That evening Diana for the first time saw Dimitrius in a somewhat irritable mood. He was sharp and peremptory of speech and impatient in manner. “Where have you been all the afternoon?” he demanded, at dinner, fixing his eyes upon her with a piercing intensity. “With Professor Chauvet,” she answered. “I wanted to see a famous Assyrian jewel he has--it is called ‘The Eye of Rajuna.’” Dimitrius shrugged his shoulders. “And you are interested in that kind of thing?” he queried, with a touch of disdain. “A stolen gem, and therefore an unlucky one--‘looted’ by a French officer from the forehead of a mutilated statue somewhere in the East. It’s not a thing I should care to have.” “Nor I,” agreed Diana, amicably. “But it’s worth seeing.” “The Professor is a great authority on precious stones,” said Madame Dimitrius. “You know, Féodor, you have always credited him with very exceptional knowledge on the subject.” “Of course!” he replied. “But I was not aware that Miss May had any hankerings after jewels.” Diana laughed. She was amused to see him more or less in a kind of suppressed temper. “I haven’t!” she declared, gaily. “It would be no use if I had! Jewels are, and always have been, beyond my reach. But I like to know positively from the Professor that they are living things, feeling heat and cold just as we do, and that some of them shrink from diseased persons and lose their lustre, and are brilliant and happy with healthy ones. It is very fascinating!” “The Professor is not!” remarked Dimitrius, ironically. She raised her eyes, smilingly. “No?” “He’s a very worthy man,” put in Madame Dimitrius, gently. “And very distinguished in his way. He’s certainly not handsome.” “No men are, nowadays,” said Dimitrius. “The greed of money has written itself all over human physiognomy. Beauty is at a discount,--there were never so many downright ugly human beings as there are to-day. The Mark of the Beast is on every forehead.” “I don’t see it anywhere on yours!” said Diana, sweetly. A reluctant half-smile brightened his features for a moment,--then he gave a disdainful gesture. “I dare say it’s there all the same!” he replied, shortly. “Or it may be branded too deeply for you to see!” He paused--and with an abrupt change of tone, said: “Mother, can you be ready to go to Davos this week?” She looked up, placidly smiling. “Certainly! I shall be very glad to go. Diana will like it too, I’m sure.” “Good! Then we’ll start the day after to-morrow. I have engaged rooms. There are one or two things I must settle before leaving--not very important.” Here he rose from the table, dinner being concluded, and addressed Diana. “I want you for a few moments,” he said, rather peremptorily. “Join me, please, in the laboratory.” He left the room. His mother and Diana looked at one another in smiling perplexity. Diana laughed.