"We are none of us safe an hour, sir, while those things are under this roof," she said, solemnly. "And if you don't take 'em straight to the Horse Guards, or the Tower, or the Bank of England, you may depend on having all our throats cut before night."
So our landlord whistled for a hansom, and we watched Ronald and the diamonds getting into it, and then stood at the door to see it turn the corner.
"Look at that man standing near the church, ma'am," said nurse, in an appalling whisper. "Did you see him a-fastening of his eyes on the box? It would be a good deed to call the police, and have him taken up this moment."
I suggested that it was difficult to give a man into custody for using his eyes. But nurse's portentous words were not without an effect, and I had rather a bad time till the afternoon brought Ronald back.
The diamonds were safe in the strong-room of our bank, and my husband had made an appointment with a dealer in precious stones, who would go to see them early on the next day. I did not feel the least desire to keep any of the gems for myself; the sooner they were turned into money the better for Ronald and me.
"When we have paid all that we owe," I said, "there will not be a single burden on my mind. And, whatever happens, we will never, never get into debt again."
I have always been of Mr. Ruskin's opinion, that it is better to starve and go to heaven than to buy things that you can't pay for. And I found that my husband had come round to my way of thinking.
We spent the rest of that day happily and quietly. The guitar was not forgotten, and Ronald sang our mysterious melody again and again. Never had his voice sounded sweeter to me, and never had I felt so perfect a sense of security and peace.
So the night closed in upon Chapel Place; and two fond hearts, reunited, rejoiced in their newly found happiness.
