“Then allow me to congratulate you, Miss Christie, on possessing the very best imitation of the real thing that I have ever seen. I know something of diamonds, and I never was deceived before.”
I was looking at him curiously, for he seemed to speak as if he did not quite believe me.
“Look! I will go to the door,” said I, for the light was fading, “and then, as you are such a good judge, you will be able to tell.”
I walked to the door, and he bent his face down close to mine and examined my pendant carefully. Presently he gave a slight start.
“Am I taking too great a liberty in asking if there are initials on the other side of that?”
“Yes, there are,” said I, surprised.
“And will you tell me what they are?”
I hesitated. If this gentleman persisted in thinking the ornament was made of diamonds, he would think it a very strange thing if he found out that it was Mr. Rayner who had given such a costly present to his child’s governess; so I said quietly—
“I would rather not tell you.”
“I beg your pardon. Will you forgive my curiosity? I have seen only one ornament set exactly like that before; but it was in real diamonds”—and again he looked at me. “I was wondering if it had been exactly imitated in paste by the jeweller who set it, and if the sham twin-brother had, by some curious coincidence, come into your possession.”