His curiosity, however, being in no degree assuaged concerning the odd human animal whose spoor he had for the moment failed to track, he meditated how best to renew the attempt in London.

Not small, therefore, was his annoyance to find, a few days after his arrival, that she was no longer in the house.

He questioned his wife as to the cause of her absence, and told her she was utterly heartless in refusing her leave to go and nurse her friend; whereupon Hesper, neither from desire to do right nor from regard to her husband's opinion, but because she either saw or fancied she saw that, now Mary did not dress her, she no longer caused the same sensation on entering a room, resolved to write to her--as if taking it for granted she had meant to return as soon as she was able.
And to prick the sides of this intent came another spur, as will be seen from the letter she wrote: "Dear Mary, can you tell me what is become of my large sapphire ring?
I have never seen it since you brought my case up with you from Cornwall.
I have been looking for it all the morning, but in vain.

You _must_ have it.

I shall be lost without it, for you know it has not its equal for color and brilliance.