"You are right. I will give it up."
He went into the dining-room with Isabel, said good-evening to his mother, and bowed civilly to her guests. The dinner proceeded in a polite, noiseless manner, until the end of the second course. Then Robert lifted his eyes, and they fell upon Jean Crawford's hand. The next moment he had risen and was at her side.
"Give me the ring upon your right hand," he said in a voice that held as much passion as a voice could hold and be intelligible.
"Why, Cousin Robert!"
"I want that ring!"
"Aunt Margaret said——"
"Give me the ring. It is not yours. How dare you wear it?"
"I was bringing it back! Oh, Aunt Margaret!"
"Robert, I am ashamed of you!"
"Mother, I want Theodora's ring—the ring stolen from my wife years ago. I must have it—I must, I must!"