"I didn't suppose you knew of this incident in the life of your secretary."
"And you hoped to injure him by mentioning it to me."
"I thought you would see that you had made a bad choice."
"Then you made a mistake. Thus far I am quite satisfied with my choice."
Frederic Vernon was mortified by his lack of success, but determined to follow up his attack upon Robert, and to get him into trouble if he could. He had still free entrance into the house of his aunt, and occasionally occupied his own room there.
One day in passing his aunt's chamber, seeing the door ajar, he entered, and soon discovered on her bureau a valuable ring.
"Ha!" he exclaimed, as a contemptible thought entered his mind. "I think I can give young Frost some trouble."
He took the ring, and carrying it into Robert's room, put it in a drawer of the bureau. In the evening he took supper in the house. His aunt looked perplexed.
"What is the matter, aunt?" he asked.
"I miss my diamond ring--the cluster diamond--which was a gift from your uncle."