“Aye!” replied Raikes, as he continued his examination of the flaming bauble, “and also upon your irritating habit of concluding at the anxious moment. But see here,” and he held the sapphire up to view; “I can see nothing wrong; possibly the light is bad. The searching glare of day is required to discover a blemish such as you speak of.”
“Suppose you return to-morrow, then, directly after breakfast?” suggested the Sepoy.
“I want your judgment. I dare not trust my own; my blindness may be voluntary.”
“Very well, then,” assented Raikes, who, now that he had nothing upon which to fasten his eyes, felt an easily comprehended uneasiness to leave the Sepoy. “I will be here at that time”; and with his customary emotionless adieux the guilty creature slipped through the doorway and speeded like a shriveled shadow along the various passages.
As he was about to enter his room he was hailed by his nephew.
“Uncle, you wanted to see me.”
“True,” replied Raikes, with a start of recollection, “I do; but suppose we postpone the interview until to-morrow.”
“Very well,” replied the young man easily, and Raikes, entering his room, fastened the door with his usual elaborate precaution.
His first movement was to disclose the interior of the recess containing his coin and his conscience.
A rapid examination convinced him that no further depredations had been committed upon the former, and the latter he secreted in the pocket of his waistcoat along with the diamond, which flashed its unregarded rebuke into his eager eyes.