"You had left one of your rings up-stairs, which made as good an excuse
for my intrusion as I could have desired. But, oh, sir! if you have ever
loved, you will understand how it was that all my courage cooled, when
I walked into the room, and found myself in your presence. And then, you
looked up at me so coldly, and you thanked me for finding your ring in
such an indifferent manner, that my knees trembled under me, and I felt
as if I should drop on the floor at your feet. When you had thanked me,
you looked back, if you remember, at your writing. I was so mortified at
being treated in this way, that I plucked up spirit enough to speak. I
said, 'This is a strange thing about the Diamond, sir.' And you looked
up again, and said, 'Yes, it is!' You spoke civilly (I can't deny that);
but still you kept a distance--a cruel distance between us. Believing,
as I did, that you had got the lost Diamond hidden about you, while you
were speaking, your coolness so provoked me that I got bold enough, in
the heat of the moment, to give you a hint. I said, 'They will never
find the Diamond, sir, will they? No! nor the person who took it--I'll
answer for that.
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