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 Victoria in a meanness was a severe blow to him; he began to realize what an exalted opinion he had held of her. He had been foolish; women were women the world over—all but Philippa; his heart warmed at the thought of her.

"Are you sure you cannot be mistaken?" he asked, at length. "Resemblances are extraordinary, you know, and in the matter of the pin, no sane jury would convict a man because of such a bit of circumstantial evidence. The same jeweller might have made many similar pieces. Why shouldn't Miss Ford's mother have possessed such a jewel?"

Victoria's laugh was short and of the kind termed nasty. "Because Philippa has been trotting Valdeck about with her, evidently for some months—and two and two make four."

"Miss Ford would hardly accept such a present from any man, and much less from one she hardly knew."

"How little you know Philippa!" retorted Victoria, with cool decision.

"I thought you were friends." The tone of Morton's voice would have enlightened his hearer 178