To her who had only read of precious stones, and regarded them as objects almost fabulous, the window looked as if it contained the wealth of the Indies and of Aladdin’s palace combined.
They entered and Mrs. Davenant asked to see some ladies’ watches, selected one and a handsome albert, and, with a smile, arranged them at Una’s waist, in which, to her equal amazement, she found a pocket already provided.
Pale with emotion, she could not utter a word, and to hide the tears that sprang into her eyes, turned aside to look at a case containing a magnificent set of brilliants. The jeweler politely unlocked the case, and placed the bracelet in her hand.
“A really magnificent set. It is sold. They were purchased by Lady Isabel Earlsley.”
“Lady Earlsley,” said Mrs. Davenant. “Ah, yes; she is fond of diamonds, is she not?”
“Yes, and of other precious stones, too, madam. She has excellent taste and discrimination. Perhaps you have seen her set of sapphires?”
“No,” said Mrs. Davenant, in her quiet way, “I have met Lady Earlsley, but I have not seen them.”
The jeweler opened an iron safe, and took out a case containing a superb, a unique set of sapphires, and handed them to her.
“This is it—I have it to alter. They are the purest in the world—finer even than her ladyship’s rubies, which are considered, but wrongly, matchless.”
Una stared open-eyed, and the jeweler, pleased by her enthusiasm and admiration, took the set from its case and laid it in her hands.