The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-29

husband, and at luncheon time next day the
good man placed in his wife's hands case
containing a, diamond necklace which made
that lady's eyes sparkle.
In due course the convicted invitation ar
rived. In due course also Mr.. and Mrs.
Sykes, who had been in their yacht in the
Solent for week past, found themselves
among the proud gathering at the Duke of
Beaumonde's While this was happening
Lord and Lady Pail Mall were still in town,
detained there by his lordship's somewhat
superfuous devotion to his duties as an heredi-
tary legislator. On the night of the Duchess's
fete they were engaged to dine with a brother
peer, who was still waiting for the rising of
Parliament; and while Mrs. Sykes was basking
in the sunshine of the German Kaiser and his
English relatives Lady Pail Mall was reaping
her reward in the contemplation of her gilt
tering necklace of brilliants. For week her
ladyship had kept the present from the knowl
edge of her lord and master, having, indeed,
her own reasons for so doing. Tonight, how
ever, temptation was too strong for her, and
after much doubt and hesitation she came
down to dinner with Mrs. Sykes's diamonds
round her neck
1t was astonishing how quickly the glitter of
the stones caught Lord Pail Malls often unob-
servant eyes
''Why, where on earth did you get that e'' he
asked.
''It is a little present have had, answered
his wife.
IA present! Who the devil from ?''
Don't be alarmed said her ladyship.
''My admirer was no one more dangerous
than Mrs Sykes-Sykcss Soap Substitute, you
know.
'Oh, oh! And what have you been doing
for her?''
Lady Pail Mall responded in whisper
"What fools these people must be-" ex-
claimed the peer. eWhy, the stones must be
worth couple of thousand"
''Oh, no-not half of it, replied Lady Pail
Mall, turning away rather hastily from her
lords scrutiny; and changing the subject.
His lordship returned to it, however, when
they came back from the reception that
evening.
1.-The fact is, Alice he explained, ''that
things have been going confoundedly crooked
in the city the last day or two, and at this
moment l am at my wits end for
"Why will you speculate?" interrupted his
wife, impatiently. ''Things always go
crookedly when you have anything to do with
them
''lt is only temporary difficulty, 1 assure
you. 1 can't explain the position-you
wouldn't understand it if l did-but l must
have FL 600 within the the next few days; and,
if you would lend it to me, that necklace of
yours would just save us from ruin"
IL
Lady Pail Mall, the tears starting to her eyes.
1T is the only decent ornament | have. Will
you leave me nothing?''
'Oh, of course, if you refuse, there's an end
to it, replied her husband, coldly. "Keep
your necklace, by all means, and much
pleasure may it give you"
Lady Pail Mall, with all her cleverness and
knowledge of the world, had one very soft
place in her heart, as his lordship well knew
She stood for moment looking at her hus-
bands careworn and not over-intellectual
features; then, with an impulsive movement,
she unclasped the necklace and held it out
to him.
''Take it, and get the most you can for it,"
she said, but with rather a husky voice. 81
hope it may prove as valuable as you Think
With many protestations of gratitude, and
a solemn assurance that the stones should be
restored in a weeks time at the very furthest,
Lord Pail Mall took Mrs. Sykes's Offering and
locked it up in his desk.
Next morning he was absent from home for
an hour or two On his return he dashed up
at once to his wife's room, and confronted her
with face expressive of the deepest indigna-
tion and disgust.
"Alice - he exclaimed. "Are you RESPONSE
bic for this trickery?'
''Trickery? | don't understand your % re-
piled his wife.
'Did you not know when you gave me
these confounded diamonds that they were
paste?''
II he had fora moment thought that she did
the incredulity and amazement which his wife
betrayed at the question would have CON
yinced him to the contrary. That the stones
were paste was proved beyond all question.
The young man at Mr., Melchisedek's to whom
Lord Pail Mall had rendered them as security
for an advance of 81 900, had detected their
true character in half moment. The ques-
ton now was, with whom had the imposture
originated? and as soon as Lady Pail Nails
first outburst of anger and disappointment
had subsided she and her husband debated
this question between them very eagerly.
~ think" said Lord Pail Mall, presently,
"that see way of solving the mystery, and,
what is more, of getting you your diamonds,
with something handsome beside"
"You do !" exclaimed her ladyship.
II think that do The Sykeses are back in