamonds for safe keeping? Yes; and I have to answer, that I am not quite so trustful as you seem to think!' "The scornful and severe tone in which I spoke evidently startled her; but she still affected not to understand. 'It was for Herr Gainsborough's own sake----' she began; but I interrupted her. "'Do you remember what _I_ said yesterday? that I went armed; well, I am armed to-day, and whoever tries to teach me how to take care of my diamonds may happen to get a bullet instead; so let him beware. If Herr Rudolph is anxious about me, you can tell him that!' "'Herr Gainsborough will be sorry to have spoken so,' said Christina, colouring deeply, and with tremulous lip. "'I am sorry to have to say it, Christina. But, can you tell me how the bolt of this door came to be in this condition?' and I pulled out the loose socket as I spoke, and the screws fell to the floor. "'Indeed I did not know this!' exclaimed she; but the dismay and confusion which were but too plainly visible on her face belied her words. "'You will understand, however, that a house whose fastenings are so much out of order would not be a proper place to keep treasures in. Well, good-bye, Christina. I am going to Kohlstein, and probably I shan't spend another night here. When you write to your brother in Paris, you may tell him that the diamonds are quite safe, though they may have been in danger.' "'Will Herr Gainsborough let me say one word?' "'It's too late--I have no time,' returned I, with an emphasis all the more coldly contemptuous because of the secret inclination I felt--in view of her youth and prettiness--to be compassionate and forgiving; and perhaps I was half sorry that she attempted no further self-vindication; but, obeying my gesture of dismissal, passed out of the door and down the passage, with her bare feet, and her blue eyes downcast, and no backward glance. When she was gone, I shut the door in no enviable mood, and walked to and fro about my room like a surly bull in a pound. For the first (though not for the last) time I heartily cursed the diamonds; they seemed to raise the devil wherever I carried them. In the midst of my anathemas Mr. Birchmore knocked at the door, and told me that everything was ready downstairs for the start. "'And, by-the-bye, Gainsborough,' he added, with one of his point-blank, icy glances, 'I have arranged that our luggage shall be removed to-day; and if you leave yours here, I advise you to seal it up in my presence. I found the lock of my door in rather a strange condition this morning. I have my own opinion of what our landlord may be.' "'Who recommended you to this place, Mr. Birchmore?' I demanded curtly; for I was getting to feel something like contempt for my intended father-in-law. It was not easy to respect a man who, under whatever stress of circumstances, allows another man to make a slave of him.