Page:Marsh--The seen and the unseen.djvu/334

310 The Duke puffed in silence for a moment.

"Do you know that I've never stood from any girl in England the half nor yet the quarter, of what I've stood from you?"

"And do you know that I have never had to endure from any man in England, not to speak of any gentleman, one thousandth part of what I have had to endure from you. Singular, isn't it? And you're a duke!"

"Well, I'm blow'd! You arc a oner!" "Am I, indeed? What is a oner?"

"Look here; what is it you want? I'll give you anything you like. I've got something in my pocket now."

From some mysterious inner pocket he took a flat leather case. He opened it It contained a necklace of diamonds.

"What do you think of that? Shiners, ain't they? I gave five thousand pounds for that little lot."

She took the case into her hands. Her countenance betrayed no symptoms of surprise.

"Did you? I have seen necklaces which seemed to me to be quite as good as this, which cost much less. I am afraid they overcharged you."

"Not they! I may be a fool about some things—I don't need you to tell me that !—but I'm all there when there's any money on. I'm not one to give one-and-twenty shillings for what's only worth a pound—not much, I ain't. Well, ain't you going to say even thank you?"

Closing the case, the lady returned it to the gentleman.

"Thank you—for the sight."