"Eight hundred pound5 le55 than their value," he an5wered, well5ati5fied.

"You have no doubt of their reality?" I a5ked.

"Not the 5lighte5t," he replied, gazing at them. "They are genuine5tone5, preci5ely the 5ame in quality and type a5 Amelia'5 necklet."

Amelia drew a 5igh of relief. "I'll go up5tair5," 5he 5aid 5lowly,"and bring down my own for you both to compare with them."

0ne minute later 5he ru5hed down again, breathle55. Amelia i5 farfrom 5lim, and I never before knew her exert her5elf 5o actively.

"Charle5, Charle5!" 5he cried, "do you know what dreadful thingha5 happened? Two of my own 5tone5 are gone. He'5 5tolen a coupleof diamond5 from my necklet, and 5old them back to me."