The record-union., 1892-12-03

possible, and after some time he came to
the conclusion that the scoundrel must
have had one ring set with a genuine dia-
mond of considerable value, and another
ring perhaps several others of exactly
the same pattern, set with an imitation
diamond closely resembling the real one.
The real diamond had been exhibited,
tested by the expert, and adjudged to be
genuine, while the false one had been
handed over in place of it.
But all this was only conjecture. He
had no evidence to show that this solu-
ton Of the mystery was the true one, and
how could he hope that his wife would
accept such an explanation without evil
dence? He knew she would do no such
thing. For the present, he felt, judgment
against him was suspended, but the day
after they arrived in Paris the diamond
ring would be declared counterfeit, and
from that moment he would forfeit for
ever his wi1e's respect and confidence.
They reached the French capital in the
evening, and Mr.. Cudlip hardly knew
whether to be glad or sorry that the fatal
moment had to be postponed till next
day. After dinner he proposed visiting
one of the theaters, and after some hesita-
ton for she was opposed to theaters on
principle) Mrs. Cudlip consented.
The play was halt over when Mr.. Cud-
lip, happening to look over his left shOul-
der, saw the American who had sold him
the ring, sitting at the end Of one Of the
rows OF stalls. The sight of his enemy
made Mr.. Cudlip tremble with anger,
perpleXity, hope and various other emo
lions. What could he do? Inform the
police? That seemed the best course to
take, but a moments consideration con-
WINGED the Englishman that it was at
tended with many risks. The fraud had
not been committed on French soil, and,
worst of all, he had no evidence beyond
his own word to support the charge, and
of course the rogue would vehemently
deny it. The French police would not
know English; he himself hardly knew
any French-not enough, certainly, for
an occasion Of this sort. Suppose the au-
thOrltles refused to arrest a citizen of the
United States on his unsupported evil
dence, next morning the rogue would
have vanished.
On the whole Mr.. Cudlip thought it
safest to do nothing in the meantime but
follow the American to his hotel, and
having asCertained his address, take
counsel with French lawyer in the
morning. But how to shadow" his en-
emy with his wife at his heels? And how
to get rid of his wife?
In this predicament fortune favored
him. In one of the boxes on the second
tier sat a middle-aged, military-looking
man, accompanied by d showiIy-dressed
woman.
"Maria," he whispered to his wife,
there's Colonel and Mrs. Masham, or
Pm much mistaken"
Mrs. Cudlip blushed but said nothing.
"If that woman should see me herei"
was the thought in her mind, as Mr.. Cud-
lip knew very well, for Mrs. Masham
was one of those who disputed his wife's
claim to social and religious pre-emi-
nence in the realm of Putney Common
Nor was Mr.. Cudlip surprised to hear
his wife say a very few minutes later
This play is very tiresOme, Alfred
Hadn't we better 60 back to the hotel?"
Arrived at the hotel Mr.. Cudlip accom-
panied his wife to her own sitting-room,
and then got possession OF the diamond
ring in order that he might be able to
produce it to the police, as he might have
10 do that very night. Then he went
down stairs to smoke cigar, as he said,
but instead of going into the smoking
room he raced back to the theater.
To his delight the American was still
there, talking III an undertone to young
Frenchman of fashionable aspect Mr.
Cudlip waited, saw them rise and fol-
lowed them to a cafe near at hand
There the two were joined by some
others, and the party proceeded to have
supper, Mr.. Cudlip statiOuing himself at
a table where he could remain unnoticed.
After supper the whole party adjourned
to a biIliard-rOom attached to the estab-
lishment, and Mr.. Cudlip followed them
as far as the bilhard-room door. Here.
however, he stopped. If he went in the
American would be almost certain to see
and recognize him. In that case what
was he TO do? He had not yet made I'D
his mind. Yet he could not stay where
he was. Either he must enter the room
and try to coerce the American into re-
storing the ring he had bought or aban-
don the chase.
He chose the former alternative.
Pushing open the swing door he found
that the room was tolerably full. Several
men-the same party who had been at
supper together-were standing near the
door; one OF them was examining some
thing which he held in his hand.
1t was the diamond ring.
Mr.. Cudlip's heart beat fast. He moved
forward two or three steps. Fortu-
nately the American had his back to the
door.
Il do not wish to part with it," he was
saying, but man who wanders all over
tho world as l do often gets chance of
picking up a good stone at a moderate
price-that is, If he knows how to set
about it. If you really fancy it, my dear
Couat, you may have it for the sum paid
for the stone and the setting"
The same old game I see," muttered
Cudlip to himself, as again ne advanced
one or two PAGES. He now stood between
two members OF the group.
lie had his wife's ring, the sham one,
ready in his hand, and he was on the
point of charging the American with the
fraud when again the slckening thought