"This individual, my lord, of whom we have been speaking," returned Mr. Gordon, "was the person introduced to my office a few minutes after the departure of Miss de Medina. He seated himself in a free and easy, off-hand manner, and said, '_I think I can give you some little information concerning the diamonds which you have lost._'—'_Indeed!_' I exclaimed: and, anxious to hear what he was about to state, I said nothing relative to the visit of Miss de Medina and the payment of the amount at which the lost jewels were valued.—'_Yes_,' he continued: and, with the utmost coolness, he produced a pistol from one pocket and a small parcel, wrapped up in brown paper, from the other.—'_What is the meaning of this strange conduct?_' I demanded, glancing towards the weapon which the man held in his hand.—'_Oh! it is soon explained_,' he said. '_This pistol is merely to defend myself in case you should take it into your head to give me into the charge of a constable on suspicion of being connected with the person who stole your property: and as for the parcel, open it, and see what it contains._'—Thus speaking, he tossed the packet across the table to me, crossed his legs, and began to hum a tune. I opened the parcel; and to my surprise perceived the diamonds which I had lost.—'_Is the set complete?_' asked the man.—'_Quite perfect_,' I replied in the most unfeigned astonishment at the singularity of the whole proceedings. '_But how does it happen_,' I continued,'_that you have come to restore them to me, when a quarter of an hour has scarcely elapsed since Miss de Medina herself called and paid me six hundred pounds at which they are valued?_'—It now appeared to be the man's turn to be surprised: but, in another moment, he exclaimed,'_Oh! I understand it all._'—'_What do you understand?_' said I: '_for I must candidly confess that I understand nothing of the whole transaction, which is one involved in the deepest mystery_.'—'_So let it remain_, he cried abruptly: '_and now mark me_,' he added in a slower and more impressive tone; '_beware how you ever utter a word derogatory to the honour of Esther de Medina_.' And he quitted the apartment, leaving me in possession of my jewels and of the six hundred pounds also." "This narrative is so singular, Mr. Gordon," said the Earl of Ellingham, "that were you not a respectable merchant, and that you can have no possible interest in amusing me with a fiction, I should not believe the portion which relates to Miss de Medina."