Page:The Ruby of Kishmoor (1908).djvu/95

 agents, must have been watching my gate when you went forth.”

“I know not how that may be,” said Jonathan, “but he took me to his apartment, and there, obtaining a knowledge of the trust thou didst burden me with, he demanded it of me, and upon my refusing to deliver it to him he presently fell to attacking me with a dagger. In my efforts to protect my life I inadvertently caused him to plunge the knife into his own bosom and to kill himself.”

“And what then?” cried the lady, who appeared well-nigh distracted with her emotions.

“Then,” said Jonathan, “there came a strange man—a foreigner—who upon his part assaulted me with a pistol, with every intention of murdering me and thus obtaining possession of that same little trifle.”

“And did he,” exclaimed the lady, “have long, black mustachios, and did he have silver ear-rings in his ears?”

“Yes,” said Jonathan, “he did.”

“That,” cried the lady, could have been