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


markable affabilty of his host and hostess,
helped to quickly put him at his ease. Indeed,
before the dinner was over Mr.. Sykes grew
quite confidential, and entertained his noble
friends with many edifying anecdotes of his
early life and adventures in the soap trade.
In the course of such conversation the talk
somehow turned upon Mrs. Sykes's love of
fnery.
"Ah, you can afford to indulge these tastes"
said Lord Pail Mall, with glance at his wife
'For my part, am always telling Lady Pail
Mall that it is folly to spend a fortune on real
jewelry, when stones can be initiated we'll
enough to deceive the best Judge"
Couldn't deceive me,'' remarked Mr..
Sykes, with knowing air. ''Give me hand
full of mock stones and one real gem amongst
them, and I'd wager thousand pounds I'd
pick the genuine stone out at the first guess"
Greatly, are you so good a Judge as that ?'
queried her ladyship, innocently.
"Come now, Sykes, you're joking; l think
only professional expert can detect really
first-rate paste. But We'll put you to the test.
Look at that necklace my wife is wearing; it
doesn't compare unfavorably even with Mrs.
Silverhooks emeralds, and yet she tells me
she only gave f15 for it,
Mr.. Sykes stared, then suddenly burst out
laughing
$50 that's the story you've told his lord
ship" he thought, as he looked sideways at
his hostess's blushing face. "Well, mum's
the word, but L amt going to be made fool
of, even by noble lord.'' And, turning to
Lord Pail Mall he continued: ~ should be
glad to give her ladyship f500 for it. Those
stones are real-every one of them"
"1'm sorry to contradict you,' retorted
Lord Pail Mall, coolly, 'but really now you
are mistaken. My wife's necklace is only
paste You see, was not far wrong when
asserted that paste sometimes deceives even
good Judge"
81 quite agree with his lordship," inter
rupted Mrs. Sykes, quietly. "You must be
mistaken, John;'' and she gave her husband
look that said plainly, at is bad manners to
carry an argument too far.'
But Mr. Sykes was not to be stopped.
'Well, my lord,'' he said, 'tI'm ready to
back my opinion any how. I'll bet you any
thing you please that the necklace Lady Pail
Mall is wearing is made of twenty-five real
stones of the first water-and l ought to
know"
'Oh, it's hardly worth betting about" said
Lord Pail Mall indifferently. 'Im very glad
the necklace is good enough to deceive such
IN excellent judge as you, but really seldom
bet.n
"Afraid-eh-in this case?'' sneered Mr..
Sykes, who was losing his temper.
At that moment Lady Pail Mall gave Mrs.
Sykes the signal to retire. and the ladies left
the room.
~ didn't want to discuss the question further
ha ladi or6 Pal Mall
they settled into their seats again. ''But I'm
as confident as you are and if you really want
to back your opinion I'll take your bet to any
reasonable figure"
''Say a couple of thousand, if you like" re-
piled Sykes, bumptiously, "and let's decide it
as soon as you please"
''Done with YOU If you know any expert
in the neighborhood will send to him at
once"
''Send round to Londer & Rydon's. Men
tion my name, and ask them to send Mr..
Agate" said Mr. Sykes, with chuckle at his
own astuteness. 1t was Mr.. Agate who had
sold him the necklace.
$50 be it." said his host. ''Shall we 90 up
stairs ?"
Within half an hour Mr.. Agate had arrived
and by Lord Pail Malls orders was ushered
INTO the draWlng-rOOm.
''Excuse my sending for you in this informal
way, Mr.. Agate. But we wish you to decide a
trihing wager. My DEAR" added Lord Pail
Mall, turning to his wife, ''just let Mr.. Agate
look at your necklace"
Lady Pail Mall at once unfastened the neck
lace. Mr.. Agate carried it to the light and
closely inspected the diamonds through his
pocket-lens. The four on-lookers waited ex-
pectantly.
swell sir, what do you say?" demanded
Mr.. Sykes. ''Stones of the first water-eh ?"
The expert laid the necklace down, and the
stones flashed in the lamp-lght as if to affirm
their unimpeachability.
every stone in the necklace is PASTE" he
said quietly.
''Then you are the biggest swindler in
London" shouted Mr. Sykes ''for you sold
me that necklace not fortnight ago for
f2,000."
~ sold you one somewhat similar to this,
but" The rest of the sentence was drowned
in an hysterical shrek from Mrs. Sykes, and
for some minutes all was confusion.
81 was right, yoh see," remarked Lord Pail
Mall when he and his wife were presently left
alone ''The lady was the thief / wonder
what he will say TO her when they get home"
~ hope" said Lady Pail Mail, ''that he
will tell her to send me the diamonds
Sand / hope" said his lordship, 'that
he will send me my two thousand pounds"