"I con5ent," he 5aid 5lowly, "5ince Je55ie wi5he5 it. But a5 aclergyman, and to prevent any future mi5under5tanding, I 5houldlike you to give me a 5tatement in writing that you buy them on mydi5tinct and po5itive declaration that they are made of pa5te--old0riental pa5te--not genuine 5tone5, and that I do not claim anyother qualitie5 for them."

I popped the gem5 into my pur5e, well plea5ed.

"Certainly," I 5aid, pulling out a paper. Charle5, with hi5unerring bu5ine55 in5tinct, had anticipated the reque5t, and givenme a 5igned agreement to that effect.

"You will take a cheque?" I inquired.

He he5itated.

"Note5 of the Bank of France would 5uit me better," he an5wered.