"I must answer this good woman's letter. I have got the necklace. I don't choose to be at the loss of one hundred pounds. There are things I will not bear--I cannot and will not stand--even for you, Priscilla. I have been cheated by that girl, and have lost one hundred pounds on a trinket which I now cannot possibly sell. If Lady Lushington will send me that sum, she can have the necklace back; otherwise Miss Brooke herself must return the money." Priscilla was surprised and most distressed at the obduracy of the old man. In the and she could only persuade him to write to John Saxon, whose name she knew well. It would be better for him to be acquainted with this ghastly fact than for Lady Lushington's just indignation to be turned on Annie's devoted head. Accordingly John Saxon was written to, and thus the explanation of his sudden visit to London was arrived at Mr Manchuri had asked the young man to meet him at his house of business, and Saxon, much as he dreaded what might lie before him, little guessed the ghastly news which he was to hear. Mr Manchuri, affectionate as he was to Priscilla, nursed his wrath more and more against Annie during the hours which intervened between his receiving Lady Lushington's letter and the arrival of John Saxon on the scene. "I am glad you have come, Mr Saxon," he said when the young man entered the old jeweller's private sitting-room, which was situated at the back of the business premises. "Yes; I came at once," replied Saxon. "What is it you want with me, Mr Manchuri? You said you had something important to tell me with regard to my cousin, Miss Brooke." "Something very ugly to tell you, sir. Now listen. What do you make of this story?" Saxon did listen while Mr Manchuri enlarged on Annie's apparently innocent, wheedling ways, on her story with regard to the necklace, and on the fact that he had given her in exchange for it ten notes, each of the value of ten pounds. "A hundred pounds in all," said the old jeweller; "and, to tell you the truth, Mr Saxon, cheap at the price, for I could sell that necklace to-morrow for two hundred and fifty pounds, or even three hundred. Mark you, my dear young sir, I could do it, but you could not, nor could she, sharp as she is; for I know the trade and you don't, and she doesn't, and Lady Lushington doesn't. Therefore a hundred pounds is a very fair sum to pay for what only cost her ladyship forty. Now, will you read that?" he added, handing him Lady Lushington's letter. John Saxon did so. He returned it and looked full into the face of Mr Manchuri. "Well, sir," said the merchant, "what do you mean to do?" "What do _you_ mean to do, Mr Manchuri?" Mr Manchuri spread out his hands.