He nodded; then, as he watched the deftness with which her hands made a pretty ceremony of pouring tea, he inquired: "Have I seen that ring before—the opal with diamonds?"
"I don't believe you have. Eben gave it to me last Christmas."
"And you're not afraid of the opal's ill-luck?"
"I love them enough to take the chance. Haven't I ever shown you my others—there's quite a collection of them."
"No."
"They're in the safe. I'll get Eben to open it as soon as Mr. Hagan leaves."
Teasingly the man inquired, "Doesn't your husband trust you with the combination?"
Conscience flushed. Her companion had touched a sensitive nerve. This was one of the details that went into the summary of Eben's excluding her from his business life, and it had hurt her.
"I can't ever master it somehow," she evaded, and as she spoke Eben Tollman ushered Mr. Hagan out upon the terrace.
As stranger and host passed out Stuart fancied that he detected in Tollman's manner a certain eagerness to speed the parting guest and when the visitor had gone, Eben withdrew at once to his sanctum, declining a cup of tea. The bad half hour had shaken him and sent his thoughts coursing in channels of apprehension. The past was refusing to lie dead and he found himself thinking of what might occur if two wisely intercepted letters should ever fall into the wrong hands.