"That was said of the ocean," retorted Theodore. "And yet we have reclaimed lands from the sea and prevented the waves from going as far as they used to. Everything is good if rightly used, and----" "I won't hear; I won't hear;" Mr. Colpster walked abruptly to the window. "You are always arguing. Leave Patricia alone." "What does Miss Carrol say herself?" asked Dane, turning to the girl. "I agree with Mr. Colpster," she rejoined promptly. "I don't like such things, and think they are evil." "Very good. We will talk no more of the matter," said Theodore quietly. "Only one thing I will ask you, since I believe you to be a sensitive. Have you not experienced strange sensations yourself?" "In connection with the emerald I have," replied Patricia, who was anxious to have her curiosity in this respect gratified. And Dane certainly seemed a man who could do so. On hearing her reply, Mr. Colpster turned away from the window and walked back to plant himself before her. "What do you mean?" he asked abruptly. "I mean that while I held the emerald I felt the strangest sensations. It was because I felt these that I opened the box." Theodore leaned forward with his hands on the arms of his chair. "I knew you were psychic," he said triumphantly. "All Irish people are, more or less, as they come along the Chaldean-Egyptian-Carthagenian line." "What do you mean?" asked Patricia, completely puzzled. "Oh, never mind; never mind," broke in the Squire impatiently. "Theodore can explain himself later. Meanwhile tell me what sensations you felt?" Patricia stared straight before her, striving to recall what she had experienced on that terrible night. "Both when the jewel was in the box and in my hand," she said slowly, "I felt a sensation as though it held some great force which was ever pushing outward." "Pushing outward!" muttered Theodore, pinching his nether lip. "How?" "I can scarcely explain. Wave after wave of this invisible force seemed to radiate from the petals of the flower." "What flower?" asked Colpster, greatly interested. "The chrysanthemum blossom which was formed of the carved jade petals, with the emerald in its centre. The radiating force seemed to push back all darkness and all evil, so that I did not feel afraid. It seemed as though I were in the middle of a circle of light, and thus was safe from any harm." Theodore muttered again and bent forward eagerly. "Was there any sign carved on the emerald?" he demanded breathlessly. "What sign?" she asked, greatly puzzled. "A triangle; a circle; a--a--oh, any sign?" "I did not observe," replied Patricia simply. "The jewel was so lovely, and my sensations were so strange, that I kept staring at it in silence, feeling happy and safe. When it became cold and dark I then was afraid." Theodore held up his hand to prevent his uncle from speaking. "When did the jewel become cold and dark, as you phrase it?" he asked sharply.